Noir Caesar Entertainment, based in Los Angeles, California, is an independent creative company that empowers and promotes art from underrepresented communities through different forms of media. They have recently partnered with Osamu Tezuka Productions to create a contemporary graphic novel version of Tezuka’s renowned manga, ALABASTER. To fund the publication of this project, a Kickstarter campaign has been launched.

The highly acclaimed author and co-creator of Bitter Root, Chuck Brown, will be penning ALABASTER. The art will be brought to life by the talented illustrator, Anna Weiszczyk, known for her work on Godkiller and Home.

About ALABASTER 

Retold for a contemporary audience through a graphic novel by Noir Caesar, ALABASTER is a modern interpretation of Ralph Ellison’s book “The Invisible Man.” The story follows James Block, a former successful Black athlete who is falsely accused and imprisoned by his girlfriend. While incarcerated, James forms a friendship with a disgraced scientist who gives him a solution to his problems: a laser gun that can either turn someone invisible or kill them. After serving his sentence and finding the gun, James undergoes a failed experiment that leaves him partially translucent, resembling alabaster. Filled with anger and seeking revenge, James takes on a new identity as Alabaster and causes chaos for both bigots and hypocrites.

The start page for the ALABASTER Kickstarter campaign is located at:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/noircaesar/alabaster-the-graphic-novel

Johnny O’Bryant, the creator of Noir Caesar, expresses his admiration and respect for Osamu Tezuka and his work. Upon discovering Alabaster, O’Bryant was convinced that it could enhance Tezuka’s original concept and attract a new audience. O’Bryant is grateful to Tezuka Productions for choosing Noir Caesar, as they also share a dedication to carrying out Tezuka-sensei’s vision of blending Japanese manga and anime with Western-style storytelling.

Yoshimi Suzuki, who oversees international partnerships at Tezuka Productions Co., expresses that if the late Osamu Tezuka were alive today and met Johnny O’Bryant, he would be highly interested in collaborating with a team of talented artists from diverse cultural backgrounds who share a strong passion for Japanese anime and manga. The potential for a strong synergy between Alabaster and the unique cultural backgrounds of Noir Caesar and their creative team is undeniable. It is hoped that Noir Caesar will fully showcase their creativity in this project.

The Creators 

Chuck Brown – Writer 

Chuck Brown is an accomplished writer who has won multiple Eisner and Ringo awards. He has worked independently and co-created content for major comic publishers such as Marvel, Rotten, Dark Horse Comics, and Image Comics. With over 18 years of experience, Brown is based in South Carolina and has also written for Zenescope Entertainment, 12-Gauge Comics, and Line Webtoon. His critically acclaimed work, Bitter Root, which he co-created and wrote, has received numerous Eisner awards and is currently being adapted into a major motion picture by Ryan Coogler, Regina King, and Legendary Entertainment. For more information, visit his official website at https://www.flawedcomic.com/.

Anna Weiszczyk – Artist 

Anna Weiszczyk is an award-winning comic book artist based in Kraków, Poland. Her works appear in Alterna Comics, Image, Archaia, Black Mask Studios, Strange Circus as well as other anthologies. Official website: Website: https://annawieszczyk.portfoliobox.net 

About Noir Caesar:

Noir Caesar Entertainment is a rapidly expanding independent creative company that supports and promotes art from marginalized communities through various forms of media, such as animation, film, TV, and comics. This brand is one of the fastest growing entertainment and publishing companies in the United States, thanks to its diverse and talented team of individuals including 2D animation partners, writers, artists, illustrators, producers, division heads, and sales and client management professionals. Under the leadership of Founder Johnny O’Bryant and Producer Arsalan Asli, Noir Caesar’s Film and TV division is thriving with numerous projects in active development at major studios and networks, based on their own intellectual property as well as assignments from other studios. For more information, please visit https://www.noircaesar.com.