Zenith Comics. With a bit of luck, comic book fans will come to know that name. Zenith Comics and the Zenith Comics Universe are the creations of Andrew Collas – a man who is passionate about comic books, gaming, and anything that has the ability to convey a great story. When I first met him a few years ago, I was introduced to his vision of what became the Zenith Comics Universe. This was done through various sessions in a pen-and-paper role-playing game and Andrew is a storyteller at heart.
The story he was crafting was a compelling one. When Andrew Collas founded Zenith Comics, their initial publishing forays began with gaming supplements for BASH, Villains & Vigilantes, and the Icons role-playing games in 2011. Their portfolio grew in 2012 when they acquired the Supers! Comic Book Role-Playing Game and, with Hazard Studios as a partner, more gaming material is on the horizon. That said, Andrew’s focus was to share his stories through a comic book medium.
Many people have dreams and wishes that we would want to come true but few have the courage to pursue these goals. He, on the other hand, has been working steadily for the past few years towards this. With a tightly written script and lots of enthusiasm, he was able to draw talented people to the project. These are people like Alex Williamson, who has worked for Vigilance Press, Catalyst Game Labs, Green Ronin Publishing, and Blackwyrm Games. He is also the co-creator and artist for the indie comic, Brass Falcon. You also have Nicolas Chapuis, a freelance artist, whose clients include Disney Hyperion, Dynamite Entertainment, and Image Comics. You also have HdE … a freelance comic book letterer who is best known for his work on the ongoing series ‘Legend of Oz: The Wicked West’ and ‘Ursa Minor’. These are people that have come to work on Heroic largely on the strength of the story alone.
That should give others something to think about. The importance of a story and, more importantly, the definition of what makes a hero is something that this comic book is about. Many comic book fans have grown up reading the varied tales published by the likes of Marvel and DC to name two titans of the industry. These same stories have become so familiar have also been transitioned to the big screen to reach a wider audience and delighting longtime fans. It is no surprise that these stories are regarded as today’s mythologies. They will continue to resonate with readers for years to come the same way the myths and heroes from Ancient Greece have done for centuries. Simply put: A lasting myth will resonate with audiences regardless of when these stories were written and the form they appear in. Zenith Comics is trying to do the same thing with Heroic to tell a good story which will hopefully resonate well after its been published.
We all have dreams and it is in our human nature to share these dreams. Right now, Zenith Comics wants to be able to tell this story. By checking out their Kickstarter, you’ll have a chance to read the script for the first issue … the first part of the story. Find out about some of the characters in this universe and check out some of the preliminary art. Between that, and the other information the Kickstarter provides and an impassioned video by Andrew himself, you can decide for yourself if this is a story you want to continue reading and, if you want to share in this dream. Sometimes, they do come true and, just sometimes, the attempt to strive for a sought-after goal becomes part of the story. If you’re curious, you can find more about the Kickstarter here:
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/412792115/zenith-comics-presents-heroic
– Pat Bellavance
