Soulfire
Encyclopedia
Soulfire is a comic book produced by Aspen MLT
that is one in a line of titles created by Michael Turner. The original characters were created between 2000 and 2002 with Soulfire (originally named Dragonfly) set to be produced under the Top Cow although that never came to be. Only when Michael Turner started his company Aspen MLT
, did the comic begin production in April 2003
.
The Soulfire 'preview' issue was first printed in Wizard
magazine #139 in March 2003. The preview introduced the two central protagonists of the story, Malikai
and Grace
.
" being gone from the world. The story follows a boy named Malikai and a rag tag team of magical beings and cyborgs . Malikai's quest as the chosen one is to bring magic back to the hardened future of (2211 AD
) and stop it from being used by evil.
that sets the stage for the Soulfire series is a spin-off. It takes place in the end of the last era of magic where a disease is killing magical beings and parts of magic (such as the wings so many rely on in this era to fly).
Aspen Comics
Aspen MLT is a California entertainment company founded by artist Michael Turner. It has locations in Santa Monica and Marina Del Rey. Launched in January 2003, the company is best known for producing comic books and figurines.-History:...
that is one in a line of titles created by Michael Turner. The original characters were created between 2000 and 2002 with Soulfire (originally named Dragonfly) set to be produced under the Top Cow although that never came to be. Only when Michael Turner started his company Aspen MLT
Aspen MLT
Aspen MLT is a California entertainment company founded by artist Michael Turner. It has locations in Santa Monica and Marina Del Rey. Launched in January 2003, the company is best known for producing comic books and figurines.-History:...
, did the comic begin production in April 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...
.
The Soulfire 'preview' issue was first printed in Wizard
Wizard (magazine)
Wizard or Wizard: The Magazine of Comics, Entertainment and Pop Culture was a magazine about comic books, published monthly in the United States by Wizard Entertainment from July 1991 to January 2011...
magazine #139 in March 2003. The preview introduced the two central protagonists of the story, Malikai
Malikai (Soulfire)
Malikai is the protagonist of Michael Turner's Soulfire.-Childhood:Abandoned in an orphanage at birth by his parents, Mal spent a great deal of his childhood coming to terms with the world around him. He quickly developed a comedic attitude to cover up most of his emotions towards his absent...
and Grace
Grace (Soulfire)
Grace is a fictional character in Soulfire, a comic book created by Michael Turner. She is a magical being, one of the last surviving members of an almost-extinct race of insect-winged humans, the Rathumi...
.
Story
Soulfire is centered around the idea of "magicMagic (paranormal)
Magic is the claimed art of manipulating aspects of reality either by supernatural means or through knowledge of occult laws unknown to science. It is in contrast to science, in that science does not accept anything not subject to either direct or indirect observation, and subject to logical...
" being gone from the world. The story follows a boy named Malikai and a rag tag team of magical beings and cyborgs . Malikai's quest as the chosen one is to bring magic back to the hardened future of (2211 AD
Anno Domini
and Before Christ are designations used to label or number years used with the Julian and Gregorian calendars....
) and stop it from being used by evil.
Soulfire: Dying of the Light
A related comic limited seriesLimited series
A limited series is a comic book series with a set number of installments. A limited series differs from an ongoing series in that the number of issues is determined before production and it differs from a one shot in that it is composed of multiple issues....
that sets the stage for the Soulfire series is a spin-off. It takes place in the end of the last era of magic where a disease is killing magical beings and parts of magic (such as the wings so many rely on in this era to fly).
Soulfire: Chaos Reign
Is a Soulfire limited series. It takes place in primal times of the Soulfire universe, back when magic was still raw and untapped. It also led into the second volume of Soulfire, released in summer 2006. This is the second such series to spin out of the Soulfire limited series.Soulfire: New World Order
While Soulfire is a limited series of 10 issues, it does not end there. It continues in the mini-series New World Order. New World Order is the bridge between Volume 1 and 2. It is 5 issues with a beginnings issue and number 0 issue. It is written by J.T. Krul with art by Francisco Herrera. Each issue also contains a Soulfire Vol. 2 backup story called Resurgence.Soulfire
- MalikaiMalikai (Soulfire)Malikai is the protagonist of Michael Turner's Soulfire.-Childhood:Abandoned in an orphanage at birth by his parents, Mal spent a great deal of his childhood coming to terms with the world around him. He quickly developed a comedic attitude to cover up most of his emotions towards his absent...
-- A young boy who is chosen to bring back magic to the world. - GraceGrace (Soulfire)Grace is a fictional character in Soulfire, a comic book created by Michael Turner. She is a magical being, one of the last surviving members of an almost-extinct race of insect-winged humans, the Rathumi...
-- A winged female individual who plans on doing what is necessary to bring magic back to the world. She chooses Malikai to take on the task. - Sonia -- Friend of Malikai, whom she harbors a crush on. According to creator Michael Turner, her hair changes colors with her mood.
- PJ -- Friend of Malikai. Many facial piercings and long, spiked hair. Sometimes acts as Mal's bodyguard (see issue #1).
- Benoist -- A warrior in the "Battle Pit" whom Grace, Malikai, Sonia, and PJ seek help from. Harbors a grudge against Ranier.
- Ranier -- Antagonist in the series. Responsible for the corruption of magic, also the one who created the mechanical dragon.
- Onyx -- A winged female mercenary who works for Ranier. We first see her when she attempts to kidnap Malikai.
- Dragon -- The destructive creation of Rainer.
Soulfire: Dying of the Light
- Grace -- A young winged female (a Rahtumi) from the kingdom of Empyrea, daughter of Aglalia. Upon the death of her aunt she seeks out the answer to why an illness is taking over her kingdom.
- Mooncrest -- A dragon, friend of Grace. Later, Ranier takes control of him, forcing Grace to make a decision on her friend's life.
- Aglalia -- Seen in the preview issue, Grace's mother, was seen at her own mother's side as she lay on her deathbed.
- Dex - A winged male, he is a strong brute who takes Faye to see the King's Magi upon her sudden illness. Later he aids Grace in seeking out a cure for the illness taking hold on the land.
- Faye -- a winged female like Grace, seen with Dex and later taken by him to see the King's Magi. Later she aids Grace in finding the answers to the illness falling upon the land.
- King Minas - King of Arcadia. Was being driven to madness from paranoia of the illness taking over the land.
- Nala -- A winged female, joined Dex in seeking out Troy, her partner after he was escorted to see the Magi and had not returned for eight days.
- Troy -- Nala's life partner, a winged male. Was locked up for eight days after Nala took him to see the King's Magi. Later dies - victum of the illness.
- Ranier -- A sorcerer who tried to control the Dragons.
- Vinn -- Right hand man of King Minas, was aware of his King's madness but could do nothing to help. Was responsible for locking up the Magi, Troy and Faye. Later reveals he only did it for the sake of the kingdom and aids Grace against Ranier.
- Septh - A winged man, monk. Takes Grace to see Eyron, later falls pray to the illness that hits the land.
- Eyron the Dragon -- Ancient Dragon, said to have been at the birth of magic. Knows the way magic works.
- Wellspring -- Dragon, friend of Faye's, saved her and the others helping Grace from two other dragons. Later seen aiding Grace and the others against Ranier.
- General Zanis -- General under King Minas' command. Was ordered to attack king Ornoth since Minas presumed the illness and assassination amount against him were from his kingdom.
- King Ornoth -- king of Delphora, was blamed for poisoning the land of Arcadia by King Minas. Ornoth himself however was also a victum of the illness. Later he joins Zanis in fighting against Ranier.
- Lucivia -- Monk, speaks on behalf of Eyron and later was tasked with hiding the eras existence from the future generations.
- Halifax -- dragon, mother of Dandelion. Upon discovering she was dying she took her daughter to Eyron's mountain.
- Dandelion -- a young dragon, brought to the monks for protection by her mother. Later given to Seph to raise.
- Morlyn -- Winged male. Locked up by Vinn and later released to fight Ranier.
Soulfire: Chaos Reign
- Miya -- Female winged person. Though female desired to learn to hunt and not follow traditional female roles within her tribe.
- Noris -- Father of Miya.
- Oshil -- Never seen but spoken of, Miya's brother killed by a panther.
- Delna -- Miya's mother, she protested against her husband's willingness to train their daughter in the ways of the hunt after the death of their son. Later was dragged off during the night
Trade Paperbacks
| Title | Material Collected | Publication Date | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soulfire Volume 1 Part 1 | Soulfire Preview, Soulfire vol. 1 #0, #1-5 | April, 2008 | ISBN 0-9774-8212-X |
| Soulfire Volume 1 Part 2 | Soulfire vol. 1 #6-10 | June, 2010 | ISBN 0-9823-6281-1 |
| Soulfire: Dying Of The Light | Soulfire: Dying Of The Light #0, #1-5 | June, 2007 | ISBN 0-9774-8211-1 |
| Soulfire: Chaos Reign | Soulfire: Chaos Reign #0, #1-3 | July, 2008 | ISBN 0-9774-8214-6 |
External links
- Official Soulfire site
- SoulFire on DelcourtDelcourt (publisher)Delcourt is a French publishing house that specializes in comics and manga.It was founded in 1986 through the fusion of the magazines Charlie Mensuel and Pilote...
's Website - Soulfire Fanlisting
- Review of Soulfire: New World Order #0, Silver Bullet Comic Books