Posted in: Comics | Tagged: Neuromantics

I Created 13: The Astonishing Lives Of The Neuromantics When I Wanted To Die

Published Sat, 14 Sep 2019 21:30:07 -0500

My name is Yves Navant and I wrote and illustrated 13: The Astonishing Lives Of The Neuromantics when I wanted to die.

I don't want be a nihilist and I don't want to die. Not unless I have to. But, life had placed me in a role that was very hard to survive. I was spending 10-12 hours a day working in a very intense environment. Afterwards, I would go home to take care of an angelic and fragile mum. Those new Joker film trailers are very triggering. You can read more about this in the afterword of 13 if you'd like. I would come home exhausted, then after ensuring my mum had taken the proper dosages of medicine and after putting her to bed with her oxygen in place, I would draw and color the pages that became 13. I'd work till I fell asleep at my table. Then do it all again the next day.

The story was a desperate attempt to make something beautiful and meaningful in the most impossible conditions. I was unhappy enough that I was ready to die, as long as I finished this book first. I wanted my mum to see it and I wanted her to be proud of me; and I wanted to defiantly show the world I could make them smile or excite them with my work, even at my lowest.

The story is one of oppression. The wealthy live in orbital penthouses and purchase body parts from the poor for their own vanity. Sex and physical contact are illegal; reproduction can only be done by government assignment and approval. Sexual deviants are sent to concentration camps as to not derail society. It is in this environment that the titular character, 13, sells pieces of himself. He then goes on a journey to make himself whole, while navigating violence, faith, gender, sexuality and love. 13 is a hero by accident, he doesn't intend to help anyone and the only person he wants to save is himself. The story makes him a situational and reactionary antihero; kind of perfect for the divisive world we're living in. You'll see if you read it.

13 is inspired by the world we live in, my life, fashion, rebellion, violence and hope. My work doesn't look anything like American comics, but I love American comics; I was previously published in Heavy Metal Magazine. I hope you check out 13: The Astonishing Lives Of The Neuromantics. I'm a creator that wants to tell you cool stories, and I'm glad I stuck around long enough to do so. I honestly hope I get to tell you more.

13: The Astonishing Lives Of The Neuromantics is available at northwestpress.com and on amazon.com. Your local comic shop can order the book from Diamond Comics Previews. You can see more of my work on yvesnavant.com and on Instagram @yvesnavant

Thank you all.