Urbance Returns: New Graphic Novel Announcement from Oni Press and Magnetic Press
The award-winning animation project Urbance, which combines cyberpunk and urban aesthetics, is stepping into the print medium after a long wait. Independent publishing giants Oni Press and Magnetic Press have officially announced a Kickstarter campaign in collaboration with the series creator Joël Dos Reis Viegas to turn the story into a massive four-volume graphic novel series. This campaign ends the years of silent waiting from fans following the pilot episode released in 2015, which made a significant impact with its visual quality.
The story of Urbance takes place in Neopolis, a dystopian city where physical contact between genders is forbidden due to a deadly virus. In this world, where society is sharply divided into men and women, two young people named Kenzell and Lesya attempt to break the rules and come together. The story is not just a love tale, but also ignites a rebellion where a mysterious drug called N-Dorphin disrupts the balance and youth gangs dominate the streets. Magnetic Press Publishing Director Mike Kennedy describes the project as a "biopunk Romeo and Juliet story set in the style of Aeon Flux and the atmosphere of Jet Set Radio."
The name behind the project, Joël Dos Reis Viegas, is a highly experienced artist in the gaming and animation world. Having previously worked as a concept designer on projects such as Batman: Arkham Origins, Godzilla (2014), and Black Dynamite, Viegas first brought Urbance to life with a Kickstarter campaign in 2014. The pilot episode, which raised approximately $175,000 at the time, was produced by Yapiko Animation, led by legendary Studio Ghibli animator Hiroshi Shimizu (Princess Mononoke, Porco Rosso), and won awards in the animation world for its visual style.
The new graphic novel series will dive deeper into the dark corners of the Neopolis world that the pilot episode only touched upon superficially. Viegas states that in this new format, the story will carry a much more mature, aggressive, and dark tone. As part of the Kickstarter campaign, fans will be offered four-volume softcover sets, as well as special hardcover editions and exclusive merchandise for collectors. This collaboration between Oni Press and Magnetic Press is seen as one of the most current and exciting examples of how independent animation projects can establish a permanent place in the comic book world.
