Mew! Hiss! Roowl!
I've always been interested in adapting a story to different media and formats. Whether it's a book to a movie, a comic to a movie, or in this case, a book to a comic, each new incarnation presents different problems and opportunities. So of course, I leaped at the chance to edit one of our first co-published projects with HarperCollins. And I have to say, it's been an adventure and a pleasure. The Warriors is one of the top children's series out there, chronicling the legend of several rival clans of cats and their struggle to survive on the fringes of human civilization. Over the course of the series, the characters age and grow, accept new responsibility and face serious obstacles and tragedy. Creating a manga that captures the spirit of these wonderful novels, but still adds something new to the world of Thunderclan was a real challenge.
Fortunately for me, my editorial counterpart at Harper is amazing and the rest of the creative team is top-notch. Erin Hunter, the original creator of the property, was incredibly supportive and enthusiastic about every step of the process. The team of James L. Barry on art and Dan Jolley on story really brought this terrific concept to life. Balancing the necessary realism—including the level of detail that Erin imparts to cat behavior and the world of the clans—with a manga sensibility was a lot of fun, and I'm thrilled with the result!
We present to you loyal readers a spin-off story that explores the fate of a beloved character who had disappeared from the novels series about halfway through, and whose fate had been left uncertain...until now!
Our tale starts with Graystripe, second in command of Thunderclan, several months after his capture, and we discover that he has been living with a Twoleg family as a kittypet. His wild instincts are being dulled by his easy life, but the pull to find his clan and rejoin his comrades is strong, and so a decision must be made, and a quest begun!
~Lillian Diaz-Przybyl, Editor
When the Twolegs destroy the warrior Clans' forest home, Graystripe--second in command of ThunderClan--is captured while trying to help his comrades escape! However, Graystripe soon discovers that the captive life as a pampered kittypet isn't all that bad. The cozy Twoleg nest and his new, affectionate family help Graystripe put his Clan days behind him. Still, nothing compares to the life of a warrior! With a new kittypet ally, Millie, by his side, will Graystripe ever find his way back to the Clan?
Erin Hunter - Creator
Property creator Erin Hunter is inspired by a love of cats and a fascination with the ferocity of the natural world. As well as having a great respect for nature in all its forms, Erin enjoys creating rich mythical explanations for animal behavior, shaped by her interest in astrology and standing stones.
Visit the Clans online and play the Warriors Quest game at
www.warriorcats.com.
For exclusive information on your favorite authors and artists, visit
www.authortracker.com.
Dan Jolley - Story
Dan Jolley is a native Georgian professional writer who started out writing comic books in the early nineties. Since then he has branched out into novels (both original and for licensed properties) as well as screenplays and video games. Dan now lives in Raleigh, North Carolina, with his wife Marie and five mostly useless cats.
For a full dose of Jolley, read this
Sequential Tart interview.
His
bio on the Palm ebook store lists some of his many achievements:
Dan Jolley has been writing comics for every major publisher in the industry since the early 1990s. Among the characters Dan has brought to life are cult darlings like
Vampirella, licensed film creations such as
Aliens, and pop culture icons like Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman. Dan achieved wide critical acclaim for
JSA: The Liberty File, an alternate-universe story set in World War II starring Batman and several Golden Age heroes, and for
Obergeist, currently being published by Top Cow, a sci-fi/horror story of a Nazi butcher scientist seeking redemption for his crimes. Dan's other projects include a
Sabretooth miniseries for Marvel and a collaborative
Angel novel with Scott Ciencin.
Some Assembly Required is his first published novel.
James L. Barry - Art
James L. Barry received his MFA in illustration at New York City’s School of Visual Arts in 2004. In addition to creating the original comics
Punzel and
The Last Prophet, James has illustrated numerous textbooks, album artwork and is a frequent contributor to the Rabid Rabbit Comics Anthology. He is thrilled to work with TOKYOPOP and Harper Collins in bringing the Warriors universe to manga.
James grew up in Nashville, TN with the kittypets Cinder and Maui and currently resides in Brooklyn, NY.
You can see more art and read all about James at
his Web site, and connect with him using
his profile on TOKYOPOP.com
Duke
An enormous black and white kittypet with a torn ear. He bests Graystripe in their first fight, but once Graystripe has Millie on his side, they make a good match.
Firestar
The leader of ThunderClan, Firestar is a handsome ginger tom. His vision of the destruction of the Clan lands by the Twolegs forces a change in the way the cat Clans work together, and he eventually leads the Clans to a new home. Though Graystripe was left behind, Firestar misses his old friend very much.
Millie
A neighboring kittypet who befriends Graystripe, and asks to learn the ways of the Warrior cats. But will she be willing to leave her comfortable life when the time comes? Millie is a brown tabby who starts off a little on the pudgy side, but quickly toughens up under Graystripe's tutelage.
Graystripe
Separated from the rest of ThunderClan by the Twolegs and their incursion into the forest, Graystripe has been taken in by a Twolegs family. His pride as a warrior of the Clan is very strong, but the life of a kittypet does have its charms. However, he is still haunted by his past and the responsibilities that wait for him back in the Clan lands. Proud and a fierce fighter, Graystripe has added wisdom to his list of characteristics since his first appearance in The Warriors series. His name comes from the darker stripe along his back.
Silverstream
A lovely, slender, silver female, Silverstream was Graystripe's star-crossed lover. A member of the rival RiverClan, Silverstream was killed before our story starts, but her spirit, now with StarClan still speaks to Graystripe occasionally to give him advice and guidance.
Coming Soon
Warriors rulez!!!!!! I have all 25 books
LEOPARDHEART
06.13.2008 10:16 AM