Exalted: The Comic

2 am and I’m having trouble sleeping. I hit a really good stride of getting things done and when I wake up the week will go into overdrive. It’s my 29th birthday on Wednesday and today’s the day we announce the Exalted comic book.

Yeah. You heard me.

The Exalted comic book. The one coming out from Udon spearheaded by a crazy guy named Zub.

The insane project I’ve had to keep a secret since last summer as we negotiated the contract, put together the team and worked our fingers to the bone to put together an awesome summer preview issue before the first full issue comes out this Fall.

Man, it felt good to finally be able to type that. You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to post that.

Even though the press release goes out today and the convention-exclusive zero issue is headed off to the printer, it doesn’t even feel real. Good times and bad as we got this crazy thing moving and now I don’t even know how to describe it. Every step of the way on this book has been a whirlwind.

Exalted fans, comic fans, RPG fans, fantasy fans, anime fans… this book has so much potential and I don’t want to see it squandered. In the current market no comic is a sure thing and fantasy in particular has had a hard go of it. The creative team has put their all into this and it’s my job to help make it a success. It’s amazing and terrifying at the same time.

I felt the same kind of fear when I launched Makeshift Miracle, only now I’ve got a half dozen other people on my little plane as we run it towards the cliff edge to see if it will fly. Instead of just worrying about me, myself and I… I’ve got these other creative people and two companies on board wishing, stressing, dreaming and working with me to see if we can soar.

This week is going to be all about letting people know. Like a broken record I’ll be sending out press releases and talking to websites about interviews and exposure. Getting the word out and showing just enough of the artwork to get people on board without tipping my hand completely. Trying to do the self-promotion dance without coming on too strong. Nothing like a bit of pressure to find out what you’re made of. I won’t mind if you help me spread the word or shake your media contacts where appropriate… 🙂

I’ll be posting up little tidbits on my livejournal every so often so the people who follow along here can see this project come together and watch how it all plays out. I’ll try to post links to interviews or pics when they pop up. Besides the new Exalted comic forum, the Zub livejournal will sort of be like Exalted comic HQ…. man, that’s a scary thought.

The roller coaster summer begins today. The safety bar has me locked in and my stomach’s just starting to lurch as the coaster drops. Dizzy, euphoric and a little scared. I hope I make it through the loop-dee-loops without throwing up.

Okay, got to sleep now.

Crazy cover linework by Chris Stevens:




Exalted Comic Book Series Coming from UDON Entertainment

May 16, 2005; Atlanta, GA—White Wolf Publishing has licensed the rights to a comic book series based on its successful roleplaying game Exalted to Toronto-based UDON Entertainment. The first issue in the series will be on comic book stands in October of 2005, and a special #0 issue comes out this summer.

UDON has a longstanding involvement with the Exalted property, having provided covers and interior art for many supplements, as well as covers for the Exalted novel series and all card art for the upcoming Exalted Trading Card Game. This history of close collaboration has given White Wolf confidence that UDON can do justice to the property.

“We’re thrilled to see Exalted make the leap into comics, and the folks at UDON are just the right people to do it,” said John Chambers, one of the Exalted line developers at White Wolf. “These guys have always gotten just what Exalted is about,” added Exalted art director Brian Glass, “and it’s great to see that enthusiasm hit new levels with the comics.”

“We’ve been chomping at the bit to do this for a while now,” said Jim Zubkavich, project manager at UDON and co-author of the comic. “I can’t wait to get this into the hands of fans who’ve been dreaming of seeing their favorite game as an over-the-top comic series. Plus, it’ll be great to see the tons of comic fans discover this fantastic property for the first time.” Zubkavich is working with co-writer Gala Ferriere and artists Noi Sackda, Greg Boychuk, and Roberto Campus on the series. Coming together for the first time, members of the art team have previously worked on titles including Street Fighter, GI Joe, Warlands and Thundercats, as well as eye-popping covers for the Exalted RPG line.

The first full issue of the Exalted comic releases this fall, but a special preview issue (Exalted #0) will be on sale at the White Wolf and UDON booths at various summer comic and gaming conventions beginning with Origins in Columbus, Ohio (June 30-July 3). In addition to an exclusive prelude story, Exalted #0 features behind-the-scenes information about the series, as well as sketches and exclusive gaming content provided by White Wolf. Each regular issue features two stories and all-new game material from White Wolf.
About Exalted: Exalted is an anime- and manga-inspired storytelling game set in the Second Age of Man (a time long before our own), when divine heroes are reborn into a time of tumult. Combining the best elements of the sword-and-sorcery, epic fantasy, and wuxia martial-arts genres, Exalted has been dazzling fans since its release in 2001.

About White Wolf: Since its entry into the roleplaying game market in 1991, White Wolf Publishing, Inc. has grown, maintaining an average market share of 26%. With collective book sales in excess of 5.5 million copies during this time, White Wolf is one of two undisputed worldwide publishing leaders for pen-and-paper roleplaying games. White Wolf properties have been licensed for television series, comic books, action figures, console and computer video games, coin-operated arcade games, professional wrestlers, replica props and weapons, interactive media events, and a plethora of merchandise. More information on White Wolf is available at .

About UDON Entertainment: UDON Entertainment is a Canadian-based art collective of over a dozen creators formed in 2000 to provide high-quality creative services to the entertainment industry. Its client list reads like a who’s who of the industry and includes Alliance Atlantis, Capcom, DC Comics, Gamepro, Harmony Gold, Hasbro, Marvel Comics, Nintendo, Score, TDK Interactive, ToyBiz, White Wolf, Wizards of the Coast, and Wiz Kids. In addition to client work, UDON also publishes the Street Fighter and Darkstalkers comic series based on the successful Capcom video games.

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