NEW YORK, April 24, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Open Hands Initiative,
in partnership with Liquid Comics and MTV Voices, announced today the
newest rendition of the Silver Scorpion comic book character - an
animated web series featuring the world's first disabled cross-cultural
superhero. Silver Scorpion is the brainchild of a group of American and
Syrian youths with disabilities who gathered in Damascus a little more
than a year ago. The hero they envisioned, an Arab teen that loses his
legs in a tragic accident, has the power to not only bend metal with
his mind, but--the creators hope--to transform his world... and ours.

Photos accompanying this release are available at:

http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=12559

http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=12560

http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=12561

Created by 26 talented youths with disabilities who convened for a
Youth Ability Summit in Syria, the Silver Scorpion will come to life on
the web in an animated 4-part series on the MTV Voices global websites,
bringing this unique story of courage and perseverance to young people
all across Europe, Latin America, Africa and Asia. The series is
intended to build bridges among the youths of the world while promoting
inclusion and equality for people living with disabilities.

Jay T Snyder, American businessman and Co-Founder and Chairman of the
Open Hands Initiative, calls the Silver Scorpion comic book "a gift
from youths with disabilities from America and Syria to the world that
reflects what can be achieved when the people of our two countries are
provided a platform to engage. The story of Silver Scorpion will now be
accessible in more places than ever, helping to empower youth with
disabilities and encourage cross-cultural understanding."

He added, "This is not just a comic book; it's a breakthrough effort in
public diplomacy that helps forge lasting bonds and understanding
between the youth of the United States and the Middle East." Despite
the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Syria, Mr. Snyder emphasized the
importance of cross-cultural exchange and of shining a light on the
issue of disability rights despite Syria's current challenges: "This
type of people-to-people diplomacy is as important now as it was a year
ago when we brought these creative young people together, and it will
be even more important in the years ahead."

The Silver Scorpion character was developed by participants in the
Youth Ability Summit, a meeting of disabled youth that took place in
Damascus, Syria. In workshops led by Open Hands and Liquid Comics, the
children were asked to work together to create an original superhero
that reflected their cross-cultural values and ideals as well as the
challenges of living with a disability. By the end of the summit, the
wheelchair-bound character of the Silver Scorpion was born. The
participants created a character that transcends our differences and
emphasizes our common humanity.

As recognition of the students work, at the 2010 Clinton Global
Initiative, President Bill Clinton highlighted the Silver Scorpion
project, stating that the comic book, " ...will help to establish trust
and understanding between cultures, to empower young people with
disabilities."

"This project is unique in the way it empowered students from across
the world to be the architects of a new superhero that embodies their
worldviews and the role models they would like to see. MTV Voices is
the perfect platform to share their character with the world," added
Liquid Comics Co-Founder & CEO Sharad Devarajan. "Great superheroes
have always been allegories to larger societal issues and the story of
our generation is globalization and our ability to overcome regional
and cultural differences to find our common humanity. These students
and their experience together speak to the very best of that
globalization in the years ahead."

The Silver Scorpion tells the story of an Arab teenager, Bashir Bari,
who loses his legs in a tragic accident. Consumed with anger and grief,
Bashir retreats into a world of isolation, resentful of the pitiful
looks and whispers of strangers. When he accidentally witnesses the
murder of Tarek, a mysterious local metalsmith, Bashir is unwittingly
chosen as the new guardian of an ancient power that has remained hidden
for centuries. With new abilities allowing him to manipulate the metal
around him, Bashir must rise above his personal grief and use this
newfound gift to protect the world, while learning firsthand to embrace
the values of tolerance and cooperation.

"MTV Voices is all about giving young people a platform to express
ideas, aspirations, concerns about the world in a creative manner,"
said John Jackson, VP of Social Responsibility, Viacom International
Media Networks. "The Silver Scorpion project and how its super hero was
conceived absolutely reflects that core value and is a natural fit for
MTV Voices. Through the story of the super hero, the young Americans
and Syrians involved with the project have found a way of sharing their
values with the world, and MTV Voices is delighted to bring that to our
audience, encouraging them to engage with us on the narrative, the
ideas and the vision."

The Open Hands Initiative hopes that this project will serve to help
American citizens reach out to the Arab world and build connections
during what has become a period of dramatic change. The Open Hands
Initiative worked with many young people and their families in Syria on
the project before the current period of unrest. The Silver Scorpion
web series on MTV Voices will also be promoted globally through iEARN
(International Education and Resource Network), which reaches 45,000
schools and youth organizations in over 130 countries.

Hamza Jaka, one of the youth participants who helped create the Silver
Scorpion, added, "Working on the Silver Scorpion comic taught me a lot
of things, the most important of which was that people change can the
world. As young people, we often don't realize the power of our
actions, but, no matter how young we are, or where we're from, if we
work together, we can change the world."

"There is no better time to extend a hand of friendship and compassion
to the people of Syria," said Mr. Snyder.

Notes to Editors:

Contact:

Press@LiquidComics.com

Media@OpenHandsInitiative.org

Gemma.harbinson@vimn.com

To view the animated series, please visit:

http://voices.mtv.co.uk/

To request artwork, a hard-copy version of the comic book, or for
general media inquiries, please contact:

Press@Liquidcomics.com

Media@OpenHandsInitiative.org

Gemma.harbinson@vimn.com

ABOUT THE OPEN HANDS INITIATIVE

The Open Hands Initiative is a US-based non-profit organization by Jay.
T and Tracy Snyder, dedicated to improving people-to-people
understanding and friendship throughout the world through exchanges and
other projects that emphasize our basic shared values and common
humanity. It specializes in diplomacy that is by and for ordinary
people, emphasizing dialogue and mutual respect between the people of
the United States and the rest of the world.

www.openhandsinitiative.org

ABOUT LIQUID COMICS:

Liquid Comics is a digital entertainment company focused on creating
cinematic and mythic graphic novel stories with filmmakers, creators
and storytellers. The company was founded by entrepreneurs, Sharad
Devarajan, Gotham Chopra and Suresh Seetharaman and uses the medium of
digital graphic novel publishing to develop properties for theatrical
live-action films, animation and video games. The Company currently has
a number of film and television projects in development based on their
properties.

www.LiquidComics.com

The Liquid Comics LLC logo is available at
http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=12558

ABOUT MTV VOICES:

MTV Voices is MTV's new international pro-social platform designed to
be the exclusive online space for passionate and thought-provoking
content produced by young writers, photographers, and filmmakers around
the world. It will also engage viewers around key MTV shows that
explore critical issues for the millennial generation: from bullying to
sexual health, from personal confidence to breaking down social
barriers. Created for the international MTV millennial audience, MTV
Voices will inspire young people to share their ideas and engage in
stimulating conversation amongst their peers.

http://voices.mtv.co.uk/


CONTACT: Press@LiquidComics.com
         Media@OpenHandsInitiative.org
         Gemma.harbinson@vimn.com