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Dec 29, 2023

Black Box Chronicles

There are some concepts that can be very difficult to comprehend. Some like deep

There are some concepts that can be very difficult to comprehend. Some like deep space exploration may be achieved in time with the development of technology. Others like, what happens in the afterlife may take much more to understand. While we may not have answers to these, it would be interesting to imagine how a group of creative minds construct a world that offers a look at how mankind could possibly expand into space and beyond.

Thanks to the renowned graphic novel and art book publisher Magnetic Press in partnership with Horrible Future founders Mark Shey and Chris Northrop we have that opportunity. Their start-studded creator-led original sci-fi anthology, "Black Box Chronicles" is getting ready to wrap up it's Kickstarter campaign this Friday.

"Black Box Chronicles" introduces the sprawling drama and high-concept fiction set in the future age known as "The Great Outward Expansion". Think of it as a mix of the fan-favorite Prime sci-fi series, "The Expanse", and the mind-bending ideas of Netflix's "Black Mirror". It was developed by Horrible Future founders Mark Schey and Chris Northrop.

In this connected set of stories, mankind has left Earth to colonize other planets and star systems. They can't help themselves as advancing technology has given them the opportunity to explore further and further. But no matter how far or how much data anyone collects, or how far out they explore there is one thing that no one can escape, death.

One man thinks he could solve that mystery. Known as the Scavenger, he believes that by collecting data from a variety of Black Boxes recovered from hundreds of years of spacecraft wreaks he can finally find out what happens in the final moments of our lives when we pass into "The Great Dark".

"We wanted to create stories of that caliber but focused on a destination that few have dared to explore: the barrier between life and death. We wanted to take a scientific – albeit fantastic – approach to a subject that is normally seeped in the supernatural, exploring some alternate ideas about what happens in the last moments of a person's life from a hard sci-fi perspective. While we don't pose any concrete answers, our stories follow future explorers committed to figuring it out once and for all," said Shey.

"Black Box Chronicles" brings together some of the most talented writers and artists in 15 interconnected short stories that set the foundation for this amazing universe. These include David Mack (Daredevil, Kabuki), Michael Avon Oeming (Powers, Bulletproof Monk), Zach Howard (Hellboy, Wild Blue Yonder), Eryk Donovan (Memetic, Quantum Teens are Go), Marco Fodera (Nathan Never), Gavin Smith (Star Trek: Mirrorverse), Toru Terada (Small World), David Messina (Star Wars: Han Solo & Chewbacca, 3Keys), Giovanni Rigano (Global, Artemis Fowl), Drew Moss (The Crow, Red Sonja), Christian Dibari (Revolvers, Providence of Madness), Taki Soma (Sleeping While Standing, Bitch Planet), and Mario Alberti (Spider-man and the Fantastic Four, The Wall).

In order to really immerse readers in this vast universe, Magnetic Press and Horrible Future will allow readers to explore in a multi-media plan that includes print, digital, audio, and interactive elements. Fox example a world-building art book titled "Black Box Design Space" illustrated by Shane Molina. This will have a look at the various devices, locations, and technologies that make up that universe. Additional assets are being developed including music and a tabletop roleplaying game.

Its not too late to take part in the Kickstarter that includes hardcover editions of both the anthology and Design Space art book featuring artwork by David Mack. If you want to get fancy, there is also a limited, deluxe slipcase set that has the hardcover books in a blue foil-laden slipcase with a magnetic closure. Depending on your pledge you could also get some other cool stuff like resin miniatures of some of the ships and drones in the series and a deck of premium playing cards with artwork from the universe.

"Black Box Chronicles" is a fantastic new anthology that sci-fi fans will love to get into. No doubt that the creative teams have put in a lot of time and effort to for us to explore this new and vast universe.