Arthawk Entertainment is piloting a bold new idea to present compelling stories featuring characters of color — created by writers and artists of color — on computer screens and devices for a whole new generation of readers and viewers. Using an innovative form of storytelling that combines comics, animation, gaming, and video to tell different facets of the same story — dubbed “transmedia” — the minds behind the Arthawk Entertainment Online Network (AEON for short) need your help to make this a reality.
The first “transmedia” story to be featured on the AEON will be BlackJack the Series created by Alex Simmons. The series will follow the exploits of Arron Day, an African American adventurer in the 1930s. If the creators can reach their goal, BlackJack will be followed by three more transmedia series: Space Station Orbiter: Cloud 99 by Christopher M. Taylor, Action Angels International by Derrick Richardson & James Allen Jr., and I Am Power Unlimited also by Richardson & Allen.
The reasons for supporting this are simple and outlined at their Kickstarter donation page:
We love comics, animation, games, films, & TV. But entertainment has gotten way too expensive. It costs a family of four over $100 to go see one movie (and that’s just for the popcorn!). Cable gets more & more expensive, & comics are now $3.99 each.
Console games are now $70.00.
Popular entertainment is barely affordable for the people that love it most.
That’s where we come in.
We’re the 21st century descendents of the penny dreadful, the pulps, movie serials, comics, the double feature, & theatrical animated shorts.
We’re bringing the rich history and storytelling of the past, and joining it to the cutting edge technology & distribution systems of today.
Affordable, professional level entertainment for everyone, not just those who can afford it.
A new platform for a new world.
This really could be a revolutionary way to bring original comic creations into the 21st century. If you want to see this happen, check out the video below, and then head over to the Kickstarter page and make a contribution.
