The story of Artesia is part of an epic fantasy cycle called The Book of Dooms, intended to comprise 22 separate series. Each series will be six issues in length, and will be collected into a hardcover edition. Artesia’s story is for Mature Readers, and some parts of it contain graphic violence, nudity and strong sexual content.

Artesia
The Highlands of Daradja are dotted with ancient citadels and castles, held by petty kings and clans who war against each other and the brigand bands that plague the bleak and mountainous region. Artesia, once a concubine to King Branimir of the Citadel of Dara Dess, has in time risen to become one of his chief war captains; a priestess to dread goddesses; and a magician like her mother once was, controlling warlike spirits. She and her captains carry the cause of their king against his enemies in the field, but afraid of her growing power, her King betrays her. And in the middle of betrayal and tragedy comes word that the Middle Kingdoms have been invaded by an ancient enemy to them all, the Empire of Thessid-Gola…

Artesia Afield
The second series, Artesia Afield, follows Artesia as she leads an army out of the Highlands to aid the Middle Kingdoms against the returning Thessids. She and her captains are confronted with the myriad dangers and distractions of life on campaign as they strive to meet their Imperial foe, and through it all Artesia is plagued by dreams and haunted by ghosts, as she ponders the choices she has made, and those she hasn’t…

Artesia Afire
In the third series, Artesia Afire, the war to save the Middle Kingdoms from the Thessid-Golan Empire continues. Artesia has proclaimed herself Queen of Dara Dess, and now with magic coursing through her veins, the whispers of ghosts in her ears, and an army at her back, she confronts the temptations, limits, and consequences of power.

Artesia Besieged
The Calm Before. Artesia – queen, warlord, and witch – has led her armies from their homes in the mountains down into the Middle Kingdoms to aid their erstwhile neighbors in a war against a common enemy: an ancient Empire returned to enforce its historic claim to the lowlands. Following up on the last Artesia book, Artesia Afire, and the release of the Artesia: Adventures in the Known World role-playing game, this series finds Artesia and her armies trapped in an odd stalemate at the city of Abenton, guests of the city’s ruler, Elizabeta, a baroness with a dark secret. The imminent arrival of barbarian enemies at their gates is only the least of her problems, as recalcitrant allies, mutinous captains, angry ghosts and spirits, lurking assassins, and jealous lovers begin to spring their traps and plots….

Each series will be followed by an Annual, which will include stories outside of the main narrative and background information for readers. In addition, limited editions of select issues were prepared for Artesia’s first publisher, Sirius.

REVIEWS

“Comics has no other on-going story quite like Artesia, nor does it have many other female characters as dynamic and intelligently written as her. This series is a treasure…. The drama in Artesia does not come from swinging swords and epic battles — although Mark Smylie’s insanely good at drawing those — it comes from his intense understanding of what happens when people come together in the name of politics and religion, of his understanding of the evil and the good that mankind is capable of.”

– Katherine Keller, www.SequentialTart.com

“The thinking man’s fantasy epic for the 21st century begins here… The world of Daradja [is] as infinitely detailed as any ever created in the annals of fantasy. Smylie cites Tolkien and Robert E. Howard as his influences…and he seems to have captured the essence they began their epic stories with and spun it into something uniquely his own. Never before has a tale of such immense magnitude and depth debuted in comic form…”

– Mike Bullock, www.brokenfrontier.com

AWARDS

Artesia Afire: Silver Award Winner for ForeWord Magazine’s Best Graphic Novel of 2004.Artesia: ForeWord Magazine’s Gold Award Winner for Best Graphic Novel of 2003.

Artesia, Artesia Afield, and Artesia Afire: Selected as Best Comics Entry at the 2004 DIY Book Festival.

Artesia: Winner of Broken Frontier’s 2004 Paper Screen Gem for Fantasy (www.brokenfrontier.com)

Artesia: Selected as a Comic Worth Reading by Joanna Draper Carlson’s www.comicsworthreading.com

Artesia: Sequential Tart’s Read This or Die for July 1999; selected for Sequential Tart’s Recommended Reading Lists (Action/Adventure) (www.sequentialtart.com)

Mark Smylie: Nominated for an Eisner Award for Talent Deserving of Wider Recognition 2001

Mark Smylie: Nominated for the Russ Manning Award for Best Newcomer 1999