Alchemy's Enemies In Artifact One

by Vince Brusio

Aspen's most ambitious epic series debuts with Remi, a young and energetic explorer and relic hunter, whose boundless curiosity leads to a startling discovery. Knowledge is power, so imagine that power bearing down on you and your alchemist father who works away from prying eyes of ruling clerics that lord over the realms of your world. In this PREVIEWSworld Exclusive interview with writer J.T. Krul, we ask about the launch of Artifact One #1 (AUG181596) from Aspen Comics, which is scheduled to hit comic shops this October.

Artifact One #1 (AUG181596) is in comic shops October 10.

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Vince Brusio: What’s the premise for Artifact One, and did this premise change any from concept to production?

J. T. Krul: On an alien planet, a young explorer named Remi digs into the past, trying to learn more about her world, while a ruling cleric order stands in the way of discovery and science in an effort to maintain peace. While elements evolved during the course of development, the core aspect of the adventure and the wonder of discovery was always part of it.

Vince Brusio: Tell us about the faces in this story. Who’s who?

J. T. Krul: At the center of it all is Remi. She's young, bright, daring, and most importantly, inquisitive. Raised to embrace the act of discovery, she values exploring the world herself, and not being afraid of what she finds. Dawah is her father and her mentor. He too values knowledge and understanding and uses science and alchemy to answer questions about the world they live in. He's instilled that in his daughter, but he is also aware of the inherent danger connected to their actions. He knows how the clerics view such endeavors. While the clerics use their temples and sermons to lord over the civilized world, they have a much more direct method as well. The Akolouth are the hands of the clerics, part Knights Templar, part brute squad, it their task to enforce the will of the clerics and mete out justice for any who engage in or support what they deem blasphemous behavior. 

Vince Brusio: The chemistry of this book: is Artifact One more of a character-driven story? Is it more plot-oriented? Help us do a survey of the topography, and let us see what makes this book tick.

J. T. Krul: Is it a cheat to say both? We think we've created a very compelling central figure in Remi, who will prove to be a tremendous guide or narrator through this world, but there is a key plot that carries the story forward. First and foremost, this book is a story about discovery. I keep coming back to that word it seems. It's about searching for the truth and trying to understand the answers one finds. We really wanted to make sure the book has twists and turns that will keep the mystery engaging for the readers. 

Vince Brusio:   If you had to put together a quick trailer for the book, what images and narrative would we see that gives us the meat and potatoes of Artifact One?

J. T. Krul: That's actually one of the reasons we do the ZERO introductory issues for new projects at Aspen. To help give a sense and feel of the book. In terms of key imagery, there is Remi, of course, exploring the natural surroundings of her world, uncovering new and exciting aspects of it. The city in which they dwell is old-world, no technology. And while the throngs of the citizenry listen attentively to the cleric's sermon about the gods looking over them, Remi retreats to her father's secret laboratory where he studies the world in safety and privacy. Plus, seeing the Akolouth in action to get a sense of just what methods they use to enforce the law of the land. 

Vince Brusio: How has this project been a challenge for you? How has it raised the bar for you in terms of your imagination going from the groundwork of issue #0, and how the series will proceed from that point forward?

J. T. Krul: The biggest challenge has also been the biggest reward. I love world-building. That has been one of my favorite parts of working on a book like Soulfire for 15 years. And in Artifact One, not only are we creating a new environment, but the story itself plays on the sense of discovery. Characters have their world views and some are less factual than others. Even for the readers, it will be about discerning fact from fiction in order to determine where the truth actually lies. Navigating that balance and constructing those different narratives has been labor intensive, but we also think it is what makes Artifact One special. 

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Vince Brusio writes about comics, and writes comics. He is the long-serving Editor of PREVIEWSworld.com, the creator of PUSSYCATS, and encourages everyone to keep the faith...and keep reading comics.