Last week I received the first pages for two new original graphic novel projects, so I thought it was a good time to announce each of them and talk them up a bit . . .
The first book is called Gaijin Girl. It was written by me and is being illustrated by the amazing Nicc Balce, creator of Random Encounter and artist on the recently released Vendor. Gaijin Girl tells the story of 15 year old Alice Gallahger, an american girl who has just moved to Tokyo, Japan with her mother. Alice hates having to move away from her home in the United States and resents her mother for taking her so far away from her friends. But through a strange series of events, Alice's life is turned upside down and she begins to see Japan in a way she never thought possible.
Gaijin Girl will be two books in one. I'll talk more about that aspect a little later . . . I don't want to give too much away right now.
The other book is called Spellbinder. I've spoken about this book before, many times. And I'm happy to say that after a few false starts, I've finally found a penciller to join me and inker Marc Deering on this project. The artist in question is Matt Hebb and when I saw his first page last week, I knew that the book was in the right hands. In addition to script duties, I'll be coloring this one, as well.
Spellbinder is a tale of magic and mystery set in the old west. It is the story of Dr. A. Q. Pendleton, a U.S. Special Service Marshall who works directly for the President and is charged with investigating matters of "devilry and the supernatural world". When Pendleton is sent by President Grant to track down the man who previously held the post, our hero discovers that he may be the key to an apocalyptic prophecy.
I can't wait to start posting preview pages for these new projects. What I've seen so far from Nicc and Matt has exceeded my expectations. They're both knocking their respective books out of the park and I'm proud to call them my collaborators.
I'm the luckiest writer and colorist in the world, I tells ya.
-Otis