A Distant Soil #1

A Distant Soil, volume 2 (single issues) #1

by Colleen Doran

Liana and Jason, aged 15 and 17, are held in The Martin Institute for Mental Health and Research, where they are subjects of study for powers they do not understand and fear they cannot control. Jason has discovered The Institute has nightmarish plans for them. Despite their fears of what the outside world may hold, they plan their escape, only to find the outside world is far more dangerous than they could have imagined. The first issue of the digitally restored and re-mastered classic.

23 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 30, 1991

About the author

Colleen Doran is an American writer-artist and cartoonist. She illustrated hundreds of comics, graphic novels, books and magazines, including the autobiographical graphic novel of Marvel Comics editor and writer Stan Lee entitled Amazing Fantastic Incredible Stan Lee, which became a New York Times bestseller. She adapted and did the art for the short story "Troll Bridge" by Neil Gaiman, which also became a New York Times bestseller. Her books have received Eisner, Harvey, Bram Stoker, and International Horror Guild Awards.

Reviews

[Mark Tillson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Long Time Follower

I’ve been following ADS since it was originally published by WARP, many moons ago. Colleen does an amazing crafting of story and art and I am eager to see how the story plays out.

[Frank · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remember wanting to give this a shot back in the early 90s but always passed on it for some gimmick or another. Ms Doran's art was always appealing in some sort of way that I could never explain. Nearly 30 years later I've finally found time and the nerve to give issue #1 a read. I wasn't disappointed especially when I recall all the bland titles I was buying from the major companies.
Some of the dialogue is thin and feels almost like "Little House on the prairie" in its gooey niceness. And some of the characters are too pretty but I'm thinking that that is all intentional.
The backup feature called "Seasons of Spring" in the story and "Immigrant Song" in the indicia is a prequel of sorts I guess, which may lead up to where the main story starts.
My interest is piqued enough to seek out the trades. But what would be more wonderful would be to find some original artwork by Ms Doran's to hang on my bare walls.