Image from Graphic Illusions Studios sci-fi western 'Marshal'
It seems sci-fi westerns are on the agenda. Hot on the heels of the announcement that Josh Hartnett would be starring in a sci-fi post apocalyptic western titled Gunslinger, Fox has given a script commitment to a new sci-fi western TV series from Chuck executive producer Scott Rosenbaum.
The untitled sci-fi series is described as an “epic western with a sci-fi twist.” The story will follow a “gunslinger caught between worlds” and, according to Rosenbaum, will feature a nod to the Planet of the Apes.
If you’re a fan of comics, or if you’re in the market for expert graphic design work, then you’re going to be very interested in our latest sponsor – independent design studio and comic publisher Graphic Illusions Studios.
Graphic Illusions Studios are an independent producer of high quality original comics – in fact, you wouldn’t know they were independent given just how high the quality of their productions are. As I write this I’m sitting next to the first five issues of The Rift (one of their titles that recently almost made it to the big screen – and may one day yet) and I can say without any bias that each issue is absolutely A+ quality.
A year ago Graphic Illusions Studios’ six-part sci fi comic The Rift was on a collision course with the big screen. Unfortunately financing for the film adaptation fell through, but I wouldn’t be surprised if at some point in the future there is renewed interest in this particular series.
The Rift is an epic story that documents an alien struggle for power that finds itself unfolding on Earth. It follows the villainous Ja’Laar, an evil alien on a quest to obtain a key to unlimited magic power. When he learns the key has been hidden on Earth, he brings his equally nasty henchmen with him to tear the world apart in search of it – just as he has done other worlds.
A sole survivor of one such planet that Ja’Laar wiped out is Silo’Ett, an alien herald who, after escaping Ja’Laar’s clutches, successfully makes it to Earth ahead of him. Silo’Ett attempts to bring together a group of humans to help them protect the key and the Earth from destruction.
The thing I like about The Rift is that it isn’t just a stock-standard sci-fi story about evil aliens coming to harm Earth. It is also fantasy story that weaves in a mixture of magic, Vampires and Werewolves – yes, The Rift has them too. Normally I would be the first to say Vampires and Werewolves have been done to death, but in the case of The Rift they come with an all new and interesting slant on their origins, powers and intentions.
Two weeks ago we reported that Lionsgate and After Dark Films were set to adapt Laurell K. Hamilton’s Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter into a made-for-television movie. Though Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter is most well known as a series of novels, the franchise has also been adapted into a Marvel comic. Interestingly, the first pages of the Anita Blake:Vampire Hunter comic actually debuted months before its own first issue via a special preview release that was tucked away in the back of another comic – a science fiction/western themed story titled Marshal.
Marshal was initially planned as a four part story to be delivered via a partnership between US Publisher Dabel Brothers and Marvel. The first printed issue, which included the first ever published pages from Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter, was an instant sell out. Under normal circumstances such a popular response would bode well for the remaining three issues, but not so for Marshal. A number of publishing hiccups plagued the comic’s creators, Marvel then aquired Dabel Brother’s licenses, and amongst the turmoil Marshal #2never found its way to comic store shelves.
If you were one of the many fans who scored a print copy of Marshal #1 and have been wanting more, prepare to be happy.
Andrew LoVuolo, one of the writers behind the Marshal concept, has through his independent design studio and comic publishing arm ‘Graphics Illusions Studios‘ championed the continuation of Marshal and as a result Issues #1 and #2 are now available for digital download via Eagle One Media. If digital downloads prove successful, the creators intend to press forward with their original plans to release the four-part series in print form and as a graphic novel.
The setting for Marshal is very similar in theme to Joss Whedon’s Firefly, or perhaps you could refer to it as a kind of Deadwood in space. Transport even occurs via “Horses”, although these are more of the metal hovering kind (with ignition keys in the form of boot “spurs”, which is quite unique and kind of cool). It may also be reasonably accurate to refer to Marshal as Firefly meets V for Vendetta meets Terminator.
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