So the landscape has changed once again. It’s why I started doing this address. Keeps everything in check and serves as a mid-year review akin to that of modern business strategies. There’s been some hard truths to realise going into this year’s address, changes have had to be made, serious changes to structure. We continue to learn invaluably so in these early years, that we are truly in this alone. Though many see the flames burning brightly, few are equipped to hold on to the torch, despite their insistence they can. Managing this becomes tiresome and exhausting, sucking energy and life from a project that has limitless potential. No more. We’re going right-wing on this shit, “guilty until proven innocent” – step up or step off – no favours over here. I’ll do the whole fucking thing by myself if I have to – I could give a shit. With that said, on to business.
VIRTUES CHRONICLES: THE PAPERBACK
CONCEPT OF VIRTUE’S CHRONICLES COVER
Finally in reach, Virtue’s Chronicles; the feature of the first 3 issues released, is set to be released this year as a full paperback. It’s been a long time coming, and the original plan mentioned in last year’s State Of The Union address gave a tentative release by the True Believer’s Festival 2015, which has not been met. There is a multitude of reasons that this has not happened, with work on Issue 4 and From The Ashes not running as smoothly as planned, as well as preparation for the Malta Comic Con eating up large proportions of time. With that said, a whole new batch of considerations that have arisen as we’ve been looking at speculative production. After finishing the artwork for the concluding “part” of the story and the subsequent Epilogue, the intention is to return to some of the original artwork and pages from the earlier issues and just fix a few aesthetics that I wasn’t able to in the rush that came sending them to print. Continuity has always been close to my heart, and the way the project works these issue releases have ended up reflecting more of a progressive sketchbook than a finished piece. The artwork, style and presentation that we’ve developed across the first 3 issues will be consistent throughout, adapting all of the earlier work accordingly. Therefore, the paperback will essentially be the “final piece”. Amongst further considerations is the paper the book is to be made on, and we are in discussion with Stuart from UK COMICS to print on the newspaper print I always envisioned it on. The focus in the short term is finishing all of the artwork and figuring out the mechanics before we tackle the financial implications of the release.
TONIGHT, THE CITY SLEEPS… – ISSUE 4
TONIGHT, THE CITY SLEEPS… COVER IMAGE
The first part of Tonight, the City Sleeps… featured in Issue 4 and launched at Malta Comic Con to great success. Abandoning conventional comic book page count, and embracing a completely different style to its predecessors, the issue represents the freshest vision since the project went into full steam. It’s a triumph for us in many ways… and allows new readers to ‘jump in’ before we release the paperback mentioned above. Despite the start of a new chapter, the story also fits neatly into the narrative of the first 3 issues, with one of the last pages in the 3rd issue making direct reference to the events that take place in the chapter. (albeit ‘hidden’ in true SoB style.) Once work is completed on Virtue’s Chronicles the plan is to return to Tonight the City Sleeps… and similarly complete the ‘2nd part’ ready for the transition to paperback. In the short term, we intend to put together a sleeve for Issue 4 to help establish the break in narrative and attract new readers who may be put off by the big number 4 on the cover – and our subsequent refusal to print anymore Issue 1’s.
TONIGHT, THE CITY SLEEPS… – THE T-SHIRT
TONIGHT, THE CITY SLEEPS… PAGE 11
The trip to Malta proved more lucrative than any of the team could have imagined. Artist Jasper Schellekens (who worked on Premonitions: From The Ashes) bounced the idea of a t-shirt based on a line of script from Issue 4. (see above) The line referring to Martin Creed’s “Lights go off, lights go on again” Turner Prize winning piece, is an apathetic stab at the state of contemporary art, but as a standalone quote also holds significance to our own rebellion against the status quo in comics. With oversight from Dhalia he has financed the production of the t-shirt (pictured below) and with School Of Bitches set to receive the lionshare of the profits, this makes it our first successful franchised merchandise!!! More details on price and availability will follow in the coming months. #staytuned
“Some Prick…” SOB T-SHIRT
THE STATUS OF ONE LOVE
The next chapter from Volume I scheduled to be released, and what would have subsequently been the feature content of Issue 5 was intending to be “One Love”, a chapter introducing another key character to the story, another completely different style and headed up by an artist who was not me. Due to repeated deadlines not being met, Issue 5 has had to be cancelled – or at least its intended feature, and it is with a heavy heart that we have decided to pull this chapter completely from Volume I. A story I have spent nearly a decade putting together is precious, and I personally have sacrificed a great deal, dedicating a large portion of my life to tell the story as I intended. As one can imagine, each Chapter holds significance in terms of placement and scheduled release, and cannot easily be relocated without playing havoc with various arcs and events that are due to take place. It is only due to some ingenious quick thinking by resident powerhouse Judas that we have found a way of relocating this Chapter and reducing Volume I down to six Chapters, without any direct impact on the storytelling. Now in no way is this reflective of giving the artist a break, as the lack of work and general commitment has had me concerned for some time – but more importantly it allows time for a new artist, or myself to complete the work at a later date if push comes to shove. This year I have an extremely busy workload and could not take on the responsibilities of telling this story as well, so by taking this out of the equation it allows some breathing space. The hope is the original artist still completes the work, but a conversation about the particulars has yet to take place. With that said, a considerable shift has to take place to restore my faith, this is as well as adherence to deadlines and if these requirements cannot be met within the year, then we’ll pull the artist and reconsider our options. It’s a shame, but at the moment the only people at this point who will feel the loss of this very talented individuals work on the project, if they are not able to meet our expectations is limited to the staff here at SOB HQ. I will not be seen to sacrifice my creative vision or jeopardise it again, for anyone.
FROM THE ASHES
FROM THE ASHES: PREMONITIONS PROMOTIONAL IMAGE
The ‘teaser’ of Dhalia’s own venture, Premonitions didn’t get off to the start we wanted either, with only one artist (the aforementioned Jasper Schellekens – who I consider a part of the team.) completing work on schedule, meaning yours truly had to pick up the slack and fill the gaps. The resulting product, although shy of the original concept, streamlined the vision for the full book, which the 12 page booklet showcased appropriately. From The Ashes originally planning to be an entire book of different works of art, comic strips and the like with multiple colloborations has become the tale of just two stories. This keeps it manageable and in the hands of people that we trust will get it completed, ie. SOB HQ and Jasper. The two stories; “Maria’s Song” and “A Man and his Dog” will be tasked to Dhalia and Jasper, and Judas and myself, respectively. The result should be interested as Jasper is more of a traditional comic artist and Dhalia a somewhat more unconventional writer – with the opposite being true of Judas and myself. This Yin Yan scenario should create a very interesting book with each respective story telling very different tales set at different points within the timeline set by the main Genesis storyline. The book is not scheduled for release at this point, but work on both stories is already well underway. Expect more news on this throughout the year.
THE NEXT STEP: DEATH OF A SALESMAN
With the decision to pull One Love from Volume I the next chapter coming up will be Death Of A Salesman, with rough scripting of this already underway. Not too much can really be said about this Chapter as it’s events directly relate to those at the end of Virtue’s Chronicles and with this not yet being public domain at the time of writing, it’s difficult to say what relevance this Chapter has. Rest assured this Chapter sets a series of events in place that not only demonstrate some of the insane storytelling arcs that will be prevalent throughout the course of Genesis, but lead us to ‘present’ in the story. All very cryptic at this point, alas work on this is expected to begin after Tonight The City Sleeps… 2nd part is complete – in the second half of the year, we’ll have a lot more information on this in the next State Of The Union.
AND BEYOND…
Requiem For A Submarine’s first “issue” is ready. The Chapter that will follow Death Of A Salesman, is ready for storyboarding, and although I’ve toyed with the idea of drawing this myself – we may have acquired a considerably talented storyboard artist to do the artwork for the Chapter. We’re still in talks, and will have news on this exciting development as we get it. #staytuned
A COUPLE OF THINGS I DIDN’T MENTION…
• Kindle – we pulled the Kindle editions. Not that they weren’t doing well, but a decision was made until we can dedicate time to make a digital comic worthy of the medium, simply transferring what is meant to be read on the page to digital, wouldn’t work for us – and cheapens the concept. This is an art project and just like looking at paintings in a gallery, a picture of the highest resolution will never compare. Especially as how it will look when printed – what it is printed on plays a huge factor in deciding how pages are laid out and what materials are to be used. Reviewers are advised to contact us and we’ll post them physical copies. • Volume II – with the recent changes, focusing on Volume I and it’s completion within our 5 year plan has to take focus. The idea the project will expand with more artists was intended to free us up, but as we have learnt reliable and committed artists are more difficult to come across than we initially anticipated. Public appearances are minimized this year, so financially we can prep for our first proper book launch but we do have an appearance at I.C.E. in Birmingham later this year. We’ll announce more as we decide which are worth it, there is a lot shit in the long grass of the comic scene.
IN CLOSING…
Despite the disappointing setbacks I’ve detailed, our resolve has never been stronger. We’ve got some exciting projects we’re all working on individually away from Genesis – alas the details of which do not belong here, but they keep us striving to better work, new ways of storytelling and innovation in the multitude of visual mediums Genesis will be depicted.
Although this State Of The Union has less discussed than previous editions this is just reflective of our understanding of what we are realistically capable of now – with our available resources and creative team. And we’re still expanding, as intended – just more carefully and considerately than ever. (i.e. Jasper) We’re always evolving just like the project, streamlining and adapting… and as a team the three of us have come on leaps and bounds.
As a result we’re no longer accepting applications, if we want you – we’ll invite you to the party. If you’re lucky.
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