Heavy Metal magazine and DIGA Studios are officially preparing to launch Sun Eater, the previously announced Norwegian fantasy comic book series from actor Dylan Sprouse.

Set to launch in July, Sun Eater comes from the writing duo of Sprouse and Joe Harris alongside artist Diego Yapur, as well as editor Joseph Illidge. The nine-issue series will also feature cover art by Brian Stelfreeze. Set in ninth century Norway, Sun Eater follows Kveldulf, drug-addled warrior who -- after sacrificing his leg to the Gods -- is fused with a parasitic beast, giving him the power to rescue his son from history's first Norwegian king and his quintet of personal guards. This "grim and bloody adventure" is described as a "dark metaphor for drug addiction, selfishness and the children it affects." Moreover, Heavy Metal and DIGA describe the Sun Eater comic book as being part of a "multi-genre project" under the two company's new partnership, with "plans to adapt the content off the page and onto the screen and beyond."

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"I love fantasy-action and I wanted to create something that would appeal to newer fans of the genre while tackling an elevated story," said Sprouse. "The characters I wrote are from actual tales and bardic songs, and the story is about the adult, dark, grotesque and somber world of Sun Eater and its desperate, faulty protagonist. While I have been actively writing Sun Eater for years, the culmination of the content rings especially true for me now, at this stage of my life."

When Heavy Metal and DIGA first announced plans to co-publish the project back in April, it was described as a deeply personal story for Sprouse -- with the new information provided offering greater insight. In addition to the book borrowing from Sprouse's Scandinavian heritage and affinity for Pagan culture, the character of Kveldulf has also been written for, as well as dedicated to Sprouse's mother. Kveldulf is described as "a fantastical rendering of what he wished she could've been when he was growing up."

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Sun Eater is slated to begin shipping in mid-to-late July (July 17 according to a release, sometime during the week of July 24 according to Heavy Metal's website), with the comic currently available for pre-order. The first issue will also be available for purchase in select comic shops starting Aug. 7. When it comes to pre-ordering, readers have multiple options. In addition to being able to simply pre-order the single first issue, they can also choose to pre-order all nine issues -- which will be shipped monthly. Other options for this full series subscription include one where all nine comics are autographed by Sprouse, another that -- on top of the autographs -- adds a four-pack of mead from Sprouse's All-Wise Meadery and, finally, another that adds "special reads and behind-the-scenes videos" on top of all that.

In a Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory-esque move, Heavy Metal and DIGA will also be hiding five "Sun Eater Gold Cards" in random copies of the comic for lucky readers to find. The winners who find these cards in their comics will be awarded one free glass of mead upon every visit to the All-Wise Meadery in Brooklyn, for life.

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Written by Cole Sprouse and Joe Harris and illustrated by Diego Yapur with cover art by Brian Stelfreeze, Sun Eater launches this July from Heavy Metal and DIGA Studios.