The Victors

Carnegie-long-listed author, climate activist, lecturer and queer screenwriter Wren James got their first book deal as ‘Lauren James’ for The Next Together while in their last year of university. A film is now being made of their The Loneliest Girl in the Universe, which was short listed for the STEAM Children’s Book Prize in 2019. While impressing the publishing world with a myriad of science fiction fantasy, they also took time to found the Climate Fiction Writers’ League. Green Rising, their intelligent eco fiction YA novel, cleverly interpolated the minutiae of social media into the fantastical fabric of the text while making sharp socio-political observations.  

Wren’s latest project is equally thought provoking. Influenced by their experiences as a writer for the Netflix series of Alice Oseman’s emotive Heartstopper and their love of the visual stylings of Bryan Lee O’Malley’s Scott Pilgrim, Mike Curato’s Flamer, the fantasy artist Pockets, the shape shifting of Larson and Mock’s Salt Magic and the comedy horror TV show What We Do in the Shadows, where vampires are roommates, they have collaborated with talented Irish illustrator Beth Fuller to produce The Victors. 

Fuller’s animated gaming cosplay style complements Wren’s witty script and pacy plot. The story unfolds in fourteen snappy chapters as the magical realm draws on mythological themes and collides with the mundane reality of university politics. Through downtrodden 2nd year university student, Dirk, and his quirky arch nemesis Medusa, James explodes “the Chosen One” myth in a mockumentary style comedy. Having defeated the evil Demon King Rarog, when he was just 15, he is now haunted by the past and isolated. Conversely his flamboyant arch nemesis Medusa just wants to shed her demon identity and connect with humans. The trouble is there is a university housing crisis and Dirk’s magic has begun to manifest itself again.

James was excited by the visual medium but found the process of panel management a little challenging. They explain in their blog, 

‘Chapters always have to begin on the right page, and each double page spread has to feel complete. Ideally it ends on a scene ending and the next double page spread takes you to a new location or scene. It’s like a big old puzzle.’

The story boarding is expressive, playful and dynamic, intercutting the text with painful flashbacks in vivid close-up flash photo style, role playing game cards, self-referential posters, inside jokes, snippets from social media and origin stories. Themes include anxiety, found family, destiny, hope, identity, betrayal, trust, friendship and the ravages of war. James asks who the victors really are after so much destruction and death. It will appeal to young adult readers looking for nuanced queer representation and fans of super hero comics, mythology and satire.