project-image

Aquarius the Book of Mer

Created by Afua Richardson

A modern retelling of Mermaid myth and aquatic legends from the world over. A new series from Image comics by Afua Richardson

Latest Updates from Our Project:

My CPU is HEEEEEERE!
7 months ago – Tue, Oct 10, 2023 at 12:21:13 PM

Woo! I originally Ordered a Mac Book Air. Which turns out only has ONE USB C port. So I had to send the thing back and get a refund and let all that magically process but NOOOOW I have my computer and I am rearing to go!


I'll be attending NY Comic Con, this weekend , next weekend I'm speaking to Astrophysicist on the importance of innovative sci fi in future tech  with fiction as the prompt and NC Comic con in early November and those are the last shows I'll be doing for the year. Nothing else will be on my plate, no places to visit. Nothing until the Book of Mer is done! I've recruited Someone to help finish up the album for me so I'm not tinkering with THAT. but blah blah blah technical blah blah here is some art since I'm actually able to open some files  on my computer today!! so much to reorganize!!! but thank goodness for backups. 




Meet Glen Mun. You'll learn who he is soon.
My lil Aquarian Family tree with scribble faces so i can keep track of all these characters
Cerberus, unbeknownst to many was Medusa's Brother....

Release date. 

I know May 2024 is a LOOOONG way away but I've wanted this book to come out during Mer May and I'd like to stick to that. if my publisher thinks sooner is better then we'll go with that.  I just want to finish all 3 books so next time around there's no waiting.  but printing will start ASAP as soon as the rest of this is done. 

I also have to clarify something. if you see me at a show. Know I've been sponsored to be there. They pay my flight, table, hotel and appearance fee if that's applicable. it's how I'm able to work on this book and not take on other projects.  I've heard " how come you can go to shows but you can't finish this book??

It was at a time when I moved into my new place and was living in the cold with towers of boxes alone with all my things mixed up, broken and starting to mold. Conventions were the only way I remained sane. This has been a long process of freeing myself of a horrible situation,  recovering from a spine injury, healing my concussed mind, getting to a place where I'm not moving and dealing with floods and harassment 

finally this book is coherent and something I'm proud of, not just something to shove in your hands because I drew it. 

You'll meet Unelanvhi, The Cherokee Water Spider of Creation and learn how she brought the sun to the world. You'll also know how to SAY that properly [ took me a few months OOH nay lav NEW hee]  . You'll learn Atargatis, the Assyrian protector goddess who is our history's first mermaid story. Sedna, the Inuit Mother of all sea mammals, Sisiltl - the Kwakwaka'wakw [ KWA- KWA- EWOK] Shape shifter. Kurma, the World Turtle.  Uktena the Horned Serpent. Thousands of hours of research, writing, rewriting and amalgamation of cultures. I'm putting my all into this. I thank you for your patience and support. I've never taken this long to make anything honestly. For a time it was scary, because with my head injury I wasn't able to see from my imagination. But now that that's clear, i'm just so excited to have this DONE. And make something even better after it. [ This is actually a really LONG ongoing series. So it won't be a one and done. 


There's still a little time to get your Cameo in if you've not submitted a picture. In the thank yous where your names will be listed, there will be a page number next to your name so you can quickly find yourself!


Thank you, friends. 

afua

Computer is ordered! Book Progress shall continue!
8 months ago – Mon, Sep 18, 2023 at 10:51:09 AM

Thank you to everyone who came out to Baltimore comic con! That helped me get a computer which will be here this week! I'll be able to show progress and you can see what I've been up to on the Book of Mer. 

I'll be attending NY Comic con and NC comic con but that will be all  the shows for me until the book is done. I can't wait to share it with you!


More coming soon.


Afua

photo by Erik W.
Okoye from Black Panther

Baltimore Comic con
9 months ago – Tue, Aug 22, 2023 at 07:04:17 AM

Hey guys! been about a month since my last update. I'm still in the process of getting a new computer. Terrificon was kind of a bust. I sat , for the first time with Essential Sequential, which is a cool group of artist that print your prints for you and take a percentage of your sales and commissions but I only ended up making 1000 bux. Thank you for those who came by to say hi! Puts me a third of the way towards a computer. My table got lost behind Chris Claremont [ who is a very nice guy ] David Finch and Arthur Adam's line.  Chris Agreed to give me a blurb for the book of mer which is really awesome!

At any rate, I've reorganized my shipping supplies and stickers, prints and started pre making the rigid envelopes for the 777 orders I've got to fulfill so there's plenty for me to do until I get my new CPU. Plus I have a few "make me a mermaid" commissions to get thru, so I'll get to those within the next week. Baltimore is Sept 8-12th and that's usually a great show for me, so I think my computer issues will be solved very soon. In the meantime I just wanted to keep in touch and send a good word. 

Still working!!
10 months ago – Fri, Jul 21, 2023 at 10:18:53 AM

Thank you for your patience guys while I sort a lot of things out. I'm working really hard on this. 

I didn't want to post until I had more to say and show  but I can see your comments and patience wearing thin. Not that anyone cares that  because life happens but please forgive this format. My computer is dead and I'm writing this from my phone but I'm getting a new one on credit so I can get back to work. I have back ups so there's no loss of work this time other than time lost. 

Next update will have shipping dates.  You'll see me at conventions over the next few months to try and cover the cost of a new cpu.  The album will need some work since the engineer lobbed all the files together and they're no longer in sync but I'm asking a great musician friend to help me out with that.

One step forward and a few back but always forward. 


Afua

address updates!
about 1 year ago – Wed, Mar 15, 2023 at 07:37:15 AM

I need to make sure when this is ready to mail in a few months that your physical ( and digital pledges) are updated. please email [email protected] with the subject ATBOM address

I’ll need your

  1. name
  2. Email address 
  • —Physical addy ( for physical purchases)
  • —Phone number ( so UPS can call for delivery if there are issues)

Your information will be kept confidential.

Before I mail or email anything out, I’ll confirm with you via email that I have it correct. Your tracking numbers will be mailed as well as the details of your pledge. We’re a few months away but it will come quickly.