GVN Talking Comics: Exclusive Covers & Previews of ‘URBANCE’ By Joël Dos Reis Viegas

URBANCE is back in the spotlight, and this time, Magnetic Press and Oni Press are teaming up to unleash Joël Dos Reis Viegas’ electric, hyper‑stylized world in a whole new way. Today, we’re bringing you an exclusive first look at the covers and interior pages that capture everything fans have been waiting for—velocity, attitude, and that unmistakable Viegas visual punch, first introduced in his high‑style, hyper‑urban adult animated project.

Magnetic Press and Oni Press are teaming up to bring Viegas’ colorful story to life as a graphic novel, set to launch soon on Kickstarter.

PORTLAND, OR (Date TK) – DISSIDENT TEENS UNCOVER THE TRUTH ABOUT A CYBERPUNK SOCIETY ON THE VERGE OF IMPLOSION. Oni Press and Magnetic Press – the Eisner Award-winning publisher celebrating prestige graphic novels from around the globe since 2013 – are proud to announce the Kickstarter campaign for URBANCE, a sci-fi adventure series by Internationally acclaimed writer, artist, and director Joël Dos Reis Viegas, the co-founder of Steambot Studios whose media credits include include work on video games like Batman: Arkham Origins, Brink, and Thief; tv series including Black Dynamite and Siren; and the 2014 film Godzilla. Fans can sign up on the Kickstarter prelaunch page to receive an email when the campaign for URBANCE launches.

Magnetic Press’ Director of Publishing, Mike Kennedy

URBANCE is a bio-punk ROMEO & JULIET in the neon-lit style of AEON FLUX in a JET SET RADIO future city. A kinetic fusion of urban cyberpunk, gender‑charged tension, and high‑style action, it’s a story about rebellion, identity, and the dangerous power of connection in a world designed to keep the population divided.”

URBANCE began as a high‑style, hyper‑urban adult animated project created by Joël Dos Reis Viegas and developed at Steambot Studios. Following a smash-hit Kickstarter campaign backed by thousands of fans worldwide, Steambot partnered with Yapiko Animation in Tokyo in 2015 to complete the 8-minute animated short film. The animated pilot’s strong visual identity, worldbuilding, and fan response helped propel URBANCE into its next phase: a four‑volume comic series fueled by Joël himself. While the animation established the universe and characters, the comics expand and solidify the narrative, deepening the political tensions, youth‑clan dynamics, and the mystery surrounding the virus and the underground drug. This transition from animation to comics allowed Joël to fully explore the world of Neopolis and develop the long‑form story that the pilot only hinted at.

URBANCE creator Joël Dos Reis Viegas

While the animated pilot only scratches the surface of what rules Neopolis, the graphic novel series dives much deeper into the dark side of the society and human tensions. Keeping the core elements — the virus, N-Dorphin, the protagonists, and Coevo — and reimagining a story about two youngsters, shaped by division, who are forced to come together against adversity. So I chose a more aggressive and dark visual treatment to better match the story’s more mature tone. URBANCE is a reflection of my passions, my art style, and my fears.”

URBANCE welcomes readers to Neopolis, a futuristic neon‑drenched city where physical desire has become deadly. A mysterious virus has infected every human at birth, making intimate contact between the sexes instantly fatal. To survive, society enforces absolute abstinence and segregation: boys and girls are raised apart, conditioned to fear, even hate, one another. A colossal wall cuts the city in two, and entire youth cultures have evolved in isolation, fueled by tribal identity, coded fashion, and explosive street‑clan rivalries. But a new underground drug, N‑Dorphin, which is rumored to bypass the virus’s lethal effects, begins circulating through the streets and destabilizes the fragile balance of power in Neopolis, igniting turf wars and paranoia as factions scramble for control. Kenzell and Lesya, two teens from opposite sides who defy the rules and risk everything to cross the divide, are caught in the crossfire. Together, they uncover a conspiracy far bigger than any clan feud, and their forbidden alliance becomes a spark in a city ready to explode.

Exclusive Sneak Peek

Now, thanks to Magnetic and Oni Press, you can dive into the neon‑drenched chaos below and see why URBANCE remains one of the most visually arresting projects in modern comics.

Reflections

After viewing these covers and pages, Viegas’ world feels alive in a way few creators can pull off. The attitude is baked into the architecture, the fashion, the body language. The energy hits before the story even begins. And seeing this universe finally take shape in print—under two publishers who understand how to champion bold, auteur‑driven work—feels like the moment fans have been waiting for since the earliest animation tests lit up the internet.

Thanks

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Magnetic Press, Oni Press, and, of course, Joël Dos Reis Viegas for trusting us with this reveal. If these pages are any indication, URBANCE is poised to be one of the most visually electric releases of the year. Keep your eyes on this one—it’s the kind of project that doesn’t just stand out on a shelf, it demands your attention. You can visit the Kickstarter campaign.