"This is a long story, it rambles a bit, and it has a punchline."

December 15, 2006 7:56 PM

Colleen Doran, a comics creator that's collaborated with Neil Gaiman, Warren Ellis, and J Michael Straczynski, blogs about her experiences while publishing her epic A Distant Soil with Starblaze Graphics in the 80s. Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5
posted by beaucoupkevin (11 comments total)

Thanks beaucoupkevin. Interesting real life saga and learning journey. I also enjoy her wonderful, intense visuals and gem-like colors.
posted by nickyskye at 8:49 PM on December 15, 2006

Strangely, she skates over her WaRP Graphics period, which is odd since Wendy and Richard Pini were her first publishers. And I still have my Starblaze editions of Elfquest, Myth Adventures and Buck Godot, so I can't think too badly about them as publishers.

I read A Distant Soil, back in the day, and just didn't find it to my liking, though I'm sure there were many readers who would have enjoyed it more. Perhaps the real problem was she just had trouble finding her market.
posted by SPrintF at 9:05 PM on December 15, 2006

She is just about the coolest chick ever.
I met her at a comicon but she would not remember me.
She was really nice.
Cool work too... and her stories about her life and the ups and downs are amazing.
posted by squidfartz at 9:20 PM on December 15, 2006

I remember when Sassy magazine mentioned Distant Soil in 1994 or so. Sought it out soon after, and felt pretty eh about it, but except for that one short blurb, I never read too much more on Doran's life. I was missing out on a really interesting story. Thanks!
posted by jennanemone at 9:22 PM on December 15, 2006

Aw c'mon Colleen, tell your Julie Schwartz story.
posted by DonnieSticks at 10:51 PM on December 15, 2006

Man, thanks for this.
posted by ScotchLynx at 12:04 AM on December 16, 2006

I hate when I run across someone who's so cool, who has such good intentions, and whose work is so very very bad.
posted by Tuffy at 12:54 AM on December 16, 2006

You forgot to link to the epilogue.
posted by faster than a speeding bulette at 6:44 AM on December 16, 2006

Well, you took care of that for me, didn't you? Thanks!
posted by beaucoupkevin at 7:45 AM on December 16, 2006

Funnily I've never liked her stuff because of the way she draws hair. I guess I'm just petty like that.
posted by Artw at 10:15 AM on December 16, 2006

The other epilogue, from later.

A Distant Soil isn't my cup of tea, but I enjoyed this epic tale of swashbuckling publishers. Also, Colleen Doran is apparently very pretty, so we've got that in common.
posted by Sparx at 5:15 PM on December 16, 2006