Exclusive Interview with Liam Sharp and a preview of his new Image Comics Series, Starhenge
Legendary comic artist, Liam Sharp has been teasing his upcoming creator owned series, Starhenge for some time now on social media, but now Image Comics has released the official preview of book one and I was able to chat with Sharp a little about the new series. Check out our conversation below, immediately followed by the official Image Comics preview!
Wes Greer – Hey, Liam, thanks for chatting with me today. Image released the first preview of your new creator owned series, Starhenge and I would love to know what your inspiration was for creating this series?
Liam Sharp - I have (as perhaps was evident in The Brave and The Bold) always been a fan of mythology. I started out loving Classical Greek and Roman epics and stories, but at some point I realized I knew nothing about Celtic and my more localized mythological material, and I wondered why. That led me, in my teens, to get quite obsessed with Irish and Welsh and ancient British mythology, and in particular Merlin - where he came from, and what sources. I didn’t mean the best-known Thomas Malory material with the knights, and chivalry, and so on, but the earlier, 5th Century originated material - which largely came from this writer called Geoffrey of Monmouth, who was doing for the nobles in Britain what Virgil did for Augustus in the Aeneid, and tying them to the gods via Brutus, the son of Aeneas (a Demi-god), founding Britain when he alighted at Totness and became the first king. It blew my mind we didn’t know this stuff, so I just wanted to do a comic about it one day… from around 13 onwards I’m guessing!
W.G. – What has the experience been like for you, not only writing and drawing Starhenge, but also producing it as a creator owned series?
L.S. - Well I love writing - possibly even more than drawing! So I always welcome the chance! This one proved very tough, though, as initially it was very hardcore - too steeped in hard sci-fi and ponderous fantasy writing. I quickly realized it needed a lighter touch, but wasn’t sure how to get there, until the present day characters were introduced, and then suddenly it all came together. I was keen it was accessible to pretty much anybody, not just Arthurian nerds and hard sci-fi readers!
W.G. – Everything about this story seems so exciting and I know I loved the first issue. What can readers expect from this series going forward?
L.S. - Once we get past the complex set-up it starts to become a wild adventure across time, with the future of humanity at stake. So I hope to continue to play with the possibilities inherent in the medium, but also have some wild fun with it! If the first six issue Book does well then I have three more volumes planned, plus potential spin-offs. It’s a HUGE sandpit to play in!
Check out our preview of Starhenge Book One below and make sure you head to your local comic shops to preorder your copies now!
Starhenge, Book One: The Dragon & the Boar #1 (of 6)
Publisher: Image Comics
Release Date: July 6, 2022
Cover Price: $3.99
Writer: Liam Sharp
Artist: Liam Sharp
Cover(s): Liam Sharp (A & B), Chris Weston (C), Ben Templesmith (D), Christian Ward (E), Ryan Brown (F), Matylda McCormack-Sharp (G), Mike Perkins (H)
Format: 30 pgs., Full-Color
Rating: Teen+
Publisher Description. Revered creator Liam Sharp cuts loose in the upcoming visually stunning masterpiece titled, Starhenge, Book One: The Dragon & the Boar. This six-issue fantasy/sci-fi series will launch from Image Comics in July.
In Starhenge, a future Merlin travels to 5th-century Britain to prevent monstrous time-traveling killer robots from robbing the universe of magic, and Amber Weaver’s lively present-day narrative reveals how she becomes drawn into a war across time.
The Terminator meets The Green Knight in this spralling 30-page first chapter inspired by the Arthurian legend and infused with sci-fi action.
Starhenge, Book One: The Dragon & the Boar #1 will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, July 6:
Cover A by Liam Sharp
Cover B by Liam Sharp
Cover C by Chris Weston
Cover D by Ben Templesmith
Cover E by Christian Ward
Cover F by Ryan Brown
Cover G by Matylda McCormack-Sharp
Cover H by Mike Perkins
Wes Greer – Hey, Liam, thanks for chatting with me today. Image released the first preview of your new creator owned series, Starhenge and I would love to know what your inspiration was for creating this series?
Liam Sharp - I have (as perhaps was evident in The Brave and The Bold) always been a fan of mythology. I started out loving Classical Greek and Roman epics and stories, but at some point I realized I knew nothing about Celtic and my more localized mythological material, and I wondered why. That led me, in my teens, to get quite obsessed with Irish and Welsh and ancient British mythology, and in particular Merlin - where he came from, and what sources. I didn’t mean the best-known Thomas Malory material with the knights, and chivalry, and so on, but the earlier, 5th Century originated material - which largely came from this writer called Geoffrey of Monmouth, who was doing for the nobles in Britain what Virgil did for Augustus in the Aeneid, and tying them to the gods via Brutus, the son of Aeneas (a Demi-god), founding Britain when he alighted at Totness and became the first king. It blew my mind we didn’t know this stuff, so I just wanted to do a comic about it one day… from around 13 onwards I’m guessing!
W.G. – What has the experience been like for you, not only writing and drawing Starhenge, but also producing it as a creator owned series?
L.S. - Well I love writing - possibly even more than drawing! So I always welcome the chance! This one proved very tough, though, as initially it was very hardcore - too steeped in hard sci-fi and ponderous fantasy writing. I quickly realized it needed a lighter touch, but wasn’t sure how to get there, until the present day characters were introduced, and then suddenly it all came together. I was keen it was accessible to pretty much anybody, not just Arthurian nerds and hard sci-fi readers!
W.G. – Everything about this story seems so exciting and I know I loved the first issue. What can readers expect from this series going forward?
L.S. - Once we get past the complex set-up it starts to become a wild adventure across time, with the future of humanity at stake. So I hope to continue to play with the possibilities inherent in the medium, but also have some wild fun with it! If the first six issue Book does well then I have three more volumes planned, plus potential spin-offs. It’s a HUGE sandpit to play in!
Check out our preview of Starhenge Book One below and make sure you head to your local comic shops to preorder your copies now!
Starhenge, Book One: The Dragon & the Boar #1 (of 6)
Publisher: Image Comics
Release Date: July 6, 2022
Cover Price: $3.99
Writer: Liam Sharp
Artist: Liam Sharp
Cover(s): Liam Sharp (A & B), Chris Weston (C), Ben Templesmith (D), Christian Ward (E), Ryan Brown (F), Matylda McCormack-Sharp (G), Mike Perkins (H)
Format: 30 pgs., Full-Color
Rating: Teen+
Publisher Description. Revered creator Liam Sharp cuts loose in the upcoming visually stunning masterpiece titled, Starhenge, Book One: The Dragon & the Boar. This six-issue fantasy/sci-fi series will launch from Image Comics in July.
In Starhenge, a future Merlin travels to 5th-century Britain to prevent monstrous time-traveling killer robots from robbing the universe of magic, and Amber Weaver’s lively present-day narrative reveals how she becomes drawn into a war across time.
The Terminator meets The Green Knight in this spralling 30-page first chapter inspired by the Arthurian legend and infused with sci-fi action.
Starhenge, Book One: The Dragon & the Boar #1 will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, July 6:
Cover A by Liam Sharp
Cover B by Liam Sharp
Cover C by Chris Weston
Cover D by Ben Templesmith
Cover E by Christian Ward
Cover F by Ryan Brown
Cover G by Matylda McCormack-Sharp
Cover H by Mike Perkins
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