A DISTANT SOIL: The Gathering Chapter 13 Page 4
Kovar regains upper hand. Order restored.
One of the biggest influences on my work was an obscure graphic novel called Empire by Samuel R. Delany and Howard Chaykin. Originally published in 1978, I found it in a library, which not only makes this book one of the first graphic novels, but an early recipient of bookshelf respect. It had a great deal to do with molding my ideas about what comics were and could be, and was a direct influence on A Distant Soil.
There’s some website out there which has some genuinely whack job info on it, claiming I declare myself to have created the first graphic novel of all time and other bizarre nonsense. This “journalist” has never spoken to me in my life, but I suspect he gathers his info while gossiping in science fiction convention bars. Probably while filking badly. God help him.
There’s no benefit in running around the internet trying to correct information on other people’s websites. It’s like playing an endless game of Whack-A-Mole. So, for the record, no I do not think I created the first graphic novel and never said I did.
Empire was my earliest graphic novel influence. I was probably not born when the first graphic novel was published, anyway. Sheesh.
Regardless, my nod to Empire is D’mer’s costume in this scene. A female character wears a similar jewel-encrusted outfit in Empire.
Empire has been out of print for a very long time, and prices vary from cover to over $100 for the hardback. I haven’t read it in years, and I wonder how it holds up. Maybe I will get a copy of my very own. I am sure it is long gone from that library. I do believe I was the only person who ever checked it out.
Maybe someone should consider bringing it back into print.
7 Comments
Miki
That GN was one of my favorites also. IMO it was some of the best work that Chaykin has ever done. I also loved his work on Alfred Bester’s The Stars My Destination Part 1 and waited forever for Part 2.(Still waiting as it was never published).
I still have the softcovers of these two as well as Gray Morrow’s The Illustrated Roger Zelazny which was a collection of short stories and thus does not not meet the strict definition of a GN.
I have to find my copy of Empire and reread it.
Colleen
Miki, you have such great taste. i knew you’d be the one to remember Empire! I agree it’s some of Chaykin’s best work, but my heart will always hold a warm fuzzy spot for American Flagg! Still fun after all these years!
I haven’t seen that Zelazny book in ages. Holy cow, almost forgot about it. When did that come out?
JKCarrier
Miki – The complete The Stars My Destination did finally come out in the ’90s. I have a copy, and it’s pretty swell:
http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Alfred-Besters-Stars-Destination/dp/0871358816
Miki
JK,
I did not know that! – thanks for that link- I just ordered it.
Colleen,
Of course I have good taste – I love your stuff, don’t I?
🙂
The Zelazny book came out in 1979.
http://www.amazon.com/Illustrated-Zelazny-Roger/dp/0441365256/
Prior to reading it, I had only read a couple of his short stories. After that I read everything he did.
I had the opportunity to buy the cover painting to that book many years ago and I still kick myself for passing on it.
Colleen Doran
UPDATED
StoryWriter
And Kovar wins again! You have a great deal of skill to make me love a character like Kovar so much. I think he’s the reason I like his type so much now. He sorta strikes me as the type who’d be the grouchy dad who wouldn’t put up with crap his kids get up to but he’d still be fair. That’s just me XD
Colleen Doran
He just whips D’mer around, doesn’t he? He probably likes it.