Godkiller is a transmedia series of graphic novels, illustrated films, and novels created by award-winning filmmaker Matt Pizzolo that tells the stories of human beings caught in the crossfire of warring fallen gods. The core series is a trilogy of feature-length illustrated films beginning with Godkiller: Walk Among Us, illustrated by Anna Muckcracker. Pizzolo and Muckcracker are currently at work on the second part of the trilogy Godkiller: Tomorrow's Ashes.[1]
The October 2009 illustrated film DVD Godkiller: Walk Among Us - Episode 1 quickly established itself as its distributor's all-time fastest selling release.[2]
When Fulle Circle asked about the inspiration behind Godkiller, Pizzolo stated:
"I thought it would be fun to design a new mythology for fuck-ups and misfits. My goal with it is to present heroes that don't behave heroically because it's their job to maintain the status quo or because they're bored and want to rescue a princess, they act heroically because they're regular misfits who are trying to do the best they can for each other in an unjust, fucked-up world." [1]
The illustrated film format Pizzolo developed with producer Brian Giberson for Godkiller merges sequential art with 3D CGI, motion graphics and dramatic voice performances in the style of a radio play.[3]
Wired asked Pizzolo to explain the differences between motion comics and illustrated films:
"In illustrated films, we drive the pace of the storytelling with the dramatic voice performances and the sound design, so that allows us to showcase the illustrations in a way where you can really take a moment to absorb the art in the same way you can when reading a comic book... Motion comics are closer to a form of limited animation that uses comics as source material. Illustrated films are closer to the experimental cinema of Ralph Bakshi’s work, Chris Marker’s La jetée or animation like Liquid Television." [2]
Pizzolo gave Bloody Disgusting additional thoughts on differences between motion comics and illustrated films:
"The simple answer is illustrated-films are an attempt to merge comic book sequential art with cinematic storytelling, whereas motion comics seem more intent on re-purposing comic books into cartoons. And I don't mean to sound like a dick because I think motion comics are cool, these are just different. On first glance, they look very similar... and people might say 'it's moving comics on a screen, that's motion comics' to which I say 'just because Seinfeld is moving people captured on 35mm film doesn't make it the same thing as Full Metal Jacket.' On one level you could see motion comics and illustrated films as siblings like comics books vs graphics novels or TV shows vs feature films, but there are deeper distinctions. Basically, we're filmmakers so we're bringing a cinematic sensibility to this[...] We animate motion in the frame, but the need for motion is different in film... it's not like Michael Madsen bounces around the frame in Reservoir Dogs the way Wakko does in Animaniacs." [3]
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The Godkiller series was devised to be simultaneously produced as a series of graphic novels and films (both utilizing the same sequential art) with the ultimate goal being a trilogy of feature-length films. Pizzolo and Muckcracker began by serializing Godkiller: Walk Among Us into a 6-issue comic book series (debuting in 2008) and a 3-episode film series (debuting in 2009) before the completed Walk Among Us feature film opened theatrically in 2010.
The Walk Among Us film was slated for a unique release of limited edition, bi-monthly DVDs starting September 29, 2009, followed by a theatrical run of the full feature in January 2010 and a DVD/Blu-ray release in March 2010.
Due to overwhelming demand far beyond studio expectations, the first DVD's street date was delayed until October 6, 2009 so enough DVDs could be supplied to the stores, including Best Buy, Borders Books, F.Y.E. and Suncoast, among many more retailers.[4]
Pizzolo and Muckcracker are currently working on the second part of the trilogy, Godkiller: Tomorrow's Ashes. The new series is slated to be released in mid 2011, followed soon after by the next wave of films. The complete Tomorrow's Ashes feature-length film is expected to premiere theatrically in 2011.
Pizzolo is currently writing pre-apocalyptic prequel Godkiller: Silent War, an urban fantasy novel series which debuted as episodic e-books & audiobooks on the special features of the Godkiller: Walk Among Us dvds.[5]
Pizzolo explained the dramatic structure to Dread Central:
"Godkiller is split into two periods... there's the pre-nuke world of Silent War and there's the post-nuke world of the graphic novel and illustrated film Walk Among Us. So Silent War is only a prequel insofar as it happens beforehand, but its events drive the Walk Among Us story, and many of the same characters appear in both. I'm super excited that the two stories can roll out together in this integrated way--everything about this project is unorthodox and crazy, hopefully everyone will enjoy the ride." [4]
Though not an official prequel, Pizzolo has indicated that his upcoming graphic novel series The Long Knives takes place in a shared universe with Godkiller and deals with several key Godkiller characters during the breakdown of society that precedes Godkiller: Walk Among Us. The Long Knives is a Giallo-style horror illustrated by newcomer Ana Ludeshka.[6]
Ludeshka told Bloody-Disgusting:
"I was very shocked when I first read the Long Knives script. And not only because of the blood and the gore. There’s no mercy in this story. It burns like cold things burn." [5]
[Pre-nuke period] In the near future, 17-year-old Joe Junior and his girlfriend Bee run a speakeasy in the basement of an abandoned NYC church where they serve narcotic drinks to underagers while providing sanctuary and black-market employment to draft dodgers. When Joe is recruited by an armed cult of populist assassins, he is thrust into a secret world of international cabals, alien conspiracies, and the countdown to Armageddon.[7]
[Post-nuke period] Set in the future after an economic collapse, a nuclear holy war and an alien invasion, Godkiller: Walk Among Us follows orphan Tommy as he searches for a new heart for his ill sister, Lucy.
Pizzolo developed the concept of an illustrated film with his producing partner Brian Giberson, mixing elements of anime, radio drama, video games, and motion comics. Utilizing the original artwork from the comic book, the illustrated film adds motion animation, visual effects, elaborate sound design, music, and voice-acting performances.[8]
Explaining the decision to develop the new filmmaking format, Pizzolo told Bloody Disgusting:[9]
"When we decided to make an anime adaptation of the comic book, I couldn't see how a traditional animated approach would do justice to Anna's incredibly lush and detailed illustrations. It made perfect sense to adapt the medium to suit her art, rather than vice versa." [6]
Pizzolo clarified further in an interview with Horror News:[10]
"There are lots of reasons [Godkiller was made as an illustrated film], but I think the most important one was really being inspired by Anna Muckcracker's gorgeous artwork. Brian Giberson (my partner at Halo-8) and I had been experimenting with the illustrated film format for a while, but we might still have gone with traditional animation for Godkiller since it's really risky to experiment with a crazy story and a new filmmaking format at the same time. But once I saw Anna's art I knew that no traditional form of animation could do justice to the grimy, textured, surreal aesthetic she created. It was really an artistic choice, because from a business point of view it's just so risky." [7]
According to Fangoria, "Lance Henriksen, Bill Moseley and Tiffany Shepis are the genre stalwarts lending their vocal talents to the project; also on board in that capacity are underground cinema queen Lydia Lunch and singers Justin Pierre (of Motion City Soundtrack) and Davey Havok (of AFI)." [11]
Pizzolo and Giberson unveiled a preview clip of the Godkiller illustrated film during the "Comic Books & Indie Movies" panel at Comic-Con International's Wondercon in San Francisco on February 28, 2009.[12][13][14][15]
According to Shock Till You Drop, "Danielle Harris (known for her turns in the Halloween franchise), Katie Nisa (Threat), and Nicki Clyne (Battlestar Galactica) have joined previously announced cast members Lance Henriksen, Bill Moseley, Tiffany Shepis, Justin Pierre (singer of Motion City Soundtrack), Lydia Lunch (Richard Kern's 'Hardcore Collection'), and Davey Havok (AFI) in the cast of the 'illustrated film' adaptation Godkiller, written and directed by award-winning filmmaker Matt Pizzolo (Threat) based on the comic book he created with illustrator Anna Muckcracker." [16]
Pizzolo, Giberson and actresses Danielle Harris and Tiffany Shepis presented two exclusive preview clips of the Godkiller illustrated film at Fangoria's Weekend of Horrors in Los Angeles on April 18, 2009.[17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28]
Immediately following the preview clip debut at Weekend of Horrors, Fangoria posted the first exclusive online clip of Godkiller on its website. [8] [29][30][31][32][33] The film will release on 20 April 2010 over Halo 8 Enterntainment in Chicago as part of the Comic-Con C2E2.[34]
Godkiller has been released in episodic and collected versions in various configurations:
| Title | Format | Edition | Content | Date Released | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Godkiller: Walk Among Us #1 (of 6) | comic book | limited edition | 36-page comic book | March 2008 | out of print; sold out on publisher website; available digitally from Graphicly.com |
| Godkiller: Walk Among Us #2 (of 6) | comic book | limited edition | 25-page comic book | May 2008 | out of print; sold out on publisher website; available digitally from Graphicly.com |
| Godkiller: Walk Among Us - Book 1 (of 3) | graphic novel | limited edition | collects comic book issues 1 & 2 | July 2008 | out of print; sold out on publisher website |
| Godkiller: Walk Among Us - Episode 1 (of 3) | shortform-DVD | limited edition | same story content as comic book issues 1 & 2 | October 2009 | out of print; limited availability on publisher website; available digitally from Halo8.tv |
| Godkiller: Walk Among Us - Episode 1 (of 3) - Special Edition | shortform-DVD | special edition cover by Tim Seeley | same story content as comic book issues 1 & 2 | October 2009 | out of print; limited availability on publisher website |
| Godkiller: Walk Among Us #3 (of 6) | comic book | limited edition | 37-page comic book | January 2009 | out of print; sold out on publisher website; available digitally from Graphicly.com |
| Godkiller: Walk Among Us #4 (of 6) | comic book | limited edition | 23-page comic book | March 2009 | out of print; sold out on publisher website; available digitally from Graphicly.com |
| Godkiller: Walk Among Us - Book 2 (of 3) | graphic novel | limited edition | collects comic book issues 3 & 4 | July 2009 | out of print; sold out on publisher website |
| Godkiller: Walk Among Us - Episode 2 (of 3) | shortform-DVD | limited edition | same story content as comic book issues 3 & 4 | January 2010 | out of print; sold out on publisher website; available digitally from Halo8.tv |
| Godkiller: Walk Among Us #5 (of 6) | comic book | limited edition | 28-page comic book | January 2009 | out of print; sold out on publisher website; available digitally from Graphicly.com |
| Godkiller: Walk Among Us #6 (of 6) | comic book | limited edition | 54-page double-sized comic book | March 2009 | out of print; sold out on publisher website; available digitally from Graphicly.com |
| Godkiller: Walk Among Us - Book 3 (of 3) | graphic novel | limited edition | collects comic book issues 5 & 6 | May 2009 | out of print; sold out on publisher website |
| Godkiller: Walk Among Us - Episode 3 (of 3) | shortform-DVD | limited edition | same story content as comic book issues 5 & 6 | March 2010 | out of print; sold out on publisher website; available digitally from Halo8.tv |
| Godkiller: Walk Among Us (complete film) | Theatrical, VOD, DVD | massmarket | collects episodes 1-3 into a complete 75-minute feature film | Premiered at C2E2 in April 2010 | currently available from most cable-VOD, digital-VOD, and DVD retail outlets |
| Godkiller: Walk Among Us (HD) | VOD, Blu-ray | massmarket | HD version of the complete 75-minute feature film | Released on VOD in May 2010; Blu-ray street date TBA | currently available on VOD from Playstation Network, Xbox Live, iTunes, numerous cable providers, and Halo8.tv; Blu-ray not yet available |
| Godkiller: Walk Among Us (complete graphic novel) | collected graphic novel / trade paperback | massmarket | collects comic book issues 1-6 , plus previously unreleased 15-page epilogue | debuted at San Diego Comic Con 2011 | available on Halo8.tv website |
| Godkiller 2: Tomorrow's Ashes issue #1 (of 8) | comic book | limited edition | TBA | TBA | not yet available |
| Godkiller 2: Tomorrow's Ashes - Episode 1 (of 4) | shortform-DVD | limited edition | TBA | TBA | not yet available |