Heathen City
Encyclopedia
Heathen City is a comic book
series created by Alex Vance in 2008. An adult anthropomorphic title, it featured explicit violence and sexual scenes.
.
While the story takes place in existing modern locations and references real-world persons and events (such as the Hurricane Katrina
disaster in New Orleans), all characters are portrayed as anthropomorphic animals (albeit in modern clothes). There has not yet been a diegetic explanation.
Furthermore, there seems to be no relation between their ethnicity and their species (the antagonist Caulfield and his mother are cougars, despite being of English descent; Ruy Ortega is Cuban, despite being a tiger).
In a scene set in a bar in Shanghai the character Ruy remarks that there are no Asians present, indicating scent plays a substantial role in recognizing geographic origin.
In volume 2, due for release in July 2009, four separate stories spanning eighteen years explore pivotal moments in the lives of Owen, Malloy, Caulfield and Tiber Ferrum, who had not previously been introduced.
, where it was represented by FurPlanet and sold out. Heathen City #2 will be released on July 2, also at Anthrocon
.
Work is underway on the next issues, though no release date nor any other details have so far been released. Alex Vance remains the writer on all issues.
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
series created by Alex Vance in 2008. An adult anthropomorphic title, it featured explicit violence and sexual scenes.
Setting
The world in which Heathen City takes place is nominally identical to the real world as of 2008, though there are several explicit differences, geographic and social. The most substantial difference between the Heathen City universe and ours is the existence of Maranatha City, ostensibly located in Florida, on the fictional Blood Bay Peninsula, which appears to replace the Florida KeysFlorida Keys
The Florida Keys are a coral archipelago in southeast United States. They begin at the southeastern tip of the Florida peninsula, about south of Miami, and extend in a gentle arc south-southwest and then westward to Key West, the westernmost of the inhabited islands, and on to the uninhabited Dry...
.
While the story takes place in existing modern locations and references real-world persons and events (such as the Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
disaster in New Orleans), all characters are portrayed as anthropomorphic animals (albeit in modern clothes). There has not yet been a diegetic explanation.
Furthermore, there seems to be no relation between their ethnicity and their species (the antagonist Caulfield and his mother are cougars, despite being of English descent; Ruy Ortega is Cuban, despite being a tiger).
In a scene set in a bar in Shanghai the character Ruy remarks that there are no Asians present, indicating scent plays a substantial role in recognizing geographic origin.
Synopsis
Owen Zelazny, a hustler who has decided to quit his life of prostitution, finds himself unintentionally entangled in a criminal, political conspiracy. With his new lover Ruy Ortega in tow, Owen seeks out an old friend, Q. I. Malloy, whom he hasn't spoken to in three years. With the threat of pursuers at their heels, led by the sadistic Tony Caulfield, the burden of secrets that each of the characters bear, and old flames rekindled, tensions rise as they traverse the globe in a struggle for survival. Action takes place in London, Paris, Shanghai, and the Pacific Ocean.In volume 2, due for release in July 2009, four separate stories spanning eighteen years explore pivotal moments in the lives of Owen, Malloy, Caulfield and Tiber Ferrum, who had not previously been introduced.
Characters
- Owen Zelazny, an American hustler, wolf, 27 years old, on the verge of retiring and starting a new career
- Q. I. Malloy, an English DobermanDobermanDoberman or Dobermann most commonly refers to Doberman Pinscher, a breed of dog, or to its creator, Karl Friedrich Louis Dobermann.It may also refer to:*Doberman , a 2003 album by Tomoyasu Hotei*Doberman , a Japanese ska/punk band...
, former burglar, pickpocket and drug dealer who was at one point incarcerated and is now of uncertain legal status. - Ruy Ortega is Owen's current lover. He is hinted at coming from a wealthy family, which may have a criminal history.
- Tony Caulfield is the principle antagonist. A sophisticated, manipulativePsychological manipulationPsychological manipulation is a type of social influence that aims to change the perception or behavior of others through underhanded, deceptive, or even abusive tactics. By advancing the interests of the manipulator, often at the other's expense, such methods could be considered exploitative,...
and wealthy English cougar with strong sadistic and homicidal tendencies, he pursues Owen, and deals harshly with anyone who might hold a clue to aid his hunt.
Merchandise
A deck of playing card decks was released in tandem with Volume 1 at Anthrocon 2008, featuring art by various artists, and promotional condoms were given away.Publication
Heathen City #1 was released on June 26, 2008, at the furry convention AnthroconAnthrocon
Anthrocon is the world's largest furry convention, taking place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania each June or July. Its focus is on furries: fictional anthropomorphic animal characters in art and literature...
, where it was represented by FurPlanet and sold out. Heathen City #2 will be released on July 2, also at Anthrocon
Anthrocon
Anthrocon is the world's largest furry convention, taking place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania each June or July. Its focus is on furries: fictional anthropomorphic animal characters in art and literature...
.
Work is underway on the next issues, though no release date nor any other details have so far been released. Alex Vance remains the writer on all issues.