Hey everyone! It’s been a minute! Apologies for such a long delay between editions, it’s been a tricky start to the year, we currently have several projects winding down or wrapping up, which has meant that Michael and I are stretched thin as we work to stick landings and get things across the plate (while also running our other books and secret things). One of these secret projects, which we’ve been working on for almost three years, was actually just announced today!
In late October of 2019, I was at a convention in Nova Scotia, working on the early stages of a story that would become Radiant Black. Marcelo Costa was trying some costume designs and after a round concepts and some back and forth ideas, he sent the design. Fully formed. All right there. I was walking back to my hotel in ten degree weather and literally stopped in my tracks when I saw it on my phone. It was perfect and it was then that I felt like the book had a real shot to work.
I have a small group of close friends, most of whom are frequent and consistent collaborators, and whenever we get something awesome in… it’s not uncommon for us to share. I immediately sent the design to basically all of my friends…
…including Bear, who is both a close friend and also the biggest film, music, video game, Ninja Turtle fan I know. He called me immediately, wanting to know more. What was I planning? Was I building something new? We hadn’t talked in a few months which meant there should have been about fifteen projects between us to catch up on. But this time, there wasn’t. I was focused entirely on Radiant Black and walked him through the approach, working to build something of my own, moving away from playing in others’ sandboxes, etc. Coincidentally, Bear was in a similar place. We stayed on the phone for a solid hour— for some reason I stayed outside— because that’s when he first pitched me… The Singularity.
At this point, it was just an album— but it was well under way and already ambitious as all hell. Amazingly, over the next two years, it would only grow.
The thing about Bear, and it’s probably why we get along so well, is there is no half-measure. If he’s going to do something, he goes all in… which, if you’re reading this newsletter, you probably can understand how much that resonates for me. So, it was and wasn’t really a surprise when Bear called me in April of 2021 with a new idea. Instead of just an epic concept album… what if The Singularity also incorporated a massive, sweeping sci-fi graphic novel to accompany it?
Yeah, what if?
Enter Mat Groom and one of the boldest pitches I’ve seen, devising a narrative concept and journey that would allow for integration with the album and the actual track order itself in a way that hasn’t ever really been done before, including speeches from the book that are also performed on the album by Lee Pace (Foundation, The Hobbit trilogy), Danai Gurira (Black Panther, The Walking Dead), and Ryan Hurst (Sons of Anarchy, God of War Ragnarök).
Three years later, I am thrilled to report that the book is basically done and it slaps.
Here’s the official solicit:
“How much loss can one soul endure?
Blue Eyes can’t stop being reborn. He tumbles from life to life, from one unthinkably strange universe to the next—the only constant that, one way or another, everything that he learns to love is lost. But when Blue Eyes finally catches up to a mysterious figure he’s seen recurring throughout his lives, he realizes he might just have a chance to escape his cursed immortality—or, at very least, exact revenge for it.
Inspired by, and a companion to, award-winning composer Bear McCreary's original concept album of the same name, THE SINGULARITY, created by Bear McCreary with writer Mat Groom (INFERNO GIRL RED) and produced by Black Market Narrative, sees a cavalcade of comics’ greatest artists convene under the guidance of creative director Kyle Higgins (RADIANT BLACK, MOON MAN, DEEP CUTS), to tell a sweeping, cosmic story about learning the value of what is truly meaningful in life, in thousands of lives, while splashing from one dazzling vision of reality to the next.”
Oh, and that cavalcade of artists? It includes—
Ramón K. Pérez
Danilo Beyruth
Matias Bergara
Federico Bertoni
Eleonora Carlini
Lorenzo Colangeli
Valeria Favoccia
Eduardo Ferigato
Marco Locati
Helena Masellis
John J. Pearson
Simone Ragazzoni
Rod Reis
Riccardo Robaldo
Stefano Simeone
with Toby Cypress and Morgan Sorne
Colors by Natalia Marquis and Rod Fernandes, lettered by Becca Carey, edited and designed by Michael Busuttil and creative directed by me.
It’s an insane roster of collaborators, only matched by the equally insane lineup of artists on the album. I mean, check this out—
Slash (Guns N’ Roses)
Serj Tankian (System of a Down)
Rufus Wainwright
Corey Taylor (Slipknot)
Jens Kidman (Meshuggah)
Joe Satriani
Dharma (Blue Öyster Cult)
Asdru Sierra (Ozomatli)
Gaelic rapper and poet Griogair
Kim Thayil (Soundgarden)
Scott Ian (Anthrax)
Brendon Small (Metalocalypse)
Billy Boyd (The Lord of the Rings trilogy)
Faroese singer Eivør
Guthrie Govan and Bryan Beller (The Aristocrats)
Mike Keneally (Zappa)
Ben Weinman (The Dillinger Escape Plan)
Steve Bartek and John Avila (Oingo Boingo)
Warren Fitzgerald (The Vandals)
South African metal singer Esjay Jones
Iceland’s Sigurjón Kjartansson (HAM)
Raya Yarbrough (Outlander)
Mega Ran
Gene Hoglan (Strapping Young Lad, Dethklok)
“Brendan McCreary also co-wrote and co-produced the album and sings lead vocals on eight songs. Though undeniably hard rock, the music also bursts with cinematic energy from use of live orchestra, choir, and international colors including Japanese taikos, Balinese gamelan, bagpipes, and nyckelharpa.
The album’s accompanying story is first revealed in three spoken-word monologues, lifted directly from the pages of the graphic novel (Image Comics). These scenes are performed on the album by Lee Pace (Foundation, The Hobbit trilogy), Danai Gurira (Black Panther, The Walking Dead), and Ryan Hurst (Sons of Anarchy, God of War Ragnarök).”
And to coincide with the announcement, Bear has dropped his first single from the album— featuring Rufus Wainwright.
And to coincide with Bear’s drop, we’re dropping our first chapter from the graphic novel. This isn’t the first chapter of the book, but instead is the chapter that corresponds to the above single, Type III. Script by Mat Groom, art by Rod Reis, lettering by Becca Carey.
There’s going to be so much more to come and talk about on this project in the coming weeks, I can’t wait to share more. For now though, you can head to Bear’s site to pre-order the record, book, and even pick up concert tickets (!!) for the debut show in Los Angeles on May 12.
Moon Man Launch
On Wednesday, January 31, we kicked off the release of Moon Man with one of the coolest launch parties I’ve ever been a part of. Shout out to the incredible Revenge Of for being so good at what they do. We have video of the panel that I’ll be putting up soon but in the meantime, here are a few photos from the event courtesy of photographer Matt Eaton!
Speaking of Moon Man— and since I haven’t done one of these since the book debuted— the first issue sold out at the distributor on the day of release. We fast tracked a second printing, which will be in stores on Wednesday, February 28. We’re running a little behind on issue 2, but the rest of the arc will come out monthly after that.
Of course, I always encourage everyone to support their local comic book store and to snag a physical copy when they’re able to, but if you’re not able to or if you prefer reading digitally, then I’ve got something exciting to tell you about.
Thanks to the awesome folks at Omnibus, we’ve built a dedicated Moon Man hub— you can buy and read the book, digitally, right there as well as listen to the new music (via your favorite service) that Scott is going to be releasing for certain issues of the book. Like this first track, featuring Denzel Curry.
You can find everything at http://moonmancomic.com.
Black Market Narrative x Kelly McMahon Moon Man
One other bit on Moon Man— an update on our limited edition Black Market Narrative x Kelly McMahon variant! The books are signed and will start being delivered over the next few days! They turned out incredibly sharp, the soft touch finish and spot gloss absolutely sing.
Also, we still have a few copies left so if you had any interest, now would be the time. Only 350 made, these are all first printings and with the book sold out, I don’t imagine we’ll have these for too much longer.
Okay, that’s going to do it for me today! Next week, we’ll be back to talk about our new releases, Deep Cuts 5 and Radiant Black 28 and 28.5! Get your tissues ready!
Oh, and if you’re thinking about attending C2E2 in April and dig The Massive-Verse? You’re going to definitely want to be on the lookout for our upcoming panel announcement. Just saying :) More info on that soon!
Stay Radiant!
Kyle
Los Angeles