Award-winning publisher Archaia Entertainment and actress/producer Alyssa Milano have announced Hacktivist, a hardcover, original graphic novel that explores the modern world of hacking and global activism. Inspired by current events from around the world and Milano’s own philanthropic endeavors, Hacktivist is a fast-paced cyber-thriller about friendship and freedom in a time of war. The story follows Ed Hiccox and Nate Graft, the young founders of the world’s most innovative social media company who moonlight secretly as one of the most notorious black-hat hacker teams on the planet. When the U.S. government discovers their operation, they must face the real world beyond the code and choose between loyalty and what they believe to be is right.

Milano’s inspiration for the series is Jack Dorsey, the creator of Twitter and Square and her own involvement in global activism and philanthropy. The graphic novel format gives her the freedom to create without boundaries.

Hacktivist features the talents of screen and comic writers Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly, artist Marcus To, Eisner Award-nominated colorist Ian Herring, and Eisner Award-nominated letterer Deron Bennett, who bring the underground world of revolution and cyber-warfare to pulse-pounding life.

The graphic novel’s topics are literally ripped from the headlines and focuses on the benefit and consequences of our increasingly connected world.

Hacktivist will debut digitally in Fall 2013, followed by the hardcover print release in Summer 2014. A Hacktivist Ashcan comic, limited to 500 copies and containing exclusive preview content, original concept art from Marcus To and Ian Herring, and an interview with Milano, will be distributed for free at the Archaia booth #2229 at San Diego Comic-Con 2013.