Kabuki’s Strange Magic

David Mack’s Signature Creation Returns in January!

ORANGE, CA — 5 December, 2003 —

With another killer arc on Marvel’s Daredevil under his belt and an upcoming stint on Ultimate X-Men in his future, David Mack is returning to his signature creation in 2004 with an all-new six-issue miniseries, Kabuki: The Alchemy.

Scheduled to begin in January, Kabuki: The Alchemy will follow up on the events of Mack’s last KABUKI miniseries, a nine-issue miniseries that ran from 1997-2000, garnering multiple Eagle and Eisner Award nominations. Mack is quick to point out, however, that while the new story unfolds in the aftermath of what became known as the “Metamorphosis” storyline, Kabuki: The Alchemy is actually the perfect starting point for readers just now experiencing his unique approach via his Marvel work.

.

“This is really a great place for new readers to start, because the new series marks the beginning of a brand new era in Kabuki’s life,” Mack explains. “It is NOT going to recap anything from the previous stories, though, and reading the earlier series isn’t essential to understanding the primary thrust of the new story. I’ve made sure that all six Kabuki trade paperbacks are in print, so I hope people will use that as an opportunity to read everything that has come before if they want to catch up on what has happened prior to this point. Anyone who does will love the contrast between the old and the new, as well as the oblique and subtle nods to Kabuki’s past.”

Mack is also pleased to announce that Kabuki: The Alchemy will allow readers to see the fruition of a number of seeds planted in earlier stories.

“One of the best things about this series is that readers are going to see story elements grow out of things they didn’t even know were seeds before,” Mack chuckles. “Now, though, they’ll see them blossom into something spectacular and mindblowing.

“The truth is, anyone familiar with this series will want to go back and read the previous stories again after they get into Kabuki: The Alchemy, because they’re going to see them in a new way. They will still hold the same charm they always did, but there’s a brand new perspective to appreciate them from with this new series. It will be like looking at pictures of yourself as a child. We all appreciate those pictures for what they were, what they represent, but now as adults, we can see how those moments shaped our present lives.”

Mack says that Kabuki: The Alchemy chronicles Kabuki’s current incarnation, adding that in many ways, it’s a story of self-actualization that could serve as an instruction manual for creating a new life based on one’s personal aspirations and interests.

“It’s essentially a recipe and blueprint for creating your own reality, your own career and your own fresh start. It’s a spell for creating your own magic, taking the baggage of your life and turning it into something positive and useful. Turning your garbage into gold.”

In addition to fleshing out Kabuki’s new life, Mack is also going to be dipping into the past by unveiling some of the earliest Kabuki sketches. Interestingly enough, though, not all of the sketches are by Mack himself.

“Most people may not know that I only intended to write Kabuki,” Mack noted. “I met Brian Bendis in 1993 and originally, he was going to draw KABUKI from my script. This will be the very first time that I have ever published his Kabuki drawings from ten years ago!”

Kabuki: The Alchemy also marks the tenth anniversary of Mack’s creation, and both Image and Mack have plans in motion to celebrate in grand style.

“David is a truly unique talent, and we have a project in the works designed to highlight the incredible artistry that makes Kabuki so special,” said Image’s Director of Marketing, Eric Stephenson. “In the meantime, we couldn’t be more thrilled with David’s return to KABUKI. The trade paperback collections of this series are among our strongest sellers and this is a book readers consistently ask us about at conventions and via email. This new series is going to be well worth the wait!”

“David Mack continues to expand the parameters of the graphic medium with his innovative approach to the form,” added Image Publisher/Vice-President Jim Valentino. “Image is proud of our association with this creative powerhouse and privileged to present his creator-owned masterpiece to the world.”

Kabuki: The Alchemy #1 (NOV03 1261 D2) is solicited in the November issue of Previews and is scheduled to reach comic book stores on January 28. Retailers ordering 25 copies or more will also receive a free limited edition print, signed by Mack.