parakkum

parakkum is a showcase for writing, art and sequential art.

The links below range from concept art and writing through completed works, and I encourage you to take a look at everything and let us know what you think. The site name is also my gmail address (parakkum at gmail dot com), which is the best way to contact me. Also, do please let me know if any links are broken, or if any pictures fail to load properly. Both James and I hope you enjoy our work.

- Alexander Shearer

Click here to read the free complete first issue of Inhabit:

(links to page sections)
sequential art showcase links

Inhabit	Transaction	The Calling
Apex	Circus	Pathfinder

This section has fully or partially completed sequential works. Click on any of the images above or on the links preceding the explanations below to read these comics.

• Inhabit - Inhabit is an all-ages story set in a futuristic world where civilization depends on robot Drones that can only be piloted by children. Go to the Inhabit pages to read the four-page "The Alien Deep" minicomic as well as the complete first full issue of Inhabit, and to take a look at the full package James and I put together during our development of the concept. Story by Alexander Shearer and art by James Nguyen.
• The Calling - The Calling is the story of The Crusader. He's fought evil for seven centuries, and now he's in for the shock of his life. Follow the link to read the first ten pages of this modern-day mix of dark fantasy and religion. Story and art by James Nguyen, plotting and dialogue assists (mainly for page ten and beyond, most of which you won't find here) by Alexander Shearer.
• Transaction - Transaction is a modern-day thriller set during the chaos of the 1999 Seattle WTO riots. Check out the Transaction pages for the entire twenty-two page first issue. Story by Alexander Shearer and art by Allen Gladfelter.
• Apex - Apex takes place in a world where anyone might have powers - just go into the nearest recruiting facility and see if you've won the genetic lottery. Apex was a proposal package I put together with Pia Guerra, who's now the artist for the Vertigo comic Y, the Last Man. It was my first comic effort and is tremendously talky. I still enjoy reading it, but if I did it again, I'd definitely make it more concise. Also note that the inker changed partway through, which leads to a noticeable change in the art. Story by Alexander Shearer and art by Pia Guerra.
• Circus - Circus is a story of world-spanning fantasy. After bartering themselves for their soldiers' freedom, mercenary leaders Marcus and Sarai escape through a mystical portal that flings them to unknown lands, far, far away. This is the five-page proposal for the continuing adventures of Marcus and Sarai as they take the long way home. It was inspired in equal parts by Groo and the Anabasis. Story by Alexander Shearer and art by Ethen Beavers.
• Pathfinder - Pathfinder is a conventional science fiction story with a somewhat odd alternate history background. Following colonization of space by the combined Euroasiatic powers, a great sundering occurred. Decades later, exploration and trade fleets go out once more to make contact with lost colonies and discover their fates. Pathfinder follows the Dutch-Indonesian crew of the OTS Soerabaja in their exploration of New Rouen, where things are, naturally, about to go disastrously wrong. Story by Alexander Shearer and art by Amin Amat.

This section has concept art, scripts and story ideas. Note that some of the script links lead to PDFs of the script in question.

• Atopia - Atopia is a project James and I worked on together before returning to Inhabit. Follow this link to see some concept art and a pinup for this post-apocalyptic morality tale.
• Threats - Threats is the story of the FBI's special section dedicated to assisting local law enforcement agencies in dealing with the problem of super-powered criminals. It was originally written as a proposal for the short-lived revival of Epic comics over at Marvel, but would port over to almost any superpowered setting. Threats was inspired by reading about the FBI's profilers, which is why I put the group from Threats in the CASKU (Child Abduction / Serial Killer Unit).
• Righteous - Righteous is a story about duty, and the conflict between duty to your people and duty to a greater good. James made some excellent sketches for Righteous, before we went ahead with Inhabit. Follow the link to see the sketches and read the script for the first issue.
• Pink Cat and Pink Rat - My first work, Pink Cat and Pink Rat is a collection of stories drawn and narrated by me at age five. I recently scanned it to make sure I'd have an archival copy available (it's quite old at this point already). I hope you enjoy the insight into my early years as a writer.

• Alex's writing resume - This resume covers all my professional, paid writing. I've written for roleplaying games, game magazines, and more recently for comics.
• James's deviantART gallery - A gallery including even more work by James. Definitely worth some of your time. You can also contact James directly through his deviantART site.
• The Inhabit minicomic at Drunk Duck - The same as the minicomic here. If you're a DrunkDuck member, please go ahead and give it a read there, then leave some comments!
• Jonas of the Sword - An earlier effort from James (and not available on parakkum, so go give it a read).

All the work on these pages is copyright its respective creators, in most cases Alexander Shearer and James Nguyen. Inquire at the email address indicated at the top if you're interested in our work.