MUMBAI: Sci Fi Channel, an NBC Universal network, is teaming up with Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Comics to create a co-branded multimedia partnership called Sci Fi/Virgin Comics.

With five new comic book titles serving as a jumping off point, Sci Fi/Virgin Comics will develop fresh properties that integrate the spirit and vitality of both brands. Delivering innovative, multi-platform projects, original concepts will be considered across all mediums from publishing, film and television to digital and gaming.

The announcement was made today by, Sci Fi Executive Vice President and general manager Dave Howe and Virgin Comics CEO and publisher Sharad Devarajan at New York Comic Con, the season's pop culture and comic book event.

The first Sci Fi/Virgin titles, distributed by Diamond Comics, can be expected to hit shelves later this year, informs an official release.

"Virgin Comics and I are delighted to collaborate with Sci Fi and the rest of the NBC Universal family," said Sir Richard Branson, "to create stories that will inspire a new generation of thinkers and dreamers throughout the world."

"Sci Fi/Virgin Comics marks an important step in our strategy to extend the Sci Fi brand into new cross-media platforms. We're thrilled to be partnering with Virgin Comics to create exciting new titles, characters and stories that can live beyond the pages of the comic book," added Howe. "Virgin is the perfect brand to help us connect with the youth audience around the world."

"With Sci Fi we are changing the face of the comic book industry - seamlessly developing characters and stories for books, television, online and other media," said Devarajan. "Together we are creating stories as innovative as the ways consumers will get to experience them."

Utilizing the global creative and synergistic resources that exist both at Sci Fi Channel and Virgin Comics, the partnership will aim to attract some of the biggest names and talent from the worlds of comic books, television and movies. Sci Fi and Virgin Comics will bring together a multimedia, creative editorial board with members representing comic books, television, movies, digital, gaming, licensing and merchandising.