Two stars of the beloved Carmen Sandiego franchise are teaming up on an exciting new project that puts a charming spin on their most recognizable roles. In the new comic MORTEM HOST, Where in time is Carmen San Diego? host Kevin Shinick and Where is Carmen Sandiego in the world? host Greg Lee finds himself at the center of a classic Hollywood noir mystery after being transported back to 1947.
Screen Rant is honored to share the Kickstarter link for the projecttogether with an exclusive first look at the cover of MORTEM HOST – written by Kevin Shinick, with art by Damien Torres – which looks like a fun meta take on Hollywood history.
90s kids nostalgic for Carmen Sandiego You’ll find this to be an interesting alternative to rebooting the children’s series, as the series seems designed to evoke the spirit of the fan-favorite franchise while creating its own blend of slapstick humor and noir style.
“Carmen Sandiego” Features Kevin Shinick and Greg Lee Team Up on the Comic Page for a New Time Travel Mystery Tale
MORTEM HOST – Written by Kevin Shinick; Art by Damien Torres; Color by Pippa Bowland; Lyrics by Taylor Esposito
Where is Carmen Sandiego in the world? and his successor, Where in time is Carmen San Diego? were a staple of the ’90s kids’ TV diet, and as a result, many readers will feel a rush of nostalgia just knowing that the shows’ hosts are ready to embark on a new adventure together. By funding the Kickstarter for MORTEM HOSTfans can help make the series an immediate success, as well as gain access to exclusive supporter rewards, including “personalized video messages from Kevin Shinick and Greg Lee“, and a choice of covers for the book edition.
What’s especially interesting about the project is that it offers a unique circumstance in which the duo can revisit their most legendary roles. As the comic book synopsis reveals:
MORTEM HOST follows TV hosts Kevin Shinick (Where In Time Is Carmen Sandiego?) and Greg Lee (Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego?) who are transported to the year 1947 through a time portal at Comic Con. They soon find themselves embroiled in a murder mystery involving Humphrey Bogart’s legendary film noir The Big Sleep. When one of the stars ends up dead, Kevin and Greg’s knowledge of random trivia could be the key to solving this Hollywood problem.
This setup allows author Kevin Shinick to craft a love letter to Hollywood and the noir genre, through a premise that doubles as a love letter to his and co-star Greg Lee’s formative roles in Carmen Sandiego. With that in mind, readers can expect a series that is both funny and suspenseful, delving deep into the history of Hollywood.
Kevin Shinick’s “HOST MORTEM” Aims to Put Him and Co-Star Greg Lee to the Ultimate Test
MORTEM HOST – Main Cover by Damien Torres; Timothy Anderson and Tony Foti variant covers available to Kickstarter backers
Both Kevin Shinick and Greg Lee have had long-lasting careers in the film and TV industry in the decades since they began Carmen Sandiegoand according to Shinick, this was part of the genesis of the idea of MORTEM HOST. As he explained:
Between the two of us, Greg and I host several game shows. As a result, we have a lot of random trivia floating around in our heads, and I’ve always wished I could put that knowledge to better use beyond just, “Hey, did you know the singular of spaghetti, spaghetti?” And as we both played fake detectives in Carmen Sandiego (me, a time-traveling detective, and Greg, a classic detective), I started to wonder how we could get away with a real murder? The ultimate question is, ‘Are the hosts really smart?’ Or do they just have the answers?
In a way, this makes MORTEM HOST a sort of definitive “fish out of water” story; not only are Shinick and Lee out of place in time, but how “false detectives,“They are completely unprepared to investigate a real murder – which will make it even more hilarious and exciting to watch them try.
As suggested by Greg Lee, there is no guarantee – even armed with decades of industry experience and “random facts” — that they will be able to solve the book’s central mystery. Lee gave his own take on the book’s concept and creation, noting:
The premise of two fake detective game show hosts from the 1990s having to solve a series of real murders in the 1940s seemed like a novel idea, so we thought we might be onto something. Now, thanks to Kevin’s incredible talent for writing comics and our combined experience with game show shenanigans, I get to star alongside my friend Host Mortem! Which involves time travel, film noir, game show trivia and lots of comedy because, spoiler alert, we’re not as good at solving murders as we think.
For fans of any or all of these categories, MORTEM HOST became an instant must-read on Kickstarter that has become a go-to for some of the most exciting comic book projects in recent years.
HOST MORTEM offers readers more than just nostalgia for the 90s franchise
A new approach to classic ideas
As if fans needed more convincing to support MORTEM HOST On Kickstarter, the book’s creators offered endorsements from several of Kevin Shinick and Greg Lee’s contemporary TV hosts, with more names that ’90s kids will remember fondly:
TV presenters are already raving about HOST MORTEM:
“Believe this book! It’s L.A. Confidential meets The In-Laws” – Blues Clues TV Host Donovan Patton
“I dare you to support this hysterical, historic, homicidal story!” – TV presenter Marc Summers of Double Dare
Still, it is important to note that what makes MORTEM HOST just as intriguing is how it goes beyond just a dose of nostalgia and promises a gripping new story, one that promises to be one of the standout comics of the coming year.
MORTEM HOST is set to be the perfect extension of the legacy of Carmen Sandiego iconic hosts and fans of the classic 90s series won’t want to miss this.
More details about MORTEM HOST will be revealed in time; With the launch of Kickstarter for the book, one can expect the project to quickly reach its funding goals. With more sponsor exclusives yet to be announced, fans shouldn’t wait for the opportunity to contribute. MORTEM HOST is set to be the perfect extension of the legacy of Carmen Sandiego iconic hosts and fans of the classic 90s series won’t want to miss this.
Source: MORTEM HOSTKickstarter
This educational game show challenges contestants to locate the elusive Carmen Sandiego, inspired by the popular computer game series. Through geographic knowledge and problem-solving skills, participants track international clues to capture the world’s notorious mastermind.