Last week LA-based publisher Immortal Studios announced the launch of the Storyverse, a new comics shared universe based around a world of Wuxia martial arts & fantasy. The universe will kick off with a Kickstarter campaign next month for Fa Sheng: Origins, a graphic novel from writer Rylend Grant, artist Dexter Wee, colorist Omi Remalante, Jr., letterer Justin Birch of AndWorld Design, and editor Brian Cunningham. Today The Beat is pleased to share an exclusive preview of three pages from the forthcoming graphic novel, which features a main cover by Wee & Remalante, Jr. and variant covers by Mona FindenGene HaMegan Huang, and Don Kramer.

Here’s how Immortal Studios describes Fa Sheng: Origins:

Set in the latter days of the 19th century, Fa Sheng: Origins reveals how the confusion and carnage of China’s Boxer Uprising forces a young Fa Sheng to reevaluate his purpose in life, by dedicating himself to helping those in need. All that stands between him and his goal of empowering the masses are cowardly charlatans, backstabbing power grabbers, and ruthless adversaries. The story is written by Rylend Grant, an ordained Soto Zen Buddhist Monk in the lineage of Brad Warner and Gudo Nishijima who can trace his lineage directly back to the Shaolin temple.

The character of Fa Sheng was created by Immortal Studios founder & CEO Peter Shiao, and has previously appeared in titles from the publisher including The Adept. The Origins graphic novel for the character is the first work for Immortal Studios from Rylend Grant, a screenwriter and Ringo Award winner who has previously written for publishers including Action Lab and Source Point Press. It’s also Grant’s first collaboration with Dexter Wee, and Wee’s first Immortal Studios work as well.

Along with the preview, Grant and Wee both expressed to The Beat their enthusiasm at bringing the story of Fa Sheng to life:

“Fa Sheng: Origins is a kick ass/take names/howl at the moon magical martial warrior epic in the vein of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, meticulously set against the historical backdrop of China’s bloody and turbulent Boxer Uprising and the Warlord era that followed. It’s got grit. It’s got gile. It’ll make you cry. It’ll make you smile. It’ll challenge you emotionally and philosophically in the best way. In the end, you’ll be begging to see what comes next.” – Rylend Green

“Fa Sheng: Origins is an epic magical action packed journey of a young warrior destined for greatness. It has heart. It has a soul. It has action. It’s our magical version of Shaolin temple meets Once Upon a Time in China.”– Dexter Wee

Check out the exclusive three-page preview of Fa Sheng: Origins below. The Kickstarter campaign for the graphic novel launches next month.