Order “Blood Work” HERE
In support of the July 12, 2011 publication of Blood Work, an original Hollows graphic novel written by New York Times bestselling author Kim Harrison, Fantasy Book Critic is participating in a blog tour to help promote the graphic novel. The blog tour includes stops at Graphic Novel Reporter, Smart Bitches, Trashy Books and Comics Beat. Here at FBC, we are proud to present pages 10 & 11 from Blood Work, as well as a write-up from Kim Harrison discussing the first meeting between Rachel Morgan and Ivy Tamwood:
So Who’s Really In Charge?
If you’re just now joining the blog tour celebrating the release of Blood Work, an original Hollows graphic novel story, I’d like to take a moment and explain why I chose to write about this particular time in Ivy’s life. The Hollows is a “girl-next-door starts detective business with an out-of-control vampire roommate set in modern-day Cincinnati” story. Trust me, somehow it all works when you throw in a bioengineered tomato. The regular novels are from Rachel Morgan’s sometimes clueless point of view, and by setting the graphic novels firmly within Ivy, my vampire’s point of view, I had the chance to show Ivy in a way I couldn’t otherwise—as a strong woman believing she was helpless to change, and her denial that she was falling in love.
The pages here show Rachel and Ivy’s first meeting, Rachel already beginning to push Ivy’s vampiric buttons and Ivy’s almost cruel response as she flees, denying her emotions right from the start. Showing how these two diverse, but well-matched people met, had been one of my goals for a long time, and the graphic novel was the perfect opportunity.
One of the core ideas in the Hollows is that vampires—even those physically stronger and more affluent than those around them—are slaves to their emotion, and therefore vulnerable to manipulation. I wanted to show this right from the start when Ivy and Rachel met, and so Ivy was the ranking agent, Rachel a new hire. Ivy flees while barking orders, even while Rachel seeks to find a more friendly balance. Ivy has all the power, and Rachel none. And yet, in less than one page, Rachel has caused Ivy to react, to question herself and her beliefs. So who was really in charge? I think it was Rachel.
You can see why I broke from traditional novels to script a graphic novel at Graphic Novel Reporter, how I wanted to visually show a complex emotion of blood lust at Smart Bitches, Trashy Books, and how a card-carrying soloist becomes part of a team at Comics Beat.
ABOUT BLOOD WORK:
Kim Harrison’s urban fantasy series, The Hollows, has sold more than a million copies in North America alone. Now in full-color graphic novel format comes Blood Work: An Original Hollow Graphic Novel (Del Rey Hardcover / July 12, 2011), which is scripted by Kim Harrison with artwork by Pedro Maia and Gemma Magno.
In Blood Work, Kim Harrison turns back the clock to tell the never-before-told story of the first meeting between witch Rachel Morgan and vampire Ivy Tamwood. It wasn’t quite love at first sight for hot-as-hell, tough-as-nails detective Ivy and her very attractive and frustratingly self-assured intern Rachel, assigned as partners in Inderland Security. But when a coven of murderous witches begins preying on werewolves, Ivy and Rachel hit the streets together to deal swift justice to the evil element among Cincinnati’s supernatural set. Before long, the two discover that there’s more to their partnership than they realize—and more blood and black magic in their future than they bargained for...
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Kim Harrison is the author of the New York Times bestselling Hollows urban fantasy series, which most recently includes Black Magic Sanction and Pale Demon. She is also the author of the bestselling Madison Avery young adult series, and is a member of both the Romance Writers of America and the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS:
Pedro Maia recently finished college with a degree in art. Blood Work is one of his first full-length projects. He lives in Rio de Janeiro.
Gemma Magno was inspired to draw by anime and manga, and received a Presidential Award after winning several art competitions. She lives in the Philippines.