WAKE Set of Four Graphic Novels

Wake, set of four graphic novels: #1-4/5. The heroine is Navee the only survivor of a spaceship wrecked on a forest planet. She has grown up devoid of human companionship and we find her living in perfect communion with the native fauna including a tiger-like animal called Huoyo who makes a habit of saving her life. Jean-David Morvan's story is simply told with Philippe Buchet's clear and precise artwork allowing the plot to unfold in ways that consistently refuse the easy option. Having said that, the translated version has been bowdlerised for sensitive American souls by the naïve if effective solution of applying a black band, as if drawn by a felt-tip marker, across Navee's previously bare chest. The leader of the invasion Madjestee Heiliig, is shown missing his Hottard partner Saahre and being concerned at the fate of his race. Whilst not exactly justifying his decision to press ahead with Hotta-forming the planet at the expense of the inhabitants, it does allow the reader to accept that there are other factors at play rather than the simplistic-evil alien trope.

Issue #1 - Fire & Ash -Navee world is irrevocably changed when an alien ship lands and begins preparations to change the planet to make it more suitable for colonization. Navee, along with the spirit of a deceased alien who whilst taking up residence inside her and rapidly becomes her éminence gris, leads a revolt against the invaders by convincing the endearingly stupid robots that free will is a good thing. The invaders are Hottards and part of a massive space convoy that has its own set of laws. One of these concerns not changing planets where sentient beings live and this rule is flouted by the invasion leader desperate to find a planet to solve their own population crisis.

Issue #2 -Private Collection- This is a second dose of excellently drawn science fiction featuring a likable, adaptable and no nonsense heroine, Navee. As shown in the opening Fire & Ash, she was the only survivor when a spaceship crashed on a remote jungle planet, and grew to adulthood fending for herself alone before being picked up by a vast space flotilla comprised of thousands of ships and numerous races. Now the sole human among the Wake fleet, Navee’s independence, versatility and lack of allegiance makes her a valuable asset to the ruling assembly. She has one further talent, she’s immune to the probing of telepathic races. This is exceedingly rare. Issue #3 - Gearing Up. Navee is assigned a mission by Wake to investigate the steam-punk world of planet TRI-JJ 68. It’s a glacial planet that had been inhabited by a nature-communing, peaceful lot that Wake simply passed over as unworthy. But in a recent pass, they discover that suddenly a whole civilization has sprouted and reached up to its industrial age, and this in record time! Wake is now intrigued and so is Navee, as these new inhabitants closely resemble the race of which, up until now, she had been the only representative: humans! Has she found her own people? Issue #4/5 -The Sign of the Demons & Inaugurating a new format: 2 stories in one thick book! In a remarkably poignant and topical story, Navee is pressed into service against a group of terrorists bombing at random throughout Wake! The group is an oppressed neglected people whose anger is beyond cooling but the victims they make are innocent... In the second story, agents from Wake on mission on Hurumaru, a planet in medieval stage, are giving no sign of life. Navee, Bobo and three other special agents are sent to find them. They arrive in the middle of a war of liberation of the Escots. Lead by Princess Moneva, the rebels are summarily executing all who carry the logo of Wake: the sign of the demons! Out of Print. Condition: Very Fine.