Crystal Dynamics and Bit Bot Media have announced Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver – The Dead Shall Rise, a new graphic novel prequel to the beloved Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver games.
Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver – The Dead Shall Rise is being produced with oversight from Crystal Dynamics and is based on never-before-seen ideas and elements from unreleased Soul Reaver lore, and will be an official prequel to the games.
While Bit Bot Media is producing the graphic novel with narrative guidance and creative direction+input from Crystal Dynamics, it will get concept art from returning Soul Reaver and Soul Reaver 2 concept artist Daniel Cabuco. A crowdfunding campaign via Kickstarter is planned for later this year.
The new graphic novel will be released in time for the 25th anniversary of the original Soul Reaver game, it marks the first new release in the game’s narrative in two decades since the last mainline title Legacy of Kain: Defiance.
“Raziel’s story spans centuries, offering rich material to explore,” said co-writer Joshua Viola. “Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver – The Dead Shall Rise not only fills in the gaps but fleshes out his character in surprising ways, revealing what shaped him into the Raziel we know and love. We have lots of surprises in store beyond the graphic novel that will blow fans’ minds.”
Co-writer Angie Hodapp added, “It was important to Josh and me to find, after twenty years, the right place and time to re-enter this world. We wanted to find new stories about these characters that felt organic to the original canon — stories that would excite longtime fans of the games with plenty of familiar elements, while also inviting new fans to join in. With that in mind, and with the directive from Crystal Dynamics to introduce new characters while keeping our story lens tight on the known cast, Josh and I explored Raziel’s past…specifically, his human past and the genesis of his wings in the days before Kain cast him into the Abyss.”
Here’s a rundown on the new graphic novel:
Fans of the bestselling Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver videogame series will be able to discover the franchise’s untold backstory in an all-new, original graphic novel titled Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver – The Dead Shall Rise, headed to Kickstarter later this year.
The project is helmed by writers Joshua Viola (True Believers, It Came From the Multiplex) and Angie Hodapp (Unioverse, Shadow Atlas), with interior art by Juan Samu (Star Wars, Godzilla), letters by Jeremiah Lambert (Masters of the Universe, Transformers), covers by Dave Rapoza (Destiny, Magic: The Gathering) and Aaron Lovett (Monster Train, Inkbound), with additional art by Jonny Bush (Rob Zombie, Ghost) and Ninja Jo (Star Wars, Stranger Things). Brent Friedman (Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Call of Duty) is providing narrative guidance alongside creative direction and input from Crystal Dynamics, including never-before-seen ideas and elements from unreleased Soul Reaver lore. The all-new graphic novel also features concept art by Daniel Cabuco, who provided concept art for Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver and Soul Reaver 2 and was the Art Director for Legacy of Kain: Defiance.
Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver – The Dead Shall Rise delves into Raziel’s past as a human Sarafan warrior and his transformation into a vampire lieutenant under Kain. The story introduces new characters, including a mysterious vampire with deep connections to Raziel and Kain. This compelling tale explores and expands the existing canon while answering long-standing questions.
This will be the first-ever book published by Bit Bot Media, a new, cutting-edge multimedia company from Klayton (Celldweller/Scandroid), the multifaceted musician known for his contributions to major motion pictures, TV, and video games including Transformers, Malignant, and Killer Instinct, and Denver Post bestselling writer and film producer Joshua Viola, in collaboration with Crystal Dynamics.
