New year, new stories and the secret history of Ra's Al ghul.
I'm in the thick of it. Work is a relentless beast but I've learned a few things in 2022. I am being responsible and streamlining to projects that I am intensely invested in. It is a place of great privilege to be able to do that. I am a very lucky writer to be able to do it. But equally, I hope it means the work that comes out from me 2023 as that little bit more of me in it.
I finished up some work on a game related project, outlines were sent off on a TV thing. So, for now, my attention is fully focused on comics.
I mapped out a year's worth of Detective comics this month. I know where all the pieces go. Now it's a question of sitting down and writing them. I also wrote a few answers to questions about this run in an upcoming interview with AIPT. In it, I wrote -
We want and desire things, but we love stories not because they reinforce our wants and desires—we love them because even when they don’t give us what we want, stories either reaffirm or challenge our beliefs about people, life and more. In fact, a lot of the best stories do this in often uncomfortable ways.
I think this has been part of my endeavour in my Detective run. To re-frame some of the characters in new ways, beyond the expected norm of how they're perceived / expected to behave in the run. I enjoy this a lot. I've been doing this with Two-Face and that comes to somewhat of a culmination in 1068. But I think of Gotham, the setting, the ecosystem within which the story exists as a place to do that reframing in additive ways as well.
So, in the next arc of Detective, we're delving into a little bit of history. I am writing about the history of the Orghams and their connection to Ra's Al Ghul and thus the mechanics of their relationship with his daughter Talia. The secret history of Ra's Al Ghul, if you will.
It feels like writing mythology in a lot of ways and I take great pleasure in it. A lot of it happens in 1071++
DC thought it'd be exciting to share on here, first peeks at the covers before they're out anywhere else! So here's the first look at all the covers to Detective Comics 1071 in which we delve into the secret histories of Ra's Al ghul and The Orghams.
Of course, feel free to share these far and wide!
Also teased next upcoming DC project
This is from Lazarus Planet: Next Evolution which comes out shortly. There's a little teaser of The Vigil in the comic. This is a project that is incredibly personally important to me in a LOT of ways. More details on why and when and how, soon.
For now suffice to say my moodboard for it includes the following.
But for now, here's another sneaky peek at one of the characters. It's raining exclusive reveals!
Beyond these, I continue to work on creator owned projects. Two of which should be announcing relatively soon. 2023 promises to be busy in the best way. Everything I did over 2022 bears fruit, while I look to streamline my work and work on fewer things but make better stories and comics and tv and stuff.
As I start on Vigil I am continuing to discover music that hits the right headspace for me. And I give you this utterly beautiful piece of electronica by Robot Koch and Savannah Lo Jack. Aptly named "Instructions for Time Travel."
Last thing before I go.
The Eisner winning Blue in Green, written by me, illustrated by Anand Rk, Coloured by John Pearson and Lettered by Aditya Bidikar, comes out with a French language edition from Hi-Comics in France.
I had a lovely chat with Comicstories about it and you can read the interview here!
Until next time. I shall be drinking music and sipping on stories, thinking of you all <3
The world is a weird place and I'm doing my best to keep it that way.