Shrapnel

Sadly, I won't be attending Comic-Con this year, but my friend Mark Long of Zombie Studios will.  He'll be unveiling Shrapnel, a brand new graphic novel, the first in a "solar war" trilogy set on Venus, the Jovian moons, Mars and finally Earth itself.  Shrapnel was scripted by another friend of mine, the talented comic writer M. Zachary Sherman, with the story a collaboration between Mark, Zack and myself.  Radical Comics is publishing it, and you'll be able to find it in stores later this year.

Here's the plot:

Shrapnel focuses on a future where humanity has reached out and colonized the Solar System and a Solar Alliance governs the planets similarly to the way ancient Rome dominated over their territories.  Venus, the last free colony in the system, must do what it can to battle the domineering Marine forces of the Alliance in order to remain sovereign.  Unbeknownst to the Marines, or even the Colonists themselves, one of the Alliance’s greatest heroes has exiled herself on the lost planet, hoping to escape the life she once knew as a soldier.  Now, pulled back into the fold, she must teach the Colonists how to fight for their freedom, and come to terms with her own past.

Shrapnel is a fun project--I've been having a great time working with Mark and Zack.  And the art's looking very cool, featuring legendary visual futurist Syd Mead's amazing mecha designs.

Comments

[Audrey Harper]

A colony on Venus? That IS science fiction. :) It is certainly the alluring siren of the cosmic sea.

[Ângelo Fernandes]

Hum, Shrapnel sounds nice. I’m eager to read and see new sci fi quality stuff.

Unfortunately Comic Con is at San Diego and to me it’s hard, not to say pretty damn expensive, to go there since I live in Portugal. I’ve followed everywhere on the web about.
I would like a lot to see the BSG panel among others. I’ll to arrange a way to attend next years Comic Con.

Hugs,
Ângelo Fernandes

[Nick Sagan]

Audrey: Inhospitable though Venus is, alluring is just right. One of my favorite Cosmos episodes is "Heaven and Hell," which gives us a tantalizing glimpse. Terraforming it is science fiction to be sure (at least at this point in our technological evolution), but as I've no chance to walk around there in real life, writing about it is my next best option.

Ângelo: I can imagine how expensive that flight is, especially these days with the increased cost of fuel. If you do manage to get out there next year, please come say hello as I'm planning to be there too.