Shades of Magic: The Steel Prince

***Shades of Magic: The Steel Prince*** is an adult fantasy comic written by V. E. Schwab and illustrated by Andrea Olimpieri and Enrica Eren Angiolini. It is the first installment of the *Shades of Magic: The Steel Prince* series.

It was be released in four issues before being published as a bind-up copy. The issues came out every month from October 2018 to January 2019, and the bind-up was released in March 2019.

## Synopsis

The comic will delve into the thrilling backstory of Kell's adoptive father, prince Maxim Maresh, before he became the king of Red London. When Maresh is sent to a violent and unmanageable port city far away to cut his military teeth on strict orders from his father, King Nokil Maresh, he encounters an unruly band of soldiers, a lawless landscape, and a newly returned pirate queen.

In Titan's new *Shades of Magic: The Steel Prince* series, young and unruly Prince Maxim of Red London is sent to the lawless city of Verose after disobeying the King. Little does he know that a fate worse than exile awaits him on the Blood Coast...

## Characters

### Red London

* **Maxim Maresh** — The Crown Prince of Arnes, also known as the Steel Prince. He is sent to the Blood Coast by his father.
* **Nokil Maresh** — The King of Arnes.
* **Tieren Serense** — Head Priest of the London Sanctuary.
* **Isra** — A soldier stationed at the Blood Coast who becomes Maxim's primary ally.
* **Osili** — A soldier stationed at the Blood Coast.
* **Toro** — A soldier stationed at the Blood Coast.
* **Arisa Rasora** — The Pirate Queen. She has just returned to the Blood Coast.

*more characters*
## Gallery

### Covers

US cover.B&N Exclusive edition.Forbidden Planet Exclusive edition.Forbidden Planet Exclusive edition, complete bundle.Spanish cover.
#### Issue 1

Cover A (primary cover). Art by Claudia Ianniciello.Cover B (first variant cover). Art by Tomm Coker.Cover C (second variant cover). Art by Andrea Olimpieri.Cover D (third variant cover). Art by Andrew G. H. Leung.Forbidden Planet Exclusive variant cover.Forbidden Planet Exclusive variant cover (backside).SDCC exclusive ashcan preview cover.
#### Issue 2

Cover A. Art by Lenka Simeckova.Cover B. Art by Claudia Ianniciello.
#### Issue 3

Cover A. Art by Toni Infante.Cover B. Art by Roberta Ingranata.
#### Issue 4

Cover A. Art by Andrea Olimpieri.Cover B. Art by Roberta Ingranata and Warnia Sahadewa.
### Sneak peaks and previews

Issue 1.Issue 3.Preview of the ashcan copy.

## Trivia

* The full first issue has four different covers—one official and three variant covers.
* The B&N exclusive edition includes commentary from V. E. Schwab, character sketches, and notes detailing the comic's formation process from script to art.
* The Forbidden Planet exclusive edition contains a script to art feature for three key pages with Schwab's uncut words, Andrea Olimpieri's layouts and inks, etc. It also includes a six-page "Director's commentary," a print of emblem of the House of Maresh, and comes with the first issue's signed ashcan preview.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "V.E. Schwab announces new *Shades of Magic* prequel comic series" — EW
2. ↑ "Shades Of Magic Prequel, The Steel Prince, To Launch From Titan This Fall" — Comicon
3. ↑ "It will be on an ashcan (first 13 pgs from #1 + interview + goodies)."
(V. E. Schwab on Twitter)
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Shades of Magic: The Steel Prince #1" — Titan Comics
5. ↑ File:TSP Issue 1, SDCC Ashcan Preview.png
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Shades of Magic: The Steel Prince #2" — Titan Comics
7. ↑ "Shades of Magic: The Steel Prince #3" — Titan Comics
8. ↑ "Shades Of Magic #3 (Steel Prince Cover A Infante)" — Forbidden Planet
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Shades Of Magic #4 (Steel Prince Cover A Olimpieri)" — Forbidden Planet
10. ↑ "Shades of Magic: The Steel Prince #4" — Titan Comics
11. ↑ "V.E. Schwab's 'Shades of Magic' Novels Come to Comics With 'The Steel Prince'" — Hollywood Reporter
12. ↑ "EXCLUSIVE: Shades of Magic: The Steel Prince #1" — CBR
13. ↑ "There will actually be FOUR final covers—one official and three variants—when the series launches this October."
(V. E. Schwab on Instagram)
14. ↑ "Shades of Magic: The Steel Prince, Volume 1 (B&N Exclusive Edition)" — Barnes & Noble
15. ↑ "Shades Of Magic: Volume 1: Steel Prince (Forbidden Planet Exclusive Signed Mini Print Edition)" — Forbidden Planet