Phonogram (comics)
| Phonogram | |
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Cover of Phonogram (vol. 1) #2.
Art by Jamie McKelvie. |
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| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Image Comics |
| Schedule | Irregular |
| Format | Limited series |
| Genre | Dark fantasy, contemporary fantasy |
| Publication date | (vol. 1) August 2006 - May 2007 (vol. 2) December 2008 - February 2010 (vol. 3) August 2015 - |
| Number of issues | (vol. 1) 6 (vol. 2) 7 (vol. 3) 6 |
| Main character(s) | David Kohl, Emily Aster |
| Creative team | |
| Writer(s) | Kieron Gillen |
| Artist(s) | Jamie McKelvie |
| Letterer(s) | Jamie McKelvie |
| Colorist(s) | (vol. 2-3) Matt Wilson |
| Creator(s) | Kieron Gillen Jamie McKelvie |
| Collected editions | |
| Rue Britannia | ISBN 1-58240-694-4 |
| The Singles Club | ISBN 1607061791 |
Phonogram is a comic book written by Kieron Gillen and drawn by Jamie McKelvie. It is published by Image Comics.
Contents
Publication history
Two mini-series have been completed. A third series was planned for late 2012; Gillen announced in September 2012 that the series would be delayed until the second half of 2013 at the earliest.[1]
The first volume, "Rue Britannia". began in August 2006 and stars David Kohl, a mage who uses the medium of Britpop music to interpret his magic.
The second volume, "The Singles Club" consists of seven one-shots looking at young phonomancers and their experiences over one night at a dance club. Each issue consists of a 16-page main story, rounded-out with features and back-up stories.[2][3]
Gillen originally ruled out a third volume because sales were just too low:
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Best plan I have is just writing series 3 and then writing into my will that assuming I die young and Jamie's still around, lob him whatever's in my bank account to draw it. Which is assuming he'd even be willing to do it then. It's not that we're bitter about it -- well, not just because we're bitter about it -- but that it's been emotionally exhausting. We've been doing "Phonogram" for over 4 years, not including the years before the first series came out. Imagine if we could have just done the comic and not had to deal with any of the shit we've had to. We'd have been up to issue 44 now. Instead, we have 13 issues. I feel frustrated. Enormously lucky, sure, but frustrated. We've done this wonderful thing we're crazy-proud about. But if the whole economic system was just a couple of degrees to the left, everything would have been different. I mean, just to give you an idea about narrow the margins are between what we are and what we could be, if we were selling 6K instead of 4K, we could have done those 44 issues. The difference between breaking even and actually being able to do it in comics is insane. It's like being kept under ice, clawing. I feel like a bonsai plant.[4]
However, in February 2012 at the 2012 Image Expo, a third series of Phonogram was announced entitled "The Immaterial Girl". On the subject of the change of heart, Gillen stated:
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And finally: we said we couldn’t do any further Phonogram. We’re doing more Phonogram. What’s changed? Circumstances have changed. Sorry to play enigmatic, but it’s just financial stuff and the day when the most important thing about Phonogram are lines on a graph is the day the little Phonofairy dies. The most important reason for our return? Phonogram felt like unfinished business. While each volume stands alone, knowing we were so close to giving a little closure to Emily, Kohl and the rest was more than we could bear.[5]
After further delays while Gillen and McKelvie launched The Wicked + The Divine, "The Immaterial Girl" was announced at the 2015 Image Expo as to be published in August 2015.[6]
Volume 1: Rue Britannia
The first volume was a six-issue run, collected under the title "Rue Britannia". In keeping with the Britpop theme, the six individual issues and the collection had cover art based on album artwork from that era.
| Issue Number | Issue Title | Influencing Album & Artist |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Without Your Permission | Elastica - Elastica |
| 2 | Can’t Imagine the World Without Me | It's Great When You're Straight... Yeah - Black Grape |
| 3 | Faster | Definitely Maybe - Oasis |
| 4 | Murder Park | Modern Life Is Rubbish - Blur |
| 5 | Kissing with Dry Lips | Suede - Suede |
| 6 | Live Forever | The Holy Bible - Manic Street Preachers |
| TPB collecting issues 1-6 | Rue Britannia | This Is Hardcore - Pulp |
At the end of each issue, and somewhat shortened in the trade paperback, the creators give a glossary of the more obscure phrases and pop-culture references used, as well as musings on the history of Britpop and the influences on the book.
Synopsis
Phonomancer David Kohl has to save his Britpop goddess, Britannia, who is missing. Cursed by a goddess, he follows a series of leads and meets with other 'mancers, and spends time with a "normal" friend, Kid-With-Knife. He eventually locates Britannia.
Volume 2: The Singles Club
| Issue Number | Issue Title | Relevant Song | Focus Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pull Shapes | The Pipettes - Pull Shapes | Penny B |
| 2 | Wine and Bed and More and Again | CSS - Let's Make Love and Listen to Death from Above | Marc |
| 3 | We Share Our Mother's Health | The Knife - We Share Our Mothers' Health | Emily Aster |
| 4 | Konichiwa Bitches | Robyn - Konichiwa Bitches | Seth Bingo and Silent Girl |
| 5 | Lust Etc | The Long Blondes - Lust in the Movies | Laura Heaven |
| 6 | Ready to Be Heartbroken | Camera Obscura - Lloyd, I'm Ready to Be Heartbroken | Lloyd |
| 7 | Wolf Like Me | TV on the Radio - Wolf Like Me | Kid-with-knife |
Once more, a glossary is included in both the issues and the trade collection. The trade also includes the tracklist that is playing in the club scenes.
The first print of issue 5 was recalled due to it having been printed with the bar code from issue 4. The second print corrected the error.[citation needed]
Synopsis
Several phonomancers center on a club, where magic is discouraged. Each issue focuses on a different phonomancer, with David Kohl returning as a supporting character throughout. David's coven leader, Emily Aster, is the focus of one issue, wherein she struggles with her dual personality.
Volume 3: The Immaterial Girl
Continuing from the Aster-centric issue of "The Singles Club", "The Immaterial Girl" is set to focus on coven leader Emily Aster's struggle with her dual-personality and identity crisis.
Collected editions
The first two series have been collected as trade paperbacks:
- Volume 1: Rue Britannia (144 pages, Image Comics, June 2007, ISBN 1-58240-694-4)
- Volume 2: The Singles Club (160 pages, Image Comics, December 2009, ISBN 1-60706-179-1)
Notes
- ↑ Khouri, Andy. "'Phonogram: The Immaterial Girl' Delayed Well Into 2013 :(", Comicsalliance.com. Sept 27, 2012./
- ↑ SINGLES CLUB: Gillen & McKelvie on Phonogram 2, Comic Book Resources, September 22, 2008
- ↑ Kieron Gillen: “Like A Particularly Geeky Grant Morrison Character”, Comics Bulletin, April 29, 2009
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Phonogram: Immaterial Girl arriving in summer 2015 - Image Expo, Digital Spy, January 9, 2015
References
- 'Phonogram' at the Grand Comics Database
- Phonogram at the Comic Book DB
- 'Phonogram: The Singles Club' at the Grand Comics Database
- Phonogram: The Singles Club at the Comic Book DB
External links
Interviews
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- Magical Music For The Masses: Phonogram, Newsarama, July 2006
- Alternate Cover Special : Phonogram Interview, May 20, 2007
