WB's Charmed Makes the Jump to Print

[Black King]

Zenescope Brings To Comics - Comic Book Resources (http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=25243)

Official Press Release

Zenescope Entertainment has officially announced they have obtained the comic book and graphic novel publishing rights to the television property CHARMED (1998-2006) created by Constance M. Burge from Spelling Entertainment, under license from CBS Consumer Products.

The comic book publisher, known for beautiful, sultry and strong female characters, has now added three more to the mix. The ultra-popular CHARMED television series aired for eight seasons on The WB network and averaged more than 4 million viewers throughout its run.

Zenescope's comic book series will feature a brand new storyline which picks up where the television series left off. The story follows the Halliwell sisters, a beautiful trio descended from a line of powerful but good witches, as they battle against evil beings in modern day San Francisco.

Attached to write the new comic book series is author Paul Ruditis, who has written several Charmed novels such as Leo Rising (with Constance M. Burge) and As Puck Would Have It. Co-writing with Ruditis will be Raven Gregory, writer of the acclaimed Wonderland trilogy published by Zenescope. Renowned artist Dave Hoover (Captain America, The Wanderers) will be providing interior illustrations for the series.

"The key to this series success is to strike a nice balance in creating a brand new, intriguing storyline for fans of the television show while also not alienating Zenescope and comic book readers who haven't really followed it before but might want to now that it's a comic," said Zenescope Editor-in-Chief Ralph Tedesco. "The great thing is that Paul and Raven have done just that with this story arc. Anybody will be able to pick up this series and follow it whether or not they ever watched the show before. Moreover, fans of the show are going to be thrilled when they see where this story goes."

Issue #0 is scheduled for a June release with issue #1 to debut at Comic Con International in San Diego this July.

About Zenescope Entertainment: Zenescope Entertainment was founded by Joe Brusha and Ralph Tedesco in 2005 and has quickly grown into one of the top comic book and graphic novel publishing companies in the world. Zenescope’s Grimm Fairy Tales series and subsequent spinoff series, which put a dark twists on classic fables, are some of the best-selling and longest running original independent comic books on shelves today. Zenescope’s other past licensed titles include the critically acclaimed Se7en and Final Destination comics and graphic novels based off of New Line Cinema’s film franchises.

About CBS Consumer Products:

[Jill Monroe]

all i want to know is, is PRUE going to come back!

[Caroline Forbes]

The tv to comics thing is going MAD right now.

[Black King]

Its good and bad. Alot of the fans of shows that make the move to comics are fans of the medium or have a good chance to becomes fans. Also not having to deal with actors or budget constrains (how annoying is it when people with powers on heroes never actually use their powers that often or have sucky powers vs the comic).

On the negative side some of the shows were finished and have their stories over before they are dragged kicking and screaming from the grave. As well as the fact that some of the artist renditions of actors are right out of uncanny valley (see the Angel: After the Fall, Buffy Season 8, Fringe and Every Star Wars comic that involves the original cast)

[Black King]

Newsarama.com : Zenescope Gets CHARMED W/ The Power of Three (http://www.newsarama.com/comics/zenescope-charmed-writers-100331.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Newsaramasite+%28Newsarama.co m%29&utm_content=Google+Reader)

Being a witch is never easy -- but when you're one of the Halliwell sisters, let's just say that your life is anything but Charmed.

Years after the magic-bearing sisters left their mark on the hit television series, Zenescope Entertainment will be bringing "The Power of Three" to comics, with a new Charmed book written by Raven Gregory and Paul Ruditis beginning in June. The original series followed sisters Piper, Phoebe and Prue as they protect innocents in San Francisco from evil witches and warlocks. When Prue was eventually killed in the show, half-sister Paige was brought into the magic-fighting fold.

"The series starts off about a year or so after the end of the last season," Gregory said. "The sisters are each off living their lives. They have had their well-deserved happily ever. But what they don't realize is that there might have been some serious consequences for vanquishing all that evil. Something is brewing in the Underworld. Something big!"

The acquisition of this series is a bit of a coup for the indie publisher, which has previously worked on licensed comics for the Se7en and Final Destination franchises. "Anybody will be able to pick up this series and follow it whether or not they ever watched the show before," Zenescope Editor-in-Chief Ralph Tedesco said when the series was first announced.

Handling the art duties for Charmed is The Wanderers's Dave Hoover. "His storytelling is really top notch," Gregory said. "He's done some pages so far that are just amazing. He can bring a character to life like no one else."

Of course, with the sisters' continuity, the writers were a bit coy with who was their favorite of the Charmed girls. "It has to be a toss up between Prue and Phoebe," Gregory said. "The character dynamic between the two was really fun. The older, cynical, overbearing sister versus the younger, more naive and outgoing younger sibling was always cool to watch. Too bad Prue's gone, eh, Paul?" To which Ruditis replied coyly: "Is anyone ever really gone?"

With splitting their duties, Ruditis has been handling the plotting of the series, while Gregory has worked on dialogue and polishing elements such as pacing and art direction. "It's always cool to see another writer dissect a story. Seeing their method behind the madness," Gregory said. "I always try to approach each story as something brand new and fresh and with a style that while my own, is always different and striving to be unique. With Paul, he makes that seem easy and exciting which makes my job that much more fun which I think is where the best writing comes from. When you're having fun."

"And we’re having a blast," Ruditis added. "The thing about being involved with the Charmed publishing program over several years is that you start to think very specifically about what can and cannot be done in that universe. Raven brings in a fresh voice, constantly asking me why don’t we do this? Why don’t we do that? It really opens up my view of their universe in new and fresh ways."

For the writing team, Charmed is a high-profile stop on the midst of their other creative works -- Ruditis is currently in the midst of working on an as-yet-unannounced licensed novel series, while Gregory is working on a creator-owned series with Rex Mundi's Eric J called Fly, along with finishing his zombie cop series The Waking as well as a story in Dynamite Entertainment's Red Sonja #50.

Currently, there's no word as to whether or not the original cast -- Holly Marie Combs, Alyssa Milano, Rose McGowan, and Shannen Doherty -- will be involved in the book aside from their likenesses appearing, but Gregory confirmed that Zenescope would be working closely with CBS in terms of final approval for all the books. But Gregory said that for him, the humanity behind the magic is what sets Charmed apart as a viable franchise. "At the center of this story you have these three strong independent women dealing with the immense responsibility of being the Charmed ones," he explained. "Seeing how they develop and grow and still find time to stay close as a family I think is something that most people can relate to and find comforting."

Looks like Prue might make a return

[Jacob Black]

I hope Prue comes back to life ala Dark Phoenix and kills Phoebe. That's the only way I would ever read this.

Besides, have you read the BUFFY comics? Yeck. Next. Though I did like Buffy sleeping with a woman, that was pretty awesome, and I did enjoy the "Fray" series.

[Dark Lady]

I hope they bring Prue back right away!

[Black King]

i like the buffy comics . . .

and is anyone buying these i only seen a few issues and was meh on them

[Caroline Forbes]

Nope, not buying them lol