GRAPHIC NOVEL

The A.R.C.

Oh, The A.R.C., what a beast of a book. This 333-page doorstopper is easily the longest I’ve worked on any single endeavor in my life (clocking in at 5+ years). While working on the TV development of Jazz Legend, our producer, Sanjay Sharma, introduced me to filmmaker and artist Tim Disney, who had a concept he was interested in developing that was inspired by the events of the pandemic. Instead of COVID, this virus kills anyone who becomes infected if they tell a lie. I loved the idea, so Tim and I got to work on what became an epic creative partnership that is still very much active today.

For me, this book is the culmination of my (so far) nearly 15-year career as a writer and comic book creator. Long-time partner Vincent Dubourg expertly illustrated the book with cover art by Justin Tuan Smith (Lil Zenten). And I also need to give a shoutout to our publisher, Matt Medney (and everyone at Gungnir Books), who have been nothing short of absolute rock stars from start to finish.

About the story: The A.R.C. begins at the Concordia Center in the heart of the Amazon, where a who’s who of global elites from business, finance, fashion, entertainment, technology, and online activism have gathered for the Global Reinvestment For Tomorrow Conference (GRFT), promising to solve the problem of climate change once and for all. Very little problem-solving occurs before the GRFTers are infected with a lethal, highly contagious virus, dubbed Amazonian Recombinant Cytoneuropathy (A.R.C.).

The A.R.C. virus has peculiar and unfortunate characteristics: it is wildly contagious but undetectable in its dormant phase; it is 100% lethal; and the kicker is … it’s activated by lying. Th s proves deeply problematic for a world drowning in an ocean of lies and misinformation. The GRFTers board their private jets and spread the virus worldwide. Chaos ensues.

BUY THE BOOK AT: https://gungnirbooks.com/products/the-a-r-c

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE A.R.C.: https://arcthebook.net/

created by: Tim Disney

words: Tim Disney, JC Lacek

illustration: Vincent Jolas Dubourg

creative direction & lettering: JC Lacek

cover: Justin Tuan Smith (Lil Zenten)

editing: Erik Morse

published by: Gungnir Books