Global InformationA Distant Soil information
| A Distant Soil | |
|---|---|
 Cover of the first graphic novel collection, Image Comics definitive edition. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | WaRP Graphics (1983–1985) Starblaze Graphics (1987–1989) Aria Press (1991–1995) Image Comics (1996–present) |
| Format | Ongoing series |
| Genre |
|
| Publication date | Aria Press/Image Comics definitive edition June 1991 |
| No. of issues | 42 (Image Comics) |
| Main character(s) | Jason Liana |
| Creative team | |
| Created by | Colleen Doran |
| Written by | Colleen Doran |
| Artist(s) | Colleen Doran |
| Penciller(s) | Colleen Doran |
| Inker(s) | Image Colleen Doran |
| Letterer(s) | Image Colleen Doran |
| Editor(s) | Image Jim Valentino |
| Collected editions | |
| The Gathering | ISBN 978-1607067870 |
A Distant Soil is an epic space opera comic book series published by American company Image Comics, combining science fiction and fantasy with Arthurian themes. It is written and illustrated by Colleen Doran.
"A forerunner of queer-friendly comics and space opera...,"[1] "A Distant Soil was something that really had not been seen before – a New Age take on science fiction with gorgeous costumes, young siblings with an unknown destiny, a blinding mix of magic with technology…fantasy and alien ships combine under Doran’s ethereal watch."[2]
The story, which Doran created at the age of twelve, centers on a young girl who is born heir to an alien religious dynasty, and explores issues of politics, gender identity, and tolerance.[3] A Distant Soil is among the first US graphic novels created solely by a female writer/artist, appearing in fanzines when the artist was still in high school.[4] A Distant Soil is also notable for being among the earliest comics to feature openly gay characters, and for featuring a gay couple as romantic leads. The series gained a Gaylactic Spectrum Award nomination for Best Other Work in 2001.[5][6][7][8]
It was recommended as a graphic novel of interest to improve reading skills for "reluctant readers" in Library Media Connection [9]. The Voice of Youth Advocates profiled the book in their quarterly journal, stating that one of Doran's influences for A Distant Soil was the 1978 Samuel R. Delany/Howard Chaykin graphic novel Empire.[10]
It is one of the earliest American comics to display the influence of manga (Japanese storytelling techniques),[11] though Doran does not consider A Distant Soil to be OEL (original English language manga).[12]
The series was a top ten nominee in the 2004 Comics Buyer's Guide Fan Awards, with Doran nominated as Favorite Penciler, Favorite Inker, Favorite Cover Artist, and A Distant Soil nominated for Favorite Comic Book.[13]
Comics Book Resources wrote "...It’s amazing how Doran’s work now seems right in tune with stuff like Hunger Games and the Divergent series, and yet when she was starting this series, there WEREN’T stories out there starring female characters. There weren’t epic space operas about teenage girls. She practically created the genre."[14]
The British Science Fiction Association's journal Vector listed A Distant Soil among six groundbreaking science fiction comics, singular for "...being a little ahead of its time." and for "...the sheer diversity on display. Not only are the alien races reflective of the various skin colours humans have, but even within one alien race characters have different skin colours – something surprisingly rare within sequential science fiction. The book also features gay relationships without it being a big old deal.[2]"
In Comics: A Global History, 1968 to the Present, Dan Mazur and Alexander Danner wrote of A Distant Soil's "...kitchen sink approach to genre, combining elements of space opera, Arthurian legend, romantic drama, and complex political maneuvering....Doran admirably bucks the fantasy genre's tendency to make the heroic leader a seemingly indestructible warrior. ..Seren is a politically powerless but well-intentioned puppet of other actors...a volatile mix of melodramatic temper, moral righteousness, and lonely stunted child, simultaneously noble and deeply damaged."[15]
- ^ "12 Women in Comics Who Deserve Lifetime Achievement Recognition". Archived from the original on 2016-06-30. Retrieved 2016-02-10.
- ^ a b "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2019-04-08. Retrieved 2016-02-09.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "REVIEW: A Distant Soil vol. 1: The Gathering by Colleen Doran – Ladies Making Comics". Archived from the original on 17 September 2014. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
- ^ Magic and Melee Issue 1 1979
- ^ "Reviews/Press | A Distant Soil by Colleen Doran". Adistantsoil.com. 2009-03-06. Retrieved 2010-07-07.
- ^ "Interview with Colleen Doran by Jeff Mason". Indyworld.com. Archived from the original on 1998-06-12. Retrieved 2010-07-07.
- ^ "2001 Gaylactic Spectrum Awards". Gaylactic Spectrum Award Foundation. 2008. Archived from the original on 2015-07-15. Retrieved 2008-11-13.
- ^ "Gaylactic Spectrum Awards – 2001 Information". Archived from the original on 2015-07-15. Retrieved 2012-09-08.
- ^ "Using Graphic Novels to Attract Reluctant Readers and Encourage Literacy", Philip Crawford Library Media Connection February 2004
- ^ Valles, Joseph (October 2002). "Graphic Novels Around the World: Japanese Manga". VOYA: Voices of Youth Advocates. 25 (4): 254–255.
- ^ McCulloch, Joe (August 6, 2013). "THIS WEEK IN COMICS! (8/7/13 - Real Dolls)". The Comics Journal.
- ^ "PULP : : The Manga Magazine : : 5.08 American Manga Interview". December 13, 2004. Archived from the original on December 13, 2004. Retrieved March 23, 2017.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ "22nd Annual Comic Buyers Guide Fan Awards (2004)". www.hahnlibrary.net.
- ^ "CBR - the World's Top Destination for Comic, Movie & TV news". Archived from the original on 8 July 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
- ^ Mazur, Dan; Danner, Alexander (2014). Comics: A Global History, 1968 to the Present. London: Thames and Hudson. p. 230. ISBN 978-0-500-29096-5.