Even after fifteen years it still feels like just yesterday actor and stunt performer Steven Yu was doing parking lot and dojo practice fight sequences with his fellas over at The Stunt People. To say the least, he still trains, but he’s gone much more in the direction of comic book artistry for as long as I’ve been following him a little closer through social media for about seven years.
2016 at one point saw Yu promoting one particular genre-hybridized comic called Neo Eras. He’s stayed afloat since and he’s out now with a brand new experimental comic thriller called Joan, a project which, in a more ideal world where fresh ideas aren’t unencumbered by industry politics and the personal preferences of corporate tastemakers, would probably bloom much faster and more prominently to the appeal of consumers and geeks alike.
History tells us that Joan of Arc was burned alive for heresy and rebellion against the English Monarchy. What it failed to tell us was the second part: where she was resurrected by God for revenge! Enchanted with immortality and infinite ammo, the Saint goes on a mission of justice to right all wrongs.
Just imagine a 90’s biopic of Joan of Arc directed by John Woo with a script by Quentin Tarantino. It’s one pulpy, action-packed, bloody good time.
Indeed, Joan is less of a religious thesis and very much the imaginative mash-up Yu aspires it to be in his own vision. We discussed a lot of what that vision entails back in 2016 as he reflected on his work in movies, stunt performance, and the strive to apply his craft in comics thereafter, employing what he so aptly noted as “self-determination in the face of adversity”. Undoubtedly that resilience continues to this day.
You’re going to be seeing more of Yu on this website at some point going forward as he revs up a series of opinion pieces on his perspectives of art and the arts with respect to Joan and its overall genesis. In the meantime, hit up the Gumroad page and snag yourselves a digital copy of his spirited 30-page action fantasy adventure, which contains full color pages and concept art, and cool production notes.
