Girl Genius | |
---|---|
Author(s) | Phil & Kaja Foglio |
Illustrator(s) | Phil & Kaja Foglio |
Website | www |
Current status/schedule | Updates on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays. |
Launch date | January 2001 (Secret Blueprints, Vol. I preview issue) February 21, 2005 (web publication) |
Genre(s) | Fantasy, humor, science fiction, steampunk, gaslamp fantasy |
Girl Genius is an ongoing comic book series turned webcomic, written and drawn by Phil and Kaja Foglio and published by their company Studio Foglio LLC under the imprint Airship Entertainment. The comic won the Hugo Award for Best Graphic Story three times, has been nominated for a Hugo Award for Best Professional Artist and twice for Eisner Awards, and won multiple WCCA awards.
Girl Genius has the tagline of "Adventure, Romance, Mad Science!". It follows the main character Agatha Heterodyne (introduced in 1995 [1] ) through an alternate-history Victorian-style "steampunk" setting, although elements veer from what is usually thought of as steampunk. Kaja Foglio describes it as "gaslamp fantasy" instead to suggest its more fantastic style.
As well as the comics, the Foglios have also written four Girl Genius novels, all published by Night Shade Books, and two games based on the world have been made.
The setting has been described as steampunk, [2] [3] [4] [5] with reviewers for Wired describing it as a "mosh of Victorian era, magic and emerging technology" [4] and "steampunk to the core", [2] but co-creator Kaja Foglio dislikes the term and instead coined the term "gaslamp fantasy" to describe the work. Kaja said in a blog post that when Girl Genius was first coming out, there was a comic called Steampunk and she wanted to avoid confusion. She added that "we have no punk, and we have more than just steam, [so] using a different name seemed appropriate." [‡ 1] Girl Genius differs from classic steampunk in that technology is not just limited to machines but also encompasses biology such as "constructs" – biological creations which range from Frankenstein-style creatures [‡ 2] to talking cats [‡ 3] and mouse-sized mammoths. [‡ 4]
Girl Genius is set in an alternate-universe Europe [5] with Industrial Revolution-like surroundings, airships, and mad scientists called Sparks. [2] These Sparks, who have incredible powers of invention, [3] turned the Age of Enlightenment into a full-scale war that ravaged the continent, until Baron Wulfenbach brought an uneasy peace through force. [‡ 5]
Girl Genius tells the story of Agatha Clay, a student and apprentice at Transylvania Polygnostic University, whose experiments never work until she encounters an electromagnetic pulse and is robbed of her locket. [3] [4] [5] This leads her to break free of an attempt to suppress her powers as a Spark and to hide that she is the long-lost daughter of legendary figures William "Bill" Heterodyne and Lucrezia Mongfish, [‡ 6] and thus is the last of the prestigious and dreaded House of Heterodyne. [‡ 7] Agatha Heterodyne learns to mix scientific genius, a streak of heroism, and an obsessive possessiveness for what she considers her own in order to claim her heritage and birthright while trying to remain safe from the many European powers trying to use her for their own ends. [‡ 8]
The main and recurring characters of Girl Genius include:
The idea for the style of Girl Genius came about when Kaja Foglio went through some of Phil's loose drawings, saying in an interview: "I was going through all of Phil's old files and I was filing all of the old sketches, and I was coming across weird airships and cats in tophats with walking canes, and all of this wonderful... Victoriana sci-fi stuff... it was like 'Oh, this is everything I love!'" [6] Phil Foglio said, "We wanted to do something with a strong female lead character. We both like the tropes associated with mad science, and I really enjoy drawing fiddly Victorian-style gizmos". [7]
Agatha Heterodyne first appeared in print in 1995 in a GURPS sourcebook that the Foglios illustrated. [1] Phil Foglio states that plotting for Girl Genius started in 1993, and it was first published in 2000. [8] Girl Genius: The Secret Blueprints Vol. I was printed in January 2001, followed closely by the monochrome Issue 1 in February.[ citation needed ] In 2005 Girl Genius became a webcomic, and quarterly print publication of the comic ceased. [8]
The first three printed issues (which make up Volume 1) were in black and white. Subsequent printed and web comics were in color. Volume 1 was inked by Brian Snoddy, Volumes 2 and 3 by Mark McNabb. Volume 4 by Laurie E. Smith, and all subsequent volumes by Cheyenne Wright. [‡ 19] Wright also colored the comics of Volume 1; these colored versions were used for a new print edition of Volume 1 and have replaced the original comics on the website. [‡ 20]
In an interview recorded in January 2008, shortly before they began releasing pages of volume 8 of Girl Genius on their web site, the Foglios stated that they expected the climax of Volume 8 to be the rough equivalent of "the end of the first season," and that it would provide a logical break in case of author catastrophe and a fresh jumping-on point for new readers. [9] However, this was an underestimate of the length of the remaining "first season": the end of Volume 13 turned out to be approximately halfway through the planned overall story arc. [‡ 21] The "second season" of the series began March 3, 2014, with "Act 2, Volume 1," [‡ 22] after a two-month hiatus of the main story.
The webcomic, as well as the initial printed issues, have been collected into printed volumes, and in some cases those volumes have been collected into printed omnibuses. Unless stated in the notes below, the books reprint works first published as the webcomic.
Vol / Omnibus # | Title | Pages | ISBN | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Volume 1 | Agatha Heterodyne and the Beetleburg Clank | 96 | Paperback: ISBN 1-890856-19-3, full color paperback: ISBN 1-890856-50-9, hardcover: ISBN 1-890856-20-7 | Reprints issues #1–3 |
Volume 2 | Agatha Heterodyne and the Airship City | 112 | Paperback: ISBN 1-890856-30-4, hardcover: ISBN 1-890856-31-2 | Reprints issues #4–6 |
Volume 3 | Agatha Heterodyne and the Monster Engine | 128 | Paperback: ISBN 1-890856-32-0, hardcover: ISBN 1-890856-33-9 | Reprints issues #7–10 |
Volume 4 | Agatha Heterodyne and the Circus Of Dreams | 128 | Paperback: ISBN 1-890856-36-3, hardcover: ISBN 1-890856-37-1 | Reprints issues #11–13 and webcomic from April to June 2005 |
Volume 5 | Agatha Heterodyne and the Clockwork Princess | 112 | Paperback: ISBN 1-890856-39-8, hardcover: ISBN 1-890856-38-X | |
Volume 6 | Agatha Heterodyne and the Golden Trilobite | 150 | Paperback: ISBN 1-890856-42-8, hardcover: ISBN 1-890856-41-X | |
Volume 7 | Agatha Heterodyne and the Voice of the Castle | 128 | Paperback: ISBN 978-1-890856-45-8, hardcover: ISBN 978-1-890856-46-5 | |
Volume 8 | Agatha Heterodyne and the Chapel of Bones | 144 | Paperback: ISBN 978-1-890856-47-2, hardcover: ISBN 978-1-890856-48-9 | |
Volume 9 | Agatha Heterodyne and the Heirs of the Storm | 144 | Paperback: ISBN 978-1-890856-52-6, hardcover: ISBN 978-1-890856-51-9 | |
Volume 10 | Agatha Heterodyne and the Guardian Muse | 152 | Paperback: ISBN 978-1-890856-53-3, hardcover: ISBN 978-1-890856-54-0 | |
Volume 11 | Agatha Heterodyne and the Hammerless Bell | 168 | Paperback: ISBN 978-1-890856-55-7, hardcover: ISBN 978-1-890856-56-4 | |
Volume 12 | Agatha Heterodyne and the Siege of Mechanicsburg | 192 | Paperback: ISBN 978-1-890856-57-1, hardcover: ISBN 978-1-890856-58-8 | |
Volume 13 | Agatha Heterodyne and the Sleeping City | 160 | Paperback: ISBN 978-1-890856-59-5, hardcover: ISBN 978-1-890856-60-1 | |
Omnibus 1 | Girl Genius Omnibus Edition Vol 1 | Paperback: ISBN 978-1-890856-40-3 | Reprints Volumes 1–3, in a smaller, black & white edition | |
Omnibus 1 | Girl Genius Omnibus Vol 1: Agatha Awakens | Hardcover: ISBN 978-0-7653-3132-8 | Reprints Volumes 1–3 in color and new lettering [2] |
Vol / Omnibus # | Title | Pages | ISBN | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Volume 14 | The Beast of the Rails | 128 | Paperback: ISBN 978-1-890856-61-8, hardcover: ISBN 978-1-890856-62-5 | |
Volume 15 | City of Lightning | 128 | Paperback: ISBN 978-1-890856-63-2 | |
Volume 16 | The Incorruptible Library | 122 | Paperback: ISBN 978-1-890856-65-6 | |
Volume 17 | Kings and Wizards | 120 | Paperback: ISBN 978-1-890856-67-0 | |
Volume 18 | Queens and Pirates | 128 | Paperback: ISBN 978-1890856-69-4 | |
Volume 19 | Sparks and Monsters | 128 | Paperback: ISBN 978-1890856-71-7, hardcover: ISBN 978-1890856-72-4 | |
Volume 20 | The Exorcism Engines | 122 | Hardcover: [10] ISBN 978-1890856-74-8 | |
Volume 21 | An Entertainment in Londinium | 122 | ||
Volume 22 | The Chronometric Lantern Expedition | 121 | ||
Volume 23 | Escape from the Island of the Rat Queen | 120 | ||
Girl Genius has been adapted, or proposed for adaptation, for other media:
The Foglios have written four Girl Genius prose novels, which follow the same story as the comics:
The prose novels are published by Night Shade Books.
In 2010 it was reported that Felicia D. Henderson had optioned the rights to Girl Genius and was adapting it into a movie. [19] However, as of 2020 [update] no movie had been produced.
Girl Genius and its creators have won multiple Hugo Awards and Web Cartoonists' Choice Awards (WCCAs). They have also been nominated for further Hugo awards, WCCA awards, and Eisner Awards.
Year | Organization | Award | Recipient / Book | Outcome | Citation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2014 | Hugo Awards | Best Graphic Story | Girl Genius, Volume 13: Agatha Heterodyne and the Sleeping City | Nominated | [20] |
2011 | Hugo Awards | Best Graphic Story | Girl Genius, Volume 10: Agatha Heterodyne and the Guardian Muse | Won | [21] |
2010 | Hugo Awards | Best Graphic Story | Girl Genius, Volume 9: Agatha Heterodyne and the Heirs of the Storm | Won | [22] |
2009 | Hugo Awards | Best Graphic Story | Girl Genius, Volume 8: Agatha Heterodyne and the Chapel of Bones | Won | [23] |
2008 | Hugo Awards | Best Professional Artist | Phil Foglio | Nominated | [24] |
Web Cartoonists' Choice Awards | Outstanding Comic | Won | [25] | ||
Outstanding Writer | Won | ||||
Outstanding Environment Design | Won | ||||
Outstanding Artist | Nominated | ||||
Outstanding Character Writing | Nominated | ||||
Outstanding Long Form Comic | Nominated | ||||
Outstanding Use of Color | Phil and Kaja Foglio (and Cheyenne Wright) | Nominated | |||
2007 | Web Cartoonists' Choice Awards | Outstanding Science Fiction Comic | Won | [26] | |
Outstanding Comic | Nominated | [27] | |||
Outstanding Long Form Comic | Nominated | [28] | |||
Eisner Awards | Best Digital Comic | Nominated | [29] | ||
2006 | Web Cartoonists' Choice Awards | Outstanding Story Concept | Won | [30] | |
Outstanding Comic | Nominated | [31] | |||
Outstanding Science Fiction Comic | Nominated | [32] | |||
2005 | Eisner Awards | Best Writer/Artist—Humor | Phil Foglio | Nominated | [33] |
Philip Peter Foglio is an American cartoonist and comic book artist known for his humorous science fiction and fantasy art.
Buck Godot is the title character in a science fiction/comedy comic book series collected in two volumes and assorted comic books, including the eight-issue "Gallimaufry" series, all written and drawn by their creator, Phil Foglio.
Kaja Marie Foglio is a Seattle-based writer, artist, and publisher. Foglio co-won the first Hugo Award for Best Graphic Story in 2009 for Girl Genius, Volume 8: Agatha Heterodyne and the Chapel of Bones, a series which went on to win two more Hugo Awards.
Howard V. Tayler is the creator of the webcomic Schlock Mercenary. He worked as a volunteer missionary for the LDS Church, then graduated from Brigham Young University. Using his degree in music composition, he started an independent record label.
GURPS Illuminati University (1995) (ISBN 1-55634-206-3), also called GURPS IOU, is a 128-page softbound campaign setting sourcebook for the GURPS role-playing game. Page 11 is notably the first printed appearance of Agatha Heterodyne, the star of the 2001 comic series Girl Genius.
The 67th World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon), also known as Anticipation, was held on 6–10 August 2009 at the Palais des congrès de Montréal in Montréal, Québec, Canada.
The 68th World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon), also known as Aussiecon Four, was held on 2–6 September 2010 in the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
The 69th World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon), also known as Renovation, was held on 17–21 August 2011 at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center (RSCC) in Reno, Nevada, United States. The Atlantis Casino Resort served as the headquarters/party hotel, with additional rooms supplied by the Peppermill Reno and Courtyard by Marriott.
What's New with Phil & Dixie is a gaming parody comic by Phil Foglio. What's New was Foglio's first comic, and was published in the magazines Dragon and The Duelist, as well as in print collections and online.
The Hugo Award for Best Graphic Story is given each year for science fiction or fantasy stories told in graphic form and published or translated into English during the previous calendar year. It has been awarded annually since 2009. The Hugo Awards have been described as "a fine showcase for speculative fiction" and "the best known literary award for science fiction writing".
Lackadaisy is a webcomic created by American artist Tracy J. Butler. Set in a Prohibition-era St. Louis with a population of anthropomorphic cats, the plot chronicles the fortunes of the Lackadaisy speakeasy after its founder is murdered. The comic mixes elements of comedy, crime and mystery. It won multiple Web Cartoonists' Choice Awards in 2007 and 2008, and in April 2011 it was nominated for the Eisner Award for "Best Digital Comic".
Notable events of 2009 in webcomics.
Notable events of 2005 in webcomics.
Notable events of 2011 in webcomics.
Notable events of 2010 in webcomics.
Notable events of 2001 in webcomics.
Notable events of 2008 in webcomics.
GURPS Steampunk is a role-playing game sourcebook written by William H. Stoddard and published by Steve Jackson Games in 2000. The supplement facilitates play in the steampunk genre using the GURPS system. Upon publication, the book won the Origins Award for "Best Roleplaying Supplement". As the most detailed definition of the genre at the time, it was also credited with reifying the attributes of steampunk. GURPS Steampunk was accompanied by licensed publications in the world of Castle Falkenstein and followed by supplements by Jo Ramsay and Phil Masters. Since 2016, SJG has published additional releases in the genre, compatible with GURPS Fourth Edition.
Agatha Hete.. Mad Scien..
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: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)Girl Genius Sourcebook and Roleplaying Game is copyright © 2021, 2022 by Steve Jackson Games Incorporated.
Written by Kaja Foglio (assisted by Michelle Barrett on the crunchy bits), and illustrated by Phil and Kaja Foglio, the Girl Genius RPG will be a complete, self-contained gamebook using the Fourth Edition GURPS rules.
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: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)In the text, these references are marked with a double dagger: ‡