Milo Ventimiglia and Top Cow Announce “Berserker” Comic
Another day, another project originally intended for television or film being field-tested in the comics world. Case in point: today’s announcement that Heroes star Milo Ventimiglia (who already has another project, Rest, in production at Devil’s Due Publishing) and Russ Cundiff of DiVide Pictures will be partnering with Top Cow Productions on Berserker, a new comic book series created by screenwriter Rick Loverd.
“Berserker is about people discovering they have superhuman ancient Norse powers as they’re pulled into an underground war that’s been raging for a thousand years,” explained Loverd. But the writer pointed out there are bigger themes. “It’s about people dealing with all the curves the world throws, accepting yourself,” he said. “It’s about not feeling helpless in the face of new challenges and, when someone builds a wall in front of you, smashing right through it with your bare hands. And, of course, it’s about bone-popping bloodlust, spine-crushing action, and saving the world from total destruction!”
While the official press release (posted after the jump) is filled with compliments for everyone involved in the project, the announcement doesn’t shy away from looking beyond comics to the long-term goals, too:
“Top Cow is a company that is known for good art and great stories and to be partnered with them on Berserker seemed like the right fit,” said Cundiff, who noted they plan to develop the property into something more, perhaps a film.
“We want to see people wearing Berserker T-shirts, maybe carrying lunchboxes,” smiled Cundiff. “Until then, we are looking to make a kick-ass book.”
The series is scheduled to debut in 2009. Dale Keown provided the accompanying art.
BERSERKER
Screenwriter Rick Loverd weaves a tale of superheroes, Norse mythology and bone-crushing action
LOS ANGELES, Calif., August 4, 2008 – Top Cow Productions Inc. announced at San Diego Comic-Con they will partner with Milo Ventimiglia and Russ Cundiff of DiVide Pictures to publish Berserker, a new comic book series created by Rick Loverd.
“Berserker is about people discovering they have superhuman ancient Norse powers as they’re pulled into an underground war that’s been raging for a thousand years,” explained Loverd. But the writer pointed out there are bigger themes. “It’s about people dealing with all the curves the world throws, accepting yourself,” he said. “It’s about not feeling helpless in the face of new challenges and, when someone builds a wall in front of you, smashing right through it with your bare hands. And, of course, it’s about bone-popping bloodlust, spine-crushing action, and saving the world from total destruction!”
Since Ventimiglia and Cundiff are also developing the comic book series Rest with Devil’s Due Publishing, when they saw Berserker, they recognized right away its potential for the four-color medium.
“We just wanted to see the story come to life,” declared Ventimiglia, star of the hit NBC series “Heroes,” whose third season starts in September. “Loverd’s script was actually a television pilot and our first comment was, ‘Wow! This is way too edgy for TV,’ so we thought, ‘What better medium than comics?’”
Loverd is thrilled Berserker is moving forward. “I think the best thing a young writer could possibly do is work with a company like DiVide,” he expressed. “They’re all about helping you realize your creative vision. They’re young, they’re smart, and they’re hungry. They know what it means to put out a great book and they won’t be satisfied with anything less.”
For their part, DiVide Pictures needed to find the right publisher to work with for Berserker. Since they were already working with Devil’s Due on Rest, they sought out Top Cow.
“Top Cow is a company that is known for good art and great stories and to be partnered with them on Berserker seemed like the right fit,” said Cundiff, who noted they plan to develop the property into something more, perhaps a film.
“We want to see people wearing Berserker T-shirts, maybe carrying lunchboxes,” smiled Cundiff. “Until then, we are looking to make a kick-ass book.”
“Berserker is one of those unique properties, which on the surface may seem familiar but quickly takes you on a series of unexpected twists and turns, and grabbed our attention right away,” described Top Cow Publisher Filip Sablik. “Rick Loverd’s world of dark, intense violence paired with rich characters grounded in the real world fits perfectly with Top Cow. And of course, we’re thrilled to have Milo and Russ at DiVide Pictures as partners on this property as they bring an endless amount of enthusiasm and ideas to the table.”
The Berserker comic book is currently in development and will debut in 2009.
Art attached: Promotional art by Dale Keown
For possible interview opportunities, please contact:
Mel Caylo
Top Cow Productions, Inc.
(310) 282-8062
mcaylo@topcowent.com
http://www.topcow.com
About Top Cow Productions Inc.
Top Cow Productions, Inc. (http://www.topcow.com), a Los Angeles-based entertainment company, was founded in December of 1992 by artist Marc Silvestri, who also co-founded Image Comics earlier that same year. Top Cow currently publishes its line of comic books in 21 languages in over 55 different countries. The company has launched 20 franchises (18 original and two licensed) in the industry’s Top 10, seven at #1, a feat accomplished by no other publisher in the last two decades. Its flagship franchise, Witchblade, was TNT’s #1 original film of 2000 and the subsequent TV series is set for release on DVD on July 29, 2008. A feature film, co-produced by Platinum Studios, Inc. and Arclight Films, is slated to begin production in Australia with director Michael Rymer. Witchblade is also the first American property to be fully adapted in Japan as an original anime and manga by Studio GONZO in 2006. Top Cow’s other flagship property, The Darkness, was developed into a major next-generation video game release by Starbreeze and 2K Games and achieved platinum sales status. Wanted, an Eisner-nominated miniseries published by Top Cow from 2003-2005, is now a major motion picture from Universal Pictures starring Angelina Jolie, James McAvoy, and Morgan Freeman. It set a June record for an opening weekend for an R-rated film. Virtually all of Top Cow’s other properties are in development as feature films, live-action television, animation or video games. Top Cow has also successfully licensed and merchandised its franchises into toys, statues, clothing, lithographs, puppets, posters, magnets, shot glasses, lighters, lunch pails, wall scrolls, mouse pads, die-cast cars, calendars, Christmas ornaments, Halloween masks, trading cards, standees, video games, and roleplaying games.