They said she was a bad girl. They said she was a fad. They said she’d never last.
They’ll say anything, won’t they?
Just in time for the 10th anniversary of Billy Tucci’s highly evocative original mini-series, Shi: The Way of the Warrior, Ana Ishikawa – better known as Shi – is back! The avenging angel torn between two ways of life returns in Shi: Ju-Nen, a brand new limited series from Dark Horse Comics.
The odds were always against Shi, but she’s not only still here… she’s back and better than ever!
Ten years have passed since Tucci first introduced us to the shadow war, which has raged for hundreds of years between the warrior monks of the Kyoto and Nara Sohei, direct descendants of Japan’s greatest samurai. It was in that series that we met Ana Ishikawa, who set out on the path of revenge but found herself lost in a sea of conflict, much of it within her own soul.
Things have changed in the last decade. The Narans have finally been defeated, and the Kyoto Sohei are about to rub it in – with the encouragement of the Yakuza and with potentially disastrous consequences. Once again, Ana Ishikawa will don the guise of Shi, Death Incarnate, and try to prevent disaster.
Shi: Ju-Nen returns Billy Tucci to the character that made his mark in comics, and returns him to his first full mini-series following several film projects, including his award winning short film, some trouble of a SeRRious nature.
“I’m thrilled to have Ana and this mini-series at Dark Horse,” Tucci said. “The success of their Shi statue, which sold out before its release, was amazing, and I think it’s just the tip of the proverbial iceberg for what we will accomplish together.
“Mike Richardson and his team have just been amazing to work with, and since Shi has always been something of a dark horse in the comic book world, I think it’s a great fit,” Tucci added.
“I’ve known Billy for many years and am glad for the chance to finally work together,” commented Dark Horse President Mike Richardson. “We are proud to have this classic character become part of the Dark Horse family.”
Shi: Ju-Nen is a four-issue, standard format mini-series created by Tucci and is scheduled for a spring 2004 release.
ABOUT BILLY TUCCI and CRUSADE FINE ARTS
William (Billy) Tucci is the award-winning creator, writer and artist of the graphic series Shi. Through Billy his company, Crusade Fine Arts, Ltd., Shi is printed in six languages, has sold more than 4 million comic books and grossed over 25 million dollars worldwide.
Producer Mimi Polk Gitlin (Thelma & Louise, Trapped) currently holds the option on Shi for a major motion picture. Tucci is writing the screenplay with Kevin Bernhardt (Art of War, Black Friday) and will serve as Executive Producer.
some trouble of a SeRRious nature marked Billy’s film debut as writer, director and producer. Produced during 2001/2002, this “live-action cartoon” debuted at the 2002 Long Island International Film Expo where it was awarded “Best Short Film.” some trouble has since screened in Baltimore MD, Orlando FL, New York City, Pittsburgh PA, and San Diego, CA.
A graduate of the New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology, the former paratrooper has also created and published the properties ATOMIKA, Gremlin Effect, Victoria Cross, The Burning Blue and The Undaunted. He has been featured in The New York Times, NY Daily News, Newsday, Elle, Playboy, E!, ABC, NBC, Fox and many others.
Billy is a member of the IFP/NY, is represented by Keith Boesky at ICM and Leigh Brecheen of Bloom, Hergot, Dalmer and Cook. He resides in Bayport, New York with his wife Deborah and baby boy, William Alexander.
www.darkhorse.com
www.williamtucci.com
