FMP narrative synopsis

The narrative of my project is presented across a three-act story structure, with the 'Hero's Journey' of my protagonist running through the graphic novel series. With this classical structure is place, it is not essential for me to produce the fourth novel, as it only acts a sequel to expand the world of the story. As this series was originally intended to be written, I have produced a separate blurb for each 'book,' as well as a sectioned synopsis, which give insight into the overall story and sequence of events (many story elements are subject to change).

Invasion of the Cryp'lar Series

Book 1: Extinguish

2320: After the discovery of sentient life in the Andromeda galaxy, Dr. Michael Ruwan accidentally calls the sentience to Earth. When an unknown alien race threatens to put out the Sun for their own mysterious purposes, a vigilante group of Mars-based military forces have to devise a plan to stop them, before Earth enters a new Ice Age.

Section I - Ruwan

Part 1: Prologue / Introduction to 24th Century Earth and Mars

Part 2: Communication with aliens / Mars technical issues

Part 3: Arrival of the Cryp'lar / Mars military come to Earth

Section II - Cryp'lar

Part 4: Invasion of Earth / Ruwan endangered / Mars troops deployed

Part 5: Cryp'lar assault on city / Ruwan rescued / City escape

Part 6: Troops are cut off from forces / Mars squad and Ruwan decide what to do

Section III - Departure

Part 7: Cryp'lar advance on squad / Ruwan runs out of options

Part 8: Cryp'lar and squad must make decision / Ruwan accepts leave

Part 9: Squad leaves on ship / Journey to Vanquard / Final challenge and rest

Book 2: Vanquard

2326: During the planetary war between the mysterious Cryp’lar aliens and the humans, a squadron of breakaway military soldiers discovered the location of the Cryp’larian home world; Vanquard; and managed to unlock a few of its primitive secrets. 

After six long years of bloodshed, surviving astrophysicist Dr. Ruwan decides to unlock his enemies’ true purposes for stealing the galaxies’ gas giants by fleeing from Earth, in its most desperate time of need.

Section I - Arrival

Part 1: Arrival on Vanquard / Plans made to get to alien city

Part 2: Journey across Vanquard / Gateway challenge

Part 3: Squad faces wild creatures / Ruwan becomes a fighter

Section II - Labyrinth

Part 4: Discover Cryp'lar Star Valley / Plan made to destroy it

Part 5: Squad stays to distract creatures / Ruwan enters the underworld

Part 6: Ruwan journeys alone / New alien threat for squad / Ruwan confronts death

Section III - Elixir

Part 7: Ruwan retrieves elixir / Destruction of valley / Escape the underworld

Part 8: Squad finds ship / Leaves Vanquard / Captured by Cryp'lar Fleet

Part 9: Squad and Ruwan imprisoned / Nature of elixir is discovered / Dedicated to using elixir to defeat aliens

Book 3: Resolute

2327: With the true intentions of the alien threat shown, weaknesses are found in their expansive militia that are delicate to the stability of their race’s very survival. Their life holding precious to them, the Cryp’lar would have no choice but to end the war and leave the Milky Way galaxy, or have they got one more card up their sleeve that could turn the war back into their favour?

Section I - Invasion

Part 1: Squad sends signal to human forces / Prison break / Return to Earth
Part 2: Arrival at ruined Earth / Invasion force locates Ruwan / Battle for Earth
Part 3: Death in the city / Ruwan changes further / Cryp'lar achieve victory

Section II - Kuel'lar Shan

Part 4: Ruwan flees to facility / Squad fights to the death
Part 5: Attempt to use elixir / Duel with Cryp'lar Commander / Elixir used
Part 6: Cryp'lar Commander conciles with Ruwan / Invasion is halted

Section III - New Earth

Part 7: Cryp'lar continue after command from arrived Vanquard fleet / City ruined
Part 8: Commander destroys rebel Captains / Battle for Earth ends / Cryp'lar retreat
Part 9: Ruwan studies elixir further / Earth rebuilt anew and advanced.

Book 4: Aftermath

2340: A new generation is ushered in to help rebuild their world and it seems that the secrets of the war between the humans and Cryp’lar have not all been discovered; clues towards the events that occurred in the final days of the war are scattered amongst the ruins of an overwhelming empire. Alien helmets in the debris; recovered transmissions from a Dr. Michael Ruwan stay hidden; records of the war are erased on Earth and Vanquard; and a lone monument stands on Mars.

By providing a concise synopsis of the plot of my graphic novels, I have made it easier for me to have a structure to attach my illustrated panels to, and I believe it helps to soldify aspects of immersion through the narrative techniques I have used. It will also help when I eventually come to write or illustrate the full stories, instead of the small sections I will portray through my project.

FMP Proposal

My Final Major Project will be a series of science-fiction graphic novels in the style of a space adventure opera, based on my own personal written narrative. As the format will be mainly visually-based, I shall simplify the pre-existing narrative to better fit into a short novel series.

For this project, I intend to entertain, while provoking thought about deeper philosophical and existential subjects, such as morality, purpose, and what it means to be human. I will also incorporate various mythological tales and themes in the project, to further present these moral issues. The graphic novel series is aimed toward a young adult audience, and I hope to challenge them on topics that they may have never given thought to, as well as creating an emotional connection between this audience and the characters in the story.

The graphic novels will be physical A5 15-page books, with traditionally drawn images and a digital formatting and printing process. The finished book will be printed and published externally. It will be mostly black and white with graphic detail, accompanied by text interlaced with the illustrations in a standard graphic novel style.

Some skills I might need for this project are the ability to replicate a graphic novel format through placement of text and drawings, as well as being able to apply the correct shadow and line weight to the traditional illustrations. Other skills required include proficiency in editing software, such as Photoshop, GIMP and InDesign.                    

(1)    Page 6 from TMNT Tribute by Arena Comics. (above)

Demonstrates panel/text formatting amongst illustrations of varying sizes. Notice how the limited colour adds a focus for the reader.

The story of the graphic novels is a condensed version of a larger narrative, and as such, a lot of it will be told through the visual illustrations. The series will be titled “Invasion of the Cryp'lar Series,” with the four books reflecting the four parts of the original narrative - "Extinguish," "Vanquard," "Resolute," and "Aftermath." Together, these novels will complete the visualisation of my narrative.

The artistic techniques of creating the graphic novel are based on my own abilities to draw characters, vehicles and locations. Other techniques and ideas for the format of each page have been influenced by a book called “Artists on Comic Art” by Mark Salisbury (2) – a compilation of interviews with renowned comic artists about the creation of their work. This is a useful resource and will help me to interpret and visualise my graphic novel better.

My primary research for this project will be based around character design, including the creative differences between alien races. Added to this, I will develop my own spaceship / city structures from various pre-existing sources. Also, it will be important for me to research fiction writing techniques to better create an outline of events for the larger story, as the graphic novels will be a condensed version of the same narrative.

My secondary research for this project will highlight the narrative and visual sources of inspiration for the graphic novel. More specifically, the writings of Eric Nylund, Matthew Stover and Joseph Staten, which brought the aforementioned themes and world-building into universes of their own. The visual sources of inspiration are founded by the Halo videogame series, as well as artists working in the sci-fi genre.

(3) Cover art for Halo: Uprising Marvel comic series. (left)

The influences on my narrative can be seen here, with the alien invasion, armoured heroes, and sci-fi war.

Research methods of experimentation in this project are varying internet resources, comics, science-fiction novels, and art books where I can analyse the style of artists’ work in the same genre. The idea development strategies for my graphic novel include imagining the aesthetic of different characters, vehicles and locations in the story and creating varied styles of concepts for them. From there I will chose a particular style and form for the object I like and continue visually creating down that path. This is particularly helpful when designing the unique alien technology or world-building.

Bibliography

(1)   Old.brokenfrontier.com. (2016) TMNT Tribute By Arena Comics – Broken Frontier – Comic Book and Graphic Novel News & Community | Blog. [online] Available at: http://old.brokenfrontier.com/blog/p/detail/tmnt-tribute-by-arena-comics [Accessed 26 Mar. 2016].

(2)   Salisbury, M. (2000). Artists on comic art. London: Titan.

(3)   Bendis, B. and Maleev A. (2008). Halo: Uprising. New York: Marvel.