Cutaway Comics, Manchester’s comic imprint exploring creator-owned properties from Doctor Who, has announced a new sequel to Seventh Doctor story, Paradise Towers.
Paradise Towers: Unalive The Multiverse is a complete 48-page story presented as a “Prestige Format” graphic novel, featuring art by Silvano Beltramo (Paradise Towers: Paradise Found, Twisted Dark, Black Mirror: USS Callister, Space Truckin’). The book is fully scripted and drawn and just needs fan support to get coloured, lettered, and published! So that’s where you come in: you can support the project over on Kickstarter now.
It’s scripted by Sean Mason (Iris Wildthyme, A Dame To Die For, Escape Act), who has previously written several books and strips for Cutaway Comics as well as producing the imprint’s bonus DVDs. He’s also written several issues of Commando Comics published by DC Thomson. Sean says:
“We were thrilled by the reaction to the first book and I don’t think it’s an untruth to say this is even better! Each volume is designed to be new reader friendly and you don’t even need to have seen the original television adventure. So if a sci-fi adventure with girl gangs fighting multiversal fascists and avoiding cannibal old ladies sounds like a fun time, this is the book for you!”
So: first, the Kangs defeated Kroagnon, the murderous great architect that terrorised Paradise Towers. Then the Kangs turned the tide against the treacherous General Favalan and her soldiers. Now, the Kangs, Rezzies and Caretakers are hard at work rebuilding high for happiness and putting their past troubles behind them… right?
For Viv-2 and her friends, nothing is ever easy! No one can agree on what is best for Paradise Towers and old rivalries are starting to resurface. Tensions are high… and that’s when the murders start! For as well as their own personal trials, the Kangs must face off against a strike team of multiversal zealots determined to wipe them from reality. ALL REALITIES…
If you missed out on the previous adventure, Paradise Towers: Paradise Found, you can also add it to your order when backing the project on Kickstarter. As well as cover art by Beltramo, Doctor Who Magazine comics legend, Marin Geraghty will be drawing a variant cover and there is also a Kickstarter exclusive hardback edition with cover art by Robert Hack.
Yet again, these books can only exist with the blessing and support of Stephen Wyatt, who says:
“Sean and Silvano have done it again! Unalive The Multiverse, the new Paradise Towers comic book takes the Kangs off into a strange and disturbing new story of multiple worlds. I’m delighted with what they’ve created. The legacy of the Towers is in safe and skilful hands! Build High for Happiness!”
Stephen will also be contributing a brand new back up strip, his first work in comics after a storied career in television, radio, and theatre. Stephen has this to say about his first comics script:
“I was so impressed by watching the Cutaway team create the first Towers comic book Paradise Found that I felt inspired to have a go myself. Scary Cat is the result. It’s about my favourite Towers characters, Tilda and Tabby, the Rezzies, and the secret life of their cat, Tiddles. I hope you enjoy it!”
Scary Cat will be drawn by a brand new artist, sourced through an open artist competition to be run throughout the summer. Cutaway Comics will be open to pre-existing sequential samples but will also provide a script for anyone who has yet to draw a full page of comics. Discussing the open art competition, Commissioning Editor Gareth Kavanagh says:
“We’re all about giving people a break at Cutaway, so this opportunity is open to an artist looking for their very first paid commission. We can’t wait to open the doors to another brand-new artist to see what talent is out there.”
The Kickstarter campaign will include exclusive perks, like art prints, ice hot apparel, a brand-new Kang Zine, and much more.
Expect another packed bonus disc crammed with newly recorded audio and visual goodies. Highlights include a new writers’ commentary on Paradise Towers featuring Wyatt and Mason, alongside Dalek scribe, Robert Shearman, hosted by the BFI’s own Justin Johnson, plus new interviews with some of the original Kangs and much more.
