G A N Z E E R . T O D A Y

Comix

After popular demand, the complete THE SOLAR GRID graphic novel is now available for download. For a limited time only, there are presently two ways to get it:

The book is also being serialized in print from Radix Co-op.

A pathway for a collected print edition is still being explored.

This complete e-book edition comes with a never-before-seen introduction by Warren Ellis (Transmetropolitan, Castlevania, Normal), extensive foreword by Sim Kern (The Free People's Village, Genocide Bad), and fantastic afterword by Ho Che Anderson (King, I Want To Be Your Dog, Godhead).

Hundreds of years after a global flood, night has been consigned to legend. In its place, the Solar Grid—a vast network of artificial suns—keeps Earth bathed in relentless daylight, powering factories that never cease. But this eternal dawn comes at a cost: The Earth has become a scrapheap, a wasteland stripped of resources to fuel colonial settlements on Mars.

Amidst the ruins, two young scavengers, Mehret and Kameen, stumble upon a discovery that could shatter the Solar Grid's fragile, oppressive system. The story spans centuries—from a submerged Cairo to the corporate strongholds of New York, and into the augmented reality of a distant Mars. Environmental collapse, capitalism, imperialism, and migration collide in an epic tale that examines the hopes and consequences of unhinged techno-utopianism.

“Ganzeer treats The Solar Grid as a culmination of his personal, professional and political experiences over recent years.” – THE GUARDIAN

“Ganzeer’s project epitomizes his hyper-democratic ethos.” – FOREIGN POLICY

“It’s a story about the inevitable destruction of our planet by corporate greed and a couple of unassuming antiheroes who somehow bring it all down. This is a story of revolution, the powerless taking power back from the powerful.” – SLATE

#work #comix #tsg

Upon reading what I felt was an absolute throwaway book—THE COMMONSENSE OF NUDISM by George Riley Scott—an idea for a most unusual sort-of-sequel to THE SOLAR GRID made its way into my mind. Now, THE SOLAR GRID actually already ends in a way that kind of invites a sequel (though unnecessary, it's a completely self-contained graphic novel), but that sequel if pursued would be too expected, I think. This other sort-of-sequel I can't stop thinking about, wouldn't at all be expected and would likely come off as highly peculiar (I can't help myself apparently). But it would also be so perfect in a way. It wouldn't feature any of the characters from the original THE SOLAR GRID (itself surprising, given how many characters there are in the book—it'd be so easy to pluck any one of those and do something entirely focused on them), but would instead feature a new cast of characters and how they get on in the aftermath of THE SOLAR GRID's destruction. Fertile ground for social friction, and the rise of new ideas and ways of being despite most people at large holding onto the old. Even when the very conditions that created the logic and reasoning for the old has clearly disintegrated before their eyes.

To be clear, THE COMMONSENSE OF NUDISM is a shit book. Published in 1934, it's filled with much quackery, false arguments, and casual racism, but it's sprinkled with a kernel of interesting enough reason throughout, and a handful of passages that are kind-of historically overlooked—like how Hitler cracked down on the rising nudist movement in early 1930s Germany.

Obviously, I will refrain from engaging with this sequel idea or any other ideas concerned with graphic-noveling unless I'm able to land a good enough publishing deal for THE SOLAR GRID. Can't be placing the cart in front of the horse, which is something I have a history of doing but have finally managed to overcome, I think.

#storycab #tsg #comix #reads

6 pages to color and 33 to letter.

Lettering moves pretty quickly, but digital coloring is slow and loathsome. So many hours sat in front of a computer screen which makes me feel like a zombie at the end of each day. Can't wait to be done with this part already.

Started reading Kazuo Ishiguro's NEVER LET ME GO sometime ago, which started interestingly enough but I largely lost interest by the last third of the book and now find myself winding most evening's down with a film instead. This however is also likely due to the above-mentioned zombie status induced by long hours at the computer desk.

Today's screening: LOST HIGHWAY

#journal #work #comix #TSG

Inking is done.

Tones, touch-ups, and colors where they apply remain before moving onto lettering.

Lords help me.

#TSG #work #comix

9 pages worth of inks to go.

#TSG #Comix #Work

No context THE SOLAR GRID but also #mood because I'm traveling soon.

#nocontextTSG #work #comix #thesolargrid #resistdystopia

No context THE SOLAR GRID.

And that is exactly what I'll be doing most of today, no turkey for me.

#work #comix #TheSolarGrid #ResistDystopia #nocontextTSG