Transmedia artist, musician, theorist, author of books & comics.
A few interviews from the archives:
Overview
James Curcio is a writer, editor, and transmedia artist with over two decades of experience developing narratives across digital and print formats. Beyond publishing and content strategy, Curcio has produced music albums, podcasts, graphic novels, and alternative reality experiences.
His career began in the early 2000s as a co-founder of the Evolving Media Network (EMN), a freelance co-op where he started to hone his approach for small-team content development, design, and production. EMN served clients ranging from independent artists to major corporate brands, repurposing 15,000 square feet of facilities in Upstate New York into A/V production studios. By day, the studios produced commercial media; by night, they became a hub for avant-garde projects.
In 2003, Curcio moved to Los Angeles and soon released his first novel, Join My Cult! (New Falcon Press, 2004), a satirical story inspired by his youth in 1990s Philadelphia.
After the release of Join My Cult! and the dissolution of his band at the time, the following decade were a blur of indie media startups, literary and festival circuits, couch-surfed ‘book tours,’ Cons, and creative collaborations during the incubation periods.
He eventually wound up in Boston, where he wrote Narrative Machines: Myth, Propaganda, and Revolution (Mythos Media) in 2017 and MASKS: Bowie & Artists of Artifice (Intellect/University of Chicago) in 2020.
A significant focus of Curcio's fictional creative endeavors have been focused in The Fallen Cycle, a mythpunk universe encompassing illustrated novels, webcomics, podcasts, and ongoing development for a forthcoming tabletop RPG.
His recent work includes a studio EP “lost in myth“, and a series of podcasts expanding on past explorations of storytelling, philosophy, and world-building:
Modern Mythology examines RPGs and collective storytelling, drawing from his experience with transmedia narratives and his co-host’s expertise in game systems.
Narrative Machines, based in part on his book of the same name, a podcast on myth, media and propaganda.
The Fallen Cycle Mythos syndicates audio adaptations of Fallen Cycle stories, accompanied by an original soundtrack.
After years of living and touring across the United States, Curcio has returned to his hometown of Philadelphia. Throughout his career, he has maintained a deep interest in role-playing games (RPGs) that started in grade school, a passion increasingly influencing his recent work.
Testimonials
“There are few people that understand the complex and ever-shifting fabric of technology's material as well as James. He's a visionary in everything he does and synthesizes Concept and Concrete effortlessly. I'm seldom intellectually stimulated by people that I work with, but James continues to be one of the great exceptions.”
— Jared Louche (writer and musician, probably best known for Chemlab)
“James is one of these people with fire in his belly. He's highly professional yet not one of these people obsessed with protocol or formulas. I've worked with many editors, designers and art directors during my 25 year career, and in my experience, what I can say, is that what you have here is top notch talent and human being.”
— Rudy Rauben (Reality Hackers, TSR, Wizards of the Coast)
“James is great to work with - he has a sharp and focused mind - he is very 'on the case' and demonstrates a brilliant attention to detail. I know him through his publishing work but I do know that his network stretches far and wide giving him additional skills he can call upon when needed making him a very capable individual. “
— Krishna Stott, (Interactive Storyteller, managing director at bellyfeel.co.uk)
Publications
2001: Babalon “Descent” – Album; bass, percussion, production. CD pressing. No label.
2003: Babalon “Dreams & Reflections” – Live EP; bass, production. CD pressing. No label.
2004: “Join My Cult!” – Novel; author, cover artist. New Falcon Press.
2005: “Magick on the Edge” – Anthology; contributor, cover designer. Immanion Press.
2005: “subQtaneous: Some Still Despair In A Prozac Nation” – Album; bass, percussion, production, cover designer. Mythos Media.
2005: “Generation Hex” – Anthology; contributor. Disinformation Co.
2006: “Chasing The Wish” – Graphic novel/ARG tie-in; creative director, colorist. New Fiction.
2006: “Fas Ferox: World Walkthrough” – Full-color 24-page booklet introducing the world; creative director, contributing artist. Discontinued project.
2006: “Electroworx” – Various recordings; bass, co-producer.
2007: “Fallen Nation” (later retitled “Party At The World’s End”) – Novel; author, cover artist. Mythos Media.
2007: “Cognitive Dissonance” (Veil of Thorns) – Album; drums, bass. Panic Machine.
2008: “Citizen Y” – Screenplay; co-author, cover artist. Weaponized Press UK.
2010: “The Immanence of Myth” – Anthology; editor, contributor, cover designer. Weaponized Press UK.
2010: “Hoodooengine: EgoWhore” – Album; co-producer, rhythm guitar, cover designer. Mythos Media.
2011: “Party At The World’s End” – optioned screenplay (wasn’t produced, developed into 2014 novel); author, concept artist. Mythos Media.
2011: “Hoodooengine: Murder The World” – Album; co-producer, bass, 2nd guitar, cover designer. Mythos Media.
2011: “Apocalyptic Imaginary: The Best of Modern Mythology.com” – Anthology of blog articles (2010–2011); editor, contributor, cover designer. Mythos Media.
2012: “404 Documents” – Novella; co-author, cover artist. Discontinued/incorporated into "Party At The World’s End." Mythos Media.
2013: “The Words of Traitors” – Limited edition short story book (full color); author, co-illustrator. Produced by Indiegogo campaign. Discontinued/some material incorporated into 2014’s "Party At The World’s End." Mythos Media.
2014: “Party At The World’s End” – Novel; integrates previous works (“404 Documents,” “Words of Traitors,” “Fallen Nation”); author, cover designer. Launches Fallen Cycle transmedia project. Mythos Media.
2017: “Narrative Machines: Myth, Propaganda & Revolution” – Non-fiction book; author, artist. Mythos Media.
2018–2019: “BLACKOUT” – “proof of concept” experimental web comic issues #001–005; produced for web, Fallen Cycle.
2020: “MASKS: Bowie & Artists of Artifice” – Anthology; editor, contributor, cover designer. Intellect Books/University of Chicago Press.
2024: “Tales From When I Had A Face” – Illustrated novel (b&w paperback first edition from 2021 full color hardcover Kickstarter edition).
2025: Tomorrow’s Forgotten Relics: “Lost in Myth” – EP; art-rock album, production, bass, rhythm guitar, cover design. Released on Spotify, YouTube, Amazon Music, iTunes, Bandcamp. No Label.
Still At It.
If you’re interested in contracting James for consulting or contract work