Fan-owned leisure firm Legion M has partnered with indie writer Stranger Comics for Defiant, a brand new graphic novel written by Rob Edwards. The undertaking raised $154,293 on Kickstarter final summer time and is at present in manufacturing.
Defiant is a historic graphic novel about enslaved harbor pilot Robert Smalls, who pulled off an unbelievable heist in the course of the Civil War when he stole a Confederate warship, disguised himself because the captain, then introduced household and buddies aboard earlier than crusing to a brand new, free life. Later, Smalls turned a US Representative and wrote South Carolina state laws for the primary free, obligatory public faculty system.
Defiant was impressed by a meme, which Legion M followers commented on en masse about how they wished it to be a film. Legion M investor and writer Robert Blake Whitehill occurred to have a script about Smalls, which he despatched to Legion M. The workforce now consists of Defiant author Edwards, Marvin “Krondon” Jones III, Bill Duke, Paul Scanlan, Jeff Annison, David Baxter, and Chris Cooper, in addition to Smalls’s direct descendent, founding president and CEO of the International African American Museum, Michael Boulware Moore.
Eventually, Legion M intends to show Defiant right into a characteristic movie or TV sequence. Stranger Comics founder and president Sebastian A. Jones is overseeing the graphic novel and can later function govt producer for the display screen adaptation, alongside Stranger Comics’ Joshua Cozine and Darrell May who can be affiliate producers.
“When the good folks at Legion M approached me about working on Defiant, the incredible project about Robert Smalls they were making, as both a graphic novel and a movie, I knew I had to be a part of it,” stated Jones in an announcement. It is an honor to assist have fun and shine a much-deserved mild on an essential historic determine who helped form America. Plus, to be part of the powerhouse workforce that Legion M has assembled is a dream; I can’t wait to share what now we have in retailer. A Legion M + Stranger Comics mashup? Sign me up!”
Legion M CEO and co-founder Paul Scanlan stated, “Robert Smalls’ life is an incredible testament to the strength of the human spirit and the power of resilience. We are honored to be partnering with Stranger Comics to help bring this story to life as a graphic novel and eventually a blockbuster film. This project exemplifies our mission to listen to our community, give them a seat at the table, and create compelling entertainment they want to see while supporting underrepresented voices.”
Defiant govt producer Marvin “Krondon” Jones III has additionally partnered with the Shining Light Foundation for its Black History Mural Project, which has been going for 4 years and created greater than 100 murals depicting iconic Black historic figures all throughout the US. On February 3, the group unveiled a mural of Smalls by artist Malcolm Byers in East Point, Georgia. Prior to the disclosing, Jones did a presentation on Defiant.
For extra data, see Edwards speaking about Defiant on PBS under, and comply with the Kickstarter for updates.
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