Dynamite Entertainment’s new Figment imprint today unveiled a first look at the new original graphic novel Alliances: Orphans, coming in Summer 2022. The title is the first Original Graphic Novel in the expanding Stan Lee Alliances Universe, and the first story to be written by Alliances co-creators Ryan Silbert and Luke Lieberman. Alliances: Orphans features a prologue co-written by Stan Lee.
In 2019, fans were introduced to one of Stan Lee’s final collaborations with the Audible Original A Trick of Light, the first story in the complex braided narrative of the Alliances Universe. Alliances creative architects Lieberman and Silbert have revealed the next stage of the expanding universe, which is now in publishing, audio, and a soon to be graphic novel.
Alliances: Orphans features a never-before-seen story written by Lee, Lieberman, and Silbert featuring the art of legendary artist Bill Sienkiewicz and fan-favorite Szymon Kudranski. Sienkiewicz will join Lieberman and Silbert in revealing dozens of new characters and a galaxy-spanning story. Orphans is Stan Lee by way of Kurosawa as the epic canvas of Alliances is opened up to introduce a giant quest to save the fabric of reality with a band of misfits forced to confront their own dark pasts in order to pave the way for a brighter future.
Coming off of an Emmy nomination for The Boys, Orphans is the latest project from Dynamite CEO and Publisher Nick Barrucci, who brought the IP into the company along with Executive Editor Joseph Rybandt, who is overseeing the creative team. Susan Karlin is coordinating editorial on behalf of Bill Sienkiewicz Art.
Lieberman and Silbert stated, “We can’t wait to share this fantastical story from Stan’s Alliances Universe with the fans. We dreamed about finding the perfect partners to expand the bullpen. With Bill, Szymon and Nick’s team at Dynamite, that dream is now reality.”
Barrucci says, “The tapestry created by Luke, Ryan, and Stan is incredible, and the stories have been fantastic. When Luke and Ryan approached us to take their best-selling series, and create the first Original Graphic Novel, we were excited and honored. Great stories like this are the ones that help grow our genre and the entire comics audience, and I could not be prouder to be a part of this series.”
RELATED: 13 Comics Every Horror Fan Should Read
This is the first collaboration between Sienkiewicz and Stan Lee. The deal was negotiated by Michael Lovitz of Lovitz IP for Bill Sienkiewicz. (This is Sienkiewicz’s first writing credit with Lee. Sienkiewicz began his career with the “Stan Lee Presents” title above his work at Marvel.) Sienkiewicz illustrates the Alliances: Orphans cover and the first chapter, “Traitor’s Revenge,” written by Lee, Lieberman, and Silbert. Artist Szymon Kudranski illustrates the original material.
Alliances: Orphans is the debut of the creator-owned Figment comic book imprint (co-owned by Ryan Silbert’s Origin Story and Luke’s Magik Doom). Nick Barrucci and Luke Lieberman have a long-standing relationship through the best-selling Red Sonja ongoing publications.
