Tag Archives: edwin lopez

Exclusive: A Wave Blue World launches Crisis on Our Only Earth for World Environmental Health Day

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On September 26th, the world comes together to observe World Environmental Health Day. The environment is at even greater risk today as the most basic guardrails are being stripped away. Executive orders as well as elevated individuals are assaulting the little gains that have been made over the years and attacking communities negatively impacted by pollution and thus attacking their health and well-being. Editors Joe Corallo and Molly Jackson have partnered with A Wave Blue World to bring a new vision of our future in a benefit anthology for environmental causes, Crisis on Our Only Earth.  

World Environmental Health Day takes place on September 26 and declared by the International Federation of Environmental Health. This year’s theme is “Clean Air, Healthy People.” The goal is to help promote awareness and action on the impact of clean air on public health, and addressing air pollution, climate change, and respiratory diseases. The first yearly event was held in 2011 to raise awareness about the connection between environmental quality and human health.

Crisis on Our Only Earth is a graphic novel anthology that features a mix of rising stars and seasoned pros in the comic book industry telling stories about important environmentalists, the origins of Earth Day, small steps we can take to make our world a better place, as well as genre stories incorporating themes of activism.

A Wave Blue World has pledged to make a donation to the Natural Resources Defense Council matching the net proceeds of the sales of the anthology. NRDC is an international organization promoting environmental advocacy through science, litigation, and green business practices.

Contributors include Danny Lore, Rio Burton, Bernardo Brice, Sabs Cooper, Ashlynn Barker, Adam McGovern, Chase Bluestone, Edwin Lopez, Lane Lloyd, Martha Thomases, Kate Zimmerman, David Pepose, Chris Shehan, Taylor Esposito, Trina Robbins, Fabian Lelay, Gab Contreras, Peter Carlsson, Mindy Newell, John K Snyder III, Bernardo Brice, Beth Rimmels, Michiums, Devin Grayson, Magda Price, Corinna Bechko, Gabriel Hardman, Barbara Randall Kesel, Diana Leto, Catrina Brighton, Regine Sawyer, Rodney Sanon, Molly Jackson, Christie Shinn, Annie Nocenti, Ameziane, Sina Grace, Rus Wooton, Alexander Lu, Sweeney Boo, Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou, Juan Ponce, Haley Boros, Keith Frady, Claudia Aguire, Catherine Ducket, Stuart Moore, Mark Wheatley, Carol Wheatley, Joe Corallo, Eric Palicki, Emily Pearson, and Matthew Kaplowitz.

Publishers Tyler and Wendy Chin-Tanner of A Wave Blue World know how important this mission is, and with their history of publishing critically-acclaimed anthologies, including Young Men in Love and Becoming Who We Are, make them the perfect home and advocates for Crisis on Our Only Earth.

The anthology will be released first digitally on September 26th as a pdf download which can be purchased on AWBW.com. Additionally, it can be purchased or read through subscription service on A Wave Blue World’s digital partners including Amazon Kindle, GlobalComix, and ComicsPlus on LibraryPass.

A limited print edition is expected sometime in 2026.  You can support NRDC and their mission directly by visiting their website at nrdc.org.

Crisis on Our Only Earth

Review: Quantum Echo Summer 2018

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I love comic anthologies. Not only do they tend to be a good bang for your buck but it’s also a chance to sample new ideas and talent. To me, it’s an underused format especially for indie and small press creators who can use it to come together and highlight themselves in one release.

Quantum Echo is a brand new entry to the format with each release having a theme. This first issue’s theme is “escape.” That’s pretty broad and could be anything from an escape from life to freeing the oppressed to finding a release in virtual reality. Seven short stories explores this theme and for the most part, they’re entertaining and show a lot of promise.

Each story is very unique and this anthology really uses the theme to its advantage. The stories range from grounded every day life to fantasy to science fiction and touch upon death and human trafficking. It varies and that’s one of the greatest things about this comic. To see so many creators deliver such varied concepts and with such varied voices is a treat.

The anthology starts off with a brutal battle and some great art in Astral Crusader which sets an interesting tone for the rest. It’s one of the stronger stories in both the plot and the art and from there the rest is all over in quality. Other highlights are Beastly Dance with its water color like art, Emergence with its emotional punch, and The World of Jeremy Trimby’s cute twist.

But, this is clearly an indie release and there’s a roughness about much of the stories that drags it down. The anthology could have used the help of a solid editor. Some stories are choppy in their execution or outright confusing. There’s also issues with lettering which is inconsistent in quality. It can all be read, the style just changes and some choices are questionable. And, as with all anthologies, the quality of the stories and art itself varies.

There’s some fantastic work here. If I were a publisher, there’s absolute talent to keep an eye on or just nurture and some of these creators will be ones I’ll keep my eye out for. With that, it’s well worth picking up and checking out though the price is why I’m slightly hesitant to go all in at $7.99.

There is an indie quality about it though that’s really enjoyable and I have no doubt a few of these creators are going to break out in some way. If this is the future of comics, we’re in a good place and as a first release this is pretty solid. I’m looking forward to see more from this group and anthology.

Astral Crusader
Story: Paul Bradford Art: William Allen Reyes Letterer: Edwin Lopez
Beastly Dance
Story: Ben Howard Art: Niina Eveliina Letterer: Edwin Lopez
Emergence
Story: Michael Westheim Art: Bias Roa
Siren Sixteen
Story: Shep Shepard Art: Ashley Lanni
The World of Jeremy Trimby
Story: M. Westheim, Daisy Porras Art: Bias Roa
Far Out: Misadventure in Odder Space (Part 1)
Story: Kyle Russell Art: Shep Shephard
The Escape Engine
Story: Darick Taylor Art: Shep Shephard
Story: 7.0 Art: 7.0 Overall: 7.0 Recommendation: Read

Graphic Policy was provided with a FREE copy for review
Ben Howard is a contributor to Graphic Policy