HK (comic book)

HK is a French comic book series published since 1996 by Glénat, and created by Kevin Hérault and scriptwriter Jean-David Morvan.

The series features Karl Hollister, a young handicapped man living on Avalon, an exoplanet that humans colonized during a period of space conquest. The return of the Earth's armed forces to his planet has a major impact on his life. This is a science-fiction adventure comic focusing on the of young HK.

From 1996 to 1998, three volumes were first published in manga format in the "Akira" collection. In 2001, Hérault continued the series on his own in traditional Franco-Belgian format in the "Grafica" collection. After publishing one volume of this second series, he set about remaking the first three "manga" volumes into six "franco-belge" format volumes. Health problems prevented the artist from completing this work, and the series has been on hold since 2012.

Praised for its credible universe and beautiful, dynamic drawings, the series draws its inspiration from Seinen manga as well as French culture. Despite the qualities noted by critics, the series struggles to find its audience.

Universe

Background In the 35th century, the human species colonized space, narrowly escaping extinction on Earth. One thousand three hundred years after the departure of the first settlers, the Sphere (the name given to the space colonized by humans) extends to around thirty-seven parsecs of the Solar System. Human history has seen the birth of new states, new economies and new conflicts.

The Earth government, which has been in place for a century, is an organization whose functional structure spans all fields of the humanities (economics, industry, politics and the military) to act as a single entity: Axe. Some see Axe as a military-industrial megacorporation whose sole aim is to gain power and profits.

Synopsis In February 3408, Axe regained control of the planets it had lost in the independence conflicts fifty years earlier. Avalon is one of these planets.

On the mining spaceport, the return of the Terran troops has not met with unanimous approval. The population is skeptical, unlike the authorities, who believe this new alliance will pull Avalon out of the economic slump into which it has fallen. Karl and his cousin Cedrick are two minor thieves from the docks. They try to continue their schemes despite the imposition of martial law. Lola Sterling, the daughter of the conciliator in charge of negotiating the terms of collaboration with Axe, is dismayed by the return of the Earthlings. With friends from high society, she decides to form a small group to resist Axe. More idealistic than true revolutionaries, the members of this group are quickly overwhelmed by the consequences of their actions. On one of their nocturnal missions, they meet Cedrick and Karl's gang. They forge an alliance that will lead to an explosive situation.

Main characters

Karl Hollister (HKKarl Hollister's initials serve as the title of the series. He bears the same initials as series creator Kévin Hérault.) is the story's main character. He is the second of three children. His older brother is Nathaniel, and his younger sister Candice.Panel number 046.I.II. Along with his mother, brother and sister, Karl has green hair. Coming from a modest family, he had to start working at an early age. At the age of fifteen, he became an artificer in the large Caldera mine. Two years later, in 3406, an explosives accident left him with both legs amputated.Panel number 036.I.III. Avalon's social security system paid for two prosthetic legs, but he was unable to find work again. Together with his cousin Cedrick, he set up a small gang of thieves in the docklands district. He goes out with a girl called Magalie.Panel number 008.I.II. The name Hollister was inspired by a character in the novel The Forever War. This book is one of HK's main influences. Eulalie "Lola" Sterling is the daughter of the Avalonian conciliator Adémar Sterling. Surrounded by her father and his butler Ghislain, she is part of the privileged youth and has grown up far from the problems of the majority of Avalon's inhabitants.Panel number 002.I.III. As a student, she hopes to obtain a doctorate in sociology. Cedrick Hollister is Karl's first cousin and best friend. He lives with his mother and little sister Emeline. Like his cousin, he worked in the mine from an early age. He resigns after the accident that cost both of his cousin's legs.Panel number 062.I.III. He and his cousin set up a small, organized gang of thieves on the docks. Some of the members of this gang were childhood friends of the two cousins, such as Anton and Enya.Panel number 043.I.III.

Supporting characters

Adémar Sterling: leader of a student movement in the 3350s, he played an active role in the Avalon War of Independence. He then entered politics.Panels number 020.I.III. – 021.I.III. After many years in politics, he was appointed Conciliator of Avalon. Anton: a childhood friend of Karl and Cedrick. With his girlfriend Enya, he is one of Cedrick's gang.Panel number 018.I.IV. He eventually becomes his sworn enemy. Buuhalis: an Axe cyborg, whose brain and spinal cord are integrated into a mechanical cortex protected by a heavy technological envelope.Panel number 054.I.IV. He is transferred by the Lieutenant to serve as Karl's partner in his battalion aboard the Balaena Nūn.Panel number 046.I.V. He has a strong sense of humor. The character's name is derived from that of letterer L. Lois Buhalis, who officiated on the American adaptation of Masamune Shirow's manga Appleseed. Buuhalis is a double tribute to the character Briareos Hecatonchires from Appleseed and the Evas from the TV series Neon Genesis Evangelion. Emeline Hollister: Cedrick's little sister and Karl's cousin, she's young and innocent. She takes a negative view of the girls who hang around her cousin.Panel number 021.I.II. Eucharistie Asumita: she is a cybernetic transplant surgeon and captain in Axe army.Panel number 019.I.IV. The name Asumita was chosen by the authors for its Japanese sound, which contrasts with the Christian name Eucharistie, which in ancient Greek means Thanksgiving. She was inspired by the German model Chloe Vevrier.Panel number 071.I.IV. L'intendante Chouraqui: a trainer aboard the starship Balaena Nūn.Panel number 029.I.V. Her name is a tribute to French director Élie Chouraqui, whose film Qu'est-ce qui fait courir David? (What makes David run?) (1982) is beloved by Kevin Hérault. Chief Steward Gabrielle Rasczak: the trainer of Karl's battalion aboard the training ship Balaena Nūn.Panel number 024.I.V. Her name is a tribute to Lieutenant Jean Rasczak, Johnny Rico's mentor in Starships Troopers (1959) and in its film adaptation Starship Troopers (1997). Ivar Miossec:Panel number 013.I.IV. son of a minister and grandson of a deputy,Panel number 021.I.I. he went to the Ecole des Beaux-Arts.Panel number 017.I.I. He belongs to Lola's group of friends and they had a brief fling together.Panel number 038.I.I. His name is a tribute to the French singer Christophe Miossec. The lieutenant: a mysterious Axe officer, he belongs to the Special Commandos.Panel number 002.I.II. His mission is to recruit "prey" for training on board of one of Axe penitentiaries.Panel number 051.I.IV. Mapi Pûun: this eight-year-old half-cat, half-human was created in a genetic laboratory. She underwent accelerated growth in a tank to obtain the appearance of a sixteen-year-old woman more quickly. She works as a nurse in the army stationed on the Massilia asteroid.Panel number 043.II.I. Marshal Schnurrbart and Colonel Augenbraue: senior Axe officers,In German, Schnurrbart means “moustache” and Augenbraue means “eyebrows”. they are the ambassadors sent by Axe to ratify the trade treaty with the planet Avalon. Ophélie Summer: a journalist at LCI, she tried to conduct investigative journalism but was soon confronted with Axe censorship.Panel number 008.I.IV. Her name and appearance were inspired by the French singer Ophélie Winter. Reith Vance, Rico Heinlein, Hari Asimov, Chan Lehman and Mulligan Brunner: these are Karl's fellow students aboard the training ship Balaena Nūn.Panel number 006.I.V. All these characters have names borrowed from heroes and authors of science fiction novels. Vance is a reference to Adam Reith, hero of Jack Vance's Planet of Adventure, Rico to Johnny Rico, hero of Robert A. Heinlein's Starship Troopers, Asimov to Hari Seldon, hero of Isaac Asimov's Fondation series, Lehman to Chan Coray, hero of Serge Lehman's F.A.U.S.T. novel trilogy and Brunner to Chad Mulligan, hero of John Brunner's Stand on Zanzibar. Hubert Saglier, Ernesto Barr and Cécile Tokarev: military personnel assigned with Karl to the Massilia space station.Panel number 023.II.I.

People The series is essentially about two main groups:

Axe Earthlings Axe is the organization that governs Earth and many other planets. Earthlings serve Axe. Life on Earth is opulent and well-regulated.Panel number 057.I.III. Some fifty years after the Avalon independence conflict, the “Nine Generals” who run Axe are once again imposing their power on former colonies (like Avalon) in exchange for economic partnership. Through these treaties, Axe secures from the governments of these planets the enlistment of a maximum number of unemployed young people and delinquents in their army. The reason for this massive recruitment could be an upcoming war with an unknown power.Panels numbers 006.I.III. – 008.I.III. Despite its supposed omnipotence, Axe is infiltrated by a fifth column consisting of separatists from various planets.Panel number 065.I.II.

The Avalonians In 3353,Panel number 037.I.IV. the Avalonians gained autonomy after a war of independence. The final military action of this conflict was Axe's destruction of the lunar facilities, which caused thousands of deaths. The debris from Avalon's former moon formed a ring in geostationary orbit, with some fragments even crashing onto the planet.Panels numbers 011.I.II. and 051.I.III. In the years that followed, the planet fell into an economic slump, generating a high rate of poverty. In 3408, the Avalon authorities agreed to negotiate an alliance treaty with Axe in the hope of revitalizing the planet's economy.

Starships As in many science-fiction series, starships in HK are the only means of communication between different planets. In the series, Axe ships resemble marine animals:

The Lafayette: It takes its shape from the dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) and its name from the French frigate La Fayette. It was offered by Axe to the Avalon government.Panel number 034.I.I. The Balaena Nūn: It takes its shape from the whale shark (Rhincodon typus). This is the twenty-fifth vessel of this type, as Nun is the twenty-fifth letter of the Arabic alphabet. It was on this vessel that Karl began his apprenticeship.Panel number 012.I.V.

History

Series creation

From 1990 to 1992, the Akira manga was published in France by Glénat Éditions, followed by the release of its animated film adaptation on May 8, 1991. The latter quickly became a "cult" film, helping the printed version to win public and critical acclaim. Building on this success, Glénat launched an "Akira" collection, translating Seinen manga from their American adaptations like they did for Akira. It includes Masamune Shirow's Appleseed and Ghost in the Shell series, as well as Yukito Kishiro's Battle Angel Alita. At the end of 1993, Jean-Claude Camano, director of this “Akira” collection, launched French series in this style. The first title is Nomad by Jean-David Morvan, Sylvain Savoia and Philippe Buchet.

In 1994, Jean-Claude Camano received a portfolio from young cartoonist Kevin Hérault, aka Trantkat. He was a big fan of manga, including titles published by Glénat at the time. A self-taught draughtsman, he took part in the fanzine Tsunami published by Tonkam.