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Vanilla is a product of Lussumo:
Documentation and Support.
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What's the neologism Warren coined? "Uchronal?" It sounds a bit like a prostate issue, but its the most useful term I've heard for modern fantastika.
Virtuoso is a comic I've been working on with our very own Krista Brennan, and it is decidedly uchronal. It's a science fiction story about the unpredictable nature of creation, how technology makes its own paths in society, and how societies can collapse by failing to adapt to technological growth.
The protagonist is one Jnembi Osse, a kept woman by the ruling party. Part Dante Alighieri, part Leonardo da Vinci, she is a person whose brilliance has been dimmed by the restrictions placed upon her. When her illicit invention is lost, it sets off a chain of events that could end up ruining her life forever, or finally liberating her.
Virtuoso will update weekly, three pages of comic with a supporting appendix. The appendix has little to do with the story save illuminate the darker corners of the setting, but is hardly necessary.
I'm quite proud of the work Krista has done. The world of Virtuoso looks unlike anything you've seen, yet is familiar on a visceral level. She is a tremendously talented person, and should be showered with money and small creatures.
You can find Virtuoso here:
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That is one hellaciously pretty comic.
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This looks like it's going to be absolutely magnificent. I can't wait to read more.
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- CommentAuthorkeyofsilence
- CommentTimeMar 18th 2010
The frame edging and architecture is very Roger Dean. I like it. -
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CommentAuthorAudley Strange
- CommentTimeMar 18th 2010
Wondering where you two had been of late.
Stunning stuff. -
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CommentAuthorMagicSword!
- CommentTimeMar 18th 2010
Wow! Magnificent bastards the pair of you. -
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Really beautiful art, very intriguing :) looking forward to more
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Great work indeed.
Jon, it's nice to see all that time spent hidden away in your room, cursing and throwing things at anyone who came in has been put to good use!
Keep it up you two! -
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CommentAuthoragentarsenic
- CommentTimeMar 18th 2010 edited
John and Krista - amazing work. I want a print copy. I will give you space dollars when your payment system is set up.
I love Whitechapel.
EDIT: Africa is an grossly underused setting and I'm glad you have set the story there. The first cyberpunk book I read was "The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm", which was also set in Africa and has captured my imagination for the continent since. -
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Much thanks to everyone. Krista and I have been working our tushies off on this.
@Agentarsenic
I owe a huge debt to Krista's work. I can write something like "Africanized Art Nouveau", but until I found an artist with her design sense, it was just a vague notion in my head. I went with an African look for one simple reason: if I read another fantasy setting where everyone dresses like a Ren Faire I will actually find the creators and beat them to death with a rack of mutton. -
We are trying to get an rss feed up. soon...
We will have more pages up over the next few weeks, but if you would like to own your own copy please go to http://virtuosocomic.smackjeeves.com/Merchandise/ to purchase it. We also have a donate option to help us get more issues out in the future. -
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CommentAuthoragentarsenic
- CommentTimeMar 19th 2010 edited
Reviving my years-unused Paypal account because $2.50 is a reasonable price for a small press comic.
EDIT: IF you need help setting up an RSS feed I can send some tutorials your way. I assume the site is running MySQL and PHP with some Javascript thrown in? -
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Thanks for all the support, you lovely Whitechapel kids!
@newspaperdrone: Roger Dean is fantastic. I'm a bit overwhelmed by the comparison. -
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CommentAuthoragentarsenic
- CommentTimeMar 25th 2010
Received my copy in the mail yesterday. It's a very nice book, great quality paper stock, and it looks like it cost more to print than what it's sold for. The rest of the issue not online is fantastic as well. -
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@agentarsenic
Why thank you! And yes, it did cost more to print, but only because after printing the run I realized I missed three typos and had to reprint them. When you do all the collating, cutting, and stapling on your girlfriend's dinner table at 3 in the morning before a convention, it has a cost all its own.
I'm glad you enjoyed it! There have been a lot of positive rumblings, and we hope we can keep this going through the planned 6 issue arc. -
We have kindly placed an update for your amusement and perusal. We're hoping to get the rss feed hammered out in the next few days.
Is anyone here going to NorWestCon? I'll be pressing the flesh and making a good impression there on Saturday.
Virtuoso -
So some of you know that I've launched a Kickstarter to get the next chunk of Virtuoso done. Lots of talented people have jumped onboard, contributing design, jewelery, and clothing.
To add to the mix, Mr. Jake von Slatt, steampunk maker galore and all around swell guy is donating one of his contraptions to whomever donates the most money to the Virtuoso Kickstarter. Be sure to pad that donation-- it would suck to have someone outbid you by a dollar. -
Good work, Jon and Krista! The story and the setting is engaging and the art is gorgeous. Cannot wait to read more.
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- CommentAuthorkeyofsilence
- CommentTimeSep 12th 2010
Yeah, great stuff! You've got yourself a fan. -
I plugged this a little on Sonny Wilkins yesterday. Great stuff! I really like the themes you're tackling, Jon.