Sci-Fi Graphic Novel Shifting Earth Is A Hopeful Take on Climate Change
The upcoming sci-fi graphic novel Shifting Earth from Berger Books and Dark Horse Comics manages to showcase an optimistic view of the climate change crisis. It's difficult to deny that today's environmental climate is not in the best shape. Temperatures are rising, biodiversity is dwindling, and oceans are being poisoned. However, not everything is doom and gloom in regards to climate change, and Shifting Earth highlights that there are still things to be hopeful for.
The comic is being written by New York Times Bestselling author Cecil Castellucci and features artwork by Flavia Biondi, Fabiana Mascolo, and Steve Wands. Shifting Earth reflects Castelucci's thoughts and hopes for the real world and the deteriorating environment. The story will follow the paths of two scientists who are trying to avert an imminent climate crisis on a planet with similar conditions to the modern climate on Earth.
In the near future, botanist Dr. Maeve Lindholm finds herself on a strange parallel Earth after a freak particle storm. On this planet, nature holds dominion over science and industry, but tragedy will soon strike this ecotopia and change its society forever. Astronomer Zuzi puts all her effort into preventing the disaster, and connects with Maeve, who did the same for her own climate-stricken Earth. Both women will have to fight to save their homes and prevent the blight that mimics the real world today.
Shifting Earth is yet another Berger Books graphic novel that deals exclusively with climate change. James Romsberger's Post York takes place in a New York that's been flooded by melting ice caps due to global warming, something that can be visualized with new AI technology. Meanwhile, Rewild by Devin Grayson and Yana Adamovic mixes magic and fable into the environment, telling a tale about fae creatures and their anger towards humans' disregard for nature. In the announcement from Dark Horse Comics, Castellucci recounts her inspirations for writing the graphic novel:
"I spent a lot of time during the pandemic scrapping seeds from my kitchen, worrying about climate change, and listening to a lot of science lectures. But I didn’t want Shifting Earth to be doom and gloom, because I think that there are ways for us to imagine hopeful futures. We have to fight for our world, right here. This is my attempt to balance both the nature of the human heart and the reality of our times with a hope for a true exchange of ideas."
Castellucci has previously worked on other Dark Horse titles for the worlds of Critical Role and Disney, the Black Hammer Visions anthology, and the acclaimed original graphic novel Soupy Leaves Home with Jose Pimienta. Shifting Earth is a return to Dark Horse Comics and promises to be a hopeful take on climate change that stands out against news suggesting that climate change is getting worse. Be sure to pick up Shifting Earth when it releases in comic book shops on June 8th, 2022, and bookstores soon after on June 21st, 2022.
Source: Dark Horse Comics