NBCUniversal to Develop Comic Books Based on '80's & '90's TV Shows

NBCUniversal, one of the world's premier media and entertainment companies, has partnered with digital publisher Lion Forge Comics to develop licensed comic books based on popular TV shows from the 1980s and 90s. Under the agreement licensed through the NBCUniversal Television Consumer Products Group, Lion Forge will write, develop and publish digital comics based on The Following shows:

- "Airwolf"
- "Knight Rider"
- "Miami Vice"
- "Punky Brewster"
- "Saved by the Bell"

"Partnering with the team at Lion Forge to bring classic TV properties to life in graphic novel format was a natural step for us as we continue to identify new ways to entertain our fans in the digital space," said Chris Lucero, director of Global Consumer Products Licensing for NBCUniversal Television. "We're excited to give fans a chance to revisit some of their favorite shows and characters in a completely new way."

Well-known writers currently signed on to work on the projects include: Joelle Sellner (Teen Titans, Jackie Chan Adventures, Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi); Jonathan London (Geekscape); Geoffrey Thorne (Leverage, Ben 10) and David Gorden (Catalyst Prime: Accel and Catalyst Prime: Quincredible).

Currently, Jason Johnson (Wetworks, Godstorm) and Lion Forge's own Carl Reed and Lorenzo Lizana are on board as artists.

"From hugely popular characters such as Crockett and Tubbs, Zack Morris and Punky Brewster to highly stylized music and clothing choices, these TV franchises have had a significant impact on pop culture," said David Steward, CEO, Lion Forge. "We here at Lion Forge are looking forward to extending that influence by creating visually appealing and entertaining experiences on mobile devices for a whole new generation of fans."

The comics are planned for distribution in Q3 and Q4 2013, and will be available through the Amazon Kindle Bookstore, Apple iBooks, Barnes & Noble's The Nook Book Store and Kobo.

Lion Forge executives will participate on a panel at Comic-Con International: San Diego from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. PDT on Saturday, July 20, in Room: 26AB (SDCC), where they will discuss these and other properties in development.

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