I say we call it “Teslapunk”
I’m a big fan of Warren Ellis’ writing (Transmetropolitan is a personal favourite!), so when I heard that he was writing a four part series called “Captain Swing And The Electrical Pirates Of Cindery Island“, I was pretty excited. The first issue was released yesterday by Avatar Press, and it did not disappoint. Raulo Caceres’ style of meticulous hatching manages to evoke a sense of Victorian pen and ink plates while demonstrating a depth of contrast that is modernized very nicely by Digikore Studios’ colour work.
The series is set in 1830s London, and centres on Captain Swing, a character associated with Spring Heeled Jack, a figure from English folklore; in Ellis’ version, he’s an electrically powered Victorian anarcho-air-pirate. Ellis calls the work, “Not steampunk. An Electrical Romance of a Pirate Utopia Thwarted“, and it’s certainly true; there are clockwork gears and Victorian sensibility, but instead of coal and steam, the emphasis is on the crackling glow of electrical energy. Everything about this series brings to mind Nikola Tesla, whom I would argue is pretty much the coolest scientist who has ever lived.
So, to sum up:
Captain Swing And The Electrical Pirates Of Cindery Island = electro-sci-fi + airships + pirates + English folklore + foul-mouthed government-hating author + lovely art and colours – steampunk.
I say we call it “Teslapunk”.
I'll bet Tesla would read this comic.
I approve of TeslaPunk, which slips off the tongue easier than “EdisonPunk.”
I will point out the sequel to “War of the Worlds” was an 1898 novel entitled “Edison’s Conquest of Mars.” It is all-electric, and likely the earliest embodiment of the genre. Edison apparently had some hand in its creation, and approved of his character.
A lot of steampunk stuff you have to make yourself or buy from ppl who craft it.. I haven’t seen any marketing in North America for it. Although I have no challenge against Red Dwarf and it’s epicness, tho I love punk among other things :/ I just take all my fav things and throw them together
Yes, but Steam punk is just a fashion statement as are the other sub genres. Punk, is its original form was the last to have any kind of social statement. But then marketing neutered it. Once most strive constantly to become an adventurer or hero these days, outsides of the nefarious plots and ploys of capitalistic interest groups, to force any kind of change. This means we need to keep one step ahead of them. Never settle on a term to reference yourself or image yourself fitting into a paticular clic, be free and your carefree crazy self.
I love a good lexical discussion! Ace and form are pretty good (anything that references Red Dwarf is pretty much epic), but I’ve got to admit, I’m still a fan of the classic -punk suffix, myself. I don’t think it’s quite fair to lump all punks into the [(Not Washing x Unflattering/Useless Clothing) – Loud Shouting as Music] formula; punk can also have the connotations of anarchism and social unrest that Captain Swing embodies, plus its use associates the genre back with cyberpunk (and the other derivatives of the genre, like biopunk, dieselpunk, atompunk, etc.), which is of course the mother of all these speculative fiction subgenres!
Not to be a pirate of your concept, but could we change the Punk?
See mathematics shows
Tesla = (Great Ideas x Electric Eccentricity) + Awesome Name = Win
while
Punk = (Not Washing x Unflattering/Useless Clothing) – Loud Shouting as Music = Fail
I suggest instead Ace? Tesla Aces, sounds like electric powered flying heros.
Or Form for the genre? Tesla Form, some sort of Victorian era metamorphic robot.
Ace = (Antiquated Charm x Suggestion of Skill) + Red Dwarf Reference = Epic Win.
Form = Apt Appliance of Lexical Implication + Hint of Power Rangers = Win
Just say’n.
Teslapunk. I like that.
OMG pick me up a copy. This sounds epic. Tesla would so approve
I’m super fascinated by this electronic steampunk-like-but-not world created by Ellis <3
So far as I can tell, only the four issues are planned so far. With Ellis… who knows what will happen?
…So much win
Sounds fascinating, actually. Is it planned as a limited or ongoing series?