Press Release
As first revealed in the AT&T U-Verse documentary “Comic Book Artists: Next Generation,” about the Toronto-based collective artists studio, the Royal Academy of Illustration and Design (also known as RAID Studios), award-winning publisher BOOM! Studios is pleased to announce Joyride, an upcoming original series from its Archaia imprint created by the Hacktivist team of artist Marcus To and writers Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing.
Based on an idea To had when he was in high school, the project was developed jointly by the trio after they enjoyed working with each other on Hacktivist, the Archaia series from earlier this year created by actress and activist Alyssa Milano. In Joyride, when the Earth of the future becomes a totalitarian nightmare, three free-thinking teenagers bust free and discover real freedom in the vast reaches of unexplored space.
“Marcus is an incredibly talented artist we’ve seen evolve by leaps and bounds on Hacktivist and on Cyborg 009 before that, so when he, Collin, and Jackson approached us for a new original series with teenagers rocketing through space, we couldn’t turn it down,” said BOOM! Studios President of Publishing and Marketing Filip Sablik. “Their chemistry was so great on Hacktivist; it’s nice to see the old band back together with Jackson and Collin writing and Marcus on art. It’s going to be a blast, and we can’t wait to take everyone along for the ride.”
“Joyride is the culmination of everything I love about comics,” said To. “We’re excited to tell relevant stories that engage our young and boisterous fans.”
“This is the book we’ve been dying to write,” said Kelly and Lanzing. “Joyride is about friendship, anarchy, punk rock, and freedom—about following your heart, even when it leads you into the vast unknown. Working with Marcus on Hacktivist was incredible, but creating a new universe alongside him has given us a whole new appreciation for his talent. We’re insanely excited to be back at Archaia, telling new stories and exploring totally bonkers new worlds.”
ABOUT BOOM! STUDIOS
Founded by Ross Richie in 2005, Diamond Gem Award-winning “Best Publisher” BOOM! Studios (boom-studios.com) generates a constellation of best-selling Eisner and Harvey Award-winning original and licensed comic books and graphic novels with the industry’s top talent. BOOM! Studios is comprised of four distinct imprints. The original Studios imprint is home to Mike Carey’s Suicide Risk; James Tynion IV’s The Woods; Mark Waid’s Irredeemable; Sons of Anarchy; and Big Trouble in Little China. Steven Grant’s graphic novel 2 Guns was released as a feature film from Universal Pictures, starring Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg. BOOM!’s all-ages imprint KaBOOM! publishes Charles Schulz’ Peanuts; Jim Davis’ Garfield; Cartoon Network’s Adventure Time, Regular Show, The Amazing World of Gumball, and Steven Universe; Mike Kunkel’s Herobear and the Kid; and Natasha Allegri’s Bee and PuppyCat. BOOM!’s experimental imprint BOOM! Box publishes The Midas Flesh and Lumberjanes. In June 2013, BOOM! acquired Archaia Entertainment (archaia.com). Archaia is the Eisner and Harvey Award-winning graphic novel publisher of Mouse Guard, Cow Boy, Gunnerkrigg Court, Rust, and Jim Henson’s Tale of Sand. In October 2013, BOOM! Studios entered into a unique first-look relationship with 20th Century Fox, giving the studio access to its library of titles and giving the publisher access to Fox’s vast catalog of films. In August 2014, BOOM! Studios began a similar first-look relationship with 20th Century Fox TV to develop properties for the small screen.
