Summary
Johnny O’Brynt III, former NBA player and pop artist recently teamed up withOsamu Tezuka Productions, to bring readers a fresh perspective on one ofTezuka’s most beloved works,ALABASTER. After foundingNoir Caeser Entertainment, O’Brynt, along with a small diverse team has produced content for film, TV, comics, and merchandising.
Their primary mission is to assemble art and support creators from marginalized communities in everyday media.The Evolution of Autumn Walters,Soul x Search, andGale Runnersare a few of their creations - additionally, they are also open to collaborations for those who want to kickstart a project of their own!
RELATED:Dororo: The Side of the Samurai You Never Saw
ALABASTER
Following the original storyline with a handful of narrative alterations,ALABASTERis about aformer Black athlete, James Block, who’s betrayed by his girlfriend and wrongfully imprisoned. However, he meets a mysterious mad scientist who tells him of a strange gun, explaining to James that it can either kill or turn subjects invisible. Upon release, he discovers it and in a failed experiment on himself, his skin turns translucent, giving him a sickly appearance. Though with this new revelation, James resolves to become “Alabaster”, a vigilante who hunts down hypocrites and wrongdoers.
The Cast and Crew
Chuck Brown ofMarvelandDark Horse Comicsfame, will be in charge ofwriting the story’s narrative. Based in South Carolina, and with 18 years of experience under his belt, he has also co-created and written forRotten,Zenescope Entertainment, and12-Gauge Comics. Thanks to his award-winning record, Brown’s newest novel,Bitter Rootis planned for a film adaptation byLegendary Entertainment.
Anna Weiszczyk, a Polish artist, will be in charge of the illustrations forALABASTER. If her work seems familiar, it’s because she’s also illustrated forAlterna Comics,Image,Archaia,Black Mask Studios, andStrange Circus.
RELATED:Anime Expo: An Exclusive Interview with Yoko Taro and The Team Behind KamiErabi GOD.App
The Kickstarter
So far, the Kickstarter forALABASTERhas reached $1,379 of its $30,000 pledge goal. For those interested, available rewards ranging from $15 to $2,500 can be purchased, which include a digital PDF; a digital deluxe version with interviews and exclusive artwork; the physical edition; 2 separate physical copies with alternate artwork; a digital collection of all ofNoir Caeser Entertainment’s works published withTokyo Pop, includingALABASTER,and a physical collection of the former. There’s also a bundle with 3 cover variants ofALABASTER;a bundle with one item of each of the former rewards; a signed edition bundle; all of the above with a personalized message and behind-the-scenes content; and a bundle with not only everything, but also a rare high-quality copy of one of the original pagesillustrated by Osamu Tezukahimself. All rewards are estimated to be delivered in 2024, while the campaign is scheduled to run until November 3rd of this year.
The Legacy
Osamu Tezuka is more than a household name, and he is often referred to as, “the godfather of anime”. With such a large influence on both Japanese animation and Western media alike,his stories continue to live on almost 100 yearsafter his initial debut in 1946 withDiary of Ma-chan. Regarding their collaboration withNoir Caeseron this exciting new project, Yoshimi Suzuki, Head of International Partnerships of Tezuka Productions Co. stated,
“If Osamu Tezuka were alive and met Johnny O’Bryant today, he would have shown great interest in working with a team of and young multi-talented artists from diversified cultural backgrounds that have a deep love toward Japanese anime and manga. I can’t help but expect great synergy generated betweenAlabasterand the unique cultural backgrounds Noir Caesar and their creative team bring. I hope Noir Caesar fully displays their creativity in this project.”
Support the Kickstarter campaignhere
