The Art of War is the upcoming graphic novel by Kelly Roman and Michael DeWeese. It is Roman (writer and storyboarder) and DeWeese’s (illustrater) first venture into graphic novels.
TAoW pulls in lessons from Sun Tzu’s treatise of the same name, and uses them to illustrate a future that is nothing short of gloomy. In the novel, the Chinese government has extended its power immensely, and has a tight grip on American way of life and economics. Coupled with a blurring of what human rights are deemed essential, the first fifty pages present a chilly, if not downright gory view of life in the new United States.
Rural America has been decimated. Technology, while incredibly advanced, (robotic prosthetics, bone and blood augmentation, and some really sweet mind altering serums) has the potential for good, but as seen in many dystopias, has grim downsides while being used by ruthless (Chinese) agencies.
The art matches the tone of the story. Illustrated in two colors, black and red, no scene feels warm or friendly. The red pops from the page, promoting the significance of statues, painted finger nails, and of course, blood.
The first fifty pages of this novel are a wonderful tease. Just enough to get a sense of the main character’s ideals and motives, but leaving the possibility of a rich, thought provoking work wide open. I look forward to the next ten chapters, and if the first three were a good indication, Roman and DeWeese’s next works.
I encourage you to check out The Art of War website. You can read the preview, watch videos about the process, and even watch the artists making prints with their own blood. Enjoy.
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