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| Brand new cover art. |
A Thousand Ships, the first volume in the
Age of Bronze graphic novel series, will be published in full color on September 12 by Image Comics.
This new edition with color by John Dallaire is a major upgrade from the black-and-white edition that's been available so far. The additional dimension of color in the detailed costumes and sweeping landscapes of
A Thousand Ships will immerse readers more fully into the story of the Trojan War.
New features are included in this color edition of
A Thousand Ships. I've designed a new cover showing Helen and Paris
(see image on left). Tom Beasley, PhD, Visiting Assistant Professor of Greek and Roman Studies at Vassar College, provides a new introduction. And I've updated the Afterword and added a couple color illustrations to it that have never seen print before.
How did this color edition come about? John Dallaire began coloring
Age of Bronze for digital publication a few years ago. The digital edition of
Age of Bronze didn't run very long, and it's been defunct since the digital publisher ceased operations in 2016. But I planned to publish
Age of Bronze in color eventually, so John kept on coloring
.
In case any reader is concerned that a version of
Age of Bronze colored by someone else will dilute my vision of the whole project, let me lay those concerns to rest. John Dallaire colors
Age of Bronze under my supervision. Not direct supervision, since we're on different sides of the USA. But I have final say on every single color that appears in
Age of Bronze. I send John copious notes on each and every page. He's wonderfully patient and follows every note. Each page goes through an average of four versions before I stamp it with final approval. Still, I try to leave room enough for John's creativity to shine, and he's come up with some beautiful results in coloring my artwork.
You may have seen the color version of
Age of Bronze issue #1 that was released a few months ago.
(Click here to see sample pages.) That color issue gives a taste of what
A Thousand Ships looks like. John Dallaire works with a full range of color, using a restrained style, so that the lines of artwork aren't overwhelmed. It's color in support of the story--color that lets the characters live rather than suffocating them.
A Thousand Ships is the first volume in the story of the Trojan War. It starts with the young cowherd Paris, who travels to the great city of Troy to recover his prize bull taken from him by Priam, Great King of Troy. In Troy the startling secret of Paris's past catapults him onto a fateful path leading to an immense clash between nations, the legendary Trojan War. Meet the classic characters of the story: Helen, reputed to be the world's most beautiful woman--Achilles, destined to die a great warrior unless his mother can save him--Agamemnon, the proud and stubborn leader of the Achaean forces against Troy--Odysseus, the island king who wants nothing to do with war--and many more.
Age of Bronze, Book 1: A Thousand Ships will be available September 2018 wherever fine comics are sold. Sample pages below:
Copyright © 2018 Eric Shanower. All rights reserved.
