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Underground > Comic Books >

Children of Mars

16:43 / 31.12.05

Something I’ve been working on with the talented artist, Korshi Dosoo, for the better part of ’05 and hosted over at Zebramag.com. It’s the first part of a three part story and I’m pretty proud of the final results, of course, you’re all free to burst my bubble. I’ve poured in everything I like about samurai films and added some good ol’ fashion sci-fi flavor. We’ve also been playing with the web comic format so any suggestions or comments on that front would be greatly appreciated. Please check it out and enjoy.

22:40 / 31.12.05

I really like the story and the art is fantastic! I like the way we're slowly introduced to and drawn into this world & the whole culture.

Very sharp storytelling and colors are terrific - the fight and chase sequence at the end is especially well-done. I really felt and heard the sounds when she opens the airlock at the end to go onto the Martian landscape, letting in the dusty red air of the planet (a very nice visual touch). I look forward to reading the next chapter!

Was there a reason that on the site, some pages of the story are more centered in the middle of the screen and some are flush to the right of the screen?

22:43 / 31.12.05

The little poem to start off the chapter was also a cool touch. (is it a haiku? I always forget the required syllables for a haiku...)

Also, beautifully drawn goldfish in that one sequence.

P. Horus Rhacoid

17:21 / 01.01.06

I have little to add to that, except that fishtank robot = coolest thing ever.

18:56 / 01.01.06

Hmm yeah I really liked it too. I'm interested as to where you end up going with it.

20:39 / 01.01.06

The fishtank robot is chopping up fish for sushi, is that it? The only thing I wasn't clear about is that in one panel the robot is holding a knife aloft in its hands and in the next panel, its hands don't have a knife in them (nor is the knife in evidence; I guess it could be on one of the robot's trays).

02:00 / 02.01.06

Glad you guys like it. I love the sushi-bot too! It was totally Korshi’s idea and I had to find a way to work it into the story. The knife is visible (if you look closely). After the robot cuts up the fish it places the knife on a magnet thing over its shoulder. And yeah, I decided to start each chapter with a haiku and they’re all original so bare with me. The next chapter will be even better as this one was essentially all set up.

Stay tuned.

17:24 / 03.01.06

Dude...i've read the first two stories, comics, if that's what you'd prefer them called...and i gotta say, the pair of you (artist and writer) have quite the amount of talent between you. Certainly better than anything else i've ever seen online. The first story, the one about the Asian culture and existence on Mars was pretty cool. Double crosses. Conspiracies. Murder. Mayhem. Samarias. Rebellion of youth. Action. Feeling. Looks as if it's gonna turn out to have a damned good run. Hell, i'd buy it, and that's no lie. The blend of it, the Eastern pride and wording, along with the melding of the Sci-Fi culture made me think of Kill Bill, as it blended just that well, the way Tarentino managed to blend westerns, asian socky films, and good old fantasy elements in his story. The art is very unique, pretty, if i may be so bold. The second story, though...that's what really, Really impressed me. The art is again, very unique, unlike anything else i've ever seen in comics (online or otherwise) but this seems to fit the story very much. The words are like magic when read, and the actual point of the piece is brilliant. The emotions and feeling that both writer and artist must've been experiencing when they created this really stood out, even to me, a total stranger. Reading and looking at this made me, a grown ass, hairy ass man, wanna weep for this character, Kubuto, is it? Anyway, i'm about to read the 3rd story...i'll get back to ye and let ye know whati think of it, although if the first two are any clear indication, well, i know i'll be impressed.

Hawksmoor...From The Bleed.

17:42 / 03.01.06

eleggua- divine infections...jesus, man. Where do you and your partner get your inspirations? This story was simply Brilliant, in every way. Most people around me know that i am an avid reader of comic books, although i only ever read the more intelligent, thought provoking ones. This was well drawn, well plotted, and extremely well written. I will admit that i didn't know where you were going with the idea of the video game and its effect on players, but in the end, it all made Perfect sense. Eeverything seemed in context to the story...everything matters, which is a very rare thing in sotrytelling today. By the way, i'm black, so having an black POV character, who was a superhuman to boot, was right up may alley. Not that i don't enjoy characters of other ethnicities, but as there are so few of them in today's comics (and literature in general, to be honest) i rather enjoyed this story all the more because of it. Intelligent. Thought provoking. Brillaint, both of you. I tell you this. I'd buy all three comics were you to start posting or producing them on a regular basis. Esepcially the last two.

Hawksmoor...from The Bleed.

17:51 / 03.01.06

Whoa, thanks for the kind words, man! I really tried to infuse the piece with as much Japanese culture as I could, which meant looking up Kanji translations and cool symbolic visuals and stuff (i.e. the phoenix on Akako's shirt represents Mars in most Asian cultures.) I won't give too much away cause all that is supposed to be subconscious anyway, right? But thanks again and feel free to spread the word.

I have to point out, though, that the second story was drawn by Barbelith's very own MC Lentil. Isn't he just great?

02:32 / 04.01.06

Yes, very skilled artist.

Say, do people post short stories and all that type of stuff on here? Because if they do, i've got a few i'd like to get some comments on.

Hawksmoor...From The Bleed.

11:59 / 04.01.06

This section is mainly for comics... but you can post your short stories over at the creation section further down.

16:19 / 04.01.06

I see a sushi-bot spinoff in the future...

Mister Six, whom all the girls

18:00 / 04.01.06

I gotta fix the page layout. Part of the XMas break involved a very quick upload. I'm about to add a short bio/intro about Alex and Korshi as well, so I'll let you know when it is added.

Hawksmoor, Zebra is entering the short fiction (text) realm as well, so if you want to share let me know. Look at the short story Rage on the site for an example.

Alex has been a major force in keeping the Zebra project going and there are at least three new projects about to finish as well.

I'm looking to premiere a printed Zebra Anthology at MoCCA in New York this June so anyone who lives in the area should attend!

19:04 / 04.01.06

People, one of the moderators on this site has already told me of my errors. Get off my back with this, will you? I've learned the rules of posting now, and this won't happen again, so many posts in so many areas. Honest mistakes do seem to be getting more and more intolarable these days. I can't understand how a lot of you are getting so up in arms about this when there are posts upon this site in which people are using very, very vulgar language, cursing a blue streak here, using innappropriate language there, and i'm jumped on for a few postings in a few wrong areas. Gee, talk about idiocy. Leave the moderations to the moderators, and get of yer high horses. For God's sake, it aint the end of the world, people.

Hawksmoor...From The Bleed.

19:05 / 04.01.06

Mr. Six, sharing sounds like a good idea. Send 'em this way, potna. LOL.

Hawksmoor...From The Bleed.

16:20 / 10.01.06

That's gorgeous. The things I miss by skipping the comics forum when I can't get to the shop....

12:43 / 12.01.06

Thanks, grant.

12:52 / 12.01.06

I also really like that sunrise/sunset shot with the silhouetted characters - that panel really stands out.

Mister Six, whom all the girls

15:59 / 15.01.06

Updated page with creator interviews and sketchs of the sushi bot!

children of mars

17:14 / 16.01.06

Thanks, Mr. Six. The interviews are worth checking out just for the insight into Korshi's artistic process.

01:44 / 18.01.06

Just wanted to chime in with yet another "good job". I really enjoyed the flow of the story, and I can't wait to see more!

02:33 / 18.01.06

>> Hopefully, people who've been to Japan will 'get' the little cultural details, be able to hear the high-pitched, ultra helpful voice of the Welcome-bot, and understand that it's only a matter of time before Sony actually builds the Sushibot!

This cracked me up. (I haven't been to Japan but loved the bit about the Sushibot being an eventual reality) I also love that he did the layouts for the first part listening to the Kill Bill soundtrack.