Immortal Studios, the world’s first studio creating an original and epic interconnected Wuxia storyverse, unveiled the first issue of their latest comic, Chronicles of the Immortal Swordsmen, a four-part series adaptation of legendary author Shiao Yi’s hit novel series.
Shiao Yi is one of the world’s most renowned authors of the modern wuxia genre, or martial arts fantasies centered onbringing justice to the oppressed. Wuxia stories have captivated Hollywood with films like “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” “Ip Man,” and inspired other blockbusters like “The Matrix” and Marvel’s more recent “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.”
Image Courtesy of Immortal Studios
Chronicles of the Immortal Swordsmen (CIS) is a story of transformation and personal empowerment. It follows Phil Du, a struggling Chinese American college student, as he enters an order of mystical warriors being frayed by civil war as a cataclysmic “reckoning besets the planet.”
Phil’s life reflects the chaos, uncertainty, and harsh realities of living in modern-day Los Angeles. He works odd jobs and competes on an esports team in a virtual fantasy world to win cash prizes to make ends meet . Yet, he yearns for a better life, believing he is destined for something better.
Image Courtesy of Immortal Studios
Phil’s life changes forever when he encounters a mysterious figure in the game which promises him power and the answers he seeks. In exchange, he needs to find a hidden Immortal Cave in the game and then in real life.
Image Courtesy of Immortal Studios
Phil soon finds himself drawn into a war between supernatural warriors as strange and unexplained deaths appear throughout LA Chinatown in the real world.
Image Courtesy of Immortal Studios
Peter Shiao, the author of CIS, son of Shiao Yi and the founder/CEO of Immortal Studios, says of his latest work:
“I am thrilled to be able to introduce Chronicles of the Immortal Swordsmen to a brand-new western audience. I grew up with Wuxia stories, and Chronicles of the Immortal Swordsmen was always my personal favorite. However we’ve modernized the property for the next generation. We introduced Los Angeles as the new backdrop, incorporated technologies that immortals must contend with, and acknowledged cultural moments like the anti-Asian sentiment coming out of the Covid-19 pandemic. With the success of Marvel’s Shang Chi and renewed interest in the Wuxia genre, we are pleased to offer an ‘essential Wuxia’ story that authentically depicts Asian American life.”
Image Courtesy of Immortal Studios
CIS is edited by Hank Kanalz and illustrated by industry-leading artists Pop Mhan and Rex Lokus. They are known for their work on Marvel and DC comics including Batman and Injustice.
Editorial Staff Follow NextShark on Facebook and Twitter to keep up-to-date on our posts! Send us tips, press releases, and story ideas to info[at]nextshark[dot]com.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE:
RELATED STORIES FROM NEXTSHARK
Support NextShark's Journalism
Many people might not know this, but NextShark is a small media startup that runs on no outside funding or loans, and with no paywalls or subscription fees, we rely on help from our community and readers like you.
Everything you see today is built by Asians, for Asians to help amplify our voices globally and support each other. However, we still face many difficulties in our industry because of our commitment to accessible and informational Asian news coverage.
We hope you consider making a contribution to NextShark so we can continue to provide you quality journalism that informs, educates, and inspires the Asian community. Even a $1 contribution goes a long way. Thank you for supporting NextShark and our community.