Please support THE ADEPT Kickstarter
Im serving as the Action Choreographer for a new graphic novel called The Adept, the first project from Immortal Studios. Our Kickstarter just launched today and wed be grateful for your support.
Man, you come right out of a comic book.
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Kickstarter goal met
We met our $10K goal within 4 hours putting us in the top 3% of Kickstarter fundraisers.
There are more pics below but you can see them all better on our Kickstarter page.
·Entertainment·June 15, 2020·1 min read[URL=“https://nextshark.com/the-adept-kickstarter-immortal-studios/”]
New ‘Wuxia’ Studio Unveils Their First Kung-Fu Comic Series Led By a Chinese American Heroine
A new entertainment studio that focuses on authentic martial arts culture has unveiled their first comic book series: “The Adept”.
“The Adept” is an original story from entrepreneur, producer and activist Peter Shiao, written by Tasha Huo and Charlie Stickney with art done by Yishan Li.
The series, which has seen an exciting reception on their crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter, has a 42-page first issue that follows the quest of Amy, a Chinese American who escapes an abusive home to master an ancient and rare martial art, preparing for the day when she returns home to face an unspeakable evil.
The new comic series is one of the most recent unveils by up-and-coming Immortal Studios which was founded by CEO Shiao. Immortal is gearing to become the premier entertainment studio of an interconnected “wuxia” universe of authentic and cultural martial arts stories. Wuxia is the fantasy genre that comes from Eastern culture and has permeated Western entertainment for decades without being named — blockbuster films like “The Matrix”, “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”, “Kung Fu Hustle” and “IP Man” are just a few iconic films that belong to this genre.
Dive deeper into “The Adept” on Kickstarter and prepare for a coming universe of authentic Eastern cultural stories.
The Beat’s crowdfunding round-up
[URL=“https://www.comicsbeat.com/comics-crowdfunding-round-up-the-adept-gutterspawn-and-3-more-campaigns-we-love/”]Comics Crowdfunding Round-Up: THE ADEPT, GUTTERSPAWN, and 3 more campaigns we love
Plus, A MORE GRACEFUL SHABOOM.
By Josh Hilgenberg -06/19/2020 1:00
Welcome to The Beat’s crowdfunding round-up: a collection of some of our favorite campaigns from the week including one-shots, on-goings, anthologies and everything in-between! This week, we’re checking out the kung fu adventure, The Adept, a kids’ book featuring a non-binary main character, A More Graceful Shaboom, and more.
Let’s get started!
The Adept
Creators: Tasha Huo (writer), Charlie Stickney (writer), Yishan Li (artist), Gabriela Downie (letterer) Gene Ching (Action Choreographer), Conor Hughes (Action Layouts)
Goal: $10,000
End date: July 15, 2020
Goodies: A digital copy runs $5, physical editions are $17, while higher tiers include pins, variants, and unique swag.
A young woman with a broken past. The Shaolin Master that visits her dreams. A modern story of transformation and kung fu.
The Adept is the brainchild of Immortal Studios CEO & Founder, Peter Shiao, and adapted by Huo, Stickney, Li, and Downie, with Ching providing his knowledge of Kung Fu, and Hughes adding layout assistance. Over 42 pages, this first issue in what’s planned to be a limited series will introduce Amy, a young Chinese-American who’s lost her purpose and decides to come home – but is quickly swept into a Kung Fu story of the ages when she witnesses a kidnapping and is called to action. It’s an enticing story I can’t do justice – but fourteen preview pages of Li’s art will. Check those out on The Adept official campaign page.
I’m only copying the lead feature.
The Marvel of Kung Fu
This Asian American Female Superhero Comic Wants to be the Marvel of Kung Fu
“The Adept” is an impressive start for big-dreaming Immortal Studios
By ADAN KOHNHORST 1 day ago
Home > Daily Drip > This Asian American Female Superhero Comic Wants to be the Marvel of Kung Fu
The Adept is a stunning and heartfelt ode to kung fu lore.
Starring Amy, a young Chinese-American who runs away from an abusive home, it promises Shaolin mythology, classic comic book action, and a modern setting with real-world themes. On a Kickstarter for The Adept, a 14-page preview chapter gives us a look at the superhuman powers of martial arts that Amy obtains after training with a mysterious master in her dreams.
The title is the first project from Immortal Studios, and the beginning of an interconnected content universe built around wuxia, the genre of kung fu heroics that inspired films like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Artist Yishan Li breathes life into characters and writing by Tasha Huo and Charles Stickney, in an original story from Immortal Studios Founder Peter Shiao.
From the first peek, The Adept looks very exciting – the preview chapter manages to squeeze in evil conspiracies, sisterhood, and plenty of not-for-kids kung fu ass-kicking.
One thing that stands out about The Adept is the attention to detail when it comes to Chinese martial arts. Not surprising, as the production enlists the help of Gene Ching, 32nd generation layman disciple of the Shaolin Temple, and the publisher behind the niche (but fondly remembered) Kung Fu Tai Chi magazine. Generic physical combat is swapped out for authentic Shaolin techniques, giving the comic the feel of a kung fu movie, and honestly putting the Iron Fist to shame.
Maybe most exciting is the idea that the series will blossom out into a full-on Marvel-style interconnected universe of stories from Immortal Studios. But for now, consider backing the project on Kickstarter.
Our Kickstarter reached its goal in the first 4 hours. But we can do even more with more donations, and we aren’t even halfway through the Kickstarter yet.
Twitter Takeover
My takeover of the Immortal Studios Twitter starts at 1PM PST. Below is their Twitter announcement.
[URL=“https://twitter.com/Immortal_Global/status/1278716882929868804”]
Immortal Studios@Immortal_Global
ASK IMMORTAL You know what time it is. Check back today at 1 – 3pm PDT to chat with @geneching LIVE. He is a 32nd generation layman disciple of the original #ShaolinTemple. He was the publisher of @KFM_KFTC, the largest newstand magazine devoted to Chinese martial arts!8:47 AM · Jul 2, 2020
Martial Artist Q&A: Gene Ching
Move of the Day: Ding Bu with Gene Ching
Our newest web article
Awaken the Hero. READ Peter Shiao on The Adept from Immortal Comics by Gene Ching
20 hours to go on our Kickstarter
The Adept Kickstarter campaign
We’ve already tripled our goal with 1K+ supporters. If you haven’t signed up, this is your last chance to get exclusive cool gear.
CBR gave me a mention in the subtitle
No one ever mentions the choreographer. We’re usually the 2nd unit. 
EXCLUSIVE: Comic Book Newcomer Immortal Debuts Cover Art for Flagship Title, The Adept
CBR presents an exclusive reveal of the cover for The Adept #1, by Tasha Huo, Charlie Stickney, Peter Shiao, Yishan Li, Gene Ching and Deron Bennett.
BY JON ARVEDON
8 HOURS AGO
Immortal Studios, a brand-new content studio for contemporary Wuxia entertainment, has provided CBR with an exclusive first look at the cover art for Issue #1 of its debut series, The Adept, by Tasha Huo, Charlie Stickney, Peter Shiao, Yishan Li, Gene Ching and Deron Bennett.
“I was raised on my father’s stories, drawn from thousands of years of martial arts, hero and fantasy storytelling,” co-writer and Immortal founder and CEO Peter Shiao said in a statement. “These stories have not only enthralled Chinese audiences, they have inspired some of Hollywood’s top franchises, from Avengers and Star Wars to Kill Bill and John Wick. Strangely, there is no home for this timeless genre, and we are here to change that with a few new things. First, an interconnected storyverse of characters and stories all set in the modern world but grounded in Wuxia, second, a diverse range of titles that will bring together the various influences of the genre from more grounded, authentic tales all the way to fantastical immortals, all under one roof, and last but not least, an opportunity to authentically represent Asian faces and culture in an empowering way for the world. Our goal is to awaken the hero in everyone.”
The exclusive cover art, as well as some previous pages for The Adept #1, are below:
#AwakenYourHeroChallenge
The #AwakenYourHeroChallenge is happening on Twitter, Facebook & TikTok.
JOIN US!
Invest in IMMORTAL
Tell 'em Gene sent ya.
[URL=“https://wefunder.com/immortal.studios”]Invest in Immortal Studios
Creating the next Marvel with a martial arts fantasy universe of comics and more
IMMORTAL-STUDIOS.COMLOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA
The Martial Arts Fantasy genre (Wuxia) has been around for thousands of years, yet it does not have a dedicated global home. We are here to change that - with a vision to modernize and elevate it - ultimate, to Awaken the Hero in Everyone.
Peter Shiao Founder & CEO @ Immortal Studios
FRIENDS INVEST FIRST
Public Launch Nov 10 @ 8AM EST
Payment processed on investment. Immortal Studios must raise $150,000 to get funded. Wefunder Portal LLC can refund upon request while funds are in escrow.
ABOUTUPDATES0REVIEWS44ASK A QUESTION0
Why you may want to invest in us…
1 Building a martial arts fantasy universe to become the next Marvel
2 Exclusive rights to the 60+ IP library of top Wuxia creator Shiao Yi with 30+ films/tv produced
3 Funded first comic book in 3 hours on Kickstarter with proven product-market fit
4 Sales of $35K in 1st Kickstarter campaign; additional $40K expected by year end from 2nd campaign
5 Founding team includes veterans from Marvel, DC, Shaolin Temple and Hollywood studios
6 Hollywood is hungry for genre IP based offerings with comparable deals with 9-10 digit exits
7 Proved out comic-first engagement model for safe, cost-effective, and exponential value creation
8 Focused on large global market that includes US and China
Gene Ching, a Shaolin kung fu master
‘master’ is the reporter’s term, not mine. :o
‘The Adept’: Rebooting wuxia, China’s ancient literary genre
Society & Culture
‘The Adept’ is the first of what will be five interconnected comic franchises created by Immortal Studios. Together, they reimagine one of China’s oldest literary genres for a modern Western audience.
Zijia Song Published December 3, 2020
All images courtesy of Immortal Studios
For many, the “wxiá” genre will evoke images from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, the movie that first introduced a fantastical version of Chinese martial arts to Western audiences. But the full wonder of wuxia — including the concepts of jinghú and wlín , the realm where martial arts heroes inhabit and the culture that defines these characters’ actions — is regrettably being taken for granted, even in mainland China and Hong Kong. Peter Shiao is trying to change that.
The son of renowned Chinese-American wuxia writer Shiao Yi ( Xio Yì), Peter Shiao is trying to reinvigorate and reimagine the wuxia world through graphic novels, which he believes is the best way to bring this ancient genre of literature — with its unique history, legends, and lifestyles — to modern audiences. The visual presentation allows for “poetry and imagination,” and is faster and more economical than shooting a video, Shiao said. “It’s the cheapest, fastest, and most true way to do it.”
The Adept is the result: the first installment in what will be a comic book series that tells the story of a young Chinese-American woman’s quest to study an ancient martial tradition from a Shaolin master. Meanwhile, she must go through a self-transformation and find redemption in her personal life.
Setting the story in today’s world and giving the characters contemporary identities is at the heart of what Shiao and his team at Immortal Studios is trying to do. They believe that wuxia should not be a distant concept that triggers only the image of people fighting in ancient costumes. Instead, they believe that the spirit of wuxia lies in striving for self-empowerment and overcoming challenges for the benefit of both the self and others. By setting the stories in the present day, Shiao’s team is trying to modernize wuxia.
Shiao also wanted to present an authentic image of Shaolin, the birthplace of kung fu. According to him, the true spirit of Shaolin, the state of consciousness, is often “lost in the shuffle” and reduced to shaved heads and physics-defying maneuvers.
One way to honor the Shaolin culture is to present kung fu movements exactly as Shaolin masters would do them. But illustrating the dynamic martial arts movements in artwork was a huge challenge. So Shiao hired Gene Ching, a Shaolin kung fu master, as a choreographer to identify the physical forms appropriate for the page. “We treated it almost like how they actually would shoot a movie,” Shiao said. Conor Hughes, an action artist, would study the martial arts mechanics and draw out the movements. Finally, artist Yishan Li would add the finishing touch, illustrating the movement’s energy flows and characters’ facial expressions.
“We’re going to experience many different forms of authentic kung fu fighting in The Adept, and all of them will be real, not just in somebody’s imagination,” Shiao said. “One of our goals is for martial artists to read The Adept and say, ‘Wow, we like this.’”
The Adept is one of five comic franchises Immortal Studios is working on. Others include adapted stories from Shiao Yi’s literature, Assassin G, Chronicles of the Immortal Swordsman, and Ma Ming Feng Xiao Xiao ( mmíng fngxioxio), plus an Immortal Studios original, Fa Sheng. Each will be a complete subworld. The five subworlds will make up a storyverse that Shiao and his team envision as an interconnected Marvel-like universe with intertwined characters and timelines. They will eventually join together to face an existential crisis.
Underlying these ambitions, Shiao wants to remind people what “being Chinese” really means. Wuxia “is the receptacle for all the aspects of Chinese culture that we identify with,” he said: an amalgamation of Chinese ideas of philosophy, morality, human relations, aesthetics, beauty, and cosmology. But Shiao won’t limit his characters to only those with Chinese heritage. By designing a black protagonist for Ma Ming Feng Xiao Xiao, Shiao explores modern narratives and makes the case that regardless of skin color, wuxia conveys a worldview that applies to everyone.
“I think it’s about the idea of balance,” Shiao said. “This is more needed than ever.”
Zijia Song was born in Jinan, China, came to the U.S. as a high schooler in 2013, and obtained her Bachelor’s degree from Boston College. She’s now studying journalism and international relations at New York University and pursuing her interest in covering news about China.
Wizard World’s Immortal Wuxia: From Concept to Comic panel
TUNE INTO WIZARD WORLD’S IMMORTAL WUXIA: FROM CONCEPT TO COMIC THIS SATURDAY DEC 26 4PM PST.
I will be part of the panel alongside some of the rest of our Immortal Team: Peter Shiao, Charles Stickney and Emma Chibulu. This will be live-streamed for free on Wizard World’s Facebook, YouTube and TwitchTV.
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#AwakenYourHero Challenge
Follow the link and you’ll see my TikTok answer to the #AwakenYourHero Challenge.
‘Awaken Your Hero Challenge’ on TikTok Has Everyone Bringing Back Kung Fu Culture
BY EDITORIAL STAFF
DECEMBER 29, 2020
2 MINUTE READ
“LAST NIGHT I DREAMT OF A KUNG FU MASTER…” booms a voiceover-ready narrator over Kodak Black’s ZEZE. So starts the social meme catching fire across TikTok and Instagram Reels, where martial arts and kung fu has once again been thrown into pop culture.
The roughly two-minute meme, called #AwakenYourHero Challenge, is made of two shots. In the first, the creator awakens from a sleep state, having presumably dreamt of a kung fu master. With a quick cut, the creator breaks into serious martial arts moves.
The meme has been picked up by a variety of martial artists showing the diversity of styles and creativity that exists within the form.
The meme also shows the diversity in martial arts practitioners. Kai’mere Beard, a 10-year-old practitioner from Jade Fortress Shaolin Martial Arts Academy in Illinois, created a take that has been lauded for her authenticity – from her technique to her Feiyues – as a form of genuine cultural appreciation. Kai’mere says, “Shaolin Gongfu has been really fun, intense, and exciting since I first started training three years ago with my godfather, a Shaolin disciple. I really like the Chinese martial arts culture.”
Originally conceived by Immortal Studios, the meme was created for the October release of its comic book “The Adept” but designed to inspire more. Immortal Studios founder and CEO Peter Shiao says, “We all have a unique persona inside ourselves that we are trying to unleash, and this is a fun way to see that process play out in a Wuxia fashion, like it does for Amy our inaugural comic ‘The Adept’. We’ll be doing more initiatives like this in the future that brings our ideas to fruition through short video.”
Kevin Kreider, an actor and motivational speaker, found the meme as an opportunity to advance one of his primary advocacies: stereotypes of Asian masculinity. “I wanted to show that you could still be Asian and masculine without knowing martial arts.”
The Awaken Your Hero Challenge has since evolved as participants put their own stamp on it and display their individuality and creativity.
Tasha Huo
I know Tasha. We worked together on The Adept. I’m so happy for her.
‘Tomb Raider’ Showrunner Tasha Huo to Write ‘Red Sonja’ With Joey Soloway for Millennium (Exclusive)
FEBRUARY 26, 2021 12:48PM by Alex Ritman
Courtesy of Illiana Garcia
Millennium are launching pre-sales at the EFM on their long-gestating fantasy project.
Red Sonja has a new writer.
Tasha Huo, the rising screenwriter who is showrunning and executive producing the upcoming animated Tomb Raider series for Netflix and Legendary, has been tapped to write the long-gestating fantasy reboot with director Joey Soloway. Millennium will be pre-selling the film at next week’s EFM.
The fantasy project — based on the sword and sorcery comic book by Dynamite Entertainment — appears now to be very much back on track for Millennium, where it has been in the works for a decade. Soloway (Transparent) was announced as writer and director in 2019, taking over from Bryan Singer who was dropped following an investigative report into the filmmaker in The Atlantic.
Casting on the film is set to begin immediately.
“I have loved Red Sonja forever and I feel so honored to help shepherd her story and start this cinematic journey. There could not be a greater moment in our world for Red Sonja’s ways of wielding power and her connection with nature and our planet,” said Soloway. “She is an ancient heroine with an epic calling, and translating that to the screen is a dream come true for me as a filmmaker. I can’t wait to collaborate with Tasha on this vision.”
Added Millennium co-president Jonathan Younger: “We’re very excited to be bringing Red Sonja to the market and the world. This has been a long time coming. Having Joey Soloway at the helm of this feminist icon franchise is the perfect recipe for a magical adventure, which is exactly what the world needs today.”
Mark Canton (300, Power) and Courtney Solomon (After) produce alongside Christa Campbell and Lati Grobman on behalf of Campbell Grobman Films and Andrea Sperling on behalf of Topple, while for Millennium Yariv Lerner, Jeffrey Greenstein, Yunger, Les Weldon, Joe Gatta, and Tanner Mobley produce.
Avi Lerner, Boaz Davidson, and Trevor Short exec producer for Millennium, together with Dorothy Canton and Luke Lieberman. Luke Lieberman on behalf of Red Sonja LLC, Nick Barrucci on behalf of Dynamite Entertainment, and Dorothy Canton are also executive producers.
Huo, who also wrote for Netflix’s The Witcher: Blood Origin reboot, is repped by The Gersch Agency.
ALEX RITMAN
alex.ritman@thr.com
@alexritman
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The Adept #2 Final Trailer
Kickstarter for Adept #2 is live
Comic Books
Los Angeles, CA
$4,146
pledged of $10,000 goal
131 backers
29 days to go
Remind me
All or nothing. This project will only be funded if it reaches its goal by Thu, February 24 2022 9:00 AM PST.
The Adept #2
In the return of this epic Shaolin series, Amy deals with the fallout after the mysterious attack on international popstar Sasha True.
Kickstarter connects creators with backers to fund projects.
Rewards aren’t guaranteed, but creators must regularly update backers.
You’re only charged if the project meets its funding goal by the campaign deadline.
The Adept #2. Cover Art by Yishan Li.
The Adept is a comic book series written by Tasha Huo (Tomb Raider on Netflix) and Charlie Stickney (White Ash and Glarien) and illustrated by Yishan Li. The first issue launched on Kickstarter in June of last year and thanks to the enthusiasm of our followers became one of Kickstarter’s best-selling first issues and kicked off the Immortal Storyverse, a martial arts fantasy universe dedicated to Wuxia stories. The Adept now returns with the second issue, continuing this story set in the Shaolin tradition.
If you like Shang-Chi, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Cobra Kai, or Kung Fu, this story of homecoming and redemption, infused with authentic martial arts, continues those narrative currents.
Please support us.
More to come…
Immortal Studios Announces Second Issue of Popular Comic The Adept
Following the massive success of Immortal Studios inaugural comic book, The Adept, in late 2019, the leading wuxia storytellers are back with the second issue The Adept #2 and an accompanying Kickstarter campaign.
The new Kickstarter launched on January 25 and, incredibly, hit its 10,000 USD target in a single day.
But the campaign isnt over yet: Fans still have 28 days to support the project, until February 25, with various rewards from digital bundles to limited-edition cover art awaiting project backers.
Written by Tasha Huo and Charlie Stickney, with illustrations by Yishan Li, The Adept tells the story of Amy, a young Chinese-American woman with a dark past. In her dreams, Amy meets a Shaolin kung fu master who trains her and prepares her to face evils in real life.
The original 42-page comic was the first in Immortals interconnected and ever-expanding wuxia storyverse. The first Kickstarter campaign raked in 35,165 USD with 1,205 backers, well exceeding the 10,000 USD goal.
Amys saga continues in the highly anticipated follow-up: Reunited with her estranged sister Ali, the pair are left to deal with the aftermath of the attempted kidnapping of a famous pop star, Sasha True.
The Adept
Immortal founder and CEO Peter Shiao has a personal connection to Chinas legendary Shaolin Temple in Henan, where he previously held a position working on global content.
The Adept series pays homage to the Shaolin tradition said to be the birthplace of modern kung fu at its most accurate and authentic, from depictions of signature Shaolin choreography to Zen Buddhist elements and mystical folklore.
For Immortal, its as important to share a real understanding of the spirit of Shaolin as having an ass-kicking lead character.
We are course-correcting from this trend with a modern story that delves deeply into authentic Shaolin spirituality and moral precepts as the foundation of superhuman feats, Shiao said in the press release.
He added, Amys journey from a disempowered young woman into full Zen warrior is laden with the Shaolin secret sauce that has been missing for too long.
The Adept even has an action choreographer on board Gene Ching, former publisher of Kung Fu Tai Chi magazine and a 32nd-generation disciple of the Shaolin Temple.
Despite the 1,500-plus-year legacy of the Shaolin Temple, pop culture and comics have seldom represented its kung fu authentically, Ching said in the press release. Weve imbued The Adept with real applications, filling it with Shaolin Easter eggs for fans and practitioners to discover.
Peter Shiao is the son of celebrated Chinese-American wuxia novelist Shiao Yi, whose novel Chronicles of the Immortal Swordsman was released as a comic by Immortal late last year through Kickstarter, bringing in 300% of its funding goal.
For fans who havent read the first issue of The Adept, Immortal Studios is sharing one page from the comic on its Instagram story each day to let them catch up before reading the second issue.
Immortal Studios The Adept
Wuxia (), literally meaning martial arts heroes, is a wildly popular genre of books, film, and television. The stories often center around martial artists, or swordsmen, as they are referred to, redressing wrongs or bringing justice to the oppressed or the marginalized. The settings of these stories typically take place in ancient China.
Immortal Studios is on a mission to awaken the hero within each of us, producing unique, nuanced, and interconnected stories in the first-ever storyverse dedicated entirely to wuxia, one of Chinas most enduring literary traditions.
All images courtesy of Immortal Studios
