Mawrth Valliis

by EPHK, EPHK (Artist)

Overview

During a skirmish with an opposing Martian faction, a fighter pilot disobeys orders to pursue a fleeing foe.

Guided by her determination and curiosity, she is led into a dangerous chase through Mars's forbidden valley where she will be confronted with the red planet's darkest of secrets.

A fast-paced, 128-page, full-color, pocket-format, sci-fi adventure through Mars's mysteries all told in its original Martian form.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781534320543
Publisher:	Image Comics
Publication date:	07/27/2021
Pages:	128
Sales rank:	1,044,462
Product dimensions:	5.30(w) x 7.40(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	13 - 16 Years

About the Author

A Paris-born child of the 80s, EPHK grew up splitting time between France and Canada. A doodler from the beginning, he fell into tattooing as a young man in Montreal. The freedom and mobility of being a tattoo artist afforded him a life of adventure for over two decades through four continents.

It was while living in Hong Kong that EPHK took the plunge and began publishing his underground comics and art books in 2010. Following the government’s dismantling of Hong Kong’s democracy movement in 2015, he placed himself beyond Beijing’s reach in Taiwan, where he continued to publish himself and others for a few more years, before eventually returning to Berlin, just in time for the global pandemic.

EPHK is now based in the south of France, where he is focused on his one true overarching goal: to crank out as many awesome comics as he can before his time on this planet is up.

A Paris-born child of the 80s, EPHK grew up splitting time between France and Canada. A doodler from the beginning, he fell into tattooing as a young man in Montreal. The freedom and mobility of being a tattoo artist afforded him a life of adventure for over two decades through four continents.

It was while living in Hong Kong that EPHK took the plunge and began publishing his underground comics and art books in 2010. Following the government’s dismantling of Hong Kong’s democracy movement in 2015, he placed himself beyond Beijing’s reach in Taiwan, where he continued to publish himself and others for a few more years, before eventually returning to Berlin, just in time for the global pandemic.

EPHK is now based in the south of France, where he is focused on his one true overarching goal: to crank out as many awesome comics as he can before his time on this planet is up.

Editorial Reviews

06/28/2021

A rebellious fighter pilot chases down her enemy in this sexy, ultra-stylized sci-fi cat-and-mouse adventure that’s told entirely in an original Martian language. After annihilating almost all opponents in a dogfight, the unnamed protagonist disobeys orders in an effort to catch the one that got away. Between action scenes, she encounters unexpected galactic dangers and incomprehensible mysteries. When her foe becomes a savior, together they get caught up in a Black Mirror-esque twist. EPHK’s art style puts a glowing modern spin on classic sci-fi, with bold character designs and thickly applied lines, mixing organic and geometric backdrops. Many pages could stand alone as pinups—and while not overdone, the pilots do boast wasplike figures, with plenty of convenient camera angles showcasing their curves. While the chase ends in an enticing reveal, it’s ultimately more style over narrative substance. The entirely Martian dialogue and thought-bubbles are a cool touch, which put weight on the sound effects (still written out in roman “boop” and “bleeps”) for tension-building. Overall, the gimmick keeps readers at a muted distance, acting as another art element rather than providing insight into the protagonists’ motivations. This chase may trip on some hurdles, but it’s also serious and innovative eye candy that should catch its rightful share of attention. (July)

Publishers Weekly