Phonogram (comics)


Phonogram is a comic book written by Kieron Gillen and drawn by Jamie McKelvie. It is published by American company Image Comics.

Publication history

The first volume, Rue Britannia, began in August 2006 and stars David Kohl, a mage who uses the medium of Britpop music to interpret his magic.
The second volume, The Singles Club, consists of seven one-shots looking at young phonomancers and their experiences over one night at a dance club. Each issue consists of a 16-page main story, rounded-out with features and back-up stories.
Gillen originally ruled out a third volume because sales were just too low:
However, in February 2012 at the 2012 Image Expo, a third series of Phonogram was announced, entitled The Immaterial Girl. On the subject of the change of heart, Gillen stated:
After further delays while Gillen and McKelvie launched The Wicked + The Divine, The Immaterial Girl was announced at the 2015 Image Expo as to be published in August 2015, with the last issue published in January 2016.
Gillen has strongly implied there will be no further volumes beyond The Immaterial Girl in interviews and his workblog; however, he stated there would not be a third volume at the end of The Singles Club.

Volume 1: Rue Britannia

The first volume was a six-issue run, collected under the title "Rue Britannia". In keeping with the Britpop theme, the six individual issues and the collection had cover art based on album artwork from that era.
Issue NumberIssue TitleInfluencing Album & Artist
1Without Your PermissionElastica – Elastica
2Can’t Imagine the World Without MeIt's Great When You're Straight... Yeah – Black Grape
3FasterDefinitely Maybe – Oasis
4Murder ParkModern Life Is Rubbish – Blur
5Kissing with Dry LipsSuede – Suede
6Live ForeverThe Holy Bible – Manic Street Preachers
TPB collecting issues 1–6Rue BritanniaThis Is Hardcore – Pulp

At the end of each issue, and somewhat shortened in the trade paperback, the creators give a glossary of the more obscure phrases and pop-culture references used, as well as musings on the history of Britpop and the influences on the book.

Synopsis

Phonomancer David Kohl has to save his Britpop goddess, Britannia, who is missing. Cursed by a goddess, he follows a series of leads and meets with other 'mancers, and spends time with a "normal" friend, Kid-With-Knife. He eventually locates Britannia.

Volume 2: The Singles Club

Issue NumberIssue TitleRelevant SongFocus Character
1Pull ShapesThe Pipettes – Pull ShapesPenny B
2Wine and Bed and More and AgainCSS – Let's Make Love and Listen to Death from AboveMarc
3We Share Our Mother's HealthThe Knife – We Share Our Mothers' HealthEmily Aster
4Konichiwa BitchesRobyn – Konichiwa BitchesSeth Bingo and Silent Girl
5Lust EtcThe Long Blondes – Lust in the MoviesLaura Heaven
6Ready to Be HeartbrokenCamera Obscura – Lloyd, I'm Ready to Be HeartbrokenLloyd
7Wolf Like MeTV on the Radio – Wolf Like MeKid-with-knife

Once more, a glossary is included in both the issues and the trade collection. The trade also includes the track list that is playing in the club scenes.
The first print of issue 5 was recalled due to it having been printed with the bar code from issue 4. The second print corrected the error.

Synopsis

Several phonomancers center on a club, where magic is discouraged. Each issue focuses on a different phonomancer, with David Kohl returning as a supporting character throughout. David's coven leader, Emily Aster, is the focus of one issue, wherein she struggles with her dual personality.

Volume 3: The Immaterial Girl

The third volume, The Immaterial Girl was announced in March 2012 for a 2012 publication, but due to the creators starting to work on Young Avengers, it was delayed until the second-half of 2013: however, with the creators moving on to The Wicked + The Divine in 2014, there were no further updates until 2015 when a publication of August 2015 was confirmed as a six-issue run.
Issue NumberIssue TitleInfluence
1Plan BDuran Duran and the art of Patrick Nagel
2Girl AnachronismThe video for Take On Me – A-ha
3"I" Falls ApartThe videos for Total Eclipse of the Heart – Bonnie Tyler and Material Girl - Madonna
4 Precious Little LifeScott Pilgrim vol. 1 – Bryan Lee O'Malley
5Losing My EdgeThe video for Money for Nothing – Dire Straits
6See Emily PlayDon’t Give Up – Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush
TPB collecting issues 1–6The Immaterial Girl''n/a

As with the previous volumes, a glossary is included in both the issues and the trade collection.

Synopsis

Continuing from the Aster-centric issue of "The Singles Club", "The Immaterial Girl" is focused on coven leader Emily Aster's struggle with her dual-personality and identity crisis, and was foreshadowed in Issue 3 of volume 2.

Collected editions

The three limited series have been collected as trade paperbacks:
There is also a one volume, complete edition hardcover::