A Scavengers Reign artist explores contemplative sci-fi in new comics
You may recognize Jonathan Djob Nkondo’s work in animated projects like the surreal sci-fi series The reign of the scavengers or the recent short film Gorillaz The Mountain, The Cave of the Moon and The Sad God. But before that, the French artist and animator had made self-published comics depicting strange alien worlds and future societies. He now revisits that work with a lush release of two graphic novels. “I think most people who follow my work don’t necessarily know that I’ve published comics,” Nkondo explains. The edge. “I’m primarily known for my work in animation, so revisiting these books and promoting them again was a good way to get the message out.”
Earlier this month, Nkondo launched a Kickstarter for English versions of these books, and the campaign exceeded its funding goals. He says he “wasn’t expecting much” from the crowdfunding campaign, but so far it has raised more than $100,000, compared to the original goal of just $7,500. “Maybe I live too much in my bubble,” says Nkondo. “I’m not really aware of things that people might be interested in.”
The two books in question are called Peaceful remission And Wanderingand they were both previously published in French. As part of the campaign, the black and white comics will be available in digital and hardback formats, depending on the amount of your pledge; a limited edition version accompanied by an artbook is also available at the $99 level.
Peaceful remission follows the lives of an elderly couple who live in a sort of space-age suburb where the houses are built out of asteroids, further complicating their already complicated relationship. Wanderingmeanwhile, is a dialogue-free trek through a vision of the distant future seen from two perspectives: a rich man inside a futuristic city and a younger man trying to survive in the desert that exists outside of it.
Both explore personal relationships on an intimate scale and for fans coming from The reign of the scavengersthe books move at a similarly measured, contemplative pace. They also look cool as hell, with incredibly original designs for architecture, technology, and more. Nkondo says that when it comes to design, he starts with the aesthetic side before worrying about practicality or realism. “I think about shapes first, then try to apply them to fashion, architecture or vehicles,” he says. “My designs may look cool, but they’re usually not the most pragmatic.”
Another similarity between The reign of the scavengers and Nkondo’s solo projects provide a sense of calm. Both rely more on visual storytelling than dialogue, and this is especially true in Wanderingwhich contains no text. This forces the reader to slow down and absorb each frame to understand what is happening. Nkondo says this form is simply a byproduct of the stories he wants to explore. “I feel like in the comics, like in my short films, the stories I tell aren’t necessarily dialogue-based, so I don’t feel the pressure to add too many words,” he explains. “I’m comfortable representing actions or moods with visuals.”
There is still time for the Kickstarter campaign and the books should start shipping this summer. It’s a chance for those who have discovered Nkondo’s work through his wider collaborations to discover a new side, with similar energy but more personal issues. Looking to the future, however, he notes that two upcoming projects – a comic book and a short film – are a bit of a departure, exploring a more dialogue-based style of storytelling. “It’s as interesting a challenge as the more silent stories I’ve worked on,” he says.
