The Stranded courtesy Sci Fi/Virgin Comics
Sci Fi Channel gets into the comic-book game this week with the launch of The Stranded, published through a partnership with Virgin Comics (a division of Sir Richard Branson's empire). This is the first of at least five titles coming from the two companies, whose underlying goal is to develop stories and characters that might find their way into other media, including movies, video games and, of course, TV. "We're looking for big ideas that sort of challenge expectations of what the sci-fi/fantasy genre is all about," says Adam Stotsky, the network's executive VP of global brand strategy and market development. "The things that are interesting to us are stories about real people in relatable situations set against a fantastical backdrop."
The Stranded definitely fits that bill. TVGuide.com was given an early preview of the first issue (out of five in total), which was written by Mike Carey and is accompanied by incredibly detailed art by Siddharth Kotian. The story follows five "regular" people who suddenly discover that they're aliens. When they are awakened to their new heritage, a ruthless alien force wants them dead. Lucky for them, a mysterious (and curvaceous) woman named Tamree has made it her mission to protect them. Though setting up such an elaborate story in 29 pages can be difficult, the book does a good job of hooking the reader with a satisfying mix of character development and killer-robot action.
The Stranded No. 1 goes on sale Wednesday. To find a comic shop near you, call 1-888-COMIC-BOOK. — Rich Sands
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