Broken Frontier

A webcomic that features a stand-up Marine as one of its main characters is attracting the attention and appreciation of military personnel, veterans and their families.

“To say we’re honored would be an understatement,” said Steven Philip Jones, who co-creates the webcomic “Talismen” (www.talismenseries.com ) with Barb Jacobs, both of eastern Iowa.  “It’s humbling to get a thank you from people we’ve been thanking every day in our prayers for their sacrifices.”

“Talismen” is the epic adventure of five exiles from the Plane of Imaginings, the place where all dreams and nightmares come from.  The series follows the exiles from childhood to adulthood as they use their magical talismen to battle the powerful Ba, ruler of the Land of Nightmares.

“People all over the world read ‘Talismen,’” said Jacobs.  “It’s the kind of fantasy that people of all ages are enjoying, including people in or involved with the military.”

A webcomic is a comic book or comic strip that appears on the Internet.  Most, like “Talismen,” can be read for free.

The “Talismen” webcomic launched in October 2005 with a story created by Jacobs about one exile, Lance Corporal Ollie Steele, and an elf-like young woman named Astrina who loves him.  Ollie is serving in the Middle East when he is ambushed by terrorists and about to be executed when he finds himself in Astrina’s village.

“Ollie ends up protecting this village from nightmare monsters,” Jacobs said.  “At first he’s convinced he is dreaming and will wake up any second to be executed, but eventually he realizes what is happening -- and what he feels for Astrina -- is very real.”

One of the first people to join a forum at the comic’s website was a Marine stationed in Iraq.  Emails from other servicemen, veterans or their family members followed, telling Jacobs and Jones how much they appreciated Ollie’s positive portrayal and the accuracy of their depiction of a Marine.

“They’re also quick to point out our errors, like how we misspelled Camp Lejeune,” said Jones.  “But one fellow who wrote said he had just returned from Mountain Warfare Training and was relaxing by catching up with ‘Talismen.’  Now that’s an endorsement!”

Earlier in 2006, “Talismen” was nominated for a Web Cartoonists’ Choice Award for “Outstanding Fantasy Comic.”  Since its launch “Talismen” has attracted nearly fifty thousand readers a month and has ranked near the Top 10 of the TopWebComics ranking of webcomics.  Two issues of a “Talismen” comic book series was published in 2005 by Atlantis Studios, and in January 2007 Mundania Press will release the first in a series of illustrated Young Adult novels, “Talismen: The Knightmare Knife.”  An illustrated “Talismen” Young Adult novella, “Boy In the Well,” is also available now at Café Press.

“Right now the other four exiles have joined Ollie, so Ollie no longer has the spotlight to himself,” Jones said.  “But Ollie’s a Marine.  He can function as well alone as he can as part of a team.  His best adventures still lie ahead.”