Entertainment
‘Scavengers Reign’ Artist Returns With a Breathtaking New Sci-Fi Graphic Novel Sneak Peek [Exclusive]
Jonathan Djob Nkondo has developed a following as a bit of an international rockstar artist for his work in animation and beyond. He’s perhaps best known for working in the animation department of HBO Max‘s short-lived, widely acclaimed, and visually stunning sci-fi series Scavengers Reign, directing both Episode 2, “The Cure,” and Episode 7, “The Storm,” of the Emmy winner. More recently, he lent his talents to the virtual band Gorillaz for their short film, The Mountain, The Moon Cave, and The Sad God, released back in February as an artistic promotion of their latest album. Now, he’s bringing his style to the page with a much-anticipated graphic novel titled Peaceful Remission, and Collider is excited to offer an exclusive preview courtesy of Magnetic Press and Oni Press of what lies within.
Peaceful Remission inhabits a similar realm to Scavengers Reign, taking place in a dreamlike sci-fi depiction of the future. At the center of it all is an elderly couple living a quiet life in a satellite asteroid home orbiting Earth, but beneath their peaceful existence lies a long-simmering frustration. Things finally boil over when, on one evening, they hear an ominous rumble in the night, spurring Marlène to finally express her annoyance with her husband Jerry’s passivity. The cracks in their relationship widen when Jerry spirals into obsession over a discovery, leaving his wife in charge of his health and well-being, and their ordinary everyday tasks, like driving and shopping, are pulled through a surreal new perspective. It’s a futuristic relationship drama, both written and illustrated by Nkondo, that grapples with the “emotional weight of routine,” the unspoken love between two people who have been together for so long, the fatigue they feel together, and the illusion of tranquility in the seeming isolation of space.
Our preview is a showcase of Nkondo’s style, using purposefully simple, clean artwork to illustrate the calm of space. It follows Jerry during a walk outside his and Marlène’s home, seemingly as he’s about to head back to his wife. He’s accompanied by lines of broken dialogue, only highlighting singular words out of a jumble of letters to create some ambiguity about the conversation being had. The only clear words come from Marlène, who is busy telling Jerry about an extreme frustration she has with something at the store, something that feels surreal given the setting. As he’s opening and shutting the door and floating through low-gravity, there’s a quiet exhaustion to Jerry that illustrates how this never-ending routine has worn on them both.
‘Peaceful Remission’ Captures Nkondo’s Personal, Deeply Human Style
While Scavengers Reign never got a second season at HBO Max or Netflix despite the love there was for the story being told, Nkondo clearly made an impression. Also counting Love, Death + Robots and League of Legends among the titles he’s worked on, the French-Congolese artist saw his graphic novel explode on its official Kickstarter hosted by Magnetic and Oni Press, with over 3,000 fans backing the sci-fi project. His work appears to be a perfect fit for Magnetic, which has played host to the works of dozens of other internationally recognized talents and earned 37 Eisner Award nominations. The company’s Director of Publishing, Mike Kennedy, hailed Nkondo’s new story as a perfect encapsulation of the type of deeply personal and human work that has garnered him such a loyal following.
“Jonathan Djob Nkondo’s work as an animator, storyboard artist, and director has earned him a broad community of fans and respect around the world, and these personal graphic novels highlight his keen eye for world-building and pacing. Peaceful Remission is a heartfelt and haunting look at what the future might have in store and the timeless joys and struggles of relationships.”
Peaceful Remission will span 260 pages and will be available in book stores and comic shops starting on September 16. Check out our exclusive preview in the gallery above.
- Release Date
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2023 – 2023-00-00
- Network
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Max
- Showrunner
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Joseph Bennett, Charles Huettner
- Directors
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Charles Huettner, Christine Jie-Eun Shin, Diego Porral, Jonathan Djob Nkondo, Joseph Bennett, Rachel Reid, Vincent Tsui
- Writers
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Sean Buckelew, Charles Huettner, James Merrill, Joseph Bennett, Jenny Deiker Restivo, Jillian Goldfluss
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