COMIC REPUBLIC’S VAST VANGUARDS UNIVERSE LANDS AT
UNIVERSAL STUDIO GROUP’S UCP

Selwyn Seyfu Hinds and Mad Massive Entertainment Set to Develop and Executive Produce Projects Based on the Comic Books and its Catalogue of Characters

UCP is expanding the world of heroes. The studio, a division of Universal Studio Group (USG), announced today a first-of-its-kind partnership with Nigeria-based Comic Republic to develop series based on the characters and stories from its popular Vanguards Universe. The intercontinental partnership has Selwyn Seyfu Hinds and his banner Mad Massive Entertainment set to executive produce projects based on the comic books.

“From the moment I plunged into the incredible world of stories and characters built by the wonderful team at Comic Republic, I knew that this was an opportunity to fulfill Mad Massive’s mission: To tell stories that reveal our shared humanity, stories that give wings to dreams,” said Hinds. “And as a devourer of all things fantastical from the moment I could read, having the opportunity to create multiple projects driven by characters who spring from the source of it all, from Africa, is truly the stuff of my lifelong dreams. I’m incredibly grateful to the teams at Comic Republic, UCP, and Mad Massive’s own Katie Zucker, who doggedly pursued this deal for more than a year. Right now, I’m just amped all the way up to work with our partners to build an entirely new, entirely different comic book universe that will entertain and inspire. Because we come from myth, from majesty, from heroes. And we deserve this.”

Founded in 2013 by Jide Martin, Comic Republic is a Nigerian online multimedia company that primarily focuses on the digital creation and distribution of original African comic books.

Martin added, “For ten years, Comic Republic has focused on building a community of storytellers and artists dedicated to putting Africa’s best foot forward with quality art, animations, comics, and authentic stories that would make all Africans and its diaspora beam with pride. I believe that the perception of our continent is better shaped when more people can look to African heroes as icons. We were patient to ensure that we found the right partners to take the story to the places we couldn’t and, most importantly, do justice to the culture it emanates from while providing much-needed representation for a generation of people that have been left out. The partnership needed to benefit the global community and us by collaboratively taking our stories, nurturing them, and delivering them to a worldwide audience. I am thrilled to be doing this with UCP, and I can’t wait to show you all what we’ve been up to.”

“We realize the magnitude of staying true to these heroes and know that the creative genius of Comic Republic and the incredible vision of Selwyn Seyfu Hinds will bring these voices and characters to life in the most brilliant and big way,” said Beatrice Springborn, President, UCP & Universal International Studios.

ABOUT THE VANGUARD UNIVERSE

When members of the first race – humanity’s self-proclaimed gods, unite to punish the people of Lagos for the sins of the Guardian, those who have decided to be heroes and protectors are forced to become humankind’s first line of defense, to serve and to protect, to be Vanguards.

ABOUT COMIC REPUBLIC

Comic Republic is home to an authentic African collection of stories about heroes and villains, hope and fear, developed for the young and old. With a unique foundation of over 100 characters and thousands of pages of comic book art, Comic Republic provides original African content and creates a world of authentic, diverse heroes with broad appeal.

ABOUT UCP

UCP, a division of Universal Studio Group, is a best-in-class television studio that produces genre-defying, ground-breaking and intentional storytelling with a sense of discovery. Led by President Beatrice Springborn, UCP collaborates with visionary creators, including Nick Antosca, Patrick Macmanus (Littleton Road), John Legend and Mike Jackson’s Get Lifted, Tarell Alvin McCraney, Brian Chamberlayne, Sam Esmail, Selwyn Seyfu Hinds, Soo Hugh, Seth MacFarlane and Tanya Saracho. The studio’s top titles include the Emmy® Award-winning series “The Umbrella Academy,” “Monk,” and “Mr. Robot”; Emmy-nominated series “Candy” and “Gaslit”; fan favorites “Chucky” and “Resident Alien”; and acclaimed dramas “Dr. Death,” “A Friend of the Family” and “The Girl From Plainville