LOS ANGELES – March 22, 2023 – Immortal Studios, the creator of the world’s first interconnected Wuxia (martial arts fantasy) “storyverse,” today announced the addition of Bob Harras as editor-at-large to its senior management team. The only person to have served as editor-in-chief of both Marvel and DC Comics, Harras will play an integral role as Immortal builds upon the successful fan driven launch of the four comic book titles— Adept, Assassin G, Chronicles of the Immortal Swordsmen and Fa Sheng–that serve as the foundation of its storyverse.
“As we embark on our mission to awaken heroes everywhere through the Immortal Storyverse, and Wuxia is again awakening as fan/youth favorited stories, Bob Harras’ unparalleled experience shepherding story worlds for both Marvel and DC, the two most successful companies to have created cinematic universes, is helping us succeed in creating our own lane,” said Peter “Payhuan” Shiao, Immortal Studios founder/CEO and creator of the Immortal ‘Storyverse.’ “Now that we have established the core pillars of our Storyverse, which has brought together all the diverse influences that have existed in the big tent of Wuxia, it’s time to take these stories to the world and Bob is the perfect leader to bring legs to our current stories and to increase new ones on this foundation across all media using our dynamic tech enabled approach to build and scale communities.”
“I’m excited to join Immortal Studios with its bold plan to deeply engage with fans across the globe to thrill to the adventures of martial heroes confronting the challenges of modern day,” said Bob Harras. “I’m really looking forward to working with the incredibly talented team of artists and writers at Immortal as we tell the stories of our characters who help us discover the hero within us all.”
Harras is a creative executive, who in his distinctive roles at DC and Marvel Comics, he produced some of the industry’s most acclaimed comic and graphic novel series. At Marvel, he spearheaded best-selling titles such as the X-Men, the Avengers, Spider-Man, the Hulk and Deadpool in addition to the rest of the Marvel line. He was story consultant for the Fox TV animated series X-Men and has received acknowledgment on several Marvel films. His writing credits include the Avengers, Namor and the limited series Nick Fury vs. S.H.I.E.L.D. For over a decade at DC he oversaw editorial for all comics including Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman. He also headed up MAD magazine, Black Label and Vertigo publications as well as spearheading DC’s first YA and Middle Grade line of publications.
“I couldn’t be more thrilled to be working with Bob again. He brings a wealth of experience to Immortal, and I’m looking forward to building this new universe with him and the amazing creative teams we’ve assembled. Watch out – we’re just getting started,” said Hank Kanalz, Head of Publishing, Immortal Studios.
Since its launch in 2021, Immortal Studios has acquired exclusive all media rights to the 60+ library of legendary Wuxia creator Shiao Yi with more than 30 Asian film/tv adaptations to date as the foundation for its Interconnected Storyverse, developed and released four multi-issue comic titles through multiple highly successful kickstarter campaigns as part of its comics as MVP strategy, struck partnerships with Dynamite to publish and distribute the books to comic book stores worldwide, and hosted multiple fan events, including at San Diego Comicon, to share its vision to modernizing the timeless genre of Wuxia while returning it to its transformational roots.
As an Asian American owned and led company, Immortal also organized and hosted the Amplifying AAPI Representation in Entertainment and Media in collaboration with the Coalition of Asia Pacifics in Entertainment during the depth of Anti-Asian violence during the pandemic.
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