Tag Archives: sandstorm comics

Sandstorm partners with Cation Arts for Primal Showdown

Posted on by
Primal Showdown

Sandstorm Comics and Cation Arts have announced their first partnership release with Primal Showdown, an all-new dueling card game, which will launch exclusively through the Kickstarter platform in 2024.

The game, which is being co-developed by Sandstorm and Mohamed Alqadi, whose previous credits include the massively successful All-Time Wrestling, which has now seen multiple record-smashing expansions, and One Earth; a game widely praised for its mission-centric approach to the fight against climate change, putting players directly into the environmental impacts of their decisions within the game to raise awareness around a global issue. Prior to that, Alqadi had developed Conqueror: The Final Conquest, which pitted players against each other as some of history’s great empires in a battle for global dominance. 

Each campaign was tremendously successful with the international gaming community, helping to put Abu Dhabi on the global stage for tabletop gaming and geek culture. Their unprecedented success today leads to the collaboration with the region’s exciting new comics art studio Sandstorm, led by Mo Abedin, and tapping resident artist Saroush Barazesh to take the gaming experience to the next level.

Cation Arts’ newest game Primal Showdown is inspired by some of the all-time greatest fighting games, as well as the most beloved parts of the All-Time Wrestling gameplay for an action-packed experience filled with drafting, rock-paper-scissors, bluffing, dice rolling, and push-your-luck elements, all in a battle of wits and strategy that can be played in under 5 minutes. The immersive world of Primal Showdown features over 25 unique characters, each impeccably designed by Saroush Bazaresh, and is guaranteed to delight gamers of all levels of experience with its quick action and easy-to-follow rules of play.

The game will debut at the inaugural Storm the Block event taking place on December 8-10 in Abu Dhabi, and attendees can register now for a tournament on the final day of the event at 3PM on Sunday December 10. Sign up here to reserve your spot!

Abu Dhabi’s first comic book studio premiers in December with Storm the Block

Posted on by

Sandstorm Comics, a soon-to-be unveiled new regional comics studio was first teased at the tenth annual Middle East Film and Comic Con in 2022. This revolutionary new organization made its first American appearance at Comic Con International in San Diego last month, where they began recruiting talent for their first-ever event in Abu Dhabi later this year.

Led by Mo Abedin, an Emirati industry leader and lifelong comic book creator himself, Sandstorm aims to put Abu Dhabi on the map of the global entertainment industry, by building the region’s comics ecosystem right from the heart of the UAE, to elevate local talent through unique opportunities not only in the region, but the world at large. The studio kicks off these efforts with the announcement of their inaugural comics and pop culture industry event, Storm the Block, scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi in early December.

Those who wish to submit a comic book project for consideration for development in partnership with Sandstorm’s international pool of talent can apply by visiting https://sandstormcomics.com/submissions/.

The inaugural Storm the Block will take place on December 8-10 in Abu Dhabi, with comics talent, animators, influencers, and creatives from around the world to be announced in the months leading up to the event. The first names from this prestigious guest list of international talent are announced alongside the event today, with the appearance of multiple artists from Superani, the world-renowned artist studio and collective. Other guests include Saroush Barazesh (Kings of Nowhere), Marvel and DC artist Bernard Chang, artist and director Chase Conley (The Boondocks, X-Men 97), Riccardo Federici, Sean “Cheeks” Galloway, Coran Kizer Stone (Kizerilla) Ron Marz (Green Lantern), Belén Ortega (Batman, The Joker), Gabriel Picolo (Teen Titans: Beast Boy), and Whyt Manga (Apple Black). US based publishers attending include Cryptozoic, DSTLRY, Mad Cave, Top Cow, and more. World-renowned Japanese retailer Kinokuniya will be offering a specially curated selection of books, stationary, and more. 

Sandstorm will also be releasing preview issues of their first 13 comic books created with local authors and renowned international artists. Storm the Block promises to be a unique experience for a global audience pairing the best in comic fandom with the vibrant city of Abu Dhabi.

Storm the Block