Garen Ewing
Encyclopedia
Garen Ewing is an illustrator, designer and most notably a comic creator, being the writer and illustrator of The Adventures of Julius Chancer - The Rainbow Orchid
.
As an aside, Ewing is a part-time researcher and writer on the Second Anglo-Afghan War
(1878–80) and was interviewed by Sue Cook
on BBC Radio 4
's 'Making History' programme in this capacity in October 2004.
, David Wyatt
, Warren Ellis
, Paul H. Birch and Sara Russell. In 1994 he had his full length comic version of Shakespeare
's The Tempest published, and a copy resides at the Shakespeare Library, Stratford-upon-Avon
. Since then, he has worked as an illustrator and designer.
His most recent work, an example of the ligne claire
comic form, is a mystery adventure, The Rainbow Orchid
, and has received much critical acclaim, including two nominations for a National Comic Award (2004). The book is published by Egmont UK
. He was also one of the contributors to The DFC
, the weekly kids' comic published by David Fickling Books
(an imprint of Random House
), writing and drawing 'Charlie Jefferson and the Tomb of Nazaleod', as well as being one of the artists featured in Dez Skinn
's Comic Art Now: The Very Best in Contemporary Comic Art and Illustration (ILEX Press, 2008). In February 2011, his poster design for Return to the Forbidden Planet
was released as a stamp as part of Royal Mail's British Musicals set.
(1994); and Captain Powerchord, a humorous music-based strip that appeared in the local entertainment guide 5D (1993–1994, collected in 1996). Ewing has also contributed comics and illustrations to a wide variety of titles, including the Accent UK anthologies, Solar Wind and the Feed America's Children charity comic to name just a few.
Ewing's main work, an adventure story set in the 1920s. An expedition sets off to northern India to find the mystical Rainbow Orchid, and save the sword of Tybalt Stone from falling into the hands of Urkaz Grope. It is published by Egmont UK.
The Girdle of Polly Hipple
A Rainbow Orchid spin-off for Accent UK's Twelve. The anthology was based upon the twelve Labours of Hercules, and Ewing's work is based on the ninth task; the Girdle of Hippolyte. In the story, the reporter William Pickle gets his first big break by wheedling his way into getting a photo of a rare ancient Egyptian artefact.
The Sword of Truth
A Rainbow Orchid spin-off for Factor Fiction's The Girly Comic, which works as an origin story for the character of Lily Lawrence as she performs at a London theatre, where two young men compete for her attentions.
The Rainbow Orchid
The Rainbow Orchid is a comic written and drawn by Garen Ewing, the first of a series of planned Julius Chancer books. It is set in the 1920s and follows Chancer's expedition to discover the mythical 'Rainbow Orchid'. Starting in England, the adventure takes the characters first to France, then...
.
As an aside, Ewing is a part-time researcher and writer on the Second Anglo-Afghan War
Second Anglo-Afghan War
The Second Anglo-Afghan War was fought between the United Kingdom and Afghanistan from 1878 to 1880, when the nation was ruled by Sher Ali Khan of the Barakzai dynasty, the son of former Emir Dost Mohammad Khan. This was the second time British India invaded Afghanistan. The war ended in a manner...
(1878–80) and was interviewed by Sue Cook
Sue Cook
Sue Cook is a British broadcaster and author.-Early life:Her father, William, worked for the Commission on Industrial Relations . She has two younger brothers, and lived on Burnham Avenue...
on BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
's 'Making History' programme in this capacity in October 2004.
Biography
After self-publishing several fanzines, he started King Rat Press in 1988 with the anthology Cosmorama, which included contributors such as Steve PughSteve Pugh
Steve Pugh is a British comic book artist who has worked for most of the major comic producers on both sides of the Atlantic: DC, Marvel, Dark Horse and 2000 AD.-Biography:...
, David Wyatt
David Wyatt
Davit Wyatt is an English commercial artist. Born in Northampton, he was adopted and raised in West Sussex. As a child, he learnt to play the piano; however, his interest in reading and drawing combined into a love of comics....
, Warren Ellis
Warren Ellis
Warren Girard Ellis is an English author of comics, novels, and television, who is well-known for sociocultural commentary, both through his online presence and through his writing, which covers transhumanist themes...
, Paul H. Birch and Sara Russell. In 1994 he had his full length comic version of Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
's The Tempest published, and a copy resides at the Shakespeare Library, Stratford-upon-Avon
Stratford-upon-Avon
Stratford-upon-Avon is a market town and civil parish in south Warwickshire, England. It lies on the River Avon, south east of Birmingham and south west of Warwick. It is the largest and most populous town of the District of Stratford-on-Avon, which uses the term "on" to indicate that it covers...
. Since then, he has worked as an illustrator and designer.
His most recent work, an example of the ligne claire
Ligne claire
Ligne claire is a style of drawing pioneered by Hergé, the Belgian creator of The Adventures of Tintin. It uses clear strong lines of uniform importance. Artists working in it do not use hatching, while contrast is downplayed as well...
comic form, is a mystery adventure, The Rainbow Orchid
The Rainbow Orchid
The Rainbow Orchid is a comic written and drawn by Garen Ewing, the first of a series of planned Julius Chancer books. It is set in the 1920s and follows Chancer's expedition to discover the mythical 'Rainbow Orchid'. Starting in England, the adventure takes the characters first to France, then...
, and has received much critical acclaim, including two nominations for a National Comic Award (2004). The book is published by Egmont UK
Egmont Publishing
The Egmont Group is a media corporation founded and rooted in Copenhagen, Denmark. The business area of Egmont has traditionally been magazine publishing but has over the years evolved to comprise media generally....
. He was also one of the contributors to The DFC
The DFC
The DFC was a weekly British children's anthology comic, published by David Fickling Books . The first issue was published at the end of May 2008...
, the weekly kids' comic published by David Fickling Books
David Fickling Books
David Fickling Books is an imprint of Random House which has published books by authors including Philip Pullman, Mark Haddon, John Boyne, Nick Ward and Linda Newbery.-List of Books Published:-References:...
(an imprint of Random House
Random House
Random House, Inc. is the largest general-interest trade book publisher in the world. It has been owned since 1998 by the German private media corporation Bertelsmann and has become the umbrella brand for Bertelsmann book publishing. Random House also has a movie production arm, Random House Films,...
), writing and drawing 'Charlie Jefferson and the Tomb of Nazaleod', as well as being one of the artists featured in Dez Skinn
Dez Skinn
Derek "Dez" Skinn is a British comic and magazine editor, and author of a number of books on comics. As head of Marvel Comics' operations in England in the late 1970s, Skinn reformatted existing titles, launched new ones, and acquired the BBC license for Doctor Who Weekly...
's Comic Art Now: The Very Best in Contemporary Comic Art and Illustration (ILEX Press, 2008). In February 2011, his poster design for Return to the Forbidden Planet
Return to the Forbidden Planet
Return to the Forbidden Planet is a Jukebox musical by playwright Bob Carlton based on Shakespeare's The Tempest and the 1950s science fiction film Forbidden Planet ....
was released as a stamp as part of Royal Mail's British Musicals set.
Early work
Realm of the Sorceress, a fantasy/SF adventure that appeared in the fanzine Panemonium (1987–1991); The Tempest, a comic strip adaptation of the William Shakespeare playThe Tempest
The Tempest is a play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1610–11, and thought by many critics to be the last play that Shakespeare wrote alone. It is set on a remote island, where Prospero, the exiled Duke of Milan, plots to restore his daughter Miranda to her rightful place,...
(1994); and Captain Powerchord, a humorous music-based strip that appeared in the local entertainment guide 5D (1993–1994, collected in 1996). Ewing has also contributed comics and illustrations to a wide variety of titles, including the Accent UK anthologies, Solar Wind and the Feed America's Children charity comic to name just a few.
The Rainbow Orchid Universe
The Rainbow OrchidThe Rainbow Orchid
The Rainbow Orchid is a comic written and drawn by Garen Ewing, the first of a series of planned Julius Chancer books. It is set in the 1920s and follows Chancer's expedition to discover the mythical 'Rainbow Orchid'. Starting in England, the adventure takes the characters first to France, then...
Ewing's main work, an adventure story set in the 1920s. An expedition sets off to northern India to find the mystical Rainbow Orchid, and save the sword of Tybalt Stone from falling into the hands of Urkaz Grope. It is published by Egmont UK.
The Girdle of Polly Hipple
A Rainbow Orchid spin-off for Accent UK's Twelve. The anthology was based upon the twelve Labours of Hercules, and Ewing's work is based on the ninth task; the Girdle of Hippolyte. In the story, the reporter William Pickle gets his first big break by wheedling his way into getting a photo of a rare ancient Egyptian artefact.
The Sword of Truth
A Rainbow Orchid spin-off for Factor Fiction's The Girly Comic, which works as an origin story for the character of Lily Lawrence as she performs at a London theatre, where two young men compete for her attentions.
External links
- The Rainbow Orchid
- Clearing the line – Matt Badham talks to Garen Ewing, Forbidden PlanetForbidden Planet (bookstore)Forbidden Planet is the trading name of two separate science fiction, fantasy and horror bookshop chains across the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the United States of America, after the feature film of the same name....
- Garen Ewing – Interview with the creator of The Rainbow Orchid, Scribble Hound