AWARD WINNING AUTHORS CRYSTAL SKILLMAN AND FRED VAN LENTE BREATHE NEW LIFE INTO COMIC BOOK LEGEND WITH PODCAST ADAPTION

Steven Rattazzi“sÂ (The Venture Bros, and Broadway“sÂ Indecent)Â performance as legendary comic book artist and writer Jack Kirby comes to life in an all new podcast production ofÂ King Kirby. Aeaea Podcasting is releasing an all-new four episode serialized edit of the play from husband-and-wife team of NYIT-award winning playwright Crystal Skillman and New York Times bestselling comics writer Fred Van Lente onÂ iTunes,Â Stitcher,Â Spotify, and wherever podcasts are free every Wednesday from October 7^thÂ through October 28^th.

King Kirby follows the life of the man who created The Avengers, Fantastic Four, the X-Men, launching several multi- billion dollar franchises. But the most incredible fights of his life happened outside the pages of his comics. This series asks, what happens when an artist doesn“t own his legacy, can he ever get it back?

Skillman says,Â “From the minute Fred shared with me that he was working on a play about the life of Jack Kirby, it was my great joy that we got to work on this moving script together. Jack“s creations, and life, have inspired so many readers, including myself. People know their pop culture, but they are even more fascinated by knowing where their pop culture came from. In the case of Jack“s story, it is crucial to know the larger story as it reflects an artist who struggled to get his due in the shadow of Stan Lee. The public still is catching up to this story, and knowing where the heroes that inspire you in your own life really come from. I hope the play will find another life in New York when we return to the stage, but we are so lucky to be able to share this beautiful recording with you now.”

Â “One of the most frequent requests I’ve gotten from fans over the last few years is for a new production ofÂ King Kirby,”Â said Van Lente, “andÂ I am absolutely thrilled to announce that an audio version is available! We recorded the play with the original New York cast as part of Midtown Comics’ podcast, and the new production work, sound effects and music Aeaea have added really brings the piece to life. Kirby’s incredible story, from his Depression era childhood, service in World War Two, and co-creating the Marvel Universe with hisÂ sometime-collaborator, sometime-nemesis Stan Lee, just sings as an audio drama. I can’t thank Aeaea enough for this opportunity, and can’t wait for the rest of you to be able to hear it.”“

Recorded as part of the extremely successful Kickstarter campaign, this fully remastered and re-edited version serializes the play and adds a full audio landscape of music and sound effects original leading manÂ Steven Rattazzi is joined by veteran actors,Â Amy Lee Pearsall, Joseph Mathers, Nat CassidyÂ and Timothy McCown Reynold, directed by John Hurley. Whether you“re new to the play, or have seen productions in New York, Seattle, or Calgary, Aeaea“sÂ King KirbyÂ Podcast will be sure to astonish and delight.

CRYSTAL SKILLMANÂ is an award-winning dramatist. Plays include: NYTimes Critics“ Picks OPEN (The Tank Theatre/AFO), GEEK (Vampire Cowboys),and Â CUT (Theatre Under St. Marks). RAIN AND ZOE SAVE THE WORLD won the 2018 EMOS Prize and was optioned this summer by Drew and Dane Productions. This spring, Crystal was selected as one of the eight Playwrights Center Core Members for 2020-23. PULP VÃ‰RITÃ‰ was noted on the 2019 Kilroys List and will be a part of the Ruth Easton New Plays Series to be presented by the Playwrights Center in Spring 2021. In the world of musicals, Crystal is the bookwriter of the award-winning musical MARY AND MAX (Canadian Premiere 2018, European Premiere 2019), with her frequent collaborator Composer/Lyricist Bobby Cronin. Her new play with music, THIS SHOW IS MONEY (Music/Lyrics Gaby Alter), was just developed in The Civilians R & D Group and presented in their “Findings”“ series in May. Her work in television/audio drama in development includes EAT FIGHTER (based on her comic book, in a shopping agreement for the animated series with WebToon), the musical series OVERNIGHT SUCCESS (Kampfire Films), and OPEN: THE MAGICIAN“S MAGICIAN, a seven part audio drama series with BOOM Integrated/John Marshall Media. Crystal“s credits also include “ADVENTURE TIME”“ comics (BOOM! Studios) and work with Marvel Studios.Â https://www.crystalskillman.com/

Fred Van LenteÂ (Playwright)Â is the #1Â New York TimesÂ bestselling author ofÂ Marvel Zombies, Incredible HerculesÂ (with Greg Pak),Â Odd Is On Our SideÂ (with Dean R. Koontz), as well as the American Library Association award-winningÂ Action PhilosophersÂ and newly releasedÂ The Comic Book History of Basketball:Â A Fast-Break History of Hoops.Â His original graphic novelÂ Cowboys & AliensÂ (co-written with Andrew Foley) is the basis for the major motion picture starring Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford. Van Lente’s other comics includeÂ The Comic Book History of Comics, Taskmaster, Archer & Armstrong, Amazing Spider-ManÂ andÂ GI Joe.

Aeaea PodcastingÂ (Producer) is a brand new podcasting network home to Audio Verse Award nominatedÂ Desperado,Â Your City (Or Something Like It),Â andÂ One More Story. Aeaea provides storytellers a platform to bring them together with actors, coders, and creators of all kinds so that they may explore technology“s potential to challenge our perception of what a podcast can be. While incorporating new storytelling methods we understand that great podcasts are built on a foundation of great stories, told by great story tellers. Their mission is to realize this unique creative process, and entertain, challenge, and delight our audience.

Author Profile

Al Mega

I'm Al Mega the CEO of Comic Crusaders, CEO of the Undercover Capes Podcast Network, CEO of Geekery Magazine & Owner of Splintered Press (coming soon). I'm a fan of comics, cartoons and old school video games. Make sure to check out our podcasts/vidcasts and more!