We recently covered the announcement of Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver – The Dead Shall Rise graphic novel coming to Kickstarter later this year. Now Bit Bot Media has revealed new details about the project ahead of the launch.
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.
“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.”
“It was important to Josh and me to find, after twenty years, the right place and time to re-enter this world,” said co-writer Angie Hodapp. “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.”
Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver – The Dead Shall Rise arrives just in time for the 25th anniversary of the original Soul Reaver game, offering fans the first new narrative in the series since 2003’s Legacy of Kain: Defiance. This publication promises to be a significant event for the series’ devotees, who can sign up on the BackerKit prelaunch page to receive an email alert when the project goes live. As a bonus, everyone who signs up will get a free digital image from the officially approved Crystal Dynamics Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver archives after the project launches, adding a special incentive for long-time fans of the franchise.
The Dead Shall Rise delves deep into the lore, exploring Raziel’s past as a human Sarafan warrior and his transformation into a vampire lieutenant under Kain. It introduces new characters, including a mysterious vampire with significant connections to both Raziel and Kain, and seeks to expand the existing canon while answering long-standing questions. This compelling narrative will be the first book published by Bit Bot Media, a new multimedia company founded by Klayton (Celldweller/Scandroid) and Denver Post bestselling writer and film producer Joshua Viola. Their collaboration with Crystal Dynamics ensures a faithful and enriching addition to the Legacy of Kain universe.
You can check out the cover below:
