Egyptian Graphic Novel Idea--Opinions Needed Please.

cleasterwood · Forum Newbie Joined: Jul 05, 2007 Posts: 5

Hi all,

I’m new here and to this type of media. (I've been writing prose for the last 3 years.) Granted I read comic books when I was younger, but have recently rediscovered my love for comics and just discovered it for more mature graphic novels. I have this story idea and my cousin (a graphic designer) has expressed an interest in helping me turn the idea into a graphic novel. (She is currently working on the preliminary character sketches.) Well I was wondering if there would be an audience for it.

Here’s a one page synopsis of the story. It is heavily rooted with controversial theory, mythology, adult themes, and time traveling. I’d appreciated any thoughts and possible interest in this type of story.

At age 25, ANDREA REGAL is an accomplished Egyptologist. Her twin, ELISE used her degree in Egyptology to write fiction novels with some degree of success. Andrea has searched her entire life for the tomb of the Pharaoh KHUFU, Builder of the Great Pyramid, and never made a real discovery. When she finds an ancient prophecy inside the Queen’s Chamber, she releases a preordained chain of events that leads her to the tomb and the Talismans of Time.

Andrea vanishes and Elise begins to experience hallucinations. While her family searches modern day Cairo, the Ankh of Time transports Andrea to the court of the great pharaoh himself. She learns she is destined to become the Sun God RA’s Warrior and save the world from APEP, The Destroyer who wants to swallow Ra and unleash his torturous abyss upon the earth.

Khufu’s infatuation with the young warrior woman turns to love - a love she cannot deny or accept. As the ancient gods teach her the art of magic and war, her family seeks help from an occult master named MAJEED. After Andrea travels to the Egyptian underworld and frees herself of the evil she harbors within, she agrees to marry the Khufu. Deception lies within and BASTET gambles with the future for personal revenge. A charm sent to Elise allows her to touch Andrea and return her to the present.

Injured, Andrea receives help from the gods to heal herself quickly because during her extended absence Khufu has succumbed to the Dark Lord's spell of lunacy. Upon her homecoming, Khufu kills Andrea with a magical dagger which sends her soul to Apep's fiery domain. Her training continues after ADEL, her dig supervisor and family friend, is murdered protecting Elise as she seeks the Ankh of Life, which will save her sister's soul from death. Apep gains his freedom and his minions descend on the earth. The twins must merge souls into one body to defeat the Dark God. As Apep’s blade descends upon Andrea, she and Elise unite and together they bind Apep to the underworld.

Khufu and his warrior bride live out the remainder of their lives until he dies of old age. The gods have pity on Andrea. They risk their own immortality to return her to her proper place by taking a potion, which freezes them all in time. With a broken heart, Andrea is reawakened by her family and she attempts to resume a normal life. A year later her father, MARK, sponsors an exhibit. Mark introduces Andrea to a benefactor with an unsettling affection for her. During their first dance, he reveals himself not as a stranger, but as Khufu.

Thanks for your input,
C. L. Easterwood

P.S. Sorry if this is in the wrong place. :oops:

Ratteler · Forum Member Joined: Jun 10, 2002 Posts: 569 Location: NYC

I don't think it's the wrong place at all.

As far as the story goes, hmmm, how to be diplomatic.

I PERSONALLY have a problem with "magic" as the answer to anything.

Tell me zombies walk the Earth because hell is full, and my eyes roll like a Vegas slot machine.

Tell me a virus activates dormant code in the mitochondrial DNA allowing for the tranmutation of a form of zero point energy into adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and I'm hooked.

But that's just me. There are pleanty of Harry Potter fans who are more than willing to accept the wave of a wand as the answer to any problem.

Graphic Novels, even mature ones, are squarely marketed at young male audiences. Figure 12 to 26 year olds. Your story with all it's romance, breaks from this audience. It's basically a "chick book". Nothing wrong with that, but be aware of what that marketing decision means. It could effect everything from how you reveal story points to your art style. (Can't see a Romance Novel in Frank Miller Style.)

If you're going to take an alternate bend on traditional Egyptology, I suggest going through the works of Graham Hancock first. Khufu get's credit for the Great Pyrimid at Giza, but it's VERY unlikely he did anything but restore it.

Dig a little deeper, and there are a lot of mythological characters in ancient Egyptian folklore who can serve as your lead better than Khufu.

cleasterwood · Forum Newbie Joined: Jul 05, 2007 Posts: 5

Hi Ratteler,

Thanks for your input; it's much appreciated. I can understand if it's not your taste. I'm sure there are plenty of obstacles I'm going to have to risk crossing with this story. It isn't strickly romance though; there is plenty of action, death, as well as magic. The one difference with my storyline, in my opinion, is that only the gods and a small handful of humans can use magic. Everyone else is on their own. :twisted:

The novel is completed so if one way doesn't work then I have another avenue to utilize. I'm hoping there are more women readers out there willing to pick up a graphic novel. With the right kind of promotion it could work.

As far as characters, those won't change. I've got so many Graham Hancock , Frank Joseph, Robert Schoch books they're coming out of my ears. :lol:

I've done thorough research, encompassing a life time. I don't intend to stop writing any time soon either. I'm always open to new avenues and new theories as well and keep up on all the latest archaeology news regardless of whether or not it's Egyptian in origin.