We’ve long been fascinated with the notion of artificial intelligence since its inception, and it’s understandable as to why. Will artificial intelligence replace us? What does our embrace or fear of A.I. say about us? How will it impact aspects of daily life?
This fall, AWA Studios will delve into this topic—with a unique twist—in Red Light, a four-issue miniseries written by Sarah Cho with art by Priscilla Petraites. In Red Light, Lacy, an A.I. sex worker, finds herself embroiled in a mystery that involves an orphan child and Lacy’s own creation, challenging readers to consider their relationships with everything from sex to technology.
In a press release dropped today from AWA, Cho described why she wanted to tackle these topics.
“I knew I wanted to write something in the erotic thriller space and focus on a protagonist we haven’t really seen before — the most unlikely hero in a sense,” she says.
As to why AWA is the perfect home for Red Light, Cho says, “ Working with AWA has been such a good fit for Red Light because they don’t shy away from edgier topics and are all in for unique and creative ideas. Their enthusiasm for originality and for my project has really helped me do my best writing.”
AWA’s Chief Creative Officer Axel Alonso addresses the timeliness of the topics tackled in Red Light.
“With A.I. programs mining today’s internet, our fears are well-founded,” he says. “What truly motivates creators of A.I.? Will A.I. help or destroy us?” He then adds that Cho and Petraites are well-suited to craft stories around these ideas, noting “With a kick-ass female creative team like Cho and Petraites, I’m eager to see how fans react to this multifaceted series.”
Get ready to dive into the existential when Red Light debuts November 1st, 2023, from AWA Studios. Check out pages and covers from issue #1 and the full press release!
From the official press release:
Artificial intelligence and sci-fi crime collide in RED LIGHT, the upcoming erotic thriller from comics publisher, AWA. Led by a powerhouse team of strong female creatives, the original story is created and written by comic book rising star, Sarah Cho, who is known for her swift ascension in both film and TV. With artwork by Priscilla Petraites (CHARIOT), the action-packed story is set in a sci-fi universe where A.I. is deeply woven into the fabric of daily life. The 4-issue series launches on November 1, 2023.
In RED LIGHT, Lacy is an A.I. sex worker in a futuristic Red-Light District. Through her perceptiveness and intelligence, Lacy knows what her clients want better than they know themselves. Housed in a high-tech brothel under the watchful eye of the mysterious Mister, Lacy has little in her manufactured life besides work. That is until she befriends Natalie, an orphaned child, who comes into Lacy’s care. When Lacy and Natalie seek to escape, they find themselves flung headlong into the mystery behind Lacy’s creation.
“I knew I wanted to write something in the erotic thriller space and focus on a protagonist we haven’t really seen before — the most unlikely hero in a sense,” said creator and writer, Sarah Cho. “I’ve always been a writer who explored the interiorities of unexpected protagonists, and I knew the themes of female agency and the importance of empathy were crucial for telling this story right. Working with AWA has been such a good fit for RED LIGHT because they don’t shy away from edgier topics and are all in for unique and creative ideas. Their enthusiasm for originality and for my project has really helped me do my best writing.”
RED LIGHT looks at the intersection of sex and technology in the guise of a futuristic thriller. With A.I. at the forefront of everyone’s mind, Sarah and the creative team explore the age-old question of what makes one human, what a man-made creation can tell us about ourselves, and the divergent paths technology artificial intelligence can put us on. Vibrant visuals and stunning artwork take readers on a journey to a futuristic world in this on-the-run adventure, where Lacy breaks the boundaries of her confined life to learn exactly who she is and what she was made for.
“Sarah is a brilliant writer with a unique and thoroughly fascinating take on the intersection of sex and one of the most front-of-mind topics of the day: A.I.” said AWA’s Chief Creative Officer, Axel Alonso. “With A.I. programs mining today’s internet, our fears are well-founded. What truly motivates creators of A.I.? Will A.I. help or destroy us? Sarah’s story posits the question: What if there were an A.I. that was built on – and guided by – algorithms that were curated from the very best that humanity has to offer? Programmed with built-in empathy, Lacy is more humane than the men who made her, and what she does with her gifts is riveting. With a kick-ass female creative team like Cho and Petraites, I’m eager to see how fans react to this multifaceted series.”
AWA’s RED LIGHT is written and created by writer Sarah Cho with art by Priscilla Petraites. The series is colored by Miroslav Mrva (WEREWOLF BY NIGHT) and lettered by Sal Cipriano (DETECTIVE COMICS), with covers by Jeff Dekal (THANOS) and variant covers by Frank Cho (X-MEN, FIGHT GIRLS). Issue #1 will be available Wednesday, November 1, both digitally and in stores wherever comic books are sold. For more information on the RED LIGHT Kickstarter and other stories, visit AWA Studios on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and AWAStudios.net.
ABOUT SARAH CHO
Sarah Cho is a Korean American writer who’s had a swift ascension in both Film & TV. Sarah has written for Hulu’s The Girl From Plainville and Amazon’s Them, and is currently adapting a popular web series into film for Crypt TV. She’s developed original ideas alongside Orion, JuVee and Wiscious Pictures. Sarah works in both live-action and animation and has an array of projects in development spanning multiple genres.
ABOUT AWA
The Eisner & Ringo Award-winning graphic fiction publisher and entertainment studio, which sold its millionth comic in 2022, was founded in 2018 by alumni of Marvel, DC, NBA, Fox, Hulu, and MTV, with former Marvel Editor-in-Chief Axel Alonso serving as Chief Creative Officer. Armed with some of the freshest and most critically acclaimed graphic fiction in a generation, AWA has established itself as an industry leader in terms of its relationship with artists and writers by providing creators the freedom, incentive structure, and editorial support to pursue their boldest, most original, and socially relevant work. AWA has assembled a lineup of the world’s most renowned comic book talent, including such creators as Frank Cho, Garth Ennis, Mike Deodato, Deodato, Reginald Hudlin, Gregg Hurwitz, Christa Faust, Al Madrigal, Mark Russell, J. Michael Straczynski and many more. With the formation of AWA’s film & TV Studio, the company is building a distinct array of new cutting-edge film and TV projects anchored in its burgeoning library of groundbreaking stories. Led by Hollywood veteran Zach Studin, AWA Studios has projects in film & TV in development at industry-leading studios, networks, and streamers. AWA Studios recently announced franchise filmmaker Ruben Fleischer (Uncharted, Venom, Zombieland) to direct a feature film adaptation of the AWA graphic novel MARJORIE FINNEGAN, created by legendary comic writer Garth Ennis. AWA Studios is producing with LuckyChap Entertainment. AWA’s investors include Lupa Systems, Lightspeed Venture Partners, SISTER, and Fremantle. AWA and Sarah Cho are repped by Grandview.