Star Trekking & Skywalking with The Sequart Organization
THE SEQUART Organization is devoted to the study of popular culture and the promotion of comic books as a legitimate art form. They have published over twenty books, five films, and thousands of online articles and have more recently started branching out publishing their own comics.
We’re outlining the contents of some of the wares they have to offer, then leaving it to you to check out if you feel you want to be further educated and illuminated on the subjects matters they offer… Today we're looking at their Star Trek books and Star Wars books.
NEW LIFE AND NEW CIVILIZATIONS: EXPLORING STAR TREK COMICS
On 8 thSeptember 1966, Gene Roddenberry introduced the world to a science-fiction TV series that dared to go where none had gone before. Star Trek, with its progressive stance on civil rights, explored not only strange new worlds in the final frontier of space, but also the human condition, revealing the heights to which humans could soar, while exposing the ugliness of racism, sexism, and war. Though cancelled after only three seasons, Star Trek soon returned in syndication, spawning a cult phenomenon that has since expanded to include four follow-up TV series, an animated cartoon, a dozen movies (and counting), and a staggering number of ancillary novels, short stories, and comic books. Once deemed a network failure, Star Trek survived to become one of the most influential franchises of all time.
Licensed Star Trek fiction has played no small part in that success. Comics have enjoyed almost continuous publication since 1967, spanning more than a thousand issues and storylines to date, including Gold Key/Western, City Magazines/IPC, Marvel Comics, Power Records, the L.A. Times Syndicate, DC Comics, Malibu Graphics, WildStorm Productions, Tokypop, IDW Publishing, and Wired Magazine. Quality has varied, from hilariously off the mark to the reverential but from one era to the next, the illustrated voyages of the Starship Enterprise have continued Star Trek‘s ongoing mission as a wagon train to the stars.
New Life and New Civilizations: Exploring Star Trek Comics examines the long history of Star Trek in comics, featuring essays from popular Trek comic scribes and novelists, as well as other experts. The book features a foreword by David Gerrold (author of The Trouble with Tribbles) and a cover by Patricio Carbajal. Edited by Joseph F. Berenato, it runs 304 pages and is available in print and on Kindle.
A LONG TIME AGO: EXPLORING THE STAR WARS CINEMATIC UNIVERSE
In 1977, the cinematic world was changed forever, thanks to a science-fantasy film about a farm boy, a princess, a wizard, a cyborg, two smugglers, and a pair of robots. Written and directed by George Lucas, Star Wars — in essence, The Wizard of Oz meets The Odyssey meets Lord of the Rings, but in space — was a visual and audio extravaganza like nothing anyone had seen before. And going to the movies would never be the same again. The movie ushered in two (soon to be three) film trilogies and numerous television shows, making the franchise one of the most successful of all time. Star Wars mesmerised audience-goers young and old with its state-of-the-art special effects and resonant soundtrack, and it made “May the Force be with you” a household phrase.
Edited by Rich Handley and Joseph F. Berenato this book examines the entire big/small-screen saga that is Star Wars. From theatrical films to TV movies, from cartoons and commercials to variety shows and video-based amusement-park rides, this book examines why Star Wars keeps audiences glued to their seats. It features analytic essays about the franchise’s long history from popular film historians, novelists, bloggers, and subject-matter experts, exploring why the films proved so immediately popular, where the movies and TV shows have succeeded and faltered, and why we all keep going back for more.
The book features a foreword by former Star Wars Insider editor Scott Chernoff, and notable essayists include authors Keith DeCandido, Kevin Dilmore, Dayton Ward; Star Wars fan-site creators Joe Bongiorno and Nathan Butler; and Sequart alums Julian Darius and Ian Dawe.
A Long Time Ago runs 354 pages and is available in print and on Kindle.
A GALAXY FAR, FAR AWAY: EXPLORING STAR WARS COMICS
Next will be 2016’s A Galaxy Far, Far Away: Exploring Star Wars Comics: Editors Joseph F. Berenato and Rich Handley pick up where their previous volume left off.
Over a thousand comics have been produced from a variety of publishers, including Blackthorne Publishing, the L.A. Times Syndicate, Dark Horse Comics, Scholastic, Tokyopop, and more. They’ve spanned the history of the franchise, from millennia before Anakin Skywalker’s birth to beyond Luke Skywalker’s death, and they’ve focused on every aspect of the Star Wars universe.
This anthology features insightful, analytic essays examining the Star Wars comics, written by popular comic historians, novelists, bloggers, and subject-matter experts — plus, a foreword by fan-favoriteStar Wars comics writer John Ostrander. From Jaxxon to Cody Sunn-Childe, from Ulic Quel-Droma to Lady Lumiya, find out how comics helped to keep the Star Wars Universe alive, and why you’re missing out if you’re not reading them.
A MORE CIVILIZED AGE: EXPLORING THE STAR WARS EXPANDED UNIVERSE
A More Civilized Age: Exploring the Star Wars Expanded Universe. More than 250 Star Wars novels have been published by Del Rey, Bantam Books, Ballantine Books, and others, aimed at both young and adult readers. Spanning the decades before, during, and after the films’ events, the books have spawned new galactic governments, explored the nature of the Jedi and the Sith, and developed the Star Wars mythos well beyond merely a series of films and television shows.
Editors Rich Handley and Joseph F. Berenato will look back at not only the Star Wars novels but also video games, radio shows, role-playing games, and more. Written by popular film historians, novelists, bloggers, and subject-matter experts — including fan-favourite Star Wars novelists Timothy Zahn you can find out how the book franchise expanded.
Featuring an introduction by John Ostrander, the book is expected in time for Christmas 2016.
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