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| Teaser for "NCT 127: Limitless" / Courtesy of SM Entertainment |
By Dong Sun-hwa
"NCT 127: Limitless," the first graphic novel utilizing K-pop intellectual property (IP), will be released in July.
According to NCT 127's management company, SM Entertainment, the upcoming graphic novel will center on the theme of "dream," the keyword defining the musical universe of the K-pop group. Set in a concert venue in New York, "NCT 127: Limitless" portrays the members overcoming their fears in an enigmatic place where "dream and reality intersect."
SM has teamed up with New York-based graphic novel house Z2 Comics and global entertainment company Universal Music Group to launch NCT 127's graphic novel. According to U.S. media outlet Variety, Allison Goulet-Scott, Kayla Felty, 24X4 and Megan Huang have participated in the creative process.
"NCT 127: Limitless" will be available in standard and deluxe hardcover editions. The latter will include the members' autographs on its cover as well as different art prints created by an illustrator.
"The release of 'NCT 127: Limitless' is meaningful because it shows how music and an artist's intellectual property (IP) can be reborn as a new IP that tests genre boundaries," SM said in a statement, Thursday. "It will enable our global fans to enjoy K-pop content and graphic novels together at once."
Z2 Comics CEO Kevin Meek said, "I am thrilled to partner with NCT 127, SM Entertainment, and UMG to deliver the first K-pop―centered graphic novel of its kind. We're beyond excited to bring NCTzens (global fandom of NCT) and K-pop fans around the globe a beautiful and thought-provoking piece of art that will be core to the NCT universe."
Yang Beom-joon, CEO of Universal Music Korea, said, "We have successfully brought K-pop IP to the world of graphic novels through this collaboration."
NCT 127, a sub-unit of the 23-member K-pop act NCT, burst onto the K-pop scene in 2016 with the EP, "NCT #127." It recently wrapped up its second world tour, attracting some 700,000 concertgoers in 17 cities worldwide.
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