Tag Archives: eric dean seaton

Review: The Legend of the Mantamaji: Bloodlines Book One

I love when heroes over come unconquerable odds, I love it even more when they fail. This is where” the journey” comes into play, most of us cannot see the forest through the trees. I personally struggle with this, especially when I am going to through some turbulent times in my life, and wonder what is the purpose? This question, becomes even more pertinent once one gets through their “personal hell to the other side, as you do become wiser, from the lessons you learned and you know your strength of will as you realize what you can endure.

We love even more when these heroes suffer some self-injury, when they are far from perfect, and when they adjust so they can survive another day. This what has fans loving and hating characters like Daredevil and Black Panther, as they symbolize this symmetry between perfection and imperfection. AS we all fall down, but what matters most is what we do next, as licking your wounds has never solved anything but fighting back has.  In the newest storyline of Eric Dean Seaton’s epic series, The Legend Of Mantamaji,  the series follow Elijah as he faces a new threat in the first book of Bloodlines.

We find Elijah months later, still fighting injustice in his hero life but finding losses in his professional life and still reeling from the loss of his mother.  Not sure of how to get out of this slump, he gets an invite from an old, or shall I say an ex-girlfriend, who just so happens, to be the princess of a small but powerful Afrikan nation, who holds secrets, that if exposed, may be dangerous to outsiders. If that I not enough, a new threat emerges, one that is slowly taking over New York, one more sinister than he could have ever imagined. By book’s end, much more is revealed of who his old girlfriend, Yola really is and just how this new threat and her enemies might mean doom for all involved.

Overall, this book is probably one of the best installments out of this series thus far. It feels more personal and just as action packed. The story Eric Dean Seaton and David Ellis Dickerson is intricate, balanced and exciting. The art by Brandon Palas, Andrew Dalhouse and Deron Bennett is gorgeous and vibrant. Altogether, an entertaining new series that proves this hero is here to stay and deserves as much light as any hero from the big two.

Story: Eric Dean Seaton and David Ellis Dickerson
Art: Brandon Palas, Andrew Dalhouse and Deron Bennett

Story: 10 Art: 9.0 Overall: 9.7 Recommendation: Buy

Review: Legend of the Mantamaji: Book One

When it comes to mythology, much of it is skewed in interpretations, versus actual first-person accounts. Any avid viewer of History Channel, can tell you, that many accounts that were written, have been both proven and disproven many times over, and as each of these specials tend to roll out experts who are supposedly smarter than the other.it is very much like an uncle once told me, about why people kill each other, because:” there can only be one person to tell his-tory”. Sometimes the truth is much less romantic than historians want us to know and more enigmatic than the world can comprehend.

It would make you wonder if there was truth in the King Arthur myth, as there are historical records that show him as a real historical figure. I always wondered did any of those characters that surrounded him exist. Especially the villains, as they were his worst torment and ultimately lead to his downfall. In the this first book of The Legend of Mantamaji, a man who thought who he knew about himself, gets his life turned upside down.

We are introduced to Assistant District Attorney, Elijah Alexander, a rising star in city politics, who leads a normal life, has a girlfriend and was raised by a single mother. Elijah, soon finds out from a mysterious man from his mother’s past, that he his and his family not ordinary, and those stories he read as a child, were all true, as they belong to an ancient race of warriors, known as Mantamaji, and he has powers he has to learn to wield as an ancient foe has returned to wreak havoc. He is soon learning to full weight of his powers to stop the menace. By the end of this first book, someone close to Elijah dies and a friend looks to be not who they say they are.

Overall, an excellent book, which shows the world, that heroes come in all shapes and colors, and doing the right thing always matters. The story by Eric Dean Seaton is captivating and larger-than-life, providing an excellent introduction. The art by Brandon Palas is vibrant and stunning. Altogether, an epic which provides depth and heart in the superhero genre.

Story: Eric Dean Seaton Art: Brandon Palas
Story:10 Art:10 Overall:10 Recommendation: Buy

Exclusive! New Episodes of Legend of the Mantamaji: Behind the Scenes on Graphic Policy

CEfbo_1UgAANsx2What does it take to bring a graphic novel from the colored page to the small screen? Legend of the Mantamaji creator, TV director Eric Dean Seaton (NBC, TBS, Disney, Nickelodeon etc.) decided to answer that question and create another way to promote the sword and sorcery series by producing a live action short based on the first book in the Legend of the Mantamaji series.

Legend of the Mantamaji tells the story of Elijah Alexander, a cocky, media-hungry, thoughtless Assistant D.A., who learns his childhood bedtime legends are actually the true stories of his heritage. Elijah is the last of a race of noble, mystical knights known as the Mantamaji. He is now a hunted man charged with ridding the world of an ancient evil no other Mantamaji has ever been able to defeat.

Legend of the Mantamaji Storyboards“The digital short and web series something fun for fans of the series, and comics fans in general,” Seaton said. “It helps new readers understand what the series is all about and I get to combine two things I love – comics and directing.”

In addition to creating the Live Action, Seaton also shot behind the scenes footage he’s releasing weekly as a weekly web series Legend of the Mantamaji: Behind the Scenes on YouTube.

The web series follows Seaton’s production team over three days as he films the short showing the actors (including stuntmen from Captain America: Winter Soldier and Batman v Superman) coordinating stunts, creating special effects and all the behind the scenes stuff people like to watch. Graphic Policy has the exclusive on this week’s episodes that focuses on image scanning with Gentle Giant Studios and the movie magic behind kicking in a door.

Episode 4

Episode 5

Legend of the Mantamaji Book One Page 6“An independent publisher with a new superhero is a definite underdog,” Seaton said. “You have to get past people’s bias about indie comics, while coming up with new ways to get people interested. It’s a challenge, but worth it, this is really a dream come true.”

Learn more about Legend of the Mantamaji and pick up the books on Amazon, comiXology, in Barnes and Nobles and comic book shops across the country or on the Legend of the Mantamaji website.

You can follow Eric Dean Seaton on Twitter, and Legend of the Mantamaji on Twitter and Facebook.

TV Director Brings Diverse Sword & Sorcery Series to C2E2

Legend of the MantamajiThe brainchild of one of the hottest directors on the small screen, Eric Dean Seaton‘s Legend of the Mantamaji, with its high-flying adventure, brilliant art and fast-paced action, is landing at the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo, C2E2, this weekend. The series brings together diverse characters that are not tied to stereotypes and has gained the recognition of critics, fans and award committees alike. He’ll be located at Booth #136.

With ancient knights, fire swords and 3,000 year old legends, Legend of the Mantamaji is just the kind of graphic novel fantasy lovers dream of – and the kind of series that is changing the face of superheroes in comics. The series was nominated for a prestigious Glyph Comics Award.

Eric Dean Stenton C2E2Legend of the Mantamaji tells the story of Elijah Alexander, an Assistant D.A. who has learned that his childhood storybook legends are actually the true stories of his heritage and that he is the last of a race of mystical knights known as the Mantamaji. After realizing he’s only part human, Elijah struggles with the shift in his world and becomes a hunted man charged with ridding the world of an ancient evil no other Mantamaji has ever been able to defeat. The full-color, action packed series has hair-raising plot twists and smart storytelling for all superhero fans.

The books feature artwork by Brandon Palas, colorist Andrew Dalhouse, and lettering by Deron Bennett.