So where’s the comic gone!

Well it’s time I filled you guys in on what’s been happening. After the first issue was published, I began talks with a comic publisher. They seemed interested and asked that I hold off on issue 2 while they decided. That took several months and in the end they came back with a no thank you.

Just as I was about to ask Brigitte to get going on the illustrations, another publisher showed interest. Thankfully, they made their mind up quickly (but also declined in the end). THEN it was nearly Xmas. I sent the issue to Brigitte to get cracking on, but after the Xmas break she told me that she now has full time work and simply doesn’t have the time to do issue 2. Naturally I’m delighted that as an artist, she has the job, but I am totally devastated that Peacemaker has been hamstrung.

I’m really not sure what to do now. Should I fold and chalk it up to experience? Should I try and find another illustrator? Brigitte created such a wonderful individual look in her work, I don’t know how anyone would go about replicating it. In fact I don’t think that’s possible. Which would mean re-imagining a whole new aesthetic.

I admit, I’m floundering now. What should I do? Issue 2 was 20 pages, double the size of issue 1. It’s written but may never see the light of day.

Someone talk sense to me one way of the other please!

Reviewed by Mandy Wrangles

Tanyana is special. Her career as an architect – a pionner – makes her one of the most highly regarded people in society.  By manipulating pions, the particles that hold all matter together through a blend of ritual and innate talent, Tanyana and her team are working on a giant construction; a prestigious statue named Grandeur in the city of Movac-Under-Keeper. And then something goes wrong. Tanyana is left injured, humiliated and without the ability to see or manipulate pions. She is cast into a world quite the opposite to what she knows – that of a lowly Debris collector.

Tanyana is denied justice at every turn. No one wants to know or listen to her; no one wants to be the one to help her find who – or what – caused her fall from grace. Her critical circle, the nine skilled binders who worked below and in harmony with Tanyana have abandoned her, and sinister undercurrents sweep and still her every movement.  Money ebbs from her bank account, the mysterious collection suit (and its creator) she finds is now part of her physical being is without explanation or an instruction booklet. Blank-faced ‘Puppet Men’ are watching, but no one can tell her why, or who they are. Not only is she is shunned by the society she once knew, she’s not exactly accepted with open arms by the debris crew she’s allocated to. Tanyana is alone, lost and powerless.

Debris collectors are the lowest of the low in the country of Varsnia, but without them, debris – the waste product left behind by pions – threatens to cause some serious damage. It’s when Tanyana finds her feet as a collector that this story really amped up for me. The relationships between the collection team are cautious and real, they trust each other but are innately suspicious of Tanyana – she represents everything they’re not. Each team member is drawn extremely well, and it’s easy to care about them very quickly, particularly the mystifying and childish Lad. The relationship Lad has with his brother Kichlan is an especially beautiful and intriguing bond; one that I’m looking forward to learning more about.

Debris is an exceptional novel. I have to admit, it’s taken me a long time since I finished reading to write this review. There are so many layers (yep,
just like an onion only tastier) I wasn’t sure where to begin. The physical aspect of Tanyana’s fall is the tip of the iceberg; Anderton’s observations of society and class system – and then the layers within that system – are written in a way that stays with you long after the story is finished. This is a story that sits somewhere in between fantasy and science fiction with a good dose of steampunk thrown in, but the themes covered and revelations about humanity are decidedly real. I’m a huge fan of a well-built world, and Debris ticks every box. The reader is treated intelligently, there are no over explanations to the workings of this world, just enough to keep you questioning and looking for the drip-fed answers while the action moves at a fast pace around you.

Debris is the first novel from Australian Jo Anderton, but not her first published work; she has a serious sackful of short fiction credits to her name. I for one will be sourcing those short stories to tide me over until the next instalment in The Veiled Worlds (Suited), is available later this year. I can’t wait to see what else Anderton’s  remarkable imagination has dreamed up.

Debris by Jo Anderton

Published by Angry Robot

Paperback – 408 pages

ISBN – 978-0-85766-153-1

Storm Born: Graphic Novels by Richelle Mead, Grant Alter and Dave Hamann

Eugenie Markham never asked for any of this. Until now, she’s been content with her job as a freelance shaman, battling and banishing Otherworldly creatures. When a prophecy suddenly makes her the Otherworld’s most popular bachelorette, Eugenie finds herself fighting off unwanted supernatural suitors, as well as the evils that begin emerging from her past…

In volume one, as Eugenie is going about her normal business of banishing the Otherworldly creatures from disrupting people’s lives, she comes to discover several of them mentioning her by her real name. Not only that but they seem to be getting a little frisky. She seeks out the opinion of her stepfather who calms her down. He says that sometimes it’s a normal occurrence in the business. Then she tells him that she has been approached by a gentleman to travel into the underworld to rescue his sister who was kidnapped a year ago.  Her stepfather discourages her from crossing over because it’s dangerous on the other side and who knows what could happen to her there.

In volume 2

Eugenie Markham never asked for any of this. Until now, she”s been content with her job as a freelance shaman, battling and banishing Otherworldly creatures. When a prophecy suddenly makes her the Otherworld”s most popular bachelorette, Eugenie finds herself fighting off unwanted supernatural suitors, as well as the evils that begin emerging from her past…

A sexy night with a one night stand is interrupted by an Ice Elemental. Surprisingly it’s Kiyo who attacks the Elemental first, while Eugenie runs to find her purse containing her weapons in which she can help Kiyo banish the Elemental. At this point they realize that they really don’t know each other, and Eugenie becomes guarded deciding she does not know if she can trust Kiyo. The next morning she realizes the scratches on her back that Kiyo made during their night together are not healing. She also decides to take on the job of finding the guy’s kidnapped sister.

Volume 3

Eugenie Markham never asked for any of this. Until now, she”s been content with her job as a freelance shaman, battling and banishing Otherworldly creatures. When a prophecy suddenly makes her the Otherworld”s most popular bachelorette, Eugenie finds herself fighting off unwanted supernatural suitors, as well as the evils that begin emerging from her past.

As the story progresses in volume 3 trouble erupts when Eugenie crosses over and discovers more than she was ready for. She’s learning that everything she has ever known about herself and her family…and her job, may not be as is seems.

She also finds an unexpected friend.

Volume 4

Eugenie Markham never asked for any of this. Until now, she”s been content with her job as a freelance shaman, battling and banishing Otherworldly creatures. When a prophecy suddenly makes her the Otherworld”s most popular bachelorette, Eugenie finds herself fighting off unwanted supernatural suitors, as well as the evils that begin emerging from her past…

Things become way to intense for Eugenie. Her family is in danger and her world is falling apart. Now is time for her to find the power inside her and kick some Demon ass!

The integration of Richelle Mead’s Storm Born series into a graphic novel was really well done. It was the first time I wanted to read one volume after the other, just devouring the story and really enjoying the artwork as well. There is enough of the story line to really keep the reader engaged and anticipating what will happen next.

I give this series 5 stars, highly recommended!