Oni Press and Magnetic Press have announced a Kickstarter campaign for URBANCE, a sci-fi graphic novel series by Joël Dos Reis Viegas. A pre-launch page is now live ahead of the campaign’s official start.
The project is a four-volume graphic novel series that will be released through Kickstarter, with the campaign offering the complete story as a set of softcover volumes, alongside deluxe hardcover editions and collector items.
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Viegas is known for his work across games, animation, and film, with credits including Batman: Arkham Origins, Brink, Thief, the Black Dynamite TV series, Siren, and the 2014 Godzilla film.
URBANCE originated as an animated project developed at Steambot Studios, co-founded by Viegas. A pilot short released in 2015, leading to the expansion of the story into a long-form comic format.
The story is set in Neopolis, a futuristic city where a virus makes physical contact between sexes fatal, leading to enforced segregation and the rise of distinct youth factions. The emergence of a drug known as N-Dorphin, which may bypass the virus, disrupts the balance of power and fuels conflict.
The story follows two teenagers, Kenzell and Lesya, who cross the divide and become involved in a wider conspiracy tied to the city’s structure and control systems.
Magnetic Press Director of Publishing Mike Kennedy said:
“URBANCE is a bio-punk ROMEO & JULIET in the neon-list style of AEON FLUX in a JET SET RADIO future city. A kinetic fusion of urban cyberpunk, gender-charged tension, and high-style action, it’s a story about rebellion, identity, and the dangerous power of connection in a world designed to keep the population divided.”
Creator Joël Dos Reis Viegas added:
“While the animated pilot only scratches the surface of what rules Neopolis, the graphic novel series dives much deeper into the dark side of the society and human tensions. Keeping the core elements — the virus, N-Dorphin, the protagonists, and Coevo — and reimagining a story about two youngsters, shaped by division, who are forced to come together against adversity. So I chose a more aggressive and dark visual treatment to better match the story’s more mature tone. URBANCE is a reflection of my passions, my art style, and my fears.”
The Kickstarter campaign will include additional items such as a sketchbook, a production art book, and other limited-edition rewards.
Source: Press Release
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