INTERVIEW: Worlds of science and comics combine for pandemic-inspired ‘Planet Divoc-91’
Image courtesy of Superfan Promotions / Provided with permission.
The expansive, nine-part comic series known as Planet Divoc-91 is one of the first publications inspired by these past few pandemic-heavy months, and it may be the first time ever the world of science and the world of comics come together in such a unique collaboration.
Webtoon hosts the online comic, which is funded by several science organizations in the United Kingdom. According to press notes, the satirical story surrounds a pandemic outbreak in the far reaches of outer space (connections to today’s planet Earth should be obvious — just spell Divoc backwards, after all).
Within the pages of this new series — which features creative work by The Walking Dead artist Charlie Adlard, Friendo writer Alex Paknadel, UK comics laureate Hannah Berry, colorist/designer James Devlin and letterer Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou — there’s an interesting premise: all young adults have been transported away from Earth and deposited on a terraformed Earth-like planet called Divoc-91.
Among the young adults who have hitched a ride to Divoc-91 are “Sanda Oung, a 23-year-old girl from the UK, and Champo Oung, Sanda’s 19-year-old, non-binary sibling.” It’s up to these two characters to realize the full extent of the plans for Divoc-91 and why the future of Earth seems so perilous.
A press release states that the series is meant to empower young adults to drive positive change by helping direct research. Recently Hollywood Soapbox exchanged emails with Dr. Bella Starling, director of vocal at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, and Sara Kenney, who wrote the first chapter of the series. Questions and answers have been slightly edited for style.
When did the idea for Planet Divoc-91 first come to you and the team members?
STARLING: When COVID hit, Sara and I were already working together on another participatory science engagement project. All around us, especially among the young people we were already working with, people were asking: How do I make sense of this pandemic and the avalanche of information that comes with it?
Sara and I quickly realised that we were equipped to help, and we both had a deep feeling that we needed to do something useful. So we started working with creators, scientists, young adults to explore — in an alternative setting, with some of the ‘heat’ taken out of the situation — some of the aspects of a pandemic, to help make sense of the situation.
The story features Sanda and Champo who are siblings from the UK. They have been ‘zapped’ to another planet and discover that an extinction level event (ELE) is threatening Earth. You don’t get to find out what that is until chapter 2 — but it’s not a pandemic!
At the same time, we were aware that young voices were absent from discussions about the pandemic and wanted to change this. I work in a scientific research environment, and when COVID hit, scientists and researchers massively mobilised to answer the call for more knowledge about the situation. It’s hugely important for such research to include the voices, perspectives and experiences of young adults. So, Planet DIVOC-91 is both about offering edutainment about the pandemic and creating change within the scientific system to include the voices of young adults and create better, more relevant science and policy.
Do you feel it’s important for both the comic and science communities to respond to COVID-19 in interesting ways?
STARLING: Absolutely! Already the scientific world is working in a different way — much more quickly and collaboratively (though still rigorously!). Look at how new treatments and vaccines are already beginning to be developed. COVID has forced the science community to acknowledge how important effective communication is for science and health.
As well, science is understanding better that listening to and working collaboratively with patients and the public is essential to creating better research and ultimately better health. No research about us without us!
Research and science policy have always been aware of the need for better communication and collaboration with people, but COVID has really put this under the spotlight. Now we can really take action, including through Planet DIVOC-91, which incorporates ways of feeding young adult views and perspectives into the scientific process, to create real change and more inclusive future research.
How much did the current pandemic influence the story and characters found within these pages?
STARLING: The comic clearly has its roots in the COVID situation, but the story is allegorical. You might, ahem, notice some similarities in some areas (eg. BASIL and SAGE — the UK Scientific Advisory Group on Epidemics)! As part of the comic development process, young adults interviewed a range of scientists and other researchers, so the articles and storylines are informed by real-life science happening right now.
KENNEY: The characters Sanda, Champo, the aliens and storyworld were all conceived after the pandemic hit, so it’s emerged from this crisis. The characters are part inspired by my older cousins Rob and Lisa who are mixed Burmese/ Trinidadian, with a bit of French thrown in. They moved from Trinidad to the UK after a family tragedy when they were teenagers. Actually Lisa is now a scientist advising on this project for the elements supported by the Royal Society of Chemistry.
Araminta Love is one of my favourite characters who is obviously a manifestation of this pandemic, but for me there was a lot more meaning embedded in her character that’s a reflection of the work I’ve been doing over the past five years. It’s perhaps a bit buried, and we’ll see if anyone gets it!
Did you give complete freedom to your collaborators?
KENNEY: All creators receive a story bible, with character biogs and a bit more about the storyworld. There are a few plot points they need to hit, but these are derived from conversations with the young adults and the sorts of experts they want to speak to. So we might have a psychology special or something that explores history or ethics, but pretty much the creatives get on with it. I work with Kirsten Murray, our editor, to read scripts. I’m just checking for factual elements and then getting experts to read them if needed. Kirsten is doing an amazing job at editing and project managing across the series!
How did you recruit so many awesome writers and artists?
KENNEY: I just had an initial hit list and emailed them, and most replied and all who replied said yes. I don’t blame those who ignored my email by the way — the idea of making a comic inspired by a pandemic that’s currently killing thousands, I can absolutely see why that might not be appealing! However the way we work, it’s not just a commentary about the situation, it’s a participatory arts process that actively facilitates young adults so they can be part of the solutions.
With the work that Bella Starling and I do, you have to make the space as early on as possible to impact and influence research and policy in such a fast-moving crisis. Our young adult cohort have already interviewed and shared some ideas with the UK Government Chief Scientist, Sir Patrick Vallance, and scientists from up and down the country. They will also be contributing to a report by the Academy of Medical Sciences, which is going to the House of Common, Science and Technology Committee at the end of July, on what lessons can be learned so far. We’ll share some of those outcomes.
The cover artists were mostly recruited by the fantastic David Hyde from Superfan Promotions, although Hannah Berry brought on VV Glass, and I approached Anand RK.
You’re right the writers and artists are all awesome, and I am indeed humbled to be working with them and grateful that they took a leap of faith and got involved.
You also feature accompanying articles, art and videos. What inspired you to add these multimedia offerings?
KENNEY: These are important ways for the young adults to conduct research in terms of interviewing experts and offer up reactions to those interviews in the form of articles, art and videos. The articles are from the UK cohort, videos from India and art (graffiti, poetry, music, painting) will be from South African young adults — and this was based on speaking to our leaders Sarah Iqbal and Nabeel Petersen in each of the regions. The participants can express themselves in the way that feels right for them culturally and practically.
The international team haven’t yet met, but we’ll be arranging a Zoom meeting soon. And I’m sure they will be excited to share stories from their corners of the world. I’m really hoping some of our Webtoon audience will be inspired to create some fan art. If that becomes a ‘thing’ it would be great to share that on Webtoon, too!
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Planet Divoc-91 is now available on Webtoon. Click here for more information.
