Announcing my next graphic novel, 'ARCA'
A new lineup of original comics coming from IDW Publishing
Welcome back to Graphically Minded, an entirely free publication about writing and storytelling, relating the lessons I’ve learned in a 20-plus-year career as a comic book writer and author.
We’ll be back with regularly scheduled programming next week, but first, SOME BIG NEWS! (Seems like this merits all caps, anyway.)
The lead story on Deadline this morning was an announcement about a whole new line of original comics and graphic novels coming from IDW Publishing. The first nine books includes works by luminaries like Scott Snyder, G. Willow Wilson, Hayden Sherman and David Gianfelice. And there, front and center, is ARCA, a graphic novel I am co-creating with the incredible artist Jesse Lonergan. Here’s the cover all nice and big for your enjoyment:
This is a sci-fi story that explores what happens when a group of billionaires decides that the Earth is doomed, and the only viable future lies elsewhere. And thus, the ARCA, a vessel launched into deep space, in search of a new home. All the billionaires’ needs tended to by a group of teenagers who serve as indentured servants. Our story follows Effie, one of the teenagers, who begins to suspect that this mission is not what it seems.
I’m beyond proud of this book, but I also have to say that it is elevated at every turn by Jesse. How to explain his work? It combines an organic brush inking style with intricate panel design that… You know what? How about I just show you? Since I can’t share interior art from ARCA yet, here’s some of Jesse’s work from his incredible one-shot comic HEDRA.
And that’s not all, as Porky Pig would say. I have a whole lot more coming next year, including several comic book series and my first novel. In the coming months, I’ll share more announcements as I have them.
But first, in a week or two I’ll be sending out my next piece of writing advice. This one will be on the dreaded writer’s block — and, yes, in fact I am about six weeks late in getting it sent. Is it because I’ve been struggling with the dreaded writer’s block? I guess you’ll just have to tune in to find out.
As always, I hope this is helpful to you as you write and tell stories. If you’d like to learn more about me and my writing, please visit vanjensen.com. Comments or questions? Please share them below.