EXCLUSIVE: 'Shaolin Burning' graphic novel by Ant Sang

Above: Ant Sang with a page of sample art from 'Shaolin Burning'.

I’m pleased to announce that Ant Sang, best known for his critically acclaimed comic series ‘TheDharma Punks’ and the artist /designer of ‘Bro’ Town’, is currently working on a new original graphic novel titled ‘Shaolin Burning’.

Ant describes it as “a kung-fu comic set in China in the Qing Dynasty and a lot of historical figures and kung fu legends are being weaved into my story of two kung fu fighters whose lives will eventually collide in a climatic confrontation”.

From the early artwork samples I’ve seen, expect it to be epic in scope; a cross between‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’ and ‘Kill Bill’ with plenty of bone-crunching kung-fu action! So epic in fact, that Ant has scaled up to A2 sized cartridge paper for the artwork, “I figure working larger will help me loosen up with the brushwork”.

‘Shaolin Burning’ will be published locally by HarperCollins NZ, and you can expect to see it on bookshelves in the first quarter of 2010.

I’ll have a more in-depth interview with Ant on this project closer to its publication; in the meantime I’ve got a studio visit for you to check out!

-AK!

Above: A look inside on of Ant's sketchbooks, as he works on character designs and layouts. 'Shaolin Burning' is copyright Ant Sang 2009.