We are delighted to be joined by writer, art director, film producer and co-founder of Bit Bot Media Joshua Viola. Josh has been involved with comics such as True Believers and Unioverse. With the Kickstarter for Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver – The Dead Shall Rise live today, we got to chat with Joshua about the graphic novel. Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver – The Dead Shall Rise is written by Joshua Viola and Angie Hodapp, with interior art by Juan Samu, colours by Zac Atkinson, letters by Jeremiah Lambert and main cover by Dave Rapoza.
Hi Josh, it is wonderful to have you here with us again.
Good to be back!
Could you tell us your history with the Soul Reaver series?
I’ve been a fan ever since the first Soul Reaver game came out on PC (I didn’t beat it until it was on Dreamcast). I’ve thoroughly enjoyed every installment and find the world, art direction, and characters absolutely captivating.
What is it about the Soul Reaver that makes you want to be a part of the series?
It’s like a time capsule—there’s really nothing else like it today. It’s dark, gothic, and Shakespearean. The vampires stand apart from the typical Hollywood portrayals—they’re monstrous creatures. As an art director, I’m drawn to the incredible character design. The story and characters are so complex and developed. The narrative is fixated on betrayal and destiny. How could anyone not want to be part of such a richly crafted series?
What can you tell us about Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver – The Dead Shall Rise?
The Dead Shall Rise delves into Raziel’s past as a Sarafan, his transformation into a vampire, and introduces a new character connected to both Kain and Raziel. As fans might expect, it’s filled with the intricate themes of fate and choice, along with some exciting surprises.
For anyone not familiar with the Soul Reaver series, how would you describe it?
The Soul Reaver series is set in a dark, atmospheric gothic world where players explore the complex relationship between destiny and free will. The story follows Raziel, a fallen vampire-turned-wraith, on his quest for revenge against his creator, Kain, in a universe filled with ancient mysteries, monstrous creatures, and deep, interconnected lore.
Can you tell us about Bit Bot Media?
Bit Bot Media is a company I co-founded with Klayton (Celldweller) and James Rhodes of FiXT, where we focus on creating content like comics, music, video games, and merch for both original and licensed IPs. We also produce original films. I’m actually writing this from the set of Deathgasm 2 in Canada.
How did Angie Hodapp, Juan Samu, Jeremiah Lambert, Zac Atkinson, Dave Rapoza, Aaron Lovett, Jonny Bush and Ninja Jo join the team?
I’ve had the pleasure of working with each of them before and truly value their skills and talents. We get along really well and share a deep love for the collaborative process of storytelling and art across various forms of media.
Can you tell us about the origins of Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver – The Dead Shall Rise?
A friend and collaborator, Brent Friedman (Star Wars, Halo), who knows the team at Crystal Dynamics, recommended me for this project earlier this year, knowing how big a fan I am of the series.
What has it been like working with the team at Crystal Dynamics?
They’ve been fantastic—couldn’t have asked for a better partner on a project. They’re incredibly collaborative and have a deep passion for the IP. It’s been an amazing experience.
How did the crowdfunding decision come about for Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver – The Dead Shall Rise?
I’ve had some experience with that, and it’s becoming increasingly common to see officially licensed IP adapted and continued through crowdfunding. It gives creators the opportunity to take their projects further while actively involving the community.
As Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver – The Dead Shall Rise will be the first new narrative in the Soul Reaver series in two decades moving forward, could we see more Soul Reaver in the future?
I sure hope so!
As you are crowdfunding Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver – The Dead Shall Rise, does that mean there will be exclusive rewards?
Yes, we have so many amazing rewards. Finally, fans of this franchise will have access to more merchandise than they’ve ever had before. It’s a good time to be a LoK fan.
Any message for the ComicBuzz readers?
Thanks for taking the time to read! If you’re into comics, vampires, video games, or any combination of those, you’re going to love The Dead Shall Rise!
We would like to say thank you to Joshua for chatting with us, and we would like to wish him the best of luck with Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver – The Dead Shall Rise.
Freel free to check out Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver – The Dead Shall Rise on Kickstarter.
