Ignition City: Difference between revisions

*Ignition City*
Ignition City
Publication information
Publisher	Avatar Press
Schedule	Monthly
Format	Limited series
Genre	Alternate history, science fiction;
Publication date	April – October 2009
No. of issues	5
Creative team
Created by	Warren Ellis; Gianluca Pagliarani
Written by	Warren Ellis
Penciller(s)	Gianluca Pagliarani
Inker(s)	Chris Drier
Colorist(s)	Digikore Studios
Editor(s)	William A. Christensen
Collected editions
Ignition City	ISBN 1-59291-087-4

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Ignition City is a five-issue science fiction comic book limited series, written by Warren Ellis and illustrated by Gianluca Pagliarani. It was published in 2009 by American company Avatar Press.

Publication history

Ellis initially conceived the plot in 2005. After some brief initial work in 2006, the series was not mentioned again until after the release of his Aetheric Mechanics in 2008.^[1] Inspirations included the Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers serials, the show Deadwood, the artist Magdalene Veen,^[2] the film Metropolis, the Berlin Tegel Airport, Ray Bradbury's short story "Rocket Summer", Alan Moore's comic The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, and his own Ministry of Space comic (which was in turn inspired by Dan Dare).^[3]^[4]

Plot

Ignition City is set in an atompunk/dieselpunk alternate history in the year 1956; in this timeline, World War II was interrupted by a Martian invasion. As a result, space travel became commonplace. Ignition City itself is Earth's last spaceport; a circular artificial island located in equatorial waters. Rockets launch from a ring of gantries ringing the island, and the interior is a shantytown populated by former spacemen who have found themselves out of work due to a planet-wide ban on space travel. The story follows Mary Raven, a young woman who travels to Ignition City after her father, a formerly famous spaceman named Rock Raven, is killed there.^[5]

Characters

Mary Raven – former astronaut and daughter of the space hero Rock Raven, comes to Ignition City to investigate the death of her father.
Rock Raven – British space hero, veteran of campaigns against the Martians and thus possibly inspired by Dan Dare.
Lionel "Buster" Crabb – British government official, a friend to Mary and her father. Based on the real life Navy officer thought captured and brainwashed by the Russians.
Lightning Bowman – one of the first three humans in space (alongside Gayle Ransom and Doc Vukovic), now marooned in Ignition City. Inspired by Flash Gordon.
Gayle Ransom – former lover of Lighting Bowman, and another of the first three humans in space, now a bar-owner and gun-runner in Ignition City. Inspired by Dale Arden.
Dr. Dragomir Vukovic, AKA 'Doc Vukovic' – another of the first three humans in space, he built the original spaceship out of junk parts. Inspired by Dr. Hans Zarkov.
Kharg the Killer – dictator of the planet Khargu and ally of Adolf Hitler, who was defeated by Lightning Bowman, Gayle Ransom, and Doc Vukovic. Inspired by Ming the Merciless.
Bronco – drunken customer in Gayle Bowman's bar who talks of his time spent five centuries in the future, and thus analogous to Buck Rogers.
Piet Vanderkirk – Gayle Bowman's right-hand man. Former member of the Royal Netherlands Navy's Solar Patrol in the Pluto Detachment, part of "The Chain" which appears to refer to a psychically linked group of soldiers using gifted alien technology, similar to E. E. Smith's Lensmen.
Yuri – washed-up "Russia's greatest cosmonaut", since disavowed and abandoned in Ignition City.
Marshal Pomeroy – Corrupt lawman of the Ignition City settlement. Flies with the aid of a jet pack, reminiscent of Commando Cody.

Collected editions

The series has been collected into a trade paperback:

Ignition City Volume 1 (144 pages, Avatar, February 2010, ISBN 1-59291-087-4)

Notes

References

Ignition City at the Grand Comics Database
Ignition City at the Comic Book DB (archived from the original)

External links

Official website
Ignition City production blog Archived 16 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
Avatar Press Ignition City section

Reviews

Sunday Slugfest: Ignition City #1 and #2 Archived 25 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine, Comics Bulletin
Best Shots Extra: Ignition City #1, Newsarama
Review of Ignition City #1, Comic Book Resources

[1] Reviews: Ignition City #1, Comic Book Resources

[2] Ignition City workblog: July 17

[3] Ignition City workblog: July 15

[4] Ignition City workblog: July 17

[5] Ignition City #1 Review, IGN

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Short description|2009 comic book limited series}}
+{{EngvarB|date=September 2013}}
+{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
 {{Infobox comic book title  <!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics-->
 <!-- |title               = Ignition City -->
 |image               = Ignition_City_Issue_1_Cover_Page.jpg
 |imagesize           = <!-- default 250 -->
 |caption             =
 |schedule            = Monthly
 |limited             = y
@@ Line 11: / Line 14: @@
 |publisher           = [[Avatar Press]]
 |startmo             = April
 |startyr             = 2009
 |endmo               = October
 |endyr               = 2009
 |issues              = 5
 |main_char_team      =
 |writers             = [[Warren Ellis]]
 |artists             =
 |pencillers          = [[Gianluca Pagliarani]]
 |inkers              = [[Chris Drier]]
 |letterers           =
 |colorists           = [[Digikore Studios]]
 |editors             = [[William A. Christensen]]
 |creative_team_month =
 |creative_team_year  =
 |creators            = [[Warren Ellis]]<br />[[Gianluca Pagliarani]]
 |TPB                 = Ignition City
 |ISBN                = 1-59291-087-4
 |TPB#                =
 |ISBN#               =
 |subcat              = Avatar Press
 |sort                = Ignition City
 }}
-'''''Ignition City''''' is a five-issue [[science fiction]] [[comic book]] [[limited series]], written by [[Warren Ellis]] and illustrated by [[Gianluca Pagliarani]].
+'''''Ignition City''''' is a five-issue science fiction comic book [[Limited series (comics)|limited series]], written by [[Warren Ellis]] and illustrated by [[Gianluca Pagliarani]]. It was published in 2009 by American company [[Avatar Press]].
 ==Publication history==
-Ellis initially conceived the plot in 2005. After some brief initial work in 2006 the series was not mentioned again until after the release of his ''[[Aetheric Mechanics]]'' in 2008.<ref>[http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=user_review&id=898 Reviews: Ignition City #1], [[Comic Book Resources]]</ref> Inspirations included the ''[[Flash Gordon (serial)|Flash Gordon]]'' and ''[[Buck Rogers (serial)|Buck Rogers]]'' serials, the show ''[[Deadwood (TV series)|Deadwood]]'', the artist [[Magdalene Veen]] alias [[Eliza Gauger]] (one of the major designers of the steampunk band [[Abney Park (band)|Abney Park]]),<ref>[http://www.warrenellis.com/?p=2803 Ignition City workblog: July 17]</ref> the film ''[[Metropolis (1927 film)|Metropolis]]'', the [[Berlin Tegel Airport]], [[Ray Bradbury]]'s short story "[[The_Martian_Chronicles#Rocket_Summer_.28January_1999.2F2030.29|Rocket Summer]]", [[Alan Moore]]'s comic ''[[The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen]]'', and his own ''[[Ministry of Space]]'' comic (which was in turn inspired by ''[[Dan Dare]]'').<ref>[http://www.warrenellis.com/?p=2797 Ignition City workblog: July 15]</ref><ref>[http://www.warrenellis.com/?p=2803 Ignition City workblog: July 17]</ref>
+Ellis initially conceived the plot in 2005. After some brief initial work in 2006, the series was not mentioned again until after the release of his ''[[Aetheric Mechanics]]'' in 2008.<ref>[http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=user_review&id=898 Reviews: Ignition City #1], [[Comic Book Resources]]</ref> Inspirations included the ''[[Flash Gordon (serial)|Flash Gordon]]'' and ''[[Buck Rogers (serial)|Buck Rogers]]'' serials, the show ''[[Deadwood (TV series)|Deadwood]]'', the artist Magdalene Veen,<ref>[http://www.warrenellis.com/?p=2803 Ignition City workblog: July 17]</ref> the film ''[[Metropolis (1927 film)|Metropolis]]'', the [[Berlin Tegel Airport]], [[Ray Bradbury]]'s short story "[[The Martian Chronicles#Rocket Summer .28January 1999.2F2030.29|Rocket Summer]]", [[Alan Moore]]'s comic ''[[The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen]]'', and his own ''[[Ministry of Space]]'' comic (which was in turn inspired by ''[[Dan Dare]]'').<ref>[http://www.warrenellis.com/?p=2797 Ignition City workblog: July 15]</ref><ref>[http://www.warrenellis.com/?p=2803 Ignition City workblog: July 17]</ref>
 ==Plot==
-''Ignition City'' is set in an [[atompunk]]/[[dieselpunk]] [[alternate history]], by the year of 1956, where [[World War II]] was interrupted by a [[Martian]] invasion. As a result, [[Spaceflight|space travel]] became commonplace. Ignition City itself is a circular island [[spaceport]], the interior of which is populated by former spacemen. The story follows Mary Raven, a young woman who travels to Ignition City after her father, a formerly famous spaceman named Rock Raven, is killed there.<ref>[http://comics.ign.com/articles/971/971268p1.html Ignition City #1 Review], [[IGN]]</ref>
+''Ignition City'' is set in an [[atompunk]]/[[dieselpunk]] [[alternate history]] in the year 1956; in this timeline, [[World War II]] was interrupted by a [[Martian]] invasion. As a result, [[Spaceflight|space travel]] became commonplace. Ignition City itself is [[Earth]]'s last [[spaceport]]; a circular [[artificial island]] located in equatorial waters. Rockets launch from a ring of gantries ringing the island, and the interior is a shantytown populated by former spacemen who have found themselves out of work due to a planet-wide ban on space travel. The story follows Mary Raven, a young woman who travels to Ignition City after her father, a formerly famous spaceman named Rock Raven, is killed there.<ref>[http://comics.ign.com/articles/971/971268p1.html Ignition City #1 Review], [[IGN]]</ref>
 ==Characters==
-*Mary Raven - former astronaut and daughter of the space hero Rock Raven, comes to Ignition City to investigate the death of her father.
+*Mary Raven – former astronaut and daughter of the space hero Rock Raven, comes to Ignition City to investigate the death of her father.
-*Rock Raven - British space hero, veteran of campaigns against the Martians and thus possibly inspired by [[Dan Dare]].
+*Rock Raven – British space hero, veteran of campaigns against the Martians and thus possibly inspired by [[Dan Dare]].
-*[[Lionel Crabb|Lionel "Buster" Crabb]] - British government official, a friend to Mary and her father. Based on the real life Navy officer thought captured and brainwashed by the Russians, although his nickname appears to be an allusion to the American actor, [[Buster Crabbe]], who played [[Flash Gordon]] early in his career.
+*[[Lionel Crabb|Lionel "Buster" Crabb]] – British government official, a friend to Mary and her father. Based on the real life Navy officer thought captured and brainwashed by the Russians.
-*Lightning Bowman - one of the first three humans in space (alongside Gayle Ransom and Doc Vukovic), now marooned in Ignition City. Inspired by [[Flash Gordon]].
+*Lightning Bowman – one of the first three humans in space (alongside Gayle Ransom and Doc Vukovic), now marooned in Ignition City. Inspired by [[Flash Gordon]].
-*Gayle Ransom - former lover of Lighting Bowman, and another of the first three humans in space, now a bar-owner and gun-runner in Ignition City. Inspired by [[Dale Arden]].
+*Gayle Ransom – former lover of Lighting Bowman, and another of the first three humans in space, now a bar-owner and gun-runner in Ignition City. Inspired by [[Dale Arden]].
-*Dr. Dragomir Vukovic, AKA 'Doc Vukovic' - another of the first three humans in space, he built the original spaceship out of junk parts. Inspired by Dr. [[Hans Zarkov]].
+*Dr. Dragomir Vukovic, AKA 'Doc Vukovic' – another of the first three humans in space, he built the original spaceship out of junk parts. Inspired by Dr. [[Hans Zarkov]].
-*Kharg the Killer - dictator of the planet Khargu and ally of [[Adolf Hitler]], who was defeated by Lightning Bowman, Gayle Ransom, and Doc Vukovic. Inspired by [[Ming the Merciless]].
+*Kharg the Killer – dictator of the planet Khargu and ally of [[Adolf Hitler]], who was defeated by Lightning Bowman, Gayle Ransom, and Doc Vukovic. Inspired by [[Ming the Merciless]].
-*Bronco - drunken customer in Gayle Bowman's bar who talks of his time spent five centuries in the future, and thus analogous to [[Buck Rogers]].
+*Bronco – drunken customer in Gayle Bowman's bar who talks of his time spent five centuries in the future, and thus analogous to [[Buck Rogers]].
-*Piet Vanderkirk - Gayle Bowman's right-hand man. Former member of the Navy's Solar Patrol in the Pluto Detachment, part of "The Chain" which appears to refer to a psychically linked group of soldiers using gifted alien technology, similar to [[E. E. Smith]]'s [[Lensmen]].
+*Piet Vanderkirk – Gayle Bowman's right-hand man. Former member of the  [[Royal Netherlands Navy|Royal Netherlands Navy's]] Solar Patrol in the Pluto Detachment, part of "The Chain" which appears to refer to a psychically linked group of soldiers using gifted alien technology, similar to [[E. E. Smith]]'s [[Lensmen]].
-*[[Yuri Gagarin|Yuri]] - washed-up "Russia's greatest cosmonaut", since disavowed and abandoned in Ignition City.
+*[[Yuri Gagarin|Yuri]] – washed-up "Russia's greatest cosmonaut", since disavowed and abandoned in Ignition City.
-*Marshal Pomeroy - Corrupt lawman of the Ignition City settlement.  Flies with the aid of a [[jet pack]], reminiscent of [[Commando Cody]].
+*Marshal Pomeroy – Corrupt lawman of the Ignition City settlement. Flies with the aid of a [[jet pack]], reminiscent of [[Commando Cody]].
 ==Collected editions==
 The series has been collected into a [[trade paperback (comics)|trade paperback]]:
-*''Ignition City Volume 1'' (144 pages, Avatar, February 2010, ISBN 1-59291-087-4)
+*''Ignition City Volume 1'' (144 pages, Avatar, February 2010, {{ISBN|1-59291-087-4}})
 ==Notes==
@@ Line 70: / Line 74: @@
 ==External links==
 *{{official website|http://ignitioncity.com}}
-*[http://www.warrenellis.com/index.php?s=ignition+city Ignition City production blog]
+*[http://www.warrenellis.com/index.php?s=ignition+city Ignition City production blog] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716072624/http://www.warrenellis.com/index.php?s=ignition+city |date=16 July 2011 }}
 *[http://www.avatarpress.com/titles/warren-ellis-ignition-city/ Avatar Press Ignition City section]
 ===Reviews===
 <!-- For a reception section -->
-*[http://www.comicsbulletin.com/reviews/123956434080881.htm Sunday Slugfest: Ignition City #1] and [http://www.comicsbulletin.com/reviews/124059529621016.htm #2], [[Comics Bulletin]]
+*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090415183240/http://www.comicsbulletin.com/reviews/123956434080881.htm Sunday Slugfest: Ignition City #1] and [http://www.comicsbulletin.com/reviews/124059529621016.htm #2] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090425225638/http://www.comicsbulletin.com/reviews/124059529621016.htm |date=25 April 2009 }}, [[Comics Bulletin]]
 *[http://www.newsarama.com/comics/040911-BSE-Ignition-City.html Best Shots Extra: Ignition City #1], [[Newsarama]]
 *[http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=user_review&id=898 Review of Ignition City #1], [[Comic Book Resources]]
@@ Line 81: / Line 85: @@
 {{Warren Ellis|type=comic}}
+[[Category:2009 comics debuts]]
+[[Category:2009 comics endings]]
 [[Category:Fictional populated places]]
-[[Category:Mars in fiction]]
+[[Category:Comics set on Mars]]
-[[Category:Space Westerns]]
+[[Category:Space Western comics]]
 [[Category:Steampunk comics]]
-[[Category:World War II alternate histories]]
+[[Category:Comics about World War II alternate histories]]
+[[Category:Fiction set in 1956]]
+[[Category:Comics about alien invasions]]
+[[Category:Comics set during World War II]]
+[[Category:Comics set in the 1950s]]

v t e Warren Ellis bibliography
Marvel Comics	Astonishing X-Men Hellstorm: Prince of Lies Excalibur Ghost Rider Annual Starjammers Druid Ruins 2099 Unlimited Doom 2099 Thor Carnage: Mindbomb Storm Pryde and Wisdom Wolverine Ultimate Fantastic Four Ultimate Galactus Trilogy Iron Man: Extremis Nextwave newuniversal Thunderbolts Ultimate Human Ultimate Comics: Armor Wars Secret Avengers
WildStorm	Planetary DV8 Stormwatch Apollo Engineer Jack Hawksmoor Jenny Sparks Midnighter WildC.A.T.s/Aliens The Authority Global Frequency Mek Red Tokyo Storm Warning Desolation Jones Midnighter (2006) Ocean
DC Comics/Vertigo	Transmetropolitan story arcs Hellblazer Orbiter Jack Cross JLA Classified Midnighter (2015)
Image Comics	Lazarus Churchyard City of Silence Ministry of Space Down Fell Trees Injection
AiT/Planet Lar	Switchblade Honey Come In Alone
Avatar Press	Bad World Blackgas Gravel Wolfskin Black Summer Doktor Sleepless FreakAngels (webcomic) Anna Mercury No Hero Ignition City Supergod
Apparat Singles Group	Crécy Aetheric Mechanics
Dynamite Entertainment	James Bond
Novels	Crooked Little Vein Gun Machine
Films	Red Red 2
Others	Warren Ellis: Captured Ghosts (documentary) Cold Winter (video game) Hostile Waters (PC game) G.I. Joe: Resolute (animated series) Castlevania (animated series)