Shaquille O’Neal is setting sail into the comic book world! The basketball Hall of Famer and business mogul has partnered with Archie Comics to develop Vengeance Unchained: The Legend of Black Caesar, a new original comic book series coming this fall centered on the rise of one of history’s most mythological pirates, by Eisner-nominated writer Stephanie Williams with artwork by Ray-Anthony Height and Studio Sky-Tiger. Colin Smeeton, Mike Parris, and Matthew Gross from O’Neal’s Jersey Legends Productions/Authentic Studios are overseeing the project for the studio.
Described as a grounded, character-driven pirate epic, the project charts the transformation of an African king from royalty to slavery to a feared outlaw of the Caribbean, blending historical inspiration with cinematic storytelling. The project is positioned as a sprawling, franchise-ready narrative, combining the political complexity of Black Sails, the sweeping scope of Vikings, and the character-driven storytelling of Shōgun. The release described the tone as leans “Gladiator on the high seas,” with a focus on power, survival, and vengeance.
Growing up, I always loved stories about warriors who refused to quit. Black Caesar starts as a king, loses everything, and takes his freedom back on his own terms. That’s the kind of story I want to help tell. We built something that’s going to entertain you and make you think. I’m ready for the world to see what we created with Archie Comics, an iconic brand I have been a big fan of for many years. Archie has such an incredible legacy of storytelling, and being able to collaborate with a brand that has meant so much to generations of fans made this project even more exciting for me
-Shaquille O’Neal
For O’Neal, the project represents a move deeper into original IP creation, with a story that emphasizes legacy, identity, and the cost of freedom.
Vengeance Unchained: The Legend of Black Caesar is slated for release this year, with additional details to be announced at a later date.
Backer Beware: Crowdfunding projects are not guaranteed to be delivered and/or delivered when promised. We always recommend to do your research before backing.
Over 70 Black creators are teaming up with Advent Comics and over 30 comic book and graphic novel publishers for the cosmic crossover project Epiphany Engine, a 192-page graphic novel. The project is led by publishing legend Tony Kittrell and acclaimed editor and creator Joseph P. Illidge, who will serve as the Executive Story Editor. Epiphany Engine will feature an epic multiverse story, assembling iconic Black heroes and villains and original characters in an adventure that spans several chapters. Each chapter will showcase the work of a different creative team, giving Black creators from across the publishing world the opportunity to combine their powers. Readers and fans can back Epiphany Engine on Kickstarter when the project launches on Juneteenth, featuring a variety of exciting reward options.
Brandon Thomas will be launching the book by writing the first chapter; the book will also feature the work of popular creators such as Rodney Barnes, Chuck Patton, John Jennings, Jamal Igle, Colleen Douglas, Chriscross, and many more. Publishers involved in the project include 4th Wall Productions, Griot Enterprises LLC, Konkret Comics, and Second Sight Publishing, among many others.
Continuing the legacy of multiverse crossover stories such as DC’s Crisis on Infinite Earths and the family drama of Fantastic Four, Epiphany Engine follows the McKalis, a family of brilliant but grief-stricken scientists searching for their missing member Todd, who was lost in the multiverse after a botched experiment. However…their rescue attempt has accidentally ruptured the fabric of the multiverse, causing universes to bleed into each other and sending all four members into scattered destinations. The rupture has released a cosmic-level threat, the mysterious Abzylom, who wants to collapse and mold a new universe while destroying the McKalis. In order to save the multiverse and defeat their cosmic foe, the family must find each other and build an army of superheroes.
The McKali family is led by father Prof. Dwayne McKali, who is an incredibly brilliant explorer, but often myopic and overcontrolling, and mother Dr. Jackie McKali, a world-renowned physicist who is the balanced yang to Dwayne’s ying. In order to save the multiverse, the parents team up with their gifted kids, 19-year-old Jett McKali, an impulsive tech genius who is unafraid to jump into the fray, and 17-year-old Octavia McKali, a chemist and theorist who keeps the family together and on task. The family is inspired by historical and fictional icons like comics legend Dwayne McDuffie, iconic comic creator Jackie Ormes, Disney’s “The Famous Jett Jackson,” and award-winning Afrofuturist writer Octavia Butler.
Dwayne and Jackie’s son, 10-year-old Todd McKali, is a child prodigy who incorporates all of the specialties of his famous family. It’s Todd’s experiments with multiversal travel that accidentally cause the incident that loses him in the multiverse and creates the chaos that must be solved. The family is hunted by the villainous Abzylom, who has cosmic abilities beyond their understanding. Unhinged, sociopathic, psychopathic and incredibly brilliant, Abzylom has been traversing the multiverse and his body has become infused with the chaotic energies that bind and separate universes.
Along with these original characters, Epiphany Engine will share the stage with legendary Black characters such as:
Danny J. Quick ‘s 4th Wall Productions MMA ninja Aceblade
Lonzo Starr and Konkret Comics cosmic hero Akolyte
Andre Batts Urban Style Comics mystical protector Dreadlocks
Michael Watson’s Freestyle Komics powerful Hotshot
Ray Height/Studio Skye-Tiger‘s heroic vigilante Midnight Tiger
Jiba Molei Anderson/Griot Enterprises African deities superteam The Horsemen
Tony Kittrell/Advent Comics powerhouse Titan the Ultra Man
Quinn McGowan and Legends Press highflyer Wildfire
Vince White and The Powerverse’s classic hero Will Power
Each of these characters resonates with fans due to their relatability and heroic spirit, making them true icons in the comic book industry. These fan-favorite heroes and heroines are just the tip of the iceberg of the characters that will be appearing within the pages of the Epiphany Engine graphic novel.
Fans can now follow and save the Epiphany Engine page on Kickstarter in order to get reminders and updates. Rewards will include an option for fans to get a 1:1 creative consultation with Epiphany Engine producer Tony Kittrell and representatives from the creative and editorial teams. Other rewards will include original artwork, exclusive variants, boxed sets, and more. The Kickstarter will officially launch on Juneteenth (June 19) of this year. Fans who purchase the graphic novel will be mailed the book later in 2024.
