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''A Distant Soil'' is an epic space opera comic book series published by Image Comics, combining science fiction and fantasy with Arthurian themes. Written and illustrated by Colleen Doran, it is one of the works for which she is best known. The story, which Doran created at the age of twelve, centers on a young girl who is born heir to an alien religious dynasty, and explores issues of politics, gender identity, and tolerance.〔(REVIEW: A Distant Soil vol. 1: The Gathering by Colleen Doran – Ladies Making Comics )〕 ''A Distant Soil'' is among the first US graphic novels created solely by a female writer/artist, appearing in fanzines when the artist was still in high school.〔''Magic and Melee'' Issue 1 1979〕 It was unique in comics at the time of publication for its New Age themes, crystal technology, and space opera setting. ''A Distant Soil'' is also notable for being among the earliest comics to feature openly gay characters, predating Marvel's Northstar, and for featuring a gay couple as romantic leads. The series gained a Gaylactic Spectrum Award nomination for Best Other Work in 2001.〔(Gaylactic Spectrum Awards – 2001 Information )〕 It was recommended as a graphic novel of interest to improve reading skills for "reluctant readers" in ''Library Media Connection ''〔"Using Graphic Novels to Attract Reluctant Readers and Encourage Literacy", Philip Crawford ''Library Media Connection ''February 2004〕''.'' The Voice of Youth Advocates profiled the book in their quarterly journal, stating that one of Doran's influences for ''A Distant Soil'' was the 1978 Samuel R. Delany/Howard Chaykin graphic novel ''Empire''. It is one of the earliest American comics to display the influence of manga (Japanese storytelling techniques,)〔(THIS WEEK IN COMICS! (8/7/13 – Real Dolls) | The Comics Journal )〕 though Doran does not consider'' A Distant Soil'' to be OEL (original English language manga).〔(PULP : : The Manga Magazine : : 5.08 American Manga Interview )〕 The series was a top ten nominee in the 2004 ''Comics Buyer's Guide'' Fan Awards, with Doran nominated as Favorite Penciler, Favorite Inker, Favorite Cover Artist, and ''A Distant Soil'' nominated for Favorite Comic Book.〔(22nd Annual Comic Buyers Guide Fan Awards (2004) )〕 ==Plot summary== On a world called Ovanan, an alien race of immortal and androgynous beings who possess psionic powers is ruled by a corrupt government unit called the Hierarchy. The Hierarchy uses their power to control the Avatar, a singular being who is able to amass all of the psionic power of the Ovanan people and wield that power as a weapon called The Collective. To cement their control over Ovanan and the Avatar, the Hierarchy also uses the Avatar to act as an angelic religious figure who stands in judgment of Ovanan children. The Avatar chooses who lives and dies, supposedly for religious purposes. In actuality, he selectively kills anyone who may mature into a threat to the Hierarchy's power base. Sometimes these undesirables are allowed to live as an Ovanan underclass, who are called Variants. An Ovanan man, Aeren, who was raised in the Avatar's household, was secretly allowed to live, despite having an undesirable and dangerous ability: he is a Disruptor, the opposite of the Avatar. While the Avatar gathers and magnifies psionic energy, a Disruptor disrupts energy. This ability can be used in many ways: to stop a heart, cause electrical disruptions in machinery, or to open any lock. Aeren was secretly involved with the Avatar Etan and his young heir Seren. However, after the suspicious death of the Etan, Aeren escaped to Earth, where he married a human woman and fathered five children, of which two survived: Liana and Jason, 15 and 17, who are born with powers they don't understand and can't control. Incarcerated in a mental hospital where they are the subjects of study, Jason becomes suspicious of the Institute's motives, and urges Liana to run away. During their escape, they become separated. Liana encounters a group of humans and an Ovanan man, and his companion, D'mer, also Rieken's lover, who hails from another planet called Kimar, which is under Hierarchy rule. Liana learns that she is an Avatar, and has the powers of the Ovanan godhead. However, her powers interfere with the ability of the Avatar, who currently sits on the Ovanan throne, to control the Collective, and if she is not eliminated, Ovanan is vulnerable as the Avatar is their greatest weapon. Rieken and D'mer go on a quest to find more humans who will help them save Liana, and to prevent Ovanan from exercising power over Earth. In addition to drawing in several humans, they discover a beautiful Ovanan exile named Bast, who was once one of the Avatar's acolytes. Also, they encounter magical beings from Arthurian myth. The implication is that myth and legend is a kind of Earth Collective, a manifestation of human will that has taken a different form than the psionic energy of Ovanan. Jason, meanwhile, is captured by the Hierarchy and tortured by the beautiful but evil Sere. Believing him to be dead, his body is disposed of, but he is actually in a drug-induced coma. He is rescued by the Resistance, which is working with Rieken to try to stage a coup and overthrow the Hierarchy. Unknown to Jason and his companions, Rieken is really Seren, the Avatar in disguise, who has quietly been working behind the scenes to try to overthrow the shackles of the oppressive Hierarchy. With Liana on one side, and Jason on another, the two groups rush to a confrontation. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「A Distant Soil」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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