Frank Frazetta & Ralph Bakshi Masterpiece
Gets All-New Prequel by Bill Willingham & Leonardo Manco
May 18, Mt. Laurel, NJ: Dynamite announces a brand new chapter in the tapestry of the fantasy masterpiece Fire and Ice, coming this August!
Originally released in theaters in 1983, Fire and Ice has since become a beloved fantasy tale and a milestone in adult animation. The result of one of the greatest collaborations between creative superstars, Fire and Ice teamed up legendary animation director Ralph Bakshi (Fritz the Cat, The Lord of the Rings, Wizards), the “Godfather” of fantasy artwork, Frank Frazetta, along with screenwriters Roy Thomas and Gerry Conway. Now, just in time for the 40th anniversary, key players are returning alongside new talents to add an essential prequel to the story in comics!
Before the fire waned and the ice spread across the world, before the events of the film, readers will get to meet the memorable central characters once again or for the first time ever. The beautiful princess Teegra and her powerful panther companion have not yet gone through the kidnapping attempt by the evil queen Juliana and her son Nekron. The young warrior Larn’s village has not yet been destroyed. And who knows what the mysterious Darkwolf has been up to? Writer Bill Willingham and artist Leonardo Manco will chronicle the lives of these characters in parallel, leading to the genesis of the movie.
With licensing oversight and creative cooperation from both the Frazetta and Bakshi families, fellow fantasy virtuoso Bill Willingham is taking on the task of weaving a brand new story that both provides readers with a compelling standalone tale and slots seamlessly into the chronology of the classic film. Willingham has won the comics industry’s prestigious Eisner Award multiple times and is critically acclaimed for his creation of the Fables mythos under DC Comics’ Vertigo brand, which has been adapted and spun off into the hit video game series The Wolf Among Us, as well as a crossover with Batman. Willingham has additionally written for the titles Robin and Justice Society of America, as well as his original creations Elementals with Comico and Legenderry with Dynamite.
To follow in the footsteps of the timeless visuals of Frazetta and Bakshi, a perfect artistic fit was a must for this title. Leonardo Manco is taking the reins, following his decades of comics work in fantasy, horror, monsters, and more. He has contributed to such titles as Hellblazer, Werewolf by Night, Hellstorm, Sláine, and many others. With the world of Fire and Ice full of monsters, looming evil, heroic action, and other hallmarks of fantasy, Manco’s extensive experience makes him a masterful match.
Writer Willingham shared, “I discovered both Frank Frazetta and Ralph Bakshi at an early age. My awareness of Frazetta cemented the first time someone put a Conan book into my hands. I discovered Bakshi when almost everyone did, when the film Wizards was released. I was in college at the time and working a number of jobs to be able to afford it. One of those jobs was at a local movie theater. I got to see it about a dozen times, twice a night for a week, and it ignited something profound in me. Now, 50 plus years later, there was a chance to work with these story giants. I wasn’t about to pass up the opportunity to work with these Giants in the Earth.”
As with any project involving Frank Frazetta in its DNA, a new crop of top of the line cover artists was also absolutely necessary to channel his fantasy mastery. The first issue features stunning covers by Bill Sienkiewicz (New Mutants, Elektra), Joseph Michael Linsner (Dawn, Wolverine), Mahmud Asrar (Conan the Barbarian, Batman vs. Robin), Francesco Francavilla (Zorro, Captain America), interior artist Leonardo Manco, and a special presentation of Frazetta’s original painting for the film’s poster.
“I’ve always had the desire to explore more character and world building around the film and doing this comic series has provided just that,” said Sara Frazetta. “Our team is truly out of this world. I’m so proud of everyone involved. There is so much heart and the process has been overwhelmingly positive.”
“The dedication and talent has been jaw-dropping with this new series” shared Eddie Bakshi . “The Bakshi Family is honored and thrilled to be able to see fire and ice Come back to life with such creativity . what an incredible storyline addition. We are all in for this release. “
FIRE AND ICE #1 is solicited in Diamond Comic Distributors’ June 2023 Previews catalog, the premier source of merchandise for the comic book specialty market, and slated for release in August 2023. Comic book fans are encouraged to preorder copies of the issue with their local comic book retailers. It will also be available for individual customer purchase through digital platforms courtesy of Comixology, Kindle, iBooks, Google Play, Dynamite Digital, ComicsPlus, and more!
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