Childhood friends bring cultural dreams to life with new comic book based on Persian Mythology

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) February 23, 2009 -- Rostam: Battle with the Deevs released in time for Persian New Year.

Growing up as 1/2 American 1/2 Iranian kids during the 1970s in Tehran, childhood friends Bruce Bahmani and Jamie Douraghy spent their time reading, swapping and selling comic books with their friends. When not reading comics, they spent time listening intently as their fathers and uncles told fantastic stories about the great Persian heroes from The Shahnameh. Little did they know that 30 years later, after working together on a serialized educational comic book, that collective past experiences would inspire them to create a new world by blending ancient persian adventure stories, with the visual storytelling format of the modern american comic book; a true blending of cultures.

The Shahnameh or The Epic of Kings is one of the definitive literature classics of the world, and was written by the famous Iranian poet Ferdowsi, who worked for thirty years to finish this masterpiece. His poetic style of writing, takes the reader back to ancient times, allowing them hear and feel the events as if they were there.

Given all the recent negative press about Iran in general, Bruce, Jamie and his brother Cameron saw this as a chance to create something special drawn from their Persian culture. After much research, translation and adaptation, they put together a series of stories, in which Ferdowsi's technique of using double entendre, one in which the main story overlays a deeper message of wisdom or advice, could be accomplished. Their goal was twofold:

1. Introduce an important Persian literary work to a broader audience, and,

2. Bridge a cultural gap between the young and old of two very important audiences: the more open minded comic book readers of the world and Iranians in diaspora.

"The response has been overwhelmingly positive", said Jamie Douraghy "but we are always pushing ourselves to bring even more quality to this project from a cultural and creative standpoint. The Shahnameh deserves the highest quality" .

Some of the quotes can be found on this link:

http://www.theshahnameh.com/testimonials/

What People are Saying:

"I just got the finished book and it looks amazing!!! The Deevs look fantastic and the front cover is stunning. Vaghan damet gharm. Thanks so much for sending me out this copy."


"Congratulations for your wonderful initiative. My husband used to read the Shahnameh to me at night. Unfortunately, I kept falling asleep until he gave up on me! Now I have another chance to catch up with the lovely Shahnameh again."

"Im so glad that someone finally started this. If we dont tell the story how do we expect world to know it?"

"My name is Sohrab and I am writing from Dubai. I just received the Rostam comic through the mail and have to say I was really impressed. As an avid comic reader, (love everything from Marvel, DC, Darkhorse, to the old King Features stuff) and someone with an Iranian background, I was pleased with the final product. Rostam was both well written and well drawn, and the package as a whole was very professional."

Acclaimed American comic book artist, Karl Altstaetter, was given the task of bringing Rostam to life for a broader audience. After a year of working to develop the right look & feel for the characters, scenery, architecture, weaponry, including many other details, the project was finalized and the story locked with the writing skills of Robert Napton.

The first series focuses on the main hero Rostam, a giant of a man, powerful fighter and his many fantastic adventures. Throughout, Rostam shows strength and skill as a warrior, but also integrity and loyalty to Iran, as he protects and defends it from the constant conniving and betrayals of characters such as Lord Afrasiab and the under worldly demon, called: Deeveh Sefeed. These unsavory characters continually plot against Rostam, and Kai-Kavous (The King), so that they might take over and rule Iran. However, in spite of a King, who at times appears less than grateful and often even incompetent to rule, Rostam always honorably defends his King and country.

In 2006 Rostam: Tales from the Shahnameh won a Golden Lioness for Literature award from WAALM in Budapest, Hungary.

"Rostam: Return of the King" is a prequel to the Rostam & Sohrab story, which tells us how Kai-Kavous meets Soodabeh, and how Rostam manages yet again to save the throne from being usurped by Afrasiab

"Rostam: Tales of the Shahnameh" introduces us to the story of Rostam & Sohrab - the most famous of all Shahnameh stories where we come to admire Rostam, as he faces one of his most difficult challenges - his own son Sohrab! .

"Rostam: Battle with the Deevs" continues with the story immediately after the battle with Sohrab. Rotsam is forced to confront his own internal demons as well as the many Deevs!

In keeping with the tradition of blending rich folklore from the melting pot of world cultures into the American comic book format, Bruce, Jamie & Cameron launched the world's first adaptation of Shahnameh stories into this genre.



reviews of past issues:

http://www.theshahnameh.com/category/articles/

more info on our book:

http://www.theshahnameh.com/


For more information, contact:

Jamie Douraghy
Hyperwerks Entertainment
1633 Stanford Ave 2nd Fl
Santa Monica CA 90404

310 383 3380
hyper@hyperwerks.com

Publisher info:

http://www.hyperwerks.com

More information can be found online at http://theshahnameh.com

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