BVC's Shades Enters Spirit World

British Web comic publisher Broken Voice Comics has just released Chapter 12 of its flagship title, the online graphic novel Shades online, plus some of the first pages of Chapter 13 have just been launched at its website. For the first time, the new chapters allow readers a glimpse of the story's mysterious spirit world.

Written by David A J Berner (whose adaptation of Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Oval Portrait” was included in the Self Made Hero anthology Nevermore in 2007) and illustrated in full colour by E.C. Nickel, Shades is both a timely examination of the characteristics and traits that have come to define the British national character and an appreciation of the super hero genre, from a particularly UK perspective.

Until now, most of the action in Shades has taken place in a very real-world version of the UK, but the spirit world has always been hugely important to the story.

"We learn very early on that the Shaman (a prehistoric mystic) relies on the spirits for his knowledge, and that the energies of that world are the source of many of the characters’ unique abilities," reveals Berner. "From this point in the story, however, events in the physical world and the spirit world start becoming increasingly intertwined."

In Chapter 12 a demon spirit known as Thrawn manifests itself in the physical world. Able to twist and manipulate a person’s self-doubts and insecurities, the demon finds plenty of material to prey upon in the troubled minds of the British heroes who people Shades.

In Chapter 13, readers are finally given their first glimpse of what the spirit world is actually like.

"Technically," Berner elaborates, "we only make it as far as the Fringes – a kind of buffer zone between the physical and spirit worlds. But then, it’s not the most inviting of places so perhaps that’s as close as we want to get!"

"The art team has done a fantastic job of rendering the nightmare landscape of the Fringes," David enthuses. "E.C. Nickel has really been able to demonstrate his love of surreal detail in these sequences, and the sombre, brooding colours by Muamal Khairi add a dimension that wouldn’t be out of place in an H.P. Lovecraft novel!”

Formerly the Senior Editor of webcomics studio Midnite Comics, David formed Broken Voice Comics in February 2006. Since its launch, Broken Voice Comics has been home to Berner’s own comic projects including Shades and his two four-part fantasy mini-series, The Spires and Hunted along with Guest Titles such as recent arrival G.A.A.K. by Darryl Hughes and Monique McNaughton.

Behind the scenes on the project, Berner informs us that work on this graphic novel is now nearing completion. "The script for Shades was written back in 2003,” he says, “so it’s been a long haul, but the end is finally in sight. The art team is already working on the last two full-length chapters (15 and 16) and then we just have a short epilogue to do, before we have to start looking at the options for putting together a collected print edition!”

• For more on Broken Voice Comics and its titles visit: www.brokenvoice.co.uk

Ten Questions: An Interview with Comic Creator Amy Pearson

Last year, DC Comics Zuda Comics showcased a stunning new adventure strip by hot new comics talent Amy Pearson. Now, the 22-year-old Sussex based artist has started publishing an updated, revamped edition of the strip on its own dedicated web site - www.mathemacomic.com - and downtheutbes caught up with her to ask her about the strip...

downthetubes: Briefly, tell us what Mathema is about. How would you pitch it to a comics publisher?


Amy: In Mathema, a mathematician has found a way to copy the skills of the ages - dreaming that everyone should have the gift of magic. But the discovery of Mathema forces those with Natural Born Power into the open, desperate to protect their ancient gift by whatever means necessary...

downthetubes: How did you come up with the story?

Amy: I love my fantasy stories but I'll admit I'm pretty selective about the kind of magic I 'buy-into'. Mathema is built on ideas for a magic system – making this work for me personally has taken a long time in the development. Emery appeared first and generally the rest of the story has been constructed around that.

The time period is important to the magic too. I was really influenced by the sense of discovery alongside interest in illusion as entertainment, also particularly new ideas opposing traditional religious forms.

downthetubes: Is this the first time Mathema has been published?


Amy: Mathema was first online over at Zuda. Being in the October 2008 competition. It finished second, and considering the competition I was very happy with that, but it was encouraging to see how divided some people were about the voting.  It was a great competition and experience, and a privilege to be put along side some really great creators.

Visually, the comic has changed a lot since then, I took on a lot of advice from the pros.  

downthetubes: Why have you chosen to publish on the web rather than in print?


Amy: Publishing the comic online was really the only way to go for me personally; obviously it'd be amazing to see Mathema in print one day(!) but I've never thought to try and sell it. For me it's about telling the story and sharing it with people – the web is the best way to do that.

downthetubes: What’s your background as an artist? How did you get into creating comics?

Amy: After Uni I went straight into a CG job in London as an animator.  I've always had a great interest in illustration as well and decided to try freelancing. Mathema started shortly after I made the change and most of my comic work has come from exposure during the Zuda competition. Changing to comics has been a real learning curve, but I'm really excited about Mathema being told this way.

downthetubes: Do you have any favourite creators or influences?


Amy: I can be pretty eclectic with the kinds of styles I like reading but to focus on influences for Mathema I think a couple of my favourite works are 'La Licorne' and 'Blacksad': the art in these is always an inspiration. On a purely story level it'd be wrong not to mention a personal Lovecraft influence.

downthetubes: What’s the most challenging thing about working on Mathema?


Amy: Patience! I always have remind myself to be very patient when creating any kind of art; there are so many specifics to the way comic art needs to be done this is even more the case for me and Mathema. (I also have to be patient about the story! There's so much of it I know and can't tell anyone about it yet!)

downthetubes: And what’s the best part about working on it?


Amy: Seeing my characters come to life and sharing that with other people.  I'm sure a lot of story tellers will say that they live with their ideas/characters 24/7, and this is true for me. Mathema has quite a few sides to it, I'm really looking forward to bringing these out along the way too.

downthetubes: What one valuable lesson have you learnt creating comics that you apply to your work now?

Amy: Again patience, but more specifically one of the things I've had to work on most is lettering. It was really the weakest point in the old version and a lot of problems have been solved in the re-release. Mathema is a sole project and previous feedback has really helped make the comic what it is.

downthetubes: What are your plans for the strip — and your — future? (Okay, that’s probably two questions!)

Amy: The plan for the strip is onwards and upwards! Now the comic has it's own space online I'm working on letting people know about it and settling into a regular update time, so people know when they're going to get their next instalment.  The first 'book' of Mathema is underway at the moment but eventually I hope to see the full project completed in three parts...

We'd like to thank Amy for her time answering our questions and strongly advise heading over to www.mathemacomic.com and check it out. And if you want to know more about the strip's development and news on its progress, visit Amy's blog: http://mathema-comic.blogspot.com. Mathema © 2009 Amy Pearson. All images used with permission.

ITV seeks Sanctuary

Trade magazine Broadcast reports ITV4 has secured broadcasting rights to the first season of Sanctuary, a new show starring Stargate-SG1 and Stargate: Atlantis star Amanda Tapping, which started life recently as Internet webisodes. The 20-minute web pilot gained more than 500,000 online viewers on debut.

The show centres on the dangers caused by genetic mishaps and, perhaps, deliberately engineered genetic versions of “humanity”, a darker side to the evolution of mankind which has let monsters loose in the world -- but may be the key to the future of our race.

Each webisode of Sanctuary follows the exploits of Dr. Helen Magnus (Amanda Tapping, Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis) as she seeks out all manner of terrifying and monstrous creatures.

Also in the cast are Dawson's Creek actor Robin Dunne who plays reluctant protege Will Zimmerman and Emilie Ullerup, (seen in Battlestar Galactica), who plays Helen's intrepid, if somewhat reckless, daughter Ashley. Together they are drawn into a frightening and mysterious world populated by beings that defy explanation.

Sanctuary, made by Toronto-based producer and distributor Tricon Films & Television, is the creation of veteran science fiction writer and producer Damian Kindler and directed by Martin Wood (Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis). Kindler, Tapping and Wood serve as executive producers along with N. John Smith.

The TV version of the drama, currently in production from Vancouver-based Stage 3 Media for the Sci Fi Channel in the US, will air later this year on ITV4, which already screens a number of cult SF TV shows from the ITV archive including The Champions, Randall & Hopkirk Deceased and UFO.

Sanctuary is probably the first television series shot almost entirely on green screen with live action actors and uses the same style as seen in feature films 300 and Sin City.

• Visit the official Santuary web site

• ITV's Sanctuary Web Site