The Contributors: Alan Grant

Alan Grant has been a freelance writer for over 30 years. His first comic script was a 5-part love story - based on The Portrait of Dorian Gray - that appeared in the girls' romantic magazine "Mirabelle" in the early 70s. He went on to co-write the groundbreaking comic, Judge Dredd with Kelvin Gosnell and, in 1980, he began co-writing with John Wagner, handling Judge Dredd, Strontium Dog, Sam Slade RoboHunter, Helltrekkers, Tharg's Future Shocks, Anderson PSI, Bad City Blue and more. 

In 1987, Alan began writing the Batman monthly book. He would go on writing Batman, Detective Comics, and Shadow of the Bat for the next 13 years with artist Norm Breyfogle. He also wrote Lobo, LEGION 89, and The Demon for DC comics, as well as the junior novelisations of several of the Batman movies and a number of original novels featuring DC comic characters like the Justice League.

For Epic Comics, a division of Marvel, Alan produced The Last American with John Wagner and Mike McMahon and wrote the comic adaptations of the RoboCop movies, as well as the monthly RoboCop comic. He also wrote several series of the Terminator comic at Dark Horse.

Along with Jon Wagner, Alan co-wrote The Bogie Man, which went on to become Scotland's best-selling independent comic and spawned several sequels. It was also adapted into a BBC TV show starring Robbie Coltrane, Craig Ferguson and Midge Ure.

More recently, Alan has been working for the Irish publisher Berserker, on The Dead: Plague of Flies with artist and old friend Simon Bisley, and Church of Hell with Glenn Fabry. Renegade Arts Entertainment commissioned him to write the 4-issue horror story Channel Evil, as well as the graphic novel, The 1812 War Between Canada and The USA.

For Book 3 of Fables for Japan, Alan wrote a short comic story about the complicated relationship between a servant boy and his master, exploring the meaning of buddhist forgiveness, called "Hotei's Gift," Illustrated by Federico Dallocchio.

Here is a glimpse:

The Contributors: Beñat Olea Irureta

Websites: http://obscurebt.blogspot.com.es/ and http://obscurebt.deviantart.com/

Beñat Olea Irureta is a young Basque illustrator who works for children books, comics, and novels. He loves creating magical and quirky worlds with real characters, capable of transporting and touching the reader.

In Book 3, Beñat illustrated the story, “Silent Blessing,” written by Rebecca Minor, about a father’s wish to be present for his daughter’s wedding. Here is a look at one of his pieces:

The Contributors: Laurie Greasley

Website: http://laurieillustrations.blogspot.com/

Laurie Greasley was born in Cumbria, England in 1985. He studied for his BA in illustration at the University College of the Creative Arts and graduated in 2006. Post graduation, he became an art teacher at two colleges in Coventry before leaving to teach English in Japan from 2008 to present.

During the March 11th quake, Laurie was living in Hitachi Ibaraki, a coastal city in northeastern Kanto, about 100km from Fukushima Daiichi. I asked him to write about his experiences for the introduction to Book 3. Here is an excerpt:

“Many of the local teachers and I had come together in my apartment. We were all pretty stressed but in good spirits and did the only thing we could...pooled food and alcohol. Even 3 days after we were still oblivious to what was going on around us. We were getting small snippets of information here and there but had no idea of the scale of the tragedy in the north. On the 3rd night, the power came back – which was cause for celebration in itself, as it allowed us to call home and tell loved ones we were still alive but we were sobered by the news reports.”

Laurie also illustrated the story, “A New Year,” about a young man saying good-by to his family during the 2012 New Year’s celebration. The story is set in Tokyo at the Zojoji Temple. I asked if Laurie would be interested in doing the artwork for this story and, by pure chance, it turned out that he was at Zojoji Temple, New Year’s night, at the very celebration described in the story – it was a perfect fit. Here is a peak:

The Contributors: Nicola Hwang

Website: http://nicolahwangportfolio.blogspot.com/

Nicola Hwang is an Illustrator, Character Designer, and Concept Artist. She also has a talent for memorizing cartoon dialogue, conversing with animals, and talking about herself in the third person.

Hailing from the metropolitan island of Singapore, Nicola has been doodling and drawing from the time, she could hold a crayon. Having grown up on a staple diet of cartoons, ranging from Disney classics to Warner Brother shorts and everything in between, it’s been her dream to work in the colorful realm of Animation. 

Since Graduating from Nanyang Polytechnic School of Digital Media Design with a diploma in Animation in 2007, Nicola has worked on everything from animated television series, to iPhone games, to eBooks for kids. She also illustrates for postcards and covers for comics. Nicola currently freelances as an independent Designer, Illustrator, and Voice Actor. When she’s not plastered to her work desk, she’s helping out at a local Children’s center, taste-testing (devouring) her mother’s cooking, and trying to get her two dogs Cooper and Lukas to help her take over the world.

Nicola provided illustrations for a series of poems, written by Carol Menchu, in book 3. Here are just a few of them:

The Contributors: Maria Henriksen

Website: http://maria-henriksen.blogspot.com/

Maria Henriksen is 20 years old and studying to become a Character Animator with a Bachelor at the Animation Workshop in Viborg, Denmark. There she is learning the foundations of art while finding new ways to develop her own style and try new techniques.

For Book 3, Maria illustrated the short story “Chīsana Aoi Chō,” written by Carol Menchu, about a young girl’s outing with her father and an unlikely companion.

Here is a glimpse: 

The Contributors: Matthew Funk

Website: http://onthesubjectofbeingawes​ome.blogspot.com/

Matthew Funk is a college student and an aspiring comic book writer and novelist from Bend, Oregon. After the tragic events of March 11th 2011, he felt compelled to help the suffering people in Japan. Matt initially came up with the idea for an anthology of stories and artwork inspired by Japanese folklore, called "Fairy Tales for Japan," with the proceeds going to the Red Cross. While that first incarnation of this project fell through, his work makes up a large part of "Fables for Japan."

Matt has recently started self-publishing his own anthology called Blank Page Comics. You can check them out here: http://blankpagecomics.blogspot.com/



As one of the top contributors, Matt has written 9 short stories that have appeared throughout the 3 volumes of Fables for Japan. "To My Masterpiece" tells the story of an artist trying to express his love for his wife. "Monkey and Wolf" gives voice to a smart-ass monkey and a smug wolf. "Sun and Moon" tells the legend of how the Sun and Moon found their places in the heavens. In "There is a Troll Under the Bridge," a trusting Samurai encounters a clever Troll. "There Were Pixies Dancing" warns of the dangers in upsetting a Pixie. "Origins of the Flying Fish" tells how an outcast fish finds his wings. "Aneko in OZ" takes us to the wonderful land of OZ for a new adventure. In "Fox and Bear," an arrogant young fox is taught a lesson in moderation. And last but not least, "Makoto the Kami" tells of a lonely Kami and the sacrifice he makes for love. Matt's stories take the reader to new and familiar places but often ends with a darkly comedic twist that leaves you wanting more.

Here is a brief preview from "Makoto the Kami," illustrated by Jean-Jacques Dzialowski and appearing in Book 3, coming SOON!

The Contributors: Whendy Muchlis Effendy

Website: http://sabercore23.deviantart.com/

Whendy Muchlis Effendy (a.k.a. Sabercore23) is a Visual Artist from Indonesia, his photo manipulation and digital design often uses the human figure as the central concept coupled with surrealistic elements from genres as diverse as horror, mythology, and steampunk. With a dark and dirty style, his work presents a fantastic and, on occasion, nightmarish world of imagination. He has provided art for a wide-range of media, including CD jackets, Book covers, and Film Posters. 

Whendy's powerful piece, "Rebuild." was coupled with Gareth Sleightholme's haiku of the same name for the cover of Book 3. Amidst its dark imagery there is a hope for the future, a single figure of light. A perfect image to represent what Fables for Japan is all about.

If you are interested or anything related to my work please can contact me via email: saber_core@yahoo.com

The Contributors: Jeff Baker

Website: http://www.jeffreynbaker.com

Jeff Baker is a Science-Fiction/Fantasy writer. He has taken his passion for story telling through visual arts and has transitioned to the written word. You can read more of his published work at eFiction Magazine.

Jeff wrote a short story for Fables for Japan book 1 called, "Hiroko's Tale," illustrated by Leanne Buckley, about a poor fisherman's simple gift of love to a Princess. In book 3 Jeff has teamed up with Chris Bivins to bring you a short comic story called "Brothers' Three," the story of three brothers and the treasure that comes between them. Here is a preview:

And here is an excerpt from "Hiroko's Tale" appearing in Book 1 of Fables for Japan:

Get Fables for Japan, Book 3 for FREE!

The half-price sale is over...awww. But I've got a NEW SPECIAL OFFER to...um...well offer you.

From today, April 4th, to the release of Book 3 in mid-May, everyone who buys both e-books 1 and 2 will receive Volume 3 for FREE!

Our goal is to raise $3000.00 dollars for charity between now and then. That's what this project is about after all. With almost 12,000 people following on our Facebook Page, $3000 SHOULD be a breeze. If only a third buy the books today, we can make our goal without even trying. It's a beautiful book, full of amazing art and stories. At only $3.95 apiece, it is remarkable easy on your pocket book - and, as a bonus, you get to help someone in the process.

Really, what excuse do you have?

Buy them now!

FABLES FOR JAPAN

Book 1

Downloadable e-Book

124 pages!

Only $3.95!

FABLES FOR JAPAN

Book 2

Downloadable e-Book

131 pages!

Only $3.95!

The Contributors: Eduardo Francisco

Website: http://edufrancisco.deviantart.com/
Twitter: @eDufRancisco

Eduardo Francisco is a Brazilian illustrator and comic artist born in Sao Paulo. He has worked professionally in this industry since he was 17 and has collaborated and worked for several studios and publishing houses from around the world, including Image Comics, DC comics and Darkhorse comics.

Eduardo, along with painter Stefani Rennee donated this piece to Book 3, entitled simply, “Samurai.”