ELEMENTS: Fire is a comics anthology of 23 stories by creators of color from around the globe. With stories featuring peaceful warriors, blossoming brujas, godly hackers, and a fire-breathing dragon boy, we are the main characters of our own stories, not the sidekicks or token characters. This is an anthology that is full of our passions, magic, and inner fire because our diversity is not just a buzzword: it's our reality!
Is a queer little tumbleweed that rolled back into the warm embrace of Los Angeles.
Taneka is currently a staff writer on My Little Pony: Pony Life. Past writing credits include work on the Emmy-nominated Steven Universe Future and Craig of the Creek.
Before coming to animation, Taneka worked as an editor and publisher for multiple award-winning comic book anthologies including the 2015 Lambda Literary award winner Beyond: The Queer Sci-Fi & Fantasy Comic Anthology and the 2017 Ignatz winner for Outstanding Anthology, 2018 Silver Medalist at the Independent Publisher Book Awards, and 2018 Eisner winner for Best Anthology ELEMENTS: Fire – A Comic Anthology by Creators of Color. The second installment in the ELEMENTS series, ELEMENTS: Earth, was released in spring 2020.
Other work includes Taneka’s writing on webcomics such as Casual Hex, Love Circuits, and the Eisner-nominated Déjà Brew.
Taneka is currently developing numerous comic projects including Killer Looks and KINGMAKER! with Camila Fortuna and Crossed Stars with Ria Martinez.
I funded this project on Kickstarter, and I was very excited that it succeeded. The result is a lovely book with an amazingly rich diversity of styles and stories. All artists work with the same three colors - black, white, and red -, and this ties the chapters together visually, even though each one opens up a new world to fall in love with. The stories include a variety of genres; some are fantasy, some are sci-fi, some are dystopian, some are all or neither. Some chapters were tiny, self-contained stories, while others worked as pilots or teasers for a larger world and a longer adventure. The latter left me wanting to read more every time ("but what happened next?!?!"). I hope that the artists will continue them, I would love to read each and every one. This anthology is a portfolio, showcasing amazing creators and dreamers of color, and the many worlds and many characters that they can summon out of fire. We need more volumes like this.
Although I didn't consciously plan things that way, I realize that the graphic novel I read just before this one was Brian Fies’ A Fire Story. So we could say that the theme of this anthology is extending beyond the bounds of its pages …
As you’d guess from the title, Elements: Fire is an anthology of stories revolving around the theme of fire. It's also, as the blurb on the cover touts, an anthology, “by creators of color. “ No creator photos are included, but I’ve certainly no reason to doubt this claim. Honestly, when I’m reading anything, the quality of the work is what concerns me, not what its creator looks like. But I’ll concede that, as a white male, my privilege probably allows me to be unconcerned about this. In any case, whether you contemplate the appearance of the writers and artists of these stories or not, this is some fine work.
The stories are all fantasy and/or science fiction, not that that's a bad thing. Some of the art shows a marked manga influence, which is also fine. The design of the book is striking. The art on all the stories is all black and white, with one additional color: red (keeping with the theme of the anthology. ) This allows for some very pretty effects, for instance, the tangles of sins in “Burner of Sins.”
As with all anthologies, it has its ups and downs, more of the former than the latter in my opinion. Favorites include “Firelily” by Myisha Haynes, “Pulse” by Der-Shing Helmer, “Firestorm” by Melanie Ujimori and Chan Chau, “‘D’ Is For Dunkin’ and Doughnuts” by Orunmilla Williams, “Home Is Where the Hearth Is” by Veronica Agarwal, and “A Burner of Sins” by Jy Yang, Yasmin Liang, Chan Chau, and Melanie Ujimori.
I assume that there’s a chance that, if this book is successful, we’ll also see Elements: Water, Air and Earth, probably with blue for water, maybe green for earth and yellow or something for air? I can't wait! As always, when reading an anthology by creators who are mostly new to me, I can't help but smile and think that the future of comics is in good hands. Recommended!
This comics anthology caught my eye on the new shelf at the library, and I'm glad I checked it out. A collection of short graphic stories by creators of color -- it's united by two themes. One, obviously, is fire. The other is that the entire book is printed in black, white, and red, giving visual consistency as well.
In any anthology, there are bound be to favorites and not-so-favorites. Happily, there were no stinkers here. Some didn't feel entirely complete, but all had interesting aspects. I liked the joyful childish exuberance of "Too Hot to Be Cool," by Maddi Gonzalez, loved the art in "Cactus Flower" by Sara DuVall, was intrigued by "Pulse" by Der-Shing Helmer, would love to see more from Melanie Ujimori, who created "Firestorm," by my favorites were probably "Preta," created by Chloe Chan, a tale about a future with cybernetic upgrades and the pressures people feel among all the new choices, "Breath, Plucked from Heaven," by Shivana Sookdeo, a quiet little tale about wisdom, endings, and goodbyes, and "A Burner of Sins," written by J.Y. Yang, a story about magic, guilt, memory, and the damage done when loved ones reject someone's transgender identity.
I've just learned this team is doing an EARTH anthology next. I can't wait to read it!
Excellent collection of short comics by creators of color. Stotts does an incredible job at editing the anthology from story and art choices to how the book's laid out and organized.
Each story is fire-themed, and all the art is black and white with red used as a pop fire color. The stories range from fantastical and magical to futuristic and technological. There are stories about first love, ending war, school, parents, best friends, kindness, weather, and eating the last doughnut from the office kitchen.
I backed this on Kickstarter and am very pleased, not just with the stories but with the thorough aesthetic of the volume. Some used a lot of the fire-red, some just touches, but it worked for all of them and tied them together along with the theme. I just wish the stories were longer! Most could spin out nicely into their own volumes. My favorites were Metta Helmet and Breath Plucked From Heaven, and there were none at all that I disliked.
Five stars just aren't enough to accurately reflect my love for this book and the stories it contains. So many talented writers and artists put their hearts into creating an incredible, beautiful comic anthology and it shows.
This is a book I will be returning to again and again just to re-experience the magic. I love it and highly recommend it. I just want to share this book with everyone I know!
Great concept, I love to see a collection of comics by creators of color! The stories themselves at times felt abrupt, like I wanted more before they ended! For the most part I really enjoyed each story though, and some were exceptionally good and well-illustrated. Very cool book!
This anthology was one of the best that I have ever read. Many of the stories were written to completion, which isn't really the norm as far as anthologies go, and while I wish the anthology was bigger I now have a list of authors to look for in the future. Its packed with fantasy, science fiction and folk lore for all ages with pro LGBT themes as well. I would highly recommend you getting this one, it might be the only anthology collection worth having on the shelf. That being said this book can be hard to find. I got mine off of amazon.
This is probably one of the best comic anthologies I've read in a long while (and I've read quiiiiiiiiite a few). The varying art styles from each creative team, the different stories, even the limited colour palette used (black, white, greys, and shades of red), all of these contribute to make this a powerful piece of work. Each story just made me want to keep reading, and I was sad when I finished it, only because it meant I didn't have more stories from there. I can't recommend this enough!
Wow! A gripping, phenomenal sci-fi/fantasy comic anthology collecting stories about fire and heat, exclusively featuring creators of color. As with all anthologies, some stories I enjoyed more than others, but this works so well as a collection, and there are some truly unique and beautiful comics within. Shoutout to Myisha Haynes; her “Firelily” story was my favorite. I’ll certainly be keeping an eye out for more anthologies like this!
This was great, very high quality overall and not a single story that was outright bad (there always seems to be at least one in short-form comics anthologies, even the anthologies I love). Longer review on my blog later IY"H, but I was a Kickstarter backer and I was very satisfied with what I got. I can't wait for the next volume!!
Beautiful, unique, and much-needed collection of works by queer creators, and creators of color. The thread that held everything together - fire, feels particularly necessary in our current sociopolitical climate. The distinct illustrative and storytelling styles came together beautifully thanks to the brilliant use of color. I laughed, I teared up, and I put the anthology down wanting more.
I picked up this anthology at ECCC 2018 and was honored to meet a few of the artists and the editor!! A lovely collection of stories. We need more diversity in our art, creators and writers. Use your pennies toward what you value and buy this book!
The pacing of this anthology was fantastic. I loved the black and red theme as well.
My favorites were breath, plucked from heaven, Breathe (which I had read before and loved but didn't know it was from this antho), Cactus Flower, Pulse, and Hearth.
Elements: Fire is the second comic anthology from Beyond Press. I backed both this book and the first, Beyond, on Kickstarter, and while I enjoyed both I do think Elements: Fire is quite a bit stronger than its predecessor. Beyond is a collection of queer sci-fi and fantasy stories, putting its focus on telling diverse stories; Elements: Fire is a collection of comics by creators of color who were asked to write speculative fiction themed around fire, with a primary focus on diverse creators. The looser theme for Elements: Fire means the stories in this collection felt like they covered a wider range of topics than the stories in Beyond did, and I think that worked to its advantage. One of my main complaints about Beyond is that many of the stories felt like they were given enough pages to tell quite a bit of story, but not enough pages to tell the whole story, so that the worlds I was dropped into didn't always entirely make sense to me. I had that same issue with a few stories in Elements: Fire, but not nearly so often, and I think that's at least partially because the looser focus on "speculative fiction" rather than science fiction meant the worlds we encounter in Elements: Fire are often worlds that feel more familiar so that the stories don't need to spend as much time on world-building.
I really like the decision in Elements: Fire to print the pages in black, white, and red. Some of the stories were saturated in red; others incorporated just the tiniest hints of spot color in otherwise black and white comics. Even though the creators approached their use of red in many different ways, the three-color printing helps unify all the different stories and art styles and is a pretty clever way to make an anthology feel like a unified whole.
I think the biggest standout in this collection for me was "Metta Helmet," a dialogue-free story about a woman who takes daily trips into a dystopian city, with a central theme that is written on the wall of a building toward the end of the story: "Kindness is a weapon, use it fiercely." I also really liked "Firelily," about a teenage girl who's trying so hard to make friends that she almost overlooks a classmate who cares about her deeply; and "A Burner of Sins," about a woman whose job is to free people from their guilt as long as they regret what they did, but after encountering a former classmate who is trans, comes to the realization that sometimes people want peace from guilt over things they can't and shouldn't regret. One of the most intriguing stories for me was "Thrustfall," about a boy with a jetpack taking his Flying 101 exam; it felt like a single scene from a much longer story that I'd very much like to read.
Most of this collection felt like it was written for teens or adults, but there were also a couple of stories that felt more like children's or all-ages comics that also stood out for me: "Too Hot to Be Cool," about friendship and the challenges of meeting people when you're the daughter of a witch; and "Home Is Where the Hearth Is," about choosing your own family when your birth family doesn't give you the love and compassion you need.
What's black and white and red all over? The palette of this visually odd anthology, in which red is the only bit of color. Red often represents elemental fire in the stories, but not always. Sometimes it's just a color. Each tale has something to do with some kind of fire, though, whether it's the element itself or simply the fire of the heart and soul. I met the editor at an event, and her description of this volume was so interesting that I bought it on the spot. Part of the premise was to expose the work of creators of different ethnicities to the overall marketplace. That wasn't why I bought the book, although it was a cool and interesting feature. No, the artwork of the first couple of stories I looked at grabbed me. The cover is interesting, but not as good as most of the contents. The thing is, in an anthology of this type, some of the stories are simply incomplete or abrupt. That's the nature of trying to fit over 20 stories into a book this short. On the other hand, the quality of the writing and art is very good, and I plan to look for other works by some of this bunch. To me, the best stories were ones like "The Burner of Sins," which took some older, folkloric concepts and reworked them interestingly. "Home is Where the Hearth Is" was very good, but a bit too short for the tale it told, because it left me wanting to know more about the characters. "Firelily" and "Starfall" also stood out, but there weren't any real clunkers in the book. I'm glad I picked up this book, and will be recommending it to others.
As with most comic anthologies, some of the entries are well crafted short comics, and some of them feel cut-off without enough development to be satisfying. Some of the art was to my taste, and some not. Altogether, though, this collection was of steady quality, and showcases a diverse array of talent and perspectives.
Interestingly, I noticed that several of the works had a theme of anti-colonialism and respect for foreign/alien cultures. It's a theme I'd be surprised to see from a white author, much less three in the same anthology, which I think speaks to the importance of a collection like this that showcases the stories of those who have been historically oppressed and marginalized, and brings their values to the forefront.
My favorite works of ELEMENTS: Fire were: 🔥 From Ashes We Heal by Kou Chen 🔥 Firelily by Myisha Haynes 🔥 Pulse by Der-Shing Helmer 🔥 Preta by Chloe Chan and Nina Matsumoto 🔥 Breath, Plucked From Heaven by Shivana Sookdeo 🔥 A Burner of Sins by Jy Yang, Yasmin Liang, Chan Chau, and Melanie Ujimori 🔥 Breathe by Kiku Hughes
Elements Fire is a book that consists of almost multiple graphic novels from completely different books being placed into one book every chapter. The genre is mostly fiction and science fiction because of all of the different story every new chapter which makes the story still exciting and not boring overtime. I think that this is the author's first book because this is the first ever book I have ever read from Taneka Stotts. The characters that were all involved in this book are mostly non-believable because they have superhuman powers and traits, but I think that this story Is pretty well written in a way due to the new story lines every new chapter, and every "story" has a moral I think so myself. This book isn't what I expected it to be since I judged it entirely of it's cover and didn't look into the book when I first received it. I would most likely recommend this book to other graphic novel lovers like me.
This anthology of speculative fiction is a perfect balance of contrast and harmony -- every story connects back to the main theme of fire, and every story is beautifully illustrated with a minimal palette of gray tones and red, and yet each story has something wildly different to offer than the next. Oh, yeah, and not to mention every contributor is a person of color?! From a pure editorial perspective, it is a feat.
Of course, like with any collection, some stories stood out to me more than others. I borrowed this book from the library, and I didn't write down the titles and authors of my favorites, but I'm definitely investing in a personal copy! I will update this review with those highlights when I do <3
Lastly, a heads up -- Taneka Stotts might be releasing a second Elements anthology with the theme of Earth very soon! Keep an eye out. :D
A solid sci-fi/fantasy anthology, based around the broad theme of "fire". There's a lot of variety, although many of the stories deal with youngsters struggling with issues of identity and finding their place in the world. It's billed as "all ages", and I think that's mostly true, although some of the stories might be a bit too scary for very young readers. There's enough depth here for us old-timers too, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The artwork is excellent throughout, and makes great use of the limited palette (black and white with red accents). I was not familiar with most of the creators featured here, but by the end I was a fan of all of them. Well worth checking out.
This is a graphic novel filled with short stories of various types. FIrelily, Home is Where the Hearth is and D is for Dunkin and Doughnuts were my favorite stories. Home is Where the Hearth is was especially touching. A child with a superpower of fire lives with an unstable and abusive mother. The child makes a difficult decision before the end. I also enjoyed reading this book because there were so many stories that drew my curiousity and gave me a glimpse into the lives of the complicated characters featured. My only issue is they were short stories! I wish they were longer.
Enjoyed the ebook and the softcover editions I got from Kickstarter! Some brilliant artists and storytellers in this book looking at different cultures and centering around the theme of fiery elements. I can't even say which one I enjoyed most as each was engaging. Though I will say "under the Flamboyan" and "Burner of Sins" both feel like they could be expanded into a longer, ongoing series. Hoping for more "Elemental volumes" to pop up in the future!
Elements: Fire is a unique and beautiful anthology by queer creators and creators of color. This makes each story, fire-themed of course, special in its own right. Every story is different and has a new perspective to offer. You never know what kind of story you're going to get. It's a stunning collection of works by dedicated artists that clearly care about their stories. Elements: Fire is a must read.
I read this collection last night, while neo-Nazis marched in Charlottesville. Today, with the news of the death and injuries of counter-protesters, this anthology seems even more important. One story that really stood out to me, among vignettes of sorrow and delight, was "Metta Helmet," by Deshan Tennekoon and Isuri Merenchi Hewage. Its shining message, picked out in red from the blacks and grays of Hewage's art, both raises and burdens me: "KINDNESS IS A WEAPON. USE IT FIERCELY."
I absolutely loves this collection featuring #POC #lgbtqia+ writers, illustrators and characters. I'm not a huge fan of the #anthology format because some stories always outshine others and that is the case here, but I loved so many of them! Visually the collection remains cohesive due to the color choice of shades of black, white and a bit of red. Some of my faves were "Firelily"; "Too Hot to be Cool" ; "Pulse" and "Metta Helmet"
So this was beautiful. the black white and red used for each of the comics tied them beautifully together. Even though they all had a theme of fire they were all different and awesome. My only gripe was only a handful of the stories actually came to a conclusion. The majority of them were teasers for much bigger stories. I hope I can back another one of these soon.
An ambitious anthology that gives you a look at many writers and artists. Some stand out while other contributions are like mini-prologues to what you know is a larger story.
The black, white, grey, and red scheme is striking (and probably cheaper than full color) but it lent a sameness to the art that obscured some of their talented differences.
I had been looking for this for awhile so when I finally got it I devoured it in a day. All the stories were wonderful, some moreso than others, but the artwork took my breath away. Every different style of art is in here. One story in particular, about grief, struck me hard but in a good way. If you can find this in physical form instead of an ebook I highly recommend it.