Naiad Lands
Naiad Lands was Jack Munroe's first self-published comic book, which had been thought up when he was fourteen. At sixteen, he published two issues with his newly-created company - TreeFrog Publications. Althought Jack knew little about comics on the market, he quickly learned about the business by attending small-press conventions, meetings at book stores (featuring special comic-booky guests), asking questions, and weeding through the bullshit that makes up most of the industry. Instantly, he began pushing envelopes filled with the printed issues, character sketches, story outlines, and breathtaking cover letters. Unfortunately, most of the people he sent submissions to were merely self-publishers who would call him up to tell him so (along with either telling him how awesome he was, or how bad he was). A little disheartened, Jack took to the fearfully-dreaded comic book playing-field: the comic book store. He studied publishers (indy pubs, mostly) and what they published. A couple caught his eye and it was back to the envelopes!
Not long after that, Jack finally received a written reply from Sirius Entertainment. The submissions editor really liked his style and requested more work. Having not planned ahead, Jack immediately began work on another version of the first issue and printed it up (again, using TFPublications). This version was ten times better than the first, and you could really tell that Jack's style had evolved into something all its own. Still, the editor requested more. Jack sent more. The editor requested more. Jack flipped a shit and created Die, Spanks! at seventeen - A young man's frustration-vent against the stubborn comic book industry. Eventually, however, Jack became bored of Die, Spanks! and started working on Naiad Lands, yet again. The submissions editor must have had a ten foot cigar, because the smoke that was being blown up Jack's ass lasted until he was twenty. In the meantime, Jack was also making himself known as a powerful underground comics force in Santa Barbara, California - even if to only a few people. But still, no job in comics. What would be the answer?
(Pornography...)
But for now, we are going to take a look at Jack Munroe's six-year project, Naiad Lands. What had started out to be a cutsey comic book quickly became an intricate world in itself. Basically, the story grew up as Jack did. And the world got bigger as Jack's did. And although it may not be pure genius, it is a marvelous introduction to one creator's career as a master of artistic sequences...
Perhaps one day, he'll start this up again... knowing it will be published.
the original Naiad Lands cover Naiad Lands - third time around
Boob-Oh - God of Agility
Kassia - a young fire elemental
Kett - agent of the CCC
Norah Lark - agent of the CCC
