STORY
PREVIEW
When you're part of the biggest musical group on Earth and your
latest CD is #1 on the charts - what do you do next? Think about
it. How many people dream of becoming a superstar and actually realize
their ambition? Then ask yourself, how many people wish they could
become a superhero? Well, if you're Nick Carter, you've now made
both fantasies real - you're one of the world-famous Backstreet
Boys and, with the publication of THE BACKSTREET PROJECT, you're
now a world-saving superhero!
IN A NUTSHELL...
The Backstreet Boys were smack-dab in the middle of yet another
of their sold out concert tours when suddenly and without warning
a spaceship crash landed next to the stadium where they were performing.
The Fab Five raced to the rescue of a beautiful alien creature who
emerged from the crashed starship. The Backstreet Boys quickly learn
that the curvaceous interstellar visitor is on a dire mission to
protect the Earth from an approaching alien invasion. The alien
gives each of the boys an enchanted amulet embedded with mystic
crystals. When our lyrical lads wear the amulets their DNA gets
twisted by a virtual genetic cyclone that gives each of them astonishing
super powers.
THE
BACKSTREET SUPERHEROES
 HOWIE
- ILLUSIONEER
Utilizing the mind-blowing telepathic abilities given to him
by his amulet, Howie can project stunning three-dimensional
illusions of any item he can think of. You name it: this guy
can do it all! Once he pictures an object in his mind he can
project anything from a charging rhino to a pepperoni pizza.
|
 AJ
- ORDINANCE
Thanks to the power infused from his mystic alien amulet,
AJ has become the ultimate marksman, adept with any weapon
at hand. The way he handles his incredible, futuristic armament,
this guy puts the 'sharp' in sharpshooter! Armed with a pair
of exotic laser blasters, AJ moves into action with the grace
of an Olympic athlete, striking his target with pinpoint accuracy. |
 BRIAN
- TOP SPEED
Brian's amulet power allows him to jump to impossible new
heights. You might say that he can leap small buildings in
a single bound. On the basketball court he can out slamdunk
the combined forces of the NBA without breaking a sweat and
his new moves make Michael Jordan seem like Gary Coleman.
He can also generate a mystic ball of energy that resembles
a basketball. |
 NICK
- NINJA MAN
My buddy Nick draws ancient and arcane Ninja powers from his
amulet, which transforms him into an unparalleled martial
artist. This guy makes Jackie Chan look like he's stuck in
glue. He's got a magnificent sword that's sharp enough to
shave the chin whiskers off a housefly. With blinding speed,
incredible stealth and tireless stamina, Nick can defeat the
fiercest of foes. |
 KEVIN
- POWER LORD
Powered by his mystical amulet, Kevin becomes pumped up and
as strong as a roomful of weight lifters. Just like a tiny
ant that can heft a potato chip that's many times its own
weight, Kevin's newfound might grows exponentially, so if
he needed to he could lift a 10-ton potato chip or even a
Harrier jet. |
BEHIND THE COMIC
SO HOW DID THIS ALL COME ABOUT?
Everyone knows all about the Backstreet Boys - but how in the world
did A.J., Brian, Howie, Kevin, and Nick become actual superheroes?
Well, here's the lowdown -- Nick is a serious comicbook fan. So,
when Nick met legendary superhero creator, Stan (the Man) Lee it
was simply a matter of time before THE BACKSTEET PROJECT became
a reality.
Now, if you're not into comicbooks (shame on you!) you may be wondering
who exactly is this Stan Lee dude. Well, it would take a whole brain-blastin'
book to give you the full Stan Lee story - in fact, there's a biography
of Stan currently in the works - but to give you the short version:
Stan is the Man!
STAN WHO?
Perhaps that was too short. Stan, along with a Bullpen of amazing
artists, transformed the comicbook world with the creation of the
Marvel Superheroes. Unlike the two-dimensional do-gooders that came
before The Man's comicbook revolution, Stan's universe of new superheroes
were more like real flesh and blood people. Spider-Man was teen-age,
high school student, Peter Parker - so while battling the Green
Goblin he still had to worry about finals and dating issues. And
if Peter ever felt different from other kids, can you imagine what
it was like to be part of the strangest teens of all, the Uncanny
X-Men? They're literally mutants! As for the Incredible Hulk, you
wouldn't want to wish his split personality on your worst friend!
We could go on and name dozens more, such as the Fantastic Four,
the Avengers, Iron Man, Dr. Strange, Daredevil, but we think you
get the idea.
In fact, there seems to be no stopping this Lee guy. He's now started
his own web-site (www.StanLee.net) just to launch a whole new generation
of superhero characters such as The 7th Portal, The Accuser, The
Drifter, and more - in fully animated webisodes!
THE INSIDE STORY
So when Nick met with Stan, he realized he had found the perfect
person to make his vision of the super-heroic Backstreet Boys a
reality and THE BACKSTREET PROJECT was instantly put on the fast
track. Nick's original concept, entitled "The BSB Chronicles,"
was a sophisticated concept, perfectly planned as a six-issue series
of comics. It was ultimately decided, however, to first adapt Nick's
ideas into a one-issue special - to be made available exclusively
at BSB concerts.
Working from Nick's suggestions, Stan created a short outline for
THE BACKSTREET PROJECT. Stan Lee Media's head writer Bryce Zabel,
held a story conference with staff writers Steve Gerber and Jim
Salicrup, after which Bryce flushed out the outline and artist Ruben
Martinez started laying out the story. Ruben had also designed the
look of the superhero incarnations of A.J., Brian, Howie, Kevin,
and Nick - which was completed with a lot of vital feedback from
the boys themselves.
Unlike TV or motion picture scripts, comicbook plots don't necessarily
include all of the finished dialogue. This allows the artist plenty
of creative freedom to tell the story in the most exciting manner
possible. After Ruben penciled the story at breakneck speed, it
was soon scripted by speed-demon Stan.
Coordinating this major undertaking were top SLM execs Gil Champion
and Dana Moreshead. Despite Stan's decades-spanning career in comics,
THE BACKSTREET PROJECT would be the very first title published by
Stan's own company. All sorts of complex production, printing, and
distribution problems were expertly handled by Dauntless Dana while
Go-getting Gil made sure The Backstreet Boys got to see and approve
the comicbook every step of the way.
As the deadline approached, Dana enlisted five of the most talented
and in-demand inkers to render Ruben's pencils into finished artwork.
Scott Kolish, Andy Perman, Batt, Sean Parsons, and Jesse Delperdang
-- that's one for each BSB! The lettering and coloring were both
beautifully finished on computer by Fishbrain and Bongotone - and
only Dana knows who they really are!
WHAT'S NEXT?
Would you believe an ongoing series of animated webisodes of THE
BACKSTREET PROJECT starting in June from Stan "the Man"
Lee and Nick Carter?! Is that cool or what?! After all, what could
possibly be better than actually seeing and HEARING the BSB in superhero
action? That's right - this summer you'll actually get to see THE
BACKSTREET PROJECT on-line! Witness the thrilling action right on
your computer screen! See their super-powers come alive right before
your eyes! And best of all, hear the BSB themselves in a NEW webisode
every two weeks!
See AJ, Brian, Howie, Kevin, and Nick explore their new-found super-powers
as they tour the world finding new dangers and adventure at every
stop! Also, will their new powers change the Boys? Or will they
remain the close-knit band of friends we all know and love? The
future of THE BACKSTREET PROJECT is filled with unexpected twists
and turns - but we guarantee one thing - you'll love every minute
of it!
THE WEBISODES
On August 27, 2000 THE BACKSTREET PROJECT premiered at StanLee.Net.
Later, the website closed without finishing episode "The Camera
Hates You". Download all released webisodes at our multimedia
page.
1 - Larger than Life
2 - Dead Heat
3 - Wild Ride
4 - Winner Takes All
5 - Freefall
6 - Zanell's Choice
7 - The Camera Hates You
|
Backstreet
Boys Album
House
of Carters
