Orphan Black (comic book)

Last updated

Orphan Black
Orphan Black Issue 1 Variant Cover A.jpg
Cover of Orphan Black Issue #1 Variant Cover A by Cat Staggs
Publication information
Publisher IDW Publishing
ScheduleMonthly, Bi-Monthly, Tri-Monthly
Format Limited series
Genre
Publication dateFebruary 2015
No. of issues5 (series 1)
5 (series 2)
Creative team
Created byJohn Fawcett
Graeme Manson
Written by John Fawcett
Graeme Manson
Jody Houser (series 1)
Heli Kennedy (series 2)
Artist(s)Szymon Kudranski (series 1, issues 1–2)
Cat Staggs (series 1, issues 3–4)
Alan Quah (series 1, issues 3–5; series 2, issue 1)
Wayne Nichols (series 1, issue 5; series 2, issues 2–5)
Fico Ossio (series 2, issues 2–5)
Letterer(s) Neil Uyetake
Colorist(s) Matt Lopes (series 1, issues 1–2)
Chris Fenoglio (series 1, issues 3–5; series 2, issues 1–3)
Eelco Koper (series 1, issue 4)
Andrew Elder (series 2, issue 3)
Sebastian Cheng (series 2, issues 4–5)
Editor(s)Denton J. Tipton (edits)
Mackenzie Donaldson and Kerry Appleyard (series 2, story edits)

Orphan Black is a limited series of comic books based on the television series Orphan Black . The series is written by show creators John Fawcett and Graeme Manson, with Jody Houser serving as co-writer; Szymon Kudranski provides the artwork for issues #1 and #2, while Cat Staggs and Alan Quah shared art duties for issues #3-#5. [1] [2] The comic books are part of a limited series consisting of five issues, each focusing on the past and present life of a different clone. [1] [3]

Contents

Publication history

The first issue of the series was released on February 25, 2015. [1] [2] [4] A new issue was released monthly until July 2015, when the final of the five contracted issues was released. [1] The issues in order feature Sarah, Helena, Alison, Cosima and Rachel.

Plot

Series 1: The Clone Club

Issue #1: Sarah

The plot of the first issue closely follows the storyline established in the television series' pilot episode and similarly focuses on Sarah Manning and her discovery of her numerous genetic identicals. Scenes from the episode are recounted in the comic book, intermixed with new scenes and flashbacks. [1] [2] The new material specific to the comic books includes flashback sequences to Sarah's childhood, additions to and extensions of scenes in the present storyline, and insight into Sarah's thoughts and feelings as she takes over the life of a dead woman who shares her exact external appearance. [1] [5]

Issue #2: Helena

The second issue of the series, released in March 2015, focuses on Helena's childhood as well as her adult actions and motivations that are presented in the first season of the television series. [4]

Series 2: Helsinki

Series 3: Deviations

Series 4: Crazy Science

Crazy Science would have taken place after the end of the fifth season of the TV series. It would have starred Cosima and Delphine traveling around the world to cure 274 Leda clones while also falling even more in love. [6] However, the series was cancelled in June 2018 due to low orders from comic shops. Due to an early printing deadline, the first issue was still released in July. [7]

Tie-ins to the television series

The comic book miniseries was conceived as a way to convey information about the clones' pasts and childhoods without interrupting the fast pace of the television series. It is presented as an expanded universe that offers off-screen events not shown in the episodes. [1] [8] The comic books tie directly into the events of the show's first season in order to ground the comics into the already-established universe. [8] The miniseries presents the audience with the opportunity to better understand the emotions, thoughts, and feelings that underlie the characters of the television series. [5] [8]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Archie Comics</span> American comic book publisher

Archie Comic Publications, Inc., is an American comic book publisher headquartered in Pelham, New York. The company's many titles feature the fictional teenagers Archie Andrews, Jughead Jones, Betty Cooper, Veronica Lodge, Reggie Mantle, Sabrina Spellman, Josie and the Pussycats and Katy Keene. The company is also known for its long-running Sonic the Hedgehog comic series, which it published from 1992 until 2016.

<i>Farscape</i> Australian/American television science fiction series (1999–2004)

Farscape is an Australian-American science fiction television series, produced originally for the Nine Network. It premiered in the US on Sci-Fi Channel's SciFi Friday, 19 March 1999, at 8:00 pm EST as their anchor series. The series was conceived by Rockne S. O'Bannon and produced by The Jim Henson Company and Hallmark Entertainment. The Jim Henson Company was responsible for the various alien make-up and prosthetics, and two regular characters are entirely Creature Shop creations.

V is a science fiction franchise created by American writer, producer and director Kenneth Johnson about a genocidal invading alien race known as the "Visitors"—reptilian humanoids disguised as human beings—trying to take over Earth, and the human reaction to this, including the Resistance group attempting to stop them, while others collaborate with the aliens for power and personal wealth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black Widow (Natasha Romanova)</span> Marvel Comics fictional character

Black Widow is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by editor and plotter Stan Lee, scripter Don Rico, and artist Don Heck, the character debuted in Tales of Suspense #52. The character was introduced as a Russian spy, an antagonist of the superhero Iron Man. She later defected to the United States, becoming an agent of the fictional spy agency S.H.I.E.L.D. and a member of the superhero team the Avengers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greg Weisman</span> American television and comics writer

Greg Weisman is an American novelist, writer, producer and voice actor. He is best known as the creator of the animated series Gargoyles, The Spectacular Spider-Man and Young Justice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michiel Huisman</span> Dutch actor

Michiel Huisman is a Dutch actor who has acted in both Dutch and English-language TV series and films.

<i>Star Wars</i> comics Various comic books based on the Star Wars franchise

Star Wars comics have been produced by various comic book publishers since the debut of the 1977 film Star Wars. Marvel Comics launched its original series in 1977, beginning with a six-issue comic adaptation of the film and running for 107 issues, including an adaptation of The Empire Strikes Back. Marvel also released an adaptation of Return of the Jedi and spin-offs based on Droids and Ewoks. A self-titled comic strip ran in American newspapers between 1979 and 1984. Blackthorne Publishing released a three-issue run of 3-D comics from 1987 to 1988.

Serenity is a line of comic books published by Dark Horse Comics from 2005 to 2017. It is a canonical continuation of Joss Whedon's Firefly television series and the 2005 film Serenity, which are all part of the Firefly media franchise. It was not an ongoing series; rather, it consisted of a number of miniseries and one-shots, released sporadically.

Star Wars has been expanded to media other than the original films. This spin-off material is licensed and moderated by Lucasfilm, though during his involvement with the franchise Star Wars creator George Lucas reserved the right to both draw from and contradict it in his own works. Such derivative works have been produced concurrently with, between, and after the original, prequel, and sequel trilogies, as well as the spin-off films and television series. Commonly explored media include books, comic books, and video games, though other forms such as audio dramas have also been produced.

Black Widow is the name of several fictional characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Most of these versions exist in Marvel's main shared universe, known as the Marvel Universe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Justice League Dark</span> Fictional Superhero team appearing in DC Comics

Justice League Dark, or JLD, is a superhero team appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The team would make their debut appearance in Justice League Dark #1. The Justice League Dark team features some of the more supernatural characters in the DC Universe, handling mystical threats and situations deamed outside the scope of the traditional Justice League. Similarly to the Justice League title, the team features well-known characters such as John Constantine, Zatanna, Batman, Doctor Fate, and Wonder Woman while also bringing exposure to lesser-known supernatural characters.

<i>Arrow</i> (TV series) American action-adventure television series

Arrow is an American superhero television series developed by Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim, and Andrew Kreisberg based on the DC Comics character Green Arrow, a costumed crime-fighter created by Mort Weisinger and George Papp, and is the first series of the Arrowverse, sharing continuity with other related television series. The series premiered in the United States on The CW on October 10, 2012, and ran for eight seasons until January 28, 2020. Arrow was primarily filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

<i>Orphan Black</i> 2013 Canadian science fiction thriller television series

Orphan Black is a Canadian science-fiction thriller television series created by screenwriter Graeme Manson and director John Fawcett and starring Tatiana Maslany. The series focuses on Sarah Manning, one of several genetically identical human clones, and later on some of the other clones. The series raises issues about the moral and ethical implications of human cloning and its effect on identity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Variable and Full of Perturbation</span> 8th episode of the 2nd season of Orphan Black

"Variable and Full of Perturbation" is the eighth episode of the second season, and the eighteenth episode overall, of the Canadian science fiction television series Orphan Black. It first aired in Canada on Space and the United States on BBC America on 7 June 2014. The episode was written by Karen Walton and directed by the series' co-creator John Fawcett.

"Things Which Have Never Yet Been Done" is the ninth episode of the second season, and the nineteenth episode overall, of the Canadian science fiction television series Orphan Black. It first aired in Canada on Space and the United States on BBC America on 14 June 2014. The episode was written by Alex Levine and directed by TJ Scott.

<i>Orphan Black: Sarah</i>

Orphan Black: Sarah is the first issue of the Orphan Black limited series based on the television series of the same name. The issue was written by show creators John Fawcett and Graeme Manson, with Jody Houser serving as co-writer; Szymon Kudranski provided the artwork for the issue. Issue #1 features the clone Sarah as she discovers the existence of several of her genetic identicals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Collapse of Nature</span> 1st episode of the 4th season of Orphan Black

"The Collapse of Nature" is the fourth season premiere of the Canadian science fiction television series Orphan Black. It first aired in Canada on Space and the United States on BBC America on 14 April 2016. The episode was written by Graeme Manson and directed by John Fawcett.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DC Black Label</span> Imprint of DC comics

DC Black Label, also referred to simply as Black Label, is an imprint of American comic book publisher DC Comics consisting of original miniseries and reprints of books previously published under other imprints. The imprint intends to present traditional DC Universe characters for a mature audience with stand-alone Prestige Format series. The first title of the imprint, Batman: Damned, was shipped on September 19, 2018.

"Governed by Sound Reason and True Religion" is the second episode of the second season, and the twelfth episode overall, of the Canadian science fiction television series Orphan Black. It first aired in Canada on Space and the United States on BBC America on 26 April 2014. The episode was written by Karen Walton and Graeme Manson, and directed by John Fawcett.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Goodwin, Jess (November 19, 2014). "Orphan Black' Comic Book News: Release Date, First Look At Issue 1 Cover Variants, And Product Details [PHOTOS]". Fashion & Style. Retrieved March 2, 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 Johnson, Jim (February 25, 2015). "Orphan Black #1". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved March 2, 2015.
  3. "'Orphan Black' Debuts, Dixon & Nolan Build 'Joe Frankenstein' in IDW's February 2015 Solicitations". Comic Book Resources. November 19, 2014. Retrieved March 2, 2015.
  4. 1 2 Kyle, Tariq (February 24, 2015). "'Orphan Black' issue #1 comic book review: A fresh look into the show". Hypable. Retrieved March 2, 2015.
  5. 1 2 Walsh, Eris (February 25, 2015). "Review: ORPHAN BLACK #1". Comicosity. Retrieved March 2, 2015.
  6. Prudom, Laura (March 2, 2018). "Orphan Black Gets Sequel Comic 'Crazy Science' Starring Cosima and Delphine". IGN. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
  7. "Orphan Black: Crazy Science Cancelled Due to Low Orders". Newsarama. June 13, 2018. Archived from the original on June 14, 2018.
  8. 1 2 3 Wallenius, Kira (February 15, 2015). "Orphan Black Comic Will Expand Universe, New Trailer for Season 3". JBGNews. Retrieved March 2, 2015.