“A comic has been a successful way to launch properties into the marketplace,” Chris Matonti tells License! Global. With that in mind, the Matonti brothers and their co-creator Julia Coppola sought out Marvel Comics to distribute the property, New-Gen, as a comic book first.

The first issue—which, like all five subsequent issues, will be distributed for free—will launch this week at the New York Comic Con at the Jacob K. Javits Center.
The Matontis and their company, A.P.N.G. Enterprises Inc., have developed all the creative including story and art and retain all ownership of the New-Gen intellectual property, using Marvel as the comic’s distribution, advertising, and online partner. Marvel will distribute the print edition of the comics, as well as a digital comic available through Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited program on Marvel.com.

The idea is to establish New-Gen as a comic property and then expand to other media, and eventually a movie franchise. “Our dream is the motion picture franchise, but in order to turn this into the New-Gen brand, it may be best to build up the audience interest via publishing, television, games, and then the first of hopefully many sequels,” says J.D. Matonti. “This will give us the opportunity to monetize the brand along the way, rather than chase the potentially overnight success, awaiting a sequel.”

More information on New-Gen, including an art contest, is available at new-gen.info.