Korgi: Top Shelf's Dog House
This story originally appeared in PW Comics Week on May 15, 2007 Sign up now!
by Chris Arrant, PW Comics Week -- Publishers Weekly, 5/15/2007
If you like dogs, you'll love Korgi: Sprouting Wings, a new all-ages graphic novel just released by Top Shelf Productions. Created by former Disney animator Christian Slade, this wordless graphic novel promises a fantasy romp with a young heroine named Ivy and her pet dog, Sprout, based on the Welsh corgi breed. Sprout's curiosity leads him and his mistress on a combination of adventure and fantasy similar to other all-ages comics works such as Jeff Smith's Bone and Andy Runton's Owly.
The fantasy Korgis in Slade's book resemble the Welsh breed, but possess unique qualities. The Korgis in the story are larger than the real thing. "A fully mature Korgi can support the weight of a human and can also handle tasks that require great strength," said Slade. "Korgis can also alter the chemistry of the creatures around them, making them stronger and more intelligent."
The book is the story of a small woodland community of humanlike creatures called "Mollies," who harvest the land and enjoy the simple pleasures of life. "The Mollies were a tired, weak, and lazy group of characters living together until the Korgis arrived and made them better," explained Slade. The Korgis "made the Korgi Hollow into a peaceful and fulfilling place to live," he added. Ivy and Sprout's relationship is less pet and master and more like two friends and roommates, living in a tree house.
"I love animals, especially dogs, and I remember the first time I saw a corgi," said Slade, who began sketching the animals. "Its hilarious antics are matched only by its intelligent character," he went on. "Eventually, my wife and I got two and I drew them even more." As he learned more about both the breed and its aficionados, Slade began attending the annual Pembroke Welsh Corgi National Specialty convention. His illustrations of corgis were the hit of the convention floor. "I'm not sure Korgi would have happened if I didn't receive such a warm welcome from the Welsh corgi collecting community."
Slade now works as a freelance illustrator, but he has also worked in all-ages animation for Disney, which he said was invaluable experience for creating Korgi. "I worked on [the animated film] Brother Bear, working mostly on Koda, Tug and Koda's mom. I also worked on animation for the ride at the Magic Kingdom, Stitch's Great Escape."
Top Shelf used its Free Comic Book Day Owly comic to release a six-page Korgi excerpt to promote the title. Slade will also be attending several conventions, including San Diego Comic-Con, Wizard World: Chicago and the Small Press Expo in Maryland. The second volume is tentatively scheduled for an autumn release.
Top Shelf publisher Chris Staros said he and copublisher Brett Warnock have been on the lookout for an all-ages comic since the success of Runton's Owly. "It was just a stroke of luck that Christian decided to send his dream project to us to look over. And, wow, we loved it immediately." Staros said Slade's illustrations "convey an enormous amount of emotion in his work—something we always look for." Staros added that since Slade does not come from the world of comics, but from animation and illustration, "he has a really fresh take on how to tell a story. Like Owly, it's silent, and truly all-ages. There's something here for everyone."
