Bellingham comic book publisher partners with William Shatner

ANNA WALTERS - THE BELLINGHAM HERALD

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BELLINGHAM - Although William Shatner may never be able to shake his "Star Trek" notoriety, over the years the iconic actor has written science fiction novels, put out two albums, won two Emmys for his "Boston Legal" TV work and lent his celebrity for Priceline.com commercials.

Soon, fans can enjoy yet another Shatner exploit as he partners with Bellingham-based Bluewater Productions to produce four comic book series based on his sci-fi novels.

"It's not just like we're licensing with him," said Darren Davis, president of Bluewater Productions. "He's going to be working on the books with us, not just using his likeness or name."

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Three of the comic books each will feature storylines continued from one of Shatner's sci-fi series, "The TekWar Chronicles," "Quest for Tomorrow," and the book "Man O' War."

The TekWar one is expected to be a full series of 100 to 200 issues. The others will be mini-series.

The fourth comic book will be a new tale, spun by Shatner exclusively for Bluewater.

Davis couldn't reveal much about the fourth book. The concept is still being developed by Shatner.

"I've seen some of the stuff that Shatner wants to do," Davis said. "It's 100 percent brand new. And it's going to be a little bit different than the other stuff."

Shatner is working closely with Bluewater's production team, reading and noting the scripts and making sure the graphic characters stay true to the books.

The TekWar Chronicles adaptation - the first of the four comic books to be released - will be out in March 2009.

Sci-fi fans are familiar with Shatner's TekWar novels, which follow the quest of an ex-policeman tracking down a missing scientist whose invention could win the war against "Tek," a computerized drug that transports users into a fantasy realm.

Marvel Comics created an initial adaptation of the books in the 1990s. Later Shatner co-starred, produced and directed a TekWar TV series for the Sci-Fi Channel that ran from 1994-96.

Davis said that he is exciting to be working with a "marketing genius" and creative luminary on such a high- profile project.

"To talk to this man on the phone was just amazing," Davis said, "because he sounds like you think he would, with that Shatner-Priceline kind of talk."