Comic Book Veteran Hank Kanalz Joins Immortal as Head of Publishing

Press Release

Original Content Studio for Wuxia Genre Ramps Up Slate with New 2021 Titles

LOS ANGELES -- May 19, 2021 -- Veteran comic book executive Hank Kanalz, who most recently served as DC Comics SVP Publishing Strategy and Support Services is joining Immortal Studios as Head of Publishing, announced Immortal Studios founder and CEO Peter Shiao. Immortal Studios is an original American content studio with a contemporary Wuxia “storyverse” created from exclusive rights to the library of celebrated Wuxia author Shiao Yi, as well as Peter Shiao’s own original content.

Charged with scaling Immortal’s publishing operation, Kanalz brings over 30 years of experience in the comics and entertainment industry experience including 25 years at DC and WarnerMedia, specializing in content strategy and development, operations, acquisitions, and business development.

He joins Immortal Studios as it is ramping up its comic book slate, having just released the second title in the Immortal Storyverse, Chronicles of the Immortal Swordsmen. Written by Peter Shiao and adapted from the original Shiao Yi novel, it is a pioneering modern work about a young man’s awakening into an ancient order of spiritual warriors. It will be followed by Assassin G, one of Shiao Yi’s most popular titles, adapted four times for television in Greater China, about a swordswoman trained to avenge all the wrongs committed against her master. The company launched in June 2020 with The Adept, an original comic book about a young woman who is given keys to an entire realm of secret training. Successful Kickstarter campaigns served as the launching pad for both The Adept and Chronicles of the Immortal Swordsmen.

“During this very transformative period – I believe Immortal Studios has not only a vast creative opportunity to bring forth a new vision to fans, but to offer up a multi-window comic service that starts with hardcore fan engagement and culminates in digital distribution on scale and all platform adaptations. As we move forward with Immortal Studios’ mission to create a home for the timeless Wuxia genre with an interconnected storyverse of characters, I am excited to have Hank Kanalz on board to help us execute our strategy, bring together the various influences of the genre, authentically represent Asian faces and culture and awaken the hero in everyone,”, said Peter Shiao

“I’m excited to be joining the team at Immortal Studios. The time to bring wuxia concepts to the broader audience has come, even though they’ve been here for years. Comics has a long history in this space, and we plan on Immortal taking its place among some of the best comics told for a modern audience,” said Kanalz.

About Immortal

Immortal Studios is an original content studio dedicated to creating stories in the Chinese martial arts fantasy genre known as Wuxia and bringing Asian faces and culture to the global pop culture stage. Immortal aims to be the global home for Wuxia entertainment by bringing this classic genre into the 21stcentury and introducing it to the mainstream audience by telling contemporary stories of heroism, fantasy action, kung fu, empowerment, and self-discovery.

Immortal is creating an interconnected storyverse of diverse characters based on the award-winning library of Shiao Yi, one of the foremost authors in the Wuxia genre, first through comic books and then expanding into films, tv and games. Immortal’s successful crowdfunding campaign for its first two comic books, The Adept and Chronicles of the Immortal Swordsmen, both earned more than 300% of its funding goal. Through its event series and online campaigns, Immortal engages its audience on a variety of topics ranging from meeting content creators and artists to learning about martial arts and AAPI representation. The company was founded to share empowering and transformational stories to define a new hero journey where everyone is the one.