Raziel Graces My Tattoo Sleeve

An interview with Joshua Viola 

By Sarah Elliott

 

Calling the gamers! So, you mastered all the levels and unlocked the hidden secrets. You love the game, so you rinse and repeat. What if you could find out what happened before the game? What is the true origin story? What are the roots of your favourite character? Well, if you’re a fan of Legacy of Kain, it’s a good job you’re already sitting tight in your gaming chair because you’ll be thunderstruck with what’s coming. 

 

“An all-new, original graphic novel titled Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver – The Dead Shall Rise is headed to Kickstarter later this year. Arriving in time for the 25th Anniversary of the release of the original Soul Reaver game, the publication of Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver – The Dead Shall Rise will mark the first official new Soul Reaver narrative in two decades, since 2003’s Legacy of Kain: Defiance.

 

Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver – The Dead Shall Rise delves into Raziel’s past as a human Sarafan warrior and his transformation into a vampire lieutenant under Kain. The story introduces new characters, including a mysterious vampire with deep connections to Raziel and Kain. This compelling tale explores and expands the existing canon while answering long-standing questions.

 

The project is being helmed by writers Joshua Viola (True Believers, It Came From the Multiplex) and Angie Hodapp (Unioverse, Shadow Atlas), with interior art by Juan Samu (Star Wars, Godzilla), letters by Jeremiah Lambert (Masters of the Universe, Transformers), covers by Dave Rapoza (Destiny, Magic: The Gathering) and Aaron Lovett (Monster Train, Inkbound), with additional art by Jonny Bush (Rob Zombie, Ghost) and Ninja Jo (Star Wars, Stranger Things). Brent Friedman (Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Call of Duty) is providing narrative guidance alongside creative direction and input from Crystal Dynamics, including never-before-seen ideas and elements from unreleased Soul Reaver lore.”

 

You get the picture. Now let’s get the detail from Joshua Viola himself. Who, you ask? Read on…

Bio: “Joshua Viola is an author, artist and film producer. He is a Colorado Book Award winner and Splatterpunk Award nominee. He is the co-author of Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver – The Dead Shall Rise. He has worked on films such as Shrine of Abominations, Deathgasm 2: Goremageddon, and Steven Kostanski’s Deathstalker reboot starring Daniel Bernhardt (co-produced by Guns N’ Roses’ Slash.) In 2024, he formed Bit Bot Media with Klayton (Celldweller) and partnered with Canadian film studio Raven Banner Entertainment and FreakZone Games. He is the owner and chief editor of Hex Publishers. He lives in Denver, Colorado, with his husband and son.”

https://www.joshuaviola.com/about.html

Sarah: Wading through your bio, it seems you’ve utilised your broad skill set across a range of projects and creative offerings. Has this idea been percolating for a while? How are Bit Bot and Crystal Dynamics working together to bring this story to life?

Josh: I’ve had questions I’ve wanted answers for since playing the first Soul Reaver game about 25 years ago. When the opportunity to work on this project came up, I immediately knew what I wanted to explore. Thankfully my co-writer Angie Hodapp and Crystal Dynamics were both enthusiastic about the idea and had their own suggestions to make it that much more interesting.

Sarah: Give us the elevator pitch for Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver – The Dead Shall Rise. 

Josh: Soul Reaver series is a dark, atmospheric action-adventure game set in a very detailed gothic-fantasy world. It follows the intertwined fates of two central characters: Kain, a vampire lord, and Raziel, his former lieutenant turned vengeful wraith. The series explores themes of destiny and redemption through a complex narrative and time paradox mechanics. Think Game of Thrones with vampires instead of dragons and some time travel.

Sarah: I’m curious to know who your favourite character is and why. Please introduce us to them. 

Josh: That’s a tough choice. I’m very fond of Raziel—he’s even tattooed on my forearm. I used to consider him my favorite, with Kain as a close second, but after working on this project, Kain might have edged ahead. His motivations are really compelling to me.

Kain is a brooding, charismatic vampire lord with a tragic past. Originally a mortal noble, he was transformed into a vampire and became the tyrannical ruler of Nosgoth. His actions are driven by a desire to defy his own fate and reshape his cursed world.

Raziel, Kain’s former vampire lieutenant, meets a tragic end and is resurrected as a wraith. His story revolves around betrayal and vengeance. As a wraith, Raziel possesses unique powers, including the ability to shift between the material and spectral realms. His quest is to find the truth behind his transformation and seek retribution against those who wronged him, particularly Kain.

Sarah: Could a non-gamer who hadn’t played access and enjoy the graphic novel? Do you see this as a way to entice them into playing Legacy of Kain?

 

Josh: Yes, we’ve kept that in mind during the entire process. Our goal is for everyone who reads this graphic novel to enjoy it. As a prequel, we’re starting fresh, introducing new histories and characters. We’re aiming to please existing fans while making it accessible to newcomers as well.

Sarah: Sum up the graphic novel in three words.

Josh: Dark, compelling, epic.

Sarah: Where can we get our hands on it and when? And do you have anything else to share with us? What’s next?

Josh: You can sign up to be notified when we launch here. We have a range of exciting rewards beyond just the graphic novel, including collectable sword replicas, latex masks, and even a soundtrack. What’s next? Ensuring we deliver the best possible product for our supporters!

“Starting today, fans can sign up on the BackerKit prelaunch page to receive an email alert when the project launches. Everyone who signs up will receive a free digital image from the officially approved Crystal Dynamics Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver archives after the project launches.

“In college, I created a Soul Reaver poster for a class project, never imagining I would one day officially contribute to the franchise,” says co-writer Joshua Viola. “Even today, Raziel graces my tattoo sleeve—a testament to my deep connection with this universe. Fans can expect a project infused with that same passion. Working directly with creatives from Crystal Dynamics and reuniting with former collaborators makes this a truly special endeavor.”

This will be the first-ever book published by Bit Bot Media, a new, cutting-edge multimedia company from Klayton (Celldweller/Scandroid), the multifaceted musician known for his contributions to major motion pictures, TV, and video games including Transformers, Malignant, and Killer Instinct, and Denver Post bestselling writer and film producer Joshua Viola, in collaboration with Crystal Dynamics.

About Bit Bot: Bit Bot Media is a forward-thinking multimedia company co-founded by Klayton (Celldweller) and Joshua Viola, alongside James Rhodes of FiXT, focusing on the creation of original films, video games, comics, music, and merchandise. With a commitment to innovation and quality, Bit Bot Media aims to push the boundaries of entertainment. Visit https://bitbotmedia.com/ for more info.

About Crystal Dynamics: Crystal Dynamics is an award-winning, best-in-class game development studio headquartered just south of San Francisco in sunny San Mateo, CA. Founded in 1992, Crystal Dynamics has grown into a world-class studio by developing iconic franchises and keeping at the forefront of the very latest in technology and graphics. Having created beloved properties such as Gex and the Legacy of Kain series, as well as driving the award-winning, massively successful Tomb Raider franchise at over 95M franchise units sold to date, Crystal Dynamics is now laying the groundwork for the next generation of innovative and technologically stunning projects.”