The Legend of Luther Arkwright: With an Introduction by Adrian Tchaikovsky

Product Information

A new book in Bryan Talbot's award-winning science fiction graphic novels series, starring the legendary character Luther Arkwright

The Adventures of Luther Arkwright is a comic book limited series written and drawn by Bryan Talbot in the period 1978–1989. The story is adult in tone, with many mythological, historical, and political references, and a little explicit sex. Three River Studios has optioned the rights to develop, finance and produce a live action, returnable TV series based on Bryan Talbot’s cult graphic novels “The Adventures of Luther Arkwright” and its sequel “Heart of Empire.” Written for a mature readership and born out of the anti-establishment wave of the 1970s and 1980s, and as a protest against the far right, the graphic novel series is among the most significant produced out of the U.K. They boast a combination of satire, science fiction, steampunk and adventure. Luther Arkwright was always a slightly unlikely hero and Talbot uses him here as ever with subtlety and nuance to tell what appears to be his final tale. There is a cerebral intelligence on display here which marks Arkwright out from other works of comics science fiction. Earn Your Happy Ending: When Arkwright appears, he has retreated to a war-ravaged world where he serves as a pacifistic healer and diplomat. Victoria herself chooses to abdicate and turn over power to a democratic government, leaving Albion to explore the world and "to end animosity, to make amends, to facilitate recovery". Talbot also introduces us to a number of alternate Englands – some feel outlandish while others are scarily credible.After their great adaptation of The Adventures of Luther Arkwright, I can’t wait to hear Big Finish’s production of the second story, Heart of Empire. I’m especially pleased that David Tennant is reprising his role as Luther Arkwright.” The story continued in the comics anthology pssst! in 1982. After five more episodes, however, the story was interrupted when pssst! was canceled, less than half complete. Brilliant Depravities... A review of the Adventures of Luther Arkwright by Harry Payne: "Above all, this is a work which demands of its readers that they think for themselves, and for that alone, if nothing else, Bryan and those who have supported him in this labour of love have earned my grateful thanks." The Adventures of Luther Arkwright Book 1: Rat Trap ( Never Editions, 1982) ISBN 9780907865025 — introduction by Ramsey Campbell

The legacy of Luther Arkwright haunts his daughter Victoria, as she embarks on a mission to uncover her family's hidden secrets... The GoodReads review: "The Legend of Luther Arkwright, beautifully drawn by master storyteller and Eisner Award-winning comics creator Bryan Talbot, is a milestone in British comics history." With David Tennant, the release also reunites members India Fisher, Siri O’Neal, Robert Jezek and Jez Fielder. Emily Haigh, Georgina Hellier and Ahmed Hamad also join the cast as new characters. And while such temporal machinations threaten the world’s political and social stability, a monstrous force is building across the multiverse, and a countdown begins to almost certain dimensional apocalypse! And now, in 2022, we are to get the third Luther volume from Bryan Talbot, The Legend of Luther Arkwright, 46 years after his original story first saw publication. To be published by Jonathan Cape in the UK and Dark Horse Books in the US, Bryan Talbot has completed the script and has started drawing it.Set fifty years later, The Legend of Luther Arkwright is another stand-alone story. While still maintaining total continuity with the Arkwright mythos, it is a different kind of adult adventure. Pursued across multiple historically divergent parallel worlds, both utopian and dystopian, and facing a far superior adversary, Arkwright battles to save humanity from mass destruction; his only edge is his experience and force of will. Luther Arkwright is a work of apocalyptic science fiction set in parallel universes. The eponymous hero has the unique talent of being able to move between universes purely by force of will, and is aided by Rose Wylde, a telepath whose many incarnations across the parallels are able to communicate with one another. Luther and Rose are agents of a parallel universe known as "zero-zero", whose stable position in the multiverse has allowed the development of a world at peace with itself and sufficiently high technology to monitor the parallels for signs of the malign influence of the "Disruptors". Overly Long Name: As many royals, Victoria has this: Mary Victoria Elizabeth Boudicca Miranda Cordelia Arkwright Stuart. Dark and Troubled Past: Luther again. Kidnapped from the maternity ward by the disruptors, raised by machines, then on the run both from the disruptors and himself until he was found by Rose of parallel 00.30.22. Luther Arkwright was introduced to me by Big Finish with the script of the first instalment. When I read it, I was captivated. There’s something very hypnotic about the world that Bryan Talbot creates. It was hugely appealing! What a treat that we’ve gotten to revisit this world and these characters.”

Hosts in the Shell podcast interview Bryan and also review the Legend of Luther Arkwright: "In this episode, the Hosts' excitement is at fever pitch as they welcome legendary comic book and graphic novel artist and writer, Bryan Talbot!! Creator of Luther Arkwright, Bryan is discussing the brand new volume of the hero's adventures, as well as his other award-winning works including Alice in Sunderland and Grandville, and exploring the multiverse decades before Marvel did..." What can I say about Bryan Talbot‘s new graphic novel, The Legend of Luther Arkwright that might usefully add to the much deserved praise it has already had on release? With many decades in the comics industry, Talbot has displayed his range of abilities and The Legend Of Luther Arwkright is a bold and exciting sci-fi adventure tale with real heart and real brains. There is no one else quite like him in the comics industry. At two yards, its effect on a human torso is comparable to that of a sledgehammer hitting an overripe watermelon.Princess Victoria Arkwright never knew her father, a man whose shadow she has lived under since he saved the multiverse from the cataclysmic forces of the Disruptors. 23 years after she and her brother Henry were born in the flames of war, Victoria seeks answers, but the truth lies deep in shadow. As rebellion gains momentum against Queen Anne’s totalitarian rule, dark forces grow at the heart of the British Empire, forces that threaten all realities. The multiverse needs Luther Arkwright to save it once more, but Luther Arkwright is dead...

David Tennanthas done many roles for Big Finish over the years, and has gone on to do so much since he last played Luther. It’s wonderful to see him return to that role as Luther comes face-to-face with the daughter who he left behind…” Art Evolution: Especially notable between The Papist Affair and the other stories. Heart of Empire also used very different techniques than the earlier stories, besides being in full colour.Heart of Empire, originally published in 1999, finds the legacy of Luther Arkwright (played once more by David Tennant) haunting his daughter Victoria (Georgina Hellier) as she embarks on a mission to uncover her family’s hidden secrets… Part One: Daughter of Albion In one timeline, perhaps, I could be pointing out that not only does this story build on a huge, involved history, the first Luther Arkwright story initially serialised in 1978, and that this new story took some two years of solid work to complete… The graphic novels have been previously adapted into an audio play starring David Tennant. Talbot is also currently writing a new instalment of Arkwright’s saga, “The Legend of Luther Arkwright,” due in 2022. This is the only place you can buy original Bryan Talbot artwork - except from Bryan in person at a convention.