The first update of the new year comes with a fresh addition to the 'One-Shots' collection. In this short comic, we explore the complex relationship between Juliette Sandover and Maxine Rubin.
This Heroine Rises Short, titled Isolated Fears, is now available to read here!
Comfort Zone
The name Heroine Rises was chosen over the original 'Harbour' because I wasn't sure if I wanted to lock myself into writing a story centered around Madeline Harbour. That's not to say that Madeline can't carry the story or is a weak character. I've created a few characters that I feel have strengths and stories that I might not be able to explore with Madeline as the lead character. Madeline is meant to be a grounded character, one who must overcome her weaknesses and naivete in order to accomplish her goals of becoming a Heroine and finding her father. Madeline's flaws are centered around 'imposter syndrome', becoming a leader, and ensuring that her reckless and naive nature does not end up harming those around her.
Unfortunately, the story I have planned for the main Heroine Rises continuity does not allow me to explore other characters or events I really want to show. Maybe I'd like to show off more of the gangs' operations or explore a character who is suffering a terrible loss and copes in unhealthy ways. Sure, Madeline 'lost' her father which is a thread I hope to explore in more detail later on, but Madeline and Clarissa's main problem with Jacques' absence revolves around uncertainty and guilt. Both of the Harbour women don't know if Jacques is alive or not so they don't know how to move forward and are longing for any form of closure.
Madeline copes with the loss by working towards finding the truth behind Jacques' disappearance and this Ruby Ring Arc will eventually lead to a more personal conflict involving that quest.
However, that story thread is still a long way off.
I want to explore other emotions, characters, settings, and plots now.
Enter Maxine Rubin!
This Short still takes place in the world of Heroine Rises but is centered around Maxine and Juliette. This short takes place sometime between the current period we are in at Heroine Rises (Irene Quest) and the end of the Ruby Ring quest. This story isn't necessary to the main Heroine Ries plot line and you should think of it as an unconnected side-story that goes into the relationship between Maxine and Juliette.
FireStarter - Maxine's Story
I've stopped working on the main Heroine Rises story for some time now as I've grown a bit anxious to move forward. So I've decided to do just that. This One-Shot is meant to be a primer for the audience and myself to the character of Maxine Rubin. Sure, Maxine appears in Rises but her role in the Ruby Ring Arc is nothing more than a side character. I do have big plans for her but again, I'm a bit tired of waiting. I've decided to just jump into a story centered around Maxine.
This story will be called FireStarter and unlike SweetWater, I have a clear direction and scope for this story. It will be a collection of comics that focus on Maxine's involvement in a critical event that shapes the world and plot of Heroine Rises in the future.
This story will take place AFTER events of the first 'Saga' of Heroine Rises, or the first 3 Arcs. So it does take place a bit in the future but I'll do my best to keep it self-contained and readable without prior knowledge of Madeline's story.
That should be the main project for the year.
Keep an eye out for developments on Firestarter. This one-shot was also an opportunity to test out a new style I might use for FireStarter. I might make more tweaks and practice with another short before starting the process for FS but that remains to be seen.
Stay posted!