After decades in stasis, Legacy of Kain will soon return with an all-new graphic novel. Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver – The Dead Shall Rise, a prequel spanning two eras of the enigmatic protagonist Raziel’s tainted past, is en route from Bit Bot Media in collaboration with series developer Crystal Dynamics. The Dead Shall Rise depicts Raziel’s original life, as a human who becomes a terrifying vampire-hunting Sarafan warrior.
Just as critically, it also covers his dramatically ironic postmortem transformation into a vampiric lieutenant under the franchise’s titular co-star, Kain. Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver – The Dead Shall Rise is being co-written by Josh Viola and Angie Hodapp. Viola provides insight into the revival of the series, sharing that they have delved deep into Raziel’s character and given insight into the events that shaped him, both as a Sarafan and as a vampire.
In this storyline, Raziel’s thousand-year service is terminated abruptly and he is plunged into Nosgoth’s underworld, leading to his transformation into a soul-eating wraith. Both his Sarafan centuries and his millennium in service to Kain are rich with untapped storytelling opportunities. The Dead Shall Rise delves not only into Raziel’s story but also explores his deep and complicated connection to Kain, as well as the introduction of a mysterious new character connected to key elements in the lore.
Viola acknowledges the intensity of the project and the valuable collaboration with the team, giving insight into the ongoing work on The Dead Shall Rise and hinting at the possibility of a voiced adaptation in the future. Additionally, he shares his own personal journey as a fan of the Legacy of Kain series, expressing his passion for the lore and his involvement in creating a sequel of sorts to the games he admired. Despite the excitement surrounding the new graphic novel, the question of a possible sixth game in the Legacy of Kain series lingers.
Viola playfully hints at conveying fans’ wishes to Crystal Dynamics, leaving the possibility open for the future.
