#fantasy graphic novels
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The Secret Language of a Page of Chivalry: Gone Fishing
Neil Gaiman's Chivalry is a sweet and simple story on the surface, but is full of allusions and literary references, and the symbolism in the art, as well as the art style, serves as meta-narrative.
Previous post re: the symbolism in the art for Chivalry over HERE.
One of the pages readers ask about the most is this one, where Mrs. Whitaker in the Oxfam shop finds an old book entitled The Romance and Legend of Chivalry (1912).
Written by Scottish author A. R. Hope Moncrieff, this popular tome was published in multiple printings and editions in many languages. While most of his books were intended for young boys, they would be over the heads and/or not to the taste of many modern readers.
They are dense and wordy, but I love them.
You can find good copies of the first edition with the gorgeous cover you see here at reasonable prices. If you can spare $20-$30, you shouldn't have to settle for cheap, modern editions which are ugly and don't have that pretty gold stamping.
It should be obvious why Mrs. Whitaker has focused on this book during the course of Chivalry.
What some didn't understand is the reference there in the top corner written in red pen: "Ex Libris Fisher".
This translates to "From the Library of Fisher" as in The Fisher King.
The Fisher King otherwise known as King Pelles, Sir Galaad's grandfather. (And for those who don't understand why Galahad is spelled Galaad, an explanation HERE.)
The inset images in the illuminated manuscript sequences aren't just there to dress up the page. They have meaning.
On this page the meaning is pretty obvious: in the upper right, a fish, then an image of a man fishing, then young Galaad, then the castle. Also, King Pelles holds a spear.
King Pelles was known as The Fisher King because he had a disabling wound and was unable to do much of anything but sit in his boat and go fishing.
There are a number of layers of meaning to the tale of the Fisher King, the most obvious being that the king, also known as the Grail King, charged with the task of protecting the Holy Grail, is a fisher even as Christ is a fisher of men.
But the Fisher King, it is implied, has been wounded as punishment for a sin, the which sort of varies depending on the King Arthur tale version you read. (The derivation of the name Pelles, or the medieval French word for fish, is a pun on an old French term for sin. Can't find my reference on that, sorry.)
Pelles was wounded in the thigh. Some interpret this as a wound to the genitalia, which robbed the king of his vitality. Since the strength of the king was the strength of the land, the land withered as well.
Referring directly to a man's wounded genitals was super-rude back in the day no matter what they do on Twitter now: so it was common to simply refer to a "wound in the thigh" if a man had issues in his nether regions.
The spear the king holds is the Spear of Longinus, which a Roman centurion used to pierce the side of Christ, and which was used to deliver a wound to Pelles, the Dolorous Stroke, a wound which cannot be healed until the coming of the Grail Knight who will ask the right questions and take the right actions.
These actions depend on which versions you read, and we could be here all day going over them and who did them.
As for the sin of Pelles, it is asserted that Pelles was either a philanderer or he refused to marry the woman he should have in order to ensure the bloodline of the Grail. To repair that damage, Pelles sets about getting his daughter Elaine going with Lancelot (by shocking means) to ensure that Galaad is born, because he knows only Galaad can achieve the Grail.
In Sir Thomas Malory's Le Morte D'Arthur, the story is rather confusing and the role of King Pelles gets split between Pelles and another king.
But there are a lot of wonky things in Malory, so don't stress, the man never had an editor, he was in jail while he wrote most of the book, and he did his best.
Pelles is healed by the Holy Blood on the spear. Or a knight asking the right questions. Or by drinking from the Grail.
Depending on who is telling the story.
With the Achievement of the Grail and the redemption of King Pelles by the knights, in particular his grandson Galaad/Galahad, the king is healed, sins are forgiven, and the land is healed.
Mrs. Whitaker, who is being visited by young Galaad on a quest, has just found a tome in an Oxfam shop that once belonged to Galaad's grandfather.
Pelles, who failed to be as chivalrous as he should have been and ended up spending a lot of time fishing instead of running his country, perhaps learned some lessons from The Romance and Legend of Chivalry that got passed down to Galaad, because this Neil Gaiman tale is Twilight Zone-ish like that.
And now you know.
Thanks to my Patreon patrons for sponsoring this post and so many other wonderful things.
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The Demon of Beausoleil by Mari Costa is coming to print!
Armed with a demon-forged knife and guarded by the enigmatic Elias, Helianthes ventures into the streets, causing mischief and exorcising demons. But the shadows of his past lurk, and a haunting specter emerges to confront him. Amidst the dark chaos, an unexpected romance blossoms between Helianthes and Elias, fueling the fire in this dramatic M/M narrative.
This is definitely not a story for the faint-hearted. We recommend 16+ readers navigate this fiery tale.
Claim your copy today!
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red & the wolf ⚔
I'm making a graphic novel! Set in a post-apocalyptic fantasy world, the story follows the hunter Red as she grapples with her humanity when she meets a wolf girl in the woods.
I'm currently in the middle of penciling, and it's been so rewarding seeing this project slowly take shape 😭 Can't wait to share more artwork sooooon
#realized that i forgot to announce this project here!#but this is what i've been up to for the past 1.5 years hehe#my art#illustration#little red riding hood#graphic novel#fantasy art#horror art
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It’s Pride 2023! Time to put up some more comic recs!
This time I’ve put together some stories about discovering one’s own queer identity, outlining a family history of queerness, and several stories where being queer isn’t the focus - queer characters are simply allowed to be.
Belle of the Ball By Mari Costa
High-school senior and notorious wallflower Hawkins finally works up the courage to remove her mascot mask and ask out her longtime crush: Regina Moreno, head cheerleader, academic overachiever, and all-around popular girl. There’s only one teensy little problem: Regina is already dating Chloe Kitagawa, athletic all-star…and middling English student. Regina sees a perfectly self-serving opportunity here, and asks the smitten Hawkins to tutor Chloe free of charge, knowing Hawkins will do anything to get closer to her.
And while Regina’s plan works at first, she doesn’t realize that Hawkins and Chloe knew each other as kids, when Hawkins went by Belle and wore princess dresses to school every single day. Before long, romance does start to blossom…but not between who you might expect. With Belle of the Ball, cartoonist Mariana Costa has reinvigorated satisfying, reliable tropes into your new favorite teen romantic comedy.
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The Moth Keeper By Kay O’Neill
Anya is finally a Moth Keeper, the protector of the lunar moths that allow the Night-Lily flower to bloom once a year. Her village needs the flower to continue thriving and Anya is excited to prove her worth and show her thanks to her friends with her actions, but what happens when being a Moth Keeper isn't exactly what Anya thought it would be?
The nights are cold in the desert and the lunar moths live far from the village. Anya finds herself isolated and lonely. Despite Anya's dedication, she wonders what it would be like to live in the sun. Her thoughts turn into an obsession, and when Anya takes a chance to stay up during the day to feel the sun's warmth, her village and the lunar moths are left to deal with the consequences.
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Hollow By Shannon Watters, Branden Boyer-White & Berenice Nelle
Isabel "Izzy" Crane and her family have just relocated to Sleepy Hollow, the town made famous by—and obsessed with—Washington Irving's legend of the Headless Horseman. But city slicker-skeptic Izzy has no time for superstition as she navigates life at a new address, a new school, and, with any luck, with new friends. Ghost stories aren't real, after all....
Then Izzy is pulled into the orbit of the town's teen royalty, Vicky Van Tassel (yes, that Van Tassel) and loveable varsity-level prankster Croc Byun. Vicky's weariness with her family connection to the legend turns to terror when the trio begins to be haunted by the Horseman himself, uncovering a curse set on destroying the Van Tassel line. Now, they have only until Halloween night to break it—meaning it's a totally inconvenient time for Izzy to develop a massive crush on the enigmatic Vicky.
Can Izzy's practical nature help her face the unknown—or only trip her up? As the calendar runs down to the 31st, Izzy will have to use all of her wits and work with her new friends to save Vicky and uncover the mystery of the legendary Horseman of Sleepy Hollow—before it's too late.
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Until I Meet my Husband By Ryousuke Nanasaki & Yoshi Tsukizuki
The memoir of gay activist Ryousuke Nanasaki and the first religiously recognized same-sex marriage in Japan.
From school crushes to awkward dating sites to finding a community, this collection of stories recounts the author’s “firsts” as a young gay man searching for love. Dating is never ever easy, but that goes doubly so for Ryousuke, whose journey is full of unrequited loves and many speed bumps. But perseverance and time heals all wounds, even those of the heart.
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Is Love the Answer? By Uta Isaki
When it comes to love, high schooler Chika wonders if she might be an alien. She’s never fallen for or even had a crush on anyone, and she has no desire for physical intimacy. Her friends tell her that she just "hasn't met the one yet," but Chika has doubts... It's only when Chika enters college and meets peers like herself that she realizes there’s a word for what she feels inside--asexual--and she’s not the only one. After years of wondering if love was the answer, Chika realizes that the answer she long sought may not exist at all--and that that's perfectly normal.
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M Is for Monster By Talia Dutton
When Doctor Frances Ai's younger sister Maura died in a tragic accident six months ago, Frances swore she would bring her back to life. However, the creature that rises from the slab is clearly not Maura. This girl, who chooses the name "M," doesn't remember anything about Maura's life and just wants to be her own person. However, Frances expects M to pursue the same path that Maura had been on—applying to college to become a scientist—and continue the plans she and Maura shared. Hoping to trigger Maura's memories, Frances surrounds M with the trappings of Maura's past, but M wants nothing to do with Frances' attempts to change her into something she's not.
In order to face the future, both Frances and M need to learn to listen and let go of Maura once and for all. Talia Dutton's debut graphic novel, M Is for Monster, takes a hard look at what it means to live up to other people's expectations—as well as our own.
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Golden Sparkle By Minta Suzumaru
Himaru Uehara’s first year of high school is off to a good start, minus one problem—he keeps having wet dreams. With only his mom and sister at home—and having skipped health class in middle school—he thinks it means there’s something wrong with him. Thankfully, a new friend has just the remedy and teaches Himaru exactly how to deal with those pesky dreams! But his solution only leads to more confusion, and the two find themselves navigating feelings they’ve never felt before.
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Thieves By Lucie Bryon
Ella can’t seem to remember a single thing from the party the night before at a mysterious stranger’s mansion, and she sure as heck doesn’t know why she’s woken up in her bed surrounded by a magpie’s nest of objects that aren’t her own. And she can’t stop thinking about her huge crush on Madeleine, who she definitely can’t tell about her sudden penchant for kleptomania… But does Maddy have secrets of her own? Can they piece together that night between them and fix the mess of their chaotic personal lives in time to form a normal, teenage relationship? That would be nice.
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Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic By Alison Bechdel
Meet Alison's father, a historic preservation expert and obsessive restorer of the family's Victorian home, a third-generation funeral home director, a high school English teacher, an icily distant parent, and a closeted homosexual who, as it turns out, is involved with his male students and a family babysitter. Through narrative that is alternately heartbreaking and fiercely funny, we are drawn into a daughter's complex yearning for her father. And yet, apart from assigned stints dusting caskets at the family-owned "fun home," as Alison and her brothers call it, the relationship achieves its most intimate expression through the shared code of books. When Alison comes out as homosexual herself in late adolescense, the denouement is swift, graphic -- and redemptive.
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She Loves to Cook, and She Loves to Eat By Sakaomi Yuzaki
Cooking is how Nomoto de-stresses, but one day, she finds herself making way more than she can eat by herself. And so, she invites her neighbor Kasuga, who also lives alone. What will come out of this impromptu dinner invitation...?
Kasuga and Nomoto promised to spend their Christmas and New Year’s together. Now, they find themselves learning more about each other’s families through the food sent by Nomoto’s mother. Cute character bento, salmon and rice, stollen, fruit sandwiches, roast beef…Nomoto and Kasuga warm up to each other over a cheerful holiday season.
#Pride 2023#book rec#comic#graphic novel#autobio#fantasy#science fiction#high school#queer#lesbian#gay#asexual#intersex#bisexual#romance#book recs#pride#LGBTQIA#LGBT comic
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Hi! I don't usually talk much on here, but I wanted to share this! For the past three or four years I've been working on these graphic novels called The Roman Stars with writer Ivan Brandon!
What is The Roman Stars? It's a grand space opera about the life of Julius Caesar! And we are currently LIVE on Kickstarter
So if you like graphic novels, space epics, and/or Roman History, I would greatly appreciate it if you all would check our book out!
#wyrmsfornerves#digital art#my art#artists on tumblr#illustration#graphic novel#comic#comics#kickstarter#ancient rome#sci fi#sci fi fantasy#space#character design#roman empire#julius caesar#indie comics#original comic
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We're delighted to announce a new series of tales from the MIDST Cosmos with our friends at Dark Horse Comics, coming August 2024! 🧡
Delve into MIDST with this wondrously surreal three-issue miniseries starting with MIDST: Address Unknown!
LEARN MORE ⬇️
#midst#midst podcast#third person#critical role#dark horse comics#comics#graphic novels#miniseries#scifi#fantasy#western#podcast#podcasting#audio drama#fiction podcast
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Latest character lineup for Gutless 🌿✨
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✨🦋 COVER REVEAL 🦋✨
I'm delighted to finally share the cover of my upcoming MG graphic novel—THE FIRELIGHT APPRENTICE!
In a city powered by magic and still recovering from a bloody war, Ada is concerned about her younger sister Safi’s developing powers. She understands that Safi could learn how to control her magic under the apprenticeship of a king's magician. But with the memories of war still fresh, Ada is conflicted by this prospect—despite her knowing that she can’t keep Safi safely at home with the threat of deadly, power-thieving liches prowling the kingdom.
When a traveling group of magicians comes to the city to perform, they immediately recognize Safi’s talents and offer to take her on as an apprentice. Safi is thrilled about her new adventure—even if that means leaving behind Ada and their sickly father. And Ada is right to worry about her sister, for there may be monsters hiding behind friendly faces…
Out October 29, 2024 with QuillTree Books/HarperCollins
>>>Available for pre-order NOW<<<
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Sleepless Kickstarter!
Artist Leila del Duca says:
"Sleepless: The Complete Collection will be a special limited run hardcover of our completed 11-issue series, binding the entire story into a single 336-page volume that would look right at home in an ancient library, and will be available exclusively to our amazing Kickstarter backers.
Sleepless is a comic we are still passionate about and incredibly proud of. After 11 issues running between 2017 and 2018, and two trade paperbacks, we’re so lucky we got to see the story completed and are eternally grateful to Image Comics for originally publishing it.
We always wanted a printing where you could read Sleepless in one complete volume. Now that publishing rights are in our hands, this campaign hopes to do just that.
We hope you join us in seeing this dream come true!"
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THE CHAIN
PAGES 1-4
𝗦𝗨𝗣𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧 𝗠𝗬 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗞 𝗢𝗡 PATREON
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Asks
I'm not answering any asks for awhile and only blogging at my Patreon for the foreseeable future. I have a major graphic novel project to do (and my side gig of squeezing in work on A Distant Soil when I can) and I need to concentrate. It's taking all my energy until late next year. I also have a couple of upcoming museum exhibits to help coordinate.
I'll be reposting a few articles from my Patreon once in awhile, though.
Chivalry would make a nice holiday gift. I hope you'll consider getting it for the one you love. Please ask for it at your comic shop or local bookstore, but for those who don't have that option, Chivalry is on sale at the link.
I don't mean to be rude, but there are only so many hours in the day and every moment I get drawn into internet drama or put energy into things that aren't art is a moment art didn't get made.
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Where's writeblr at?
Since I'm working on a comic/graphic novel (and will be posting an intro eventually) I want to start getting involved not just in artblr but also writeblr!!!
If you like/write about these, please interact so I can find you!
Demons, fae, & other supernatural creatures
Portals & dimensional travel
Superheroes
Complex fantasy worldbuilding and religions
POC (especially black) characters
Family dynamics, found family, siblings
Zuko-worthy redemption arcs
Especially if you're making graphics novels/comics!!! I want to follow you!!!!
If you like/write these things, you'll also like my wips!! Which I will introduce... eventually... *sweats*
#writers on tumblr#writeblr#writblr#writeblr community#writer community#writing community#novel writing#comics#fantasy writing#writers of tumblr#writing#fantasy#wip#graphic novel#comic
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Star Wars Jedi of the Republic - Mace Windu
#manga(visual)monday#star wars jedi of the republic#mace windu#star wars#matt owens#kit fisto#fantasy#graphic novel
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Love it when a fandom blows through all the Kickstarter goals within a short period of time, gotta be one of my favorite things
#critical role#good omens#legend of vox machina#good omens graphic novel#critical role fandom#good omens fandom#kickstarter#vox machina#the world craves good fantasy stories in visual mediums
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The first 12 pages of my Graphic Novel "The Crystal Compass." Hope you guys dig it, you can help make this project real by backing us on Kickstarter https://inked.pub/thecrystalcompass
#original art#my art#comics#graphic novel#indie comics#young adult fantasy#young adult books#ya books#role playing#comic pages#comic art#airships#floating island
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3rd Voice: 32nd Scene: Your feast
rice-boy.com
webtoon
#webcomic#graphic novel#3rd voice#webtoon#evan dahm#comics#webcomic update#artists on tumblr#fantasy art#navichet#spondule#yorel
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