In other Syd Mead news, Shrapnel, a new graphic novel series featuring Mead’s mecha designs, debuts at this week at Comic-Con in San Diego. The story was spawned from a video game by Mark Long of Zombie Studios. He ended up collaborating with Nick Sagan (Carl’s son) and M. Zachary Sherman to turn it into a comic book. They hope a feature film will follow. I wouldn’t be surprised — the promotional video for the graphic novel is quite powerful. From Zombie Studios:
Shrapnel focuses on a future where humanity has reached out and colonized the Solar System and a Solar Alliance governs the planets similarly to the way ancient Rome dominated over their territories. Venus, the last free colony in the system, must do what it can to battle the domineering Marine forces of the Alliance in order to remain sovereign. Unbeknownst to the Marines, or even the Colonists themselves, one of the Alliance’s greatest heroes has exiled herself on the lost planet, hoping to escape the life she once knew as a soldier. Now, pulled back into the fold, she must teach the Colonists how to fight for their freedom and come to terms with her own past.
Shrapnel preview video (YouTube), Shrapnel site (Zombie Studios)
Previously on BBtv:
• Syd Mead with Joel Johnson, part 3: BLADE RUNNER.
• Joel Johnson interviews Syd Mead: part 1.
• Joel Johnson interviews Syd Mead: part 2.