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Sigil (comics)
Encyclopedia
Sigil is an American
comic book
series
published by CrossGen Entertainment
from July 2000
to December 2003
, ending at issue forty-two. Sigil was one of the publisher's first four titles (the others are Mystic
, Scion
, and Meridian
), a science fiction
space opera
, originally created by Mark Alessi
and Gina M. Villa. The book is one of many from the publisher that took place in the Sigilverse
, or the CrossGen Universe
.
In 2011, Sigil was part of Marvel Comics
' relaunch of the Crossgen Universe.
As the series opens, the Planetary Union has been at war with the Saurians, a starfaring race of reptilian humanoids, for several centuries. The size of the saurian empire is never revealed in the series, but its capital is the saurian homeworld, Tcharun.
was a former soldier
for the Planetary Union. He and his good friend Roiya Sintor
were laid off from the army due to cut-backs, and became mercenaries. The pair were “vacationing” on the pleasure world of Tanipal when the series began. While on Tanipal, Sam and Roiya meet the beautiful Zanniati Oribatta
and her bodyguard, an orange eyed-man named JeMerik Meer
; these four would be inseparable for the rest of the series.
During that initial meeting, a Saurian assassin squad arrived looking for Sam. Sam had previously made an enemy of Tchlusarud, the youngest Saurian prince. The prince desperately wanted Sam dead. In the ensuing fight, Sam was tackled by an odd Saurian with glowing orange eyes. The Saurian cryptically said to Sam, "You shall find them, gather them, and lead them," and branded him with a swirling red and yellow mark: the sigil
. The saurian then disappeared. While Sam was distracted, one of the attacking Saurians impaled Roiya with his weapon, fatally injuring her.
The four retreated to Sam's ship, The Bitterluck, where they failed to save Roiya's life. In a fit of rage, Sam inadvertently activated his sigil, destroying a large part of the city in the process.
and Gina Villa.
The original creative team consisted of writer Barbara Kesel
, the Lai Brothers, Ben
on pencils and Ray on inks, and Wil Quintana coloring. Over the years, this line-up changed several times.
ISBN 1931484015
ISBN 978-1931484015
ISBN 1931484074
ISBN 978-1931484077
ISBN 1931484287
ISBN 978-1931484282
ISBN 1931484538
ISBN 978-1931484534
CrossGen also announced a further two books, but went bankrupt before they were published. Checker Books
released them in July 2007.
ISBN 1933160586
ISBN 9781933160580
ISBN 1933160675
ISBN 9781933160672
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
series
Ongoing series
The term "ongoing series" is used in contrast to limited series , a one shot , a graphic novel, or a trade paperback...
published by CrossGen Entertainment
CrossGen
Cross Generation Entertainment, or CrossGen, was an American comic book publisher that operated from 1998 to 2004.CrossGen Comics, Inc. was founded in 1998, by Tampa, Florida-based entrepreneur Mark Alessi who sought to create a comic book universe that was uniquely varied but also connected by a...
from July 2000
2000 in comics
-February:*Strange Adventures vol. 2, #4, final issue cover-dated February - January :* January 5: Goseki Kojima, co-creator of Lone Wolf and Cub, dies at age 71.* January 6: Mad magazine fixture Don Martin dies at age 68....
to December 2003
2003 in comics
-January:* January 2: Kid Colt artist Jack Keller dies at age 80.- April :* Action Comics #800: Double-sized anniversary issue, "A Hero's Journey," by Joe Kelly, Pascual Ferry, and Duncan Rouleau...
, ending at issue forty-two. Sigil was one of the publisher's first four titles (the others are Mystic
Mystic (comics)
Mystic is a comic book that was published by the since-defunct, Florida-based CrossGen Comics. Created by writer Ron Marz and artists Brandon Peterson and John Dell, it was one of five flagship titles in the company's Sigilverse shared universe...
, Scion
Scion (comics)
Scion was an American comic book published by CrossGen Entertainment from July 2000 to April 2004. It was cancelled due to the bankruptcy of Crossgen Comics Inc in 2004.-Plot synopsis:...
, and Meridian
Meridian (comics)
Meridian was a comic book series published by CrossGen Comics. It was written by Barbara Kesel, and penciled by a number of artists including Joshua Middleton and Steve McNiven. Meridian ran for 44 issues, from July of 2000 to April of 2004....
), a science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
space opera
Space opera
Space opera is a subgenre of science fiction that emphasizes romantic, often melodramatic adventure, set mainly or entirely in outer space, generally involving conflict between opponents possessing advanced technologies and abilities. The term has no relation to music and it is analogous to "soap...
, originally created by Mark Alessi
Mark Alessi
Mark Alessi is an American businessman who has been the CEO of a number of companies, most notably as founder of comic publisher CrossGen where he created a number of the titles.-Biography:...
and Gina M. Villa. The book is one of many from the publisher that took place in the Sigilverse
Sigilverse
The Sigilverse, also known as the CrossGen Universe, is a fictional shared universe which served as a setting for most titles published by CrossGen Comics. Except for El Cazador, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, and a handful of flashbacks, all CrossGen Universe titles are set in the future...
, or the CrossGen Universe
Universe
The Universe is commonly defined as the totality of everything that exists, including all matter and energy, the planets, stars, galaxies, and the contents of intergalactic space. Definitions and usage vary and similar terms include the cosmos, the world and nature...
.
In 2011, Sigil was part of Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
' relaunch of the Crossgen Universe.
Setting
The bulk of Sigil takes place on and around the worlds of the Planetary Union, a group of five human-inhabited planets: Gaia (believed to be humanity's homeworld), Brejhur, Delassia, Kayseecay, and Victor. Humans have also colonized the neutral world of Tanipal, which seceded from the Union some time before the series opened. Tanipal is ruled by the Sultan Ronolo.As the series opens, the Planetary Union has been at war with the Saurians, a starfaring race of reptilian humanoids, for several centuries. The size of the saurian empire is never revealed in the series, but its capital is the saurian homeworld, Tcharun.
Plot synopsis
Samandahl "Sam" ReySamandahl Rey
Samandahl "Sam" Rey is the main character in the American comic book Sigil published by CrossGen Entertainment.-Character details:Sam was just an ordinary soldier who moved up to be squad leader. He was sent on a suicide mission but survived and consequently mustered out of the Army with his friend...
was a former soldier
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
for the Planetary Union. He and his good friend Roiya Sintor
Roiya Sintor
Roiya Sintor is a character from CrossGen Entertainment's Sigilverse. She appears in the Sigil comic series as a major character for several reasons. First, she is Samandahl Rey's friend and former comrade in the army...
were laid off from the army due to cut-backs, and became mercenaries. The pair were “vacationing” on the pleasure world of Tanipal when the series began. While on Tanipal, Sam and Roiya meet the beautiful Zanniati Oribatta
Zanniati Oribatta
Zanniati "Zanni" Oribatta is a character from CrossGen Entertainment's Sigilverse. She appears in the Sigil comic series as a major character because she is Samandahl Rey's love interest, and Sam is the Sigil-Bearer in that part of the galaxy...
and her bodyguard, an orange eyed-man named JeMerik Meer
JeMerik Meer
JeMerik Meer is a character from CrossGen Entertainment's Sigilverse. He is the guide character in the Sigil comic series. His charge is Sam Rey one of the most powerful Sigil-Bearers. JeMerik appears as a bodyguard for the Sultan of Tanipal...
; these four would be inseparable for the rest of the series.
During that initial meeting, a Saurian assassin squad arrived looking for Sam. Sam had previously made an enemy of Tchlusarud, the youngest Saurian prince. The prince desperately wanted Sam dead. In the ensuing fight, Sam was tackled by an odd Saurian with glowing orange eyes. The Saurian cryptically said to Sam, "You shall find them, gather them, and lead them," and branded him with a swirling red and yellow mark: the sigil
Sigil
Sigil may refer to:*Sigil , a type of symbol used in magic*Sigil , a symbol that must be attached to a variable name in some programming languages*A seal...
. The saurian then disappeared. While Sam was distracted, one of the attacking Saurians impaled Roiya with his weapon, fatally injuring her.
The four retreated to Sam's ship, The Bitterluck, where they failed to save Roiya's life. In a fit of rage, Sam inadvertently activated his sigil, destroying a large part of the city in the process.
Relaunch
Sigil was relaunched by Marvel Comics in March 2011. Now starring Samantha Rey, a 16-year-old South Carolina girl who awakens one day to find herself branded with a strange symbol, she finds herself thrust into a war across time.Creative teams
Sigil was created by Mark AlessiMark Alessi
Mark Alessi is an American businessman who has been the CEO of a number of companies, most notably as founder of comic publisher CrossGen where he created a number of the titles.-Biography:...
and Gina Villa.
The original creative team consisted of writer Barbara Kesel
Barbara Kesel
Barbara Randall Kesel is an American writer and editor of comic books; her bibliography includes work for DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Crossgen, Image Comics and Dark Horse Comics.-Biography:...
, the Lai Brothers, Ben
Ben Lai
Ben Lai is a comic book penciler who worked on series such as Sigil, Radix, Thor and X-Men. His brother, Ray Lai, often inks his work....
on pencils and Ray on inks, and Wil Quintana coloring. Over the years, this line-up changed several times.
Writers
- Barbara KeselBarbara KeselBarbara Randall Kesel is an American writer and editor of comic books; her bibliography includes work for DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Crossgen, Image Comics and Dark Horse Comics.-Biography:...
- Mark WaidMark WaidMark Waid is an American comic book writer. He is well known for his eight-year run as writer of the DC Comics' title The Flash, as well as his scripting of the limited series Kingdom Come and Superman: Birthright, and his work on Marvel Comics' Captain America...
- Chuck DixonChuck DixonCharles "Chuck" Dixon is an American comic book writer, best known for long runs on Batman titles in the 1990s.-Biography:Dixon grew up in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, area, reading comics of all genres...
: Re-energized the series by bringing a widescreenWidescreenWidescreen images are a variety of aspect ratios used in film, television and computer screens. In film, a widescreen film is any film image with a width-to-height aspect ratio greater than the standard 1.37:1 Academy aspect ratio provided by 35mm film....
style of writing, with a focus on high action, explosions, and large panels of art (and, subsequently, fast storytelling). - Mike Carey: First writer under the relaunched Marvel ComicsMarvel ComicsMarvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
Crossgen imprint.
Pencillers
- Ben LaiBen LaiBen Lai is a comic book penciler who worked on series such as Sigil, Radix, Thor and X-Men. His brother, Ray Lai, often inks his work....
: His first penciling gig was with CrossGenCrossGenCross Generation Entertainment, or CrossGen, was an American comic book publisher that operated from 1998 to 2004.CrossGen Comics, Inc. was founded in 1998, by Tampa, Florida-based entrepreneur Mark Alessi who sought to create a comic book universe that was uniquely varied but also connected by a...
and Sigil. He left with his brother and Sigil inker, Ray Lai, due to creative differences. - Kevin Sharpe: Also got his start on Sigil.
- Steve McNivenSteve McNivenSteven "Steve" McNiven is a Canadian comic book artist. He first gained prominence on CrossGen's Meridian, before moving onto books such as Ultimate Secret, New Avengers and Civil War.-Career:...
: Pencilled a backup story, one of his earliest works as a penciller. - Scot EatonScot EatonScot Eaton is a comic book artist, best known for his work on Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, X-Men: Endangered Species, and X-Men: Messiah Complex.-Beginnings:...
- Dale EagleshamDale EagleshamDale Eaglesham is a comic book illustrator who has been working in the industry since 1986. He is best known for his work on titles like Conan, Punisher, Green Lantern, Villains United, Justice Society of America and Fantastic Four...
- Leonard KirkLeonard KirkLeonard Kirk is an American-born comic book artist living in Canada. He has worked on such properties as Supergirl, JSA, Star Trek, Batman, and Witchblade...
: First artist under the relaunched Marvel Comics Crossgen imprint.
Books
CrossGen published four trade paperback books containing the first part of the series.- Sigil Volume 1: Mark of Power
ISBN 1931484015
ISBN 978-1931484015
- Sigil Volume 2: The Marked Man
ISBN 1931484074
ISBN 978-1931484077
- Sigil Volume 3: The Lizard God
ISBN 1931484287
ISBN 978-1931484282
- Sigil Volume 4: Hostage Planet
ISBN 1931484538
ISBN 978-1931484534
CrossGen also announced a further two books, but went bankrupt before they were published. Checker Books
Checker Book Publishing Group
Checker Book Publishing Group is an independent publisher of comics reprints, from newspaper strips to modern out-of-print titles and collections from defunct publishers.-History:...
released them in July 2007.
- Sigil Volume 5: Death Match
ISBN 1933160586
ISBN 9781933160580
- Sigil Volume 6: Planetary Union
ISBN 1933160675
ISBN 9781933160672