Tag Archives: noir caesar entertainment

Crowdfunding Corner: Noir Caesar x Osamu Tezuka Productions Collaborate for a Graphic Novel Update of Tezuka’s Classic Manga Alabaster

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Noir Caesar Entertainment has announced a collaboration with Osamu Tezuka Productions to develop an updated graphic novel of Tezuka’s classic manga – Alabaster – and the launch of a Kickstarter campaign for its publication.

Alabaster will be written by the award-winning Bitter Root writer/co-creator Chuck Brown with artwork by renowned illustrator, Anna Weiszczyk.

Reimagined for a new generation of readers as a contemporary graphic novel from Noir Caesar, Alabaster reinterprets Ralph Ellison’s novel “The Invisible Man,” and follows a former successful Black athlete, James Block, who is framed by his girlfriend and wrongfully imprisoned. While inside, James befriends a disgraced scientist that gives him the solution to his problems—a laser gun that either turns its subject invisible or kills them upon usage. After serving his prison sentence and locating the device, James disfigures himself in a failed experiment that turns him partially translucent, like alabaster. Angry, vengeful, and with a new identity, Alabaster wreaks havoc on bigots and hypocrites alike.

The campaign runs until November 3, 2023 at 7:05 AM EDT.

Xogenasys Vol. 1 kicks off the future of gladiatorial sports

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Xogenasys Vol. 1

The future has grown into a decadent, overcrowded gang-ridden cesspool. If you’re not living uptown, you might as well be dead. Such is the case of Darius Smith, an artistic youth living in the hood, doing his best to avoid trouble and live life. Unfortunately, Darius has a hidden talent — he’s an explosive fighter! This makes him the target of several gangs and pits him in many brawls, landing him in the sight of the honorable Timothy Mustafa, a powerful prince. Xogenasys Vol. 1 introduces us to the future where a new gladiatorial sport provides a possibly even more brutal path for Darius.

With a concept by Johnny O’Bryant III and written by Tre McIntosh, Xogenasys Vol. 1 is an intriguing start that mixes a few different concepts. We’re given just breadcrumbs when it comes to what this future is like. The story takes place in 2069 and there’s a clear disparity between the people. Darius attempts to do the right thing but his defending himself is spun into assault by the police sending Darius down a difficult path. When in reality, Darius is attempting to defend himself, and his neighborhood, against local gangs. But, that puts him on a path to be a fighter.

There’s a lot to chew on with just that tidbit. There’s a reflection of the modern slave pipeline of the police trumping up charges to deliver new workers to those who exploit them. But, Darius exploitation still comes in the form of another path with a deal that’s too good to be believed. And likely is too good to be believed. Building wealth off of the work of certain groups, whether in prison or sports, is an idea that’s worthy of exploration and Xogenasys Vol. 1 feels like it dances around the concept.

For those that don’t want to go that deep in their entertainment, it also provides the sport itself. A MMA like entertainment, Xogenasys is a combat sport that adds in powered exoskeletons into the combat. Will Darius become a champion, living up to the potential he’s shown. For those that want to focus on that, there’s more than enough there to entertain.

With art by Nikolas Draper-Ivery, Xogenasys Vol. 1 is visually intriguing. The comic is inspired by manga with a lot of the visual queues that genre takes. There’s some moments where the art looks a little rough and unfinished but it also feels like it fits the story overall. The design of the world is nice. While it is in the future, and things are still rather shitty, the world still feels familiar. It doesn’t take the concept of the future too far, even when it comes to its exoskeleton fights. It’s almost reserved in a way.

Xogenasys Vol. 1 shows off a lot of potential in its story and its underlying themes. It’s entertaining for those who just like sports like MMA and delivers a little more under the surface. Overall, one to check out if you haven’t heard of it before.

Concept: Johnny O’Bryant III Story: Tre McIntosh Art: Nikolas Draper-Ivey
Story: 7.5 Art: 7.5 Overall: 7.5 Recommendation: Read

Tokyopop provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Amazon – Bookshop

Review: Allure #1

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Allure

Scarlett Johansson is one of those actors whose very presence onscreen is both polarizing and enigmatic. Her movies early on were of the girl next door as was seen in The Man Who Wasn’t There and An American Rhapsody. Of course, as she grew older and appeared in more movies, her roles became more centered and eventually, the camera could not elude her gaze. Her real star turn for most came in the severely underrated Ghost World which showed teenage angst in its most realistic reflection.

Of course these days, she is more known for another classic iconic character, Black Widow, who was last seen in the Avenger films but will be in her own film. Movie fans will appreciate her more complicated roles like what she played in Jojo Rabbit. Then there are the somewhat convoluted but fun stories like Lucy, where she plays a drug mule, who turns on her bosses due to the illegal narcotic she smuggles. In the debut chapter of Noir Ceasar’s action-packed series, Allure- The Evening Primrose, we find another stoic protagonist whose circumstances are beyond her control until now.

We meet Akane Koizumi, a Yakuza assassin in Tokyo, who ponders about her future and gets a bit sentimental, wondering how she got to this point. As we find out that she is more than your typical assassin, learning a skill known as Allure, which makes her a Death bringer, an assassin whose eyes change to unleashed their heightened abilities which only a few have, and can get anyone out of any situation. Which the reader sees first hand on the job she is on in this issue, quickly taking out a pair of twin sister guards. By the issue’s end, her normal temperament reassumes her consciousness, as she looks to kill one of the guards, as her conscience barely holds her back up as weighs on the decision.

Overall, an engaging story that feels like it was birthed in the world of Kill Bill but with a much more intriguing protagonist. The story by Nathan Peters is fun and bloody. The art by Reb Pierre is awe-inspiring. Altogether, a tale which palpitates with a world the reader will want more of.

Story: Nathan “ Sinitus Tempo” Peters Art: Reb Pierre
Story: 9.0 Art: 9.0 Overall: 9.0 Recommendation: Buy