LOS ANGELES – Greek mythology continues to inspire artists. British actor and director Andy Serkis, of Iraqi Armenian descent, has co-created a seven-issue comic book series titled Eternus, co-created with director Andrew Levitas, according to The Hollywood Reporter (THR). The series is inspired by Greek myths and “takes place in 360 AD, 30 years after the murder of Zeus in his own temples,” THR reported, adding that “Zeus’ son, Heracles, is now a depressed drunk, while the old gods struggle to stay alive after decades of Christian disruption.”

“When Athena’s Temple is sacked by a mysterious Centurion in search of a relic once belonging to Zeus, the old gods are convinced this is Zeus’ killer,” THR reported, noting that “now Heracles must sober up and protect the only witness to identify the killer.”

“Eternus is an expression of our fascination with foundational mythology and deeply rooted storytelling,” Serkis said in a statement, THR reported. “It’s exciting to share this first glimpse into the world we have been building for so long. This is just the beginning.”

“Knightfall scribe Don Handfield is writing with Anastajza K Davis,” THR reported, adding that the art will be “from penciler Karl Moline, inker Andy Owens and letter Dave Lanphear,” and “Rob Prior will paint the main covers.”

“Scout Comics will distribute Eternus” and “a limited-edition ashcan available at the publisher’s at New York Comic Con next week [October7-10], where Prior will be doing a signing,” THR reported, noting that “Eternus is due out in 2022 and is the first book financed by Thunder Comics, which seeks to team up talent from film and TV with comic book creators.”

Thunder “was founded earlier this year by Motor Content’s Don Handfield and Armory Films’ Tim Zajaros and Chris LeMole, with the slate of comics financed in partnership with producers Ashley Coleman and Rafael Chavez of Chavez Brothers,” THR reported.

“When COVID hit and the film and TV production ground to a halt, I was still in full production mode on four comic book series, including my comic series The Dark Age with my good friends and frequent collaborators Tim Zajaros and Chris LeMole at Armory Films,” Handfield told THR. “We decided to create a platform and a pipeline for creators and filmmakers to not only keep producing pandemic-proof content, but also as a way for creators to maximize both their ownership and creative control over their original ideas.”

“We started Thunder to bridge the gap between top-level creatives and the comic industry. We couldn’t be more thrilled to have our first title with the incredible talents of Andy Serkis and Andrew Levitas.” said Zajaros and Lemole in a joint statement, THR reported.