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Wednesday, September 11, 2024

Blog Tour- BEYOND REAL: The Complete Series by @zackkaps With An Interview, Excerpts & A #Giveaway! @thevaultcomics

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the BEYOND REAL: The Complete Series by Zack Kaplan Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

 

About The Book:

Title: BEYOND REAL: The Complete Series

Authors: Zack Kaplan & Fabiana Mascolo, Toni Fejzula, Dennis Menheere, Vincenzo Riccardi, Jorge Corona, Liana Kangas, Luana Vecchio, and Jordie Bellaire (Illustrators)

Pub. Date: September 10, 2024

Publisher: Vault Comics

Formats:  Paperback, eBook

Pages: 160

Find it: Goodreadshttps://books2read.com/BEYOND-REAL

The Matrix meets The Wizard of Oz in BEYOND REAL: The Complete Series, a mind-bending psychedelic journey through the nature of reality – and who we really are.

QUESTION REALITY.

When struggling artist June is injured in a severe car accident that leaves her boyfriend in a coma, she begins to experience strange visual phenomena. When June discovers that the world she considers “reality” may be a computer simulation, she must set out on a journey of possibility and peril into the metaphysical layers of the simulation to reach the world’s creator and save her true love from death.

Beyond Real explores simulation theory, the creative spirit, the nature of reality, and the struggle for self-determination.

Are we real – or are we living in a computer simulation?
What is reality? Is death an illusion?
Enter the world that is … Beyond Real.

Beyond Real, written by Zack Kaplan (MINDSET from Vault Comics) is joined by a slate of spectacular artists including Fabiana Mascolo, Toni Fejzula, Jordie Bellaire, Vincenzo Riccardi, Dennis Menheere, Jorge Corona, and Liana Kangas.

Collects the entire six-issue mind-altering and acclaimed series!

For fans of: Everything Everywhere All At Once, The Matrix, Alice In Wonderland, The Wizard of Oz, What Dreams May Come (Richard Matheson), Promethea (Alan Moore & J.H. Williams III), The Invisibles (Grant Morrison), Flex Mentallo (Grant Morrison & Frank Quitely), Ghost in the Shell, Nonplayer (Nate Simpson),Permutation City (Greg Egan), Sea of Tranquility (Emily St. John Mandel), The Restoration Game (Kevin MacLeod), The Peripheral , Agency,and Neuromancer (William Gibson) ,Tomorrow, And Tomorrow, And Tomorrow (Gabrielle Zevin), and Neil Gaiman,

"Visually arresting. Unlike anything ... seen before. 10/10" - Kabooooom!

"As close to perfect as my be possible. 10/10" - The Pullbox

"A visual feast. 9.5/10" - AIPT

"Mind-blowing and visually stunning. 9/10" - Capes and Tights

"A sci-fi mindf*uck in the best possible way. 9/10" - Derry Comics

 

BEYOND REAL Virtual Tour Q&A

Okay, Zack!

You know that Elon Musk believes we’re living in a simulation as do some physicists, scientists, and philosophers (as Swedish philosopher Nick Bostrom hypothesized this theory in 2003), while other scientists, cosmologists, philosophers argue that NO, we aren’t “living in the Matrix.”  What do YOU think – and why?

This question was absolutely the inspiration of the series, but to find the answer, I took a bit of a step back. I don’t know if there are aliens or robots playing the “human” simulation, but what if we frame the question differently – is our path in life our choice or is some of it pre-determined? Artists create out of free will and whimsy, but science discovers the rules behind how all life works and operates. So, which is it: rules or free will. Personally, I think it is a combination of both. But yes, I do believe there is some pre-determination to life. Electrons spin, DNA splits, and gravity pulls. All life on Earth follows some pre-ordainment or programming. I have to think we are no different. And that implies some simulation.

What movies/television/books/video games inspired BEYOND REAL?

I think the most accurate combination is The Matrix and the Robin Williams film What Dreams May Come, which of course is a retelling of the Greek myth Orpheus, in which one lover goes into the layers of the Underworld to rescue their partner. But we really charted our own path on this one, and I think readers will find this story as unique as they come. It follows a young woman on a strange journey to the center of the “simulation”, so in the broadest sense, it’s very Wizard of Oz. Welcome to the crazy sci-fi journey down the surreal and artistic yellow brick road.

 

Who/what in the scientific or other fields inspired BEYOND REAL?

I’ve spoken a bit about determinism and simulation theory, but I think that’s where the research ends. Instead, this story really focuses more on the experience of a creative person going through the emotional trials of finding one self’s voice as an artist and creator. Learning to break the rules, learning to identify one’s own voice, learning to create for the love of it, learning to overcome doubt – all those challenges that we face as human beings when we take on endeavors to create. But in those challenges, then we layer on top that question – are we pre-determined to struggle, to be in pain, to question, on our journey towards creation. Perhaps.

 

Religious scholars, philosophers, physicists, and others have –for years – argued about and contemplated the nature of reality. That our minds create our situations/reality. And, to a certain degree, this is true. However, to what degree do you think that we’re creating our own reality, is it happening outside of us or … is it a combo of both? Why?

Beyond Real focuses a lot on this question. “Perception is reality”- the book says. You can walk down the same path, and one person can see it as a terrible and tragic tale, while another can see it as a testing moment of endurance and triumph. We decide through our minds how to view our own reality, and we are the only one’s experiencing our story fully. Our perceptions of our lives are our lives. And our protagonist, June Ward, is on that journey to discover just how to face her own life, her grief, her doubt and her pain, and how to make sense of it all. She’s creating her reality, and it’s a very moving thing to watch.

 

BEYOND REAL relies heavily on the base reality theory (For readers: “A base reality is the idea that there are multiple layers of reality, that progressively go deeper, until you get what reality actually is. Instead, what you experience is a very watered down version of real reality.” – which is the basis for Musk’s endorsement).  Each layer of reality is represented by a different artist – which is brilliant.  What made you want to create/write BEYOND REAL – beyond the above inspirations? What in YOU wanted to bring this forward?

Ever since I became a comic creator, I’ve been amazed how many distinct artistic styles are out there. It seems never-ending. Humans have created for centuries, and we still come up with so many different ways to see reality. And yet, when we think about simulation theory, it’s always very computer-based and Matrix-like. If reality is a layered simulation, why would it not reflect human creation more? It was this sort of exploration, combined with the idea of having different artists showcase different styles for each layer - that was why I really first took on this story. And that’s what makes it a true love letter to artists and creatives.

 

Any thoughts on how humankind transcends our current reality?

Why would we want to do that? Remember, our current reality is perception-based. Our reality will always be beautiful and horrible at the same time. You can’t have beauty without horror. You can’t have hope without fear. Life will always be complex and full of duality, but there’s no changing it or transcending it – we can only change our perceptions of it. I guess we transcend by loving the dark moments, because only with those tragedies can we have appreciation for the joyous moments.

 

Talk about your favorite (and least favorite) type of character to create/write.

Oh, I absolutely love characters like Beyond Real’s June Ward. This is my favorite. A strong-willed, complex character who has deep ideals about how life should be, who faces a world gone mad and a world that fails to live up to their ideals, and a quest or journey that gives them the opportunity to take on the world. The kind of character that says “screw you” and I’ll do this my way. A character who taps into their pain and anger and gets messy in it. A character that dares to question everything.

 

Is there anything else you’d like to share with readers/tour participants about BEYOND REAL? 

 

I would just say that the artists of Beyond Real deserve so much praise and love. Fabiana Mascolo, Liana Kangas, Jorge Corona, Vincenzo Riccardi, Toni Fejzula, Dennis Menheere and Luana Vecchio, and Jordie Bellaire, Mattia Iacono and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou. These artists are amazing and they’ve crafted one of the most beautiful stunning graphic novels of the year. We are truly experiencing this powerful story through their eyes and their voices and I could not be prouder of the work they have done. Visionary.

Excerpts:










 

About Zack Kaplan:

Zack Kaplan is a break-out science fiction comic writer and creator of such comics and graphic novels as ECLIPSE, PORT OF EARTH, THE LOST CITY EXPLORERS, JOIN THE FUTURE, BREAK OUT, METAL SOCIETY, FOREVER FORWARD and MINDSET. He has worked with publishers such as Image/Top Cow, Dark Horse, Aftershock, Vault, Humanoids, Scout Comics and DC Comics. His first three series were all optioned for TV adaptation, with PORT OF EARTH currently being developed by Robert Kirkman’s Skybound Entertainment and Amazon TV Studios. Zack has taught screenwriting and storytelling at the International Academy of Film and TV, located in the Philippines. He currently lives in Los Angeles.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

 

 

Giveaway Details:

2 winners will receive finished copies of BEYOND REAL: The Complete Series, US Only.

Ends October 8th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

9/9/2024

Lady Hawkeye

Excerpt/IG Post

9/10/2024

Book Review Virginia Lee Blog

Excerpt/IG Post

9/11/2024

Two Chicks on Books

Excerpt/IG Post

9/12/2024

Daily Waffle

Excerpt

9/13/2024

Fire and Ice Reads

Excerpt/IG Post

Week Two:

9/16/2024

Comic Book Yeti

Excerpt

9/17/2024

@evergirl200

IG Review

9/18/2024

@sparks_books

IG Review

9/19/2024

@heyashleyyreads

IG Review/TikTok Post

9/20/2024

Kim's Book Reviews and Writing Aha's

Review/IG Post

Week Three:

9/22/2024

@enthuse_reader

IG Review/TikTok Post

9/23/2024

Country Mamas With Kids

Review/IG Post

9/24/2024

A Blue Box Full of Books

IG Review/LFL Drop Pic/TikTok Post

9/25/2024

jlreadstoperpetuity

IG Review/TikTok Post

9/26/2024

Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer

Review/IG Post

9/27/2024

@callistoscalling

IG Review

Week Four:

9/30/2024

The Momma Spot

Review

10/1/2024

Edith's Little Free Library

IG Post/LFL Drop Pic/TikTok Post

10/2/2024

GryffindorBookishnerd

IG Review

10/3/2024

Rajiv's reviews

Review/IG Post

10/4/2024

Two Points of Interest

Review


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