Urbance by Joël Dos Reis Viegas has had an unusual journey. It began as an animated short film developed at the studio he co-founded, Steambot Studios, went viral and earned a devoted international fanbase after a successful Kickstarter campaign. Yapiko Animation in Tokyo helped bring the 8-minute pilot to life in 2015, and the response was strong enough that Viegas took the world of Neopolis somewhere the animation couldn’t fully go: a four-volume comic series.
Now Magnetic Press and Oni Press are bringing the complete Urbance comic book saga to Kickstarter, and today I’ve got your first look at the slipcase editions that will be available as part of the campaign.
The story is set in Neopolis, where a mysterious virus has made physical contact between the sexes instantly fatal. These leads to absolute segregation: boys and girls raised apart, conditioned to fear each other, separated by a wall that’s split the city in two. Into that world comes N-Dorphin, an underground drug rumored to bypass the virus’s effects, and two teens, Kenzell and Lesya, risk everything to cross the divide. It’s been described as a bio-punk Romeo & Juliet in the style of Aeon Flux in a Jet Set Radio future, which should give you an idea of what to expect.
Viegas, a French Canadian art director and concept artist whose credits also include Batman: Arkham Origins and Godzilla, has described the comic series as a reflection of his passions, his art style and his fears.
“While the animated pilot only scratches the surface of what rules Neopolis, the graphic novel series dives much deeper into the dark side of the society and human tensions,” Dos Reis Viegas said. “Keeping the core elements — the virus, N-Dorphin, the protagonists, and Coevo — and reimagining a story about two youngsters, shaped by division, who are forced to come together against adversity. So I chose a more aggressive and dark visual treatment to better match the story’s more mature tone.”
The complete story runs 828 pages and will be available in multiple formats: a set of four premium 6×9″ softcovers featuring dynamic black-and-white artwork with full-color opening sequences, or a pair of deluxe limited edition hardcover collections. The Kickstarter campaign will also include a limited boxed set, an exclusive 48-page sketchbook, a 10th Anniversary edition of the sold-out Genesis of Urbance production art book, the 2014 Urbance Animation Dōjinshi, a limited-edition resin statue and more.
The Kickstarter campaign launches soon. Head to the pre-launch page now to sign up for updates.