Friday, January 18, 2008

FIRST SCI FI/ VIRGIN COMICS RELEASE

THE STRANDED HITS STORES JANUARY 23, 2008


SCI FI Channel and Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Comics announce the January 23, 2008 release of The Stranded, the first comic book from their joint venture under the SCIFI/Virgin Comics banner. The Stranded, created and written by Mike Carey, is an epic adventure spanning two worlds as seen through the eyes of five ordinary people whose extraordinary abilities may ultimately spell doom or salvation for the entire universe.



With new comic book titles serving as the creative genesis, SCI FI/Virgin Comics is developing fresh properties that integrate the unique spirit and vitality of both brands. Delivering innovative, multi-platform projects, original concepts are being considered across all mediums from publishing, film and television to digital and gaming.



Utilizing the global creative and synergistic resources that exist at SCI FI Channel, part of NBC Universal, and Virgin Comics, the partnership aims to attract some of the biggest names and talent from the worlds of comic books, television and movies. SCI FI and Virgin Comics have brought together a multimedia, creative editorial board with members representing comic books, television, movies, digital, gaming, licensing and merchandising.



In The Stranded, five seemingly everyday people must face the terrifying question: what if your entire life – your childhood, your family, your memories – was a lie? For the stranded, Sisera, Endo, Drum and Cullen, it’s true. They are each unknowingly from another world called Standfire, and now their past is returning to try and kill them.



One by one, The Stranded are assaulted by Janus, an altered human working for a mysterious, otherworldly force that seeks their destruction. Their only hope: Tamree, a dark, mysterious woman sent to Earth to protect them. She must awaken the buried individual memories of The Stranded -- along with their powerful, unique psychic and physical abilities. But even if they can defeat Janus and his unseen masters, they must also deal with one of their own...who, damaged and unable to deal with her incredible new powers, cuts a swathe of incredible destruction across the Earth.



The Stranded’s writer/creator Mike Carey is one of the most acclaimed and prolific comics writers of our time. His current work includes X-Men, Ultimate Fantastic Four, Voodoo Child and his own creations Faker, Crossing Midnight, and The Re-gifters. His long runs on Lucifer and John Constantine, Hellblazer have been particularly well received. He has just completed a coast-to-coast book tour for his first novel, The Devil You Know.



The first issue of The Stranded boasts two covers with artwork from Marc Silvestri (Cyberforce, Witchblade, The Darkness and the X-Men) and Greg Horn (Elektra, Emma Frost).







SCI FI Channel is a television network where "what if" is what's on. SCI FI fuels the imagination of viewers with original series and events, blockbuster movies and classic science fiction and fantasy programming, as well as a dynamic Web site (www.scifi.com ) and magazine. Launched in 1992, and currently in 93 million homes, SCI FI Channel is a network of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies.



Virgin Comics LLC is a character entertainment company creating original stories and epic myths for worldwide audiences. The company was founded in November 2005 by Sir Richard Branson and Virgin Enterprises Ltd., alongside author Deepak Chopra, filmmaker Shekhar Kapur and entrepreneurs Sharad Devarajan, Gotham Chopra and Suresh Seetharaman. Virgin is developing new stories with acclaimed filmmakers, actors and musicians including John Woo, Guy Ritchie, Terry Gilliam, Jenna Jameson, Dave Stewart, Ed Burns, Nicolas Cage, Duran Duran, Sachin Tendulkar and others. Feature films based on Virgin Comics' characters are also in the works, including an animated feature, "The Secrets of the Seven Sounds," and theatrical live action feature films including "Gamekeeper" in development with Warner Bros. and "Virulents" with Fox. In India, Virgin Comics recently established a partnership with Studio 18 to pioneer the Indian "teen-horror" genre and a separate partnership with UTV Motion Pictures to develop new Indian superheroes. Virgin Comics also formed a joint venture with NBC Universal to create new science fiction properties for graphic novels and television with the Sci Fi Channel. www.VirginComics.com

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