Preview: HaloGen #4 (of 4)
HaloGen #4 (of 4)
Imprint: Archaia
Author: Josh Tierney
Artist: Afu Chan
Final issue! When Det is kidnapped by Robotics, Rell will have to face the consequences of her attachment to the little girl.
Tag Archives: afu chan
We Talk HaloGen with Josh Tierney
Josh Tierney is relatively new to the medium of comics but has already made his mark. His first major work was on Spera, an all-ages book which incorporated the work of numerous artists. For his second series he headed to space for a different setting to explore. We got a chance to talk with him about his series HaloGen.
Graphic Policy: Where did the idea for the series come from?
Josh Tierney: It began with a sketch of a girl with a tilted halo by Giannis Milonogiannis, which Giannis posted online and which formed the overall world of HaloGen the moment I saw it. From there we added in other characters that Afu Chan, Giannis and I had created independent of each other, forming a delicious sci-fi stew.
GP: Can you tell us a bit more about the religious aspect of this story, as the main character has a halo, and as the story involves the discovery of an ancient space god?
JT: When writing I can take metaphorical figures and turn them into literal ones. The idea of God being real but dead, with His body somewhere out there awaiting discovery, is fascinating to me. In my early childhood I strongly believed in angels, and now I can channel that into Rell.
I’m superstitious. I make wishes on everything that’s traditionally wished upon, and quietly believe in just about everything to some extent. The religious aspects of HaloGen have been built from this.
GP: Are there any challenges to incorporate religious elements into outer space?
JT: As a writer, I can choose what to make real within a story, which makes it easy to incorporate religious elements. Thinking of space as a massive portal to heaven has helped quite a bit.
GP: Can you talk about the design of the main characters?JT: Many of the characters are taken from older illustrations and sketches by Afu and Giannis, so it’s difficult for me to comment on them.
Det being a schoolgirl and the Head of Robotics being a head were my main contributions. I like the idea of God interacting with His creations as a young girl. The Head of Robotics literally being a head is something I find amusing, and easily done with a robot.
I also helped with some ideas for Rell’s holosuit.
GP: A lot of series have bypassed placing the male as the hero in place of a female heroine. Do you think that this is because of a desired shift in demographics, or has the demographic already taken place?
JT: I haven’t been to as many comic conventions as I’d like, but it seems to me that around half the goers are women. When I go to a comic store, there are often more women than men looking around. I imagine publishers must be taking notice of this as well.
GP: Do you feel any additional challenges as a man writing a female character?JT: It’s easier for me to identify with a female character in any media, which is partly why most of the protagonists I write are women. I also focus on writing characters as individuals, rather than general “male” or “female” types.
GP: When writing and deciding on a main character, are there ever secondary characters that become more interesting to you than the primary?
JT: Somehow this hasn’t happened yet. There are many characters in HaloGen I consider just as interesting as Rell, though.
GP: Are there any current events or issues which have guided the direction of the story?
JT: None. I take inspiration from creativity, and the art of Afu and Giannis has guided the story more than anything else.
Preview: HaloGen #3 (of 4)
HaloGen #3 (of 4)
Imprint: Archaia
Author: Josh Tierney
Artist: Afu Chan
In a shocking display, Det takes down Hale so that she, Rell, and Mason can reach the HaloGen ship and escape. As they make their way back to Cityship Q, Rell has to figure out what to do with Det.
Preview: HaloGen #2 (of 4)
HaloGen #2 (of 4)
Imprint: Archaia
Author: Josh Tierney
Artist: Afu Chan
While attending a concert, Rell is given information on where to find a piece of the god. It’s a race off planet to find the first piece before the other companies, but all is not what it seems as an unexpected attack comes from a mysterious origin.
Preview: HaloGen #1 (of 4)
HaloGen #1 (of 4)
Imprint: Archaia
Author: Josh Tierney
Artist: Afu Chan
There’s a rumor on Cityship Q that the gigantic body of a dead god was found floating in space. Rell, an agent working for the HaloGen organization, is tasked with finding the location of the god and retrieving it by any means necessary. Using her ability to form hyper-realistic holograms, Rell is about to take on the first mission she might not be able to finish.
Preview: Spera Vol. 3
SPERA VOL. 3
Written by Josh Tierney
Illustrated by Michael Dialynas, Cory Godbey, Afu Chan, Meg Gandy, Amei Zhao, and Sam Bosma
Cover by Afu Chan
HC, 176pgs, FC, SRP: $24.95
Diamond Code: JUL13 0785
Exiled princesses Pira and Lono travel to avoid the clutches of Pira’s mother, the Evil Queen. Obtaining jobs as adventurers, the two best friends set out on a series of quests that land them in perhaps more excitement than they’d bargained for. This lush hardcover series collects and remasters the ongoing adventures, written by creator Josh Tierney and illustrated by a rotating collection of some of the finest sequential artists on the web. The series, which first began as a popular webcomic, brings artists together from around the globe to showcase their talents as some of the premiere fantasy artists in the industry, and Volume 3 is no exception! Featuring artwork from Cory Godbey, Michael Dialynas, Afu Chan, Meg Gandy, Amei Zhao, and Sam Bosma, Spera Volume 3 will transport you to a colorful world of wonder and excitement!
Preview – Spera Volume 2
SPERA VOLUME 2
Original Graphic Novel Hardcover
Retail Price: $24.95 U.S.
Page Count: 168 pages
Format: Hardcover, 6” x 9”, full color
Genre: Fantasy
On-Sale Date: February 27 in comic shops, March 12 in bookstores
Rating: E – EVERYONE (all ages, may contain minimal violence)
Written by Josh Tierney
Illustrated by Giannis Milonogiannis, Kyla Vanderklugt, Timothy Weaver, and Afu Chan
Cover by Afu Chan
In this sequel to the critically acclaimed first volume of Spera, exiled princesses Pira and Lono travel to the bustling city of Kotequog to avoid the clutches of Pira’s mother, the Evil Queen. Obtaining jobs as adventurers, the two best friends set out on a series of quests that land them in perhaps more excitement than they’d bargained for. Told in four chapters and a series of stand-alone shorts, each drawn by a different rising talent in comics, Spera: Volume 2 brings the same gorgeous artistry as its debut installment. The series, based off the original webcomic experiment, brings artists together from around the globe to showcase their talents as some of the premier fantasy artists in the industry. Spera will appeal to art lovers and children of all ages, especially fans of The Legend of Korra, Patricia Wrede’s Dealing with Dragons, Disney’s Tangled, and the Flight series.
Archaia’s Rust Vol. 2 and Spera Vol. 2 Debut Today as Digital Firsts on comiXology
Archaia Entertainment continues its commitment to digital releases with two new comics debuting today on comiXology, Rust Vol.2 andSpera Vol. 2.
Rust Vol. 2: Secrets of the Cell is the follow-up to the critically acclaimed Rust Vol. 1: Visitor in the Field, the debut graphic novel by Royden Lepp. In this volume, the dysfunctional Taylor family continues to rebuild their farm lives after the devastating loss of a recent war, and the appearance of the mysterious jet pack-wearing boy, Jet Jones. Jet’s behavior continues to raise youngest brother Oswald’s suspicion, particularly when the appearance of another robot invader puts them all in danger! Like its predecessor, Rust Vol. 2 is presented in nostalgic sepia tone to help set the industrial atmosphere of the title. This volume is especially highly anticipated because of the recent announcement that director Joe Cornish (Attack of the Block) has been attached to the Rust film in development at 20th Century Fox. Simon Kinberg (Mr. and Mrs. Smith, X-Men: First Class) is producing and Aline Brosh McKenna (The Devil Wears Prada) is scripting.
Spera Vol. 2 is the sequel to the critically acclaimed first volume of Spera, which is based off the original webcomic experiment created by Josh Tierney that brings illustrators together from around the globe to showcase their talents as some of the premier fantasy artists in the industry. In this volume, exiled princesses Pira and Lono travel to the bustling city of Kotequog to avoid the clutches of Pira’s mother, the Evil Queen. Obtaining jobs as adventurers, the two best friends set out on a series of quests that land them in perhaps more excitement than they’d bargained for. Told in four chapters and a series of stand-alone shorts, each drawn by a different rising talent in comics, Spera Vol. 2 brings the same gorgeous artistry as its debut installment, featuring the works of Giannis Milonogiannis (Old City Blues), Kyla Vanderklugt (Flight), Timothy Weaver (Chivalrous), and Afu Chan (Spera Vol. 1).
The first chapters of Rust Vol. 2: Secrets of the Cell and Spera Vol. 2 debut digitally on comiXology today, available across iPhone, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire and the Web, with subsequent chapters releasing every month. The print editions will debut late Fall.
Preview – Spera Vol. 1
SPERA VOL. 1
Original Graphic Novel Hardcover
Retail Price: $19.95 U.S.
Page Count: 176 pages
Format: hardcover (paper over board), 6” x 9”, full color
Genre: Fantasy
ISBN-13: 978-1-936393-30-5
Written by Josh Tierney
Illustrated by Emily Carroll, Hwei, Olivier Pichard and Kyla Vanderklugt
Cover by Afu Chan
On sale: Jan. 11, 2012
Lono’s life as a princess consisted of sitting, reading, and dreaming—until the day Pira, princess of a neighboring kingdom, arrived with news of a waking nightmare! With the help of Pira’s best friend—a fire spirit in the form of a dog named Yonder—the princesses now find themselves in a race against evil. The goal: Spera, a magical realm of which the princesses had only ever heard the tallest tales. The prize: their very lives! Illustrated by four, popular indie artists, Spera’s extras include five additional short stories, a character design gallery and pin-ups!
E – EVERYONE (all ages, may contain minimal violence)
