HARRYHAUSEN PARTNERS WITH BLUEWATER PRODUCTIONS

[MattBrady]

He’s one of the older “new creators” to come to comics – legendary filmmaker Ray Harryhausen has joined with BlueWater Productions to produce six titles based on his classic science fiction and fantasy series, advancing the storylines from the classic films. Three titles are coming up later this year: Wrath of the Titans, 20 Million Miles to Earth, and Sinbad: Rogue of Mars. In addition, Harryhausen will plot a story for BlueWater’s The 10th Muse, which will be scripted by Scott Lobdell. The comics will all carry the “Ray Harryhausen Presents” trade dress.

“Ray Harryhausen was doing a promotion book tour up in my home town,” explained BlueWater President Darren Davis when asked how the relationship with Harryhausen began. “Along with the book tour he was showing some of his films at the local theater. There was a meet and great afterwards and I got to meet him. I have been a huge fan of his films and he is one of the inspirations for me taking legends like ISIS and the Muses and turning them into comic series. I gave him a copy of my books and thanked him for the inspiration. His agent was standing there and I asked if they would be interested in doing something new together and they were opened to it. I didn’t really want to do an adaptation of the films, though - we wanted to do something that was inspired by the films that he did. So, with his guidance we came up with a roster of creations and worked with him to develop them. Having him take on the 10th Muse was inspired by Stan Lee doing a different take on Wonder Woman a few years back.”

"As an artist, I've always enjoyed exploring new and interesting areas," Harryhausen said in a release. "Although many of my feature films, beginning with The 7th Voyage of Sinbad, were adapted into the comic book format, I have never been directly involved with that particular art form - until now. I am very happy to be working with BlueWater Productions, who have already done wonderful work with their 10th Muse and Isis comic books, and look forward to seeing characters from my films in new and exciting adventures."

As for the titles themselves, Davis explained the titles sounding familiar to Harryhausen’s classic works is indicative of their relation to the source material.

“Sinbad: Rogue of Mars was going to be a movie that Ray was going to produce after Clash of the Titans that never got off the ground,” Davis said. “We wanted to bring it to life for him. I thought it would make an amazing comic series do to, given how far out it was. Wrath of the Titans takes place five years after the film, 20 Million Miles from Earth takes place 40 years in the future and Sinbad is on the another planet, so they’re all directly tied to the original films, but definitely set in their own ‘worlds.’”

Davis also noted that each issue of BlueWater’s comics will feature four pages of original Harryhausen art, and that a comic based on Jason and the Argonauts will be part of the second wave of titles.

And while Wrath of the Titans and 10th Muse are due out for a December release, with the other titles due in January, comics aren’t the only direction in which the partnership between Harryhausen and BlueWater will travel.

“We do also want to develop the new ideas as films, television or animated series,” Davis said. “We have a film financing company on board to do this with us, so this is not just a comic license. I wanted to make sure that Ray was a part of this. We’re also having him come up with some brand new ideas that we will develop.”

Harryhausen will be at the San Diego Comic-Con July 21 and 22 with the BlueWater team, where he'll sign posters from the upcoming series. Further details will be available on the BlueWater website, www.bluewaterprod.com

[nietoperz]

Wow. This looks amazing!

[King Ghidora]

I love Ray Harryhausen's films! Hopefully the comics will be good as well.

[ToneyT]

Harryhausen ROCKS!!!!

Can't wait to check these out!!!!!!!

[Egg]

All of these books are on my list to get! Cannot wait!

[kingofcities]

This is so cool! Who would have ever thought something like this would happen? I am all over Titans and Sinbad.

[sebzero11]

I love when my childhood memories swing back around!
Ray Harryhausen is the man!

[Grendel Prime]

Whoa. I seriously thought Harryhausen was dead.
Glad to hear you're not dead, Ray.

[mdhprime]

Wow!!!! I have always loved Ray Harryhausen's films (particularly Jason and the Argonauts) and I can't wait to read his new stories. I hope they launch the comics so successfully that they make the films and in his original style. The things he was able to do with little or no technology were simply amazing and still hold up to this day!

[Dave_Garcia]

How can anyone say no to Sinbad on Mars?

[Derek Ruiz]

Very Awesome...Go Darren and Team BWP.

[skeletorjr]

GIVE US BACK THE EYEEEEEE!

[captain spectre]

Ouch, I was hoping for better art styles. I grew up with Ray's movies, but gotta pass on this.

[Blackhawkaaaa!]

This looks pretty good- why hasn't anyone done this before? I'll give Titans & Sinbad a try...but if Bluewater doesn't give these a top-notch art team, I'll have to drop 'em fast. BW has these great books with good concepts, but the art is horrible on most. Isis was a good example. Note to BW- not everyone likes this sketchy "street-style" art as shown on the cover of Sinbad.. Get an ILLUSTRATOR for these books, they deserve the best, not someone who's art background involves painting on subway cars.

[Jon Malin]

Cool, I love Clash of the Titans so I'll at least check out Wrath to feel it out. Calibos can be drawn so freakin hellishly cool in a comic, his cameo on the cover has me worried though. Kraken looks sweet.

-Jon

[GeekBob]

Sold!!!!

[Derek Ruiz]

Originally Posted by Jon Malin

Cool, I love Clash of the Titans so I'll at least check out Wrath to feel it out. Calibos can be drawn so freakin hellishly cool in a comic, his cameo on the cover has me worried though. Kraken looks sweet.

-Jon

Why thats what he looks like. A demon with curly hair.

[Kolimar]

Heh, I saw First Men On The Moon, Jason and the Argonauts, Clash of the Titans and the Sinbad movies a couple of months ago. I loved every minute of it.

The idea is not bad and these covers look nice but I'd have to see some interior art to generate a true opinion.

[Bakema NL]

Originally Posted by Dave_Garcia

How can anyone say no to Sinbad on Mars?

That one sounded the most interesting to me....but the art looks the least interesting.
I'd like to see some interiors and go from there, could be interesting.

[AdamYJ]

I hope at least one of these comics has a skeleton sword-fight scene in it.

[astronato]

Ray Harryhausen is my idol. God I love those films.

Wrath of the Titans, 20 Million Miles from Earth, and Sinbad: Rogue of Mars will be mine and I may have to check out 10th Muse.

Dear Blue Water....More stuff like this please!

Has anyone seen his The Story of the Tortoise & the Hare? it was begun in the 50's but went unfinished until 2002. And guess what? He's still got it!

thank you Ray Harryhausen.

[Royal Nonesuch]

Originally Posted by Grendel Prime

Whoa. I seriously thought Harryhausen was dead.
Glad to hear you're not dead, Ray.

He just had a birthday only a week or so ago. I believe he's well into his 80's.

[comixcollctr]

Originally Posted by captain spectre

Ouch, I was hoping for better art styles. I grew up with Ray's movies, but gotta pass on this.

I agree. More old school classic art style would have been better suited for these books. Frank Cho or Brett Blevins on Clash of the Titans spin-off would be awesome.
I hate those psuedo Manga,Grafitti large hands and feet for no reason styles.

[JediMaster]

Wow! I remember as a kid reading the comic adaptation of Clash of the Titans and going ape-sh!t crazy for it! I was always surprised that there wasn't a comic series that followed that adaptation.

[Phries]

lol. I was one day ahead with this on the forum and no one cared enough to reply

http://www.newsarama.com/forums/showthread.php?t=76066