Carbon Grey
Carbon Grey is a comic book mini-series created by artist Hoang Nguyen, and published by Image Comics. Set against the backdrop of a great war. The series follows twin sisters Mathilde and Giselle Grey, members of a noble family dedicated to protecting the Kaiser of Mitteleuropa, as they struggle to reconcile duty with their own beliefs and ambitions. When the Kaiser is killed a vast conspiracy is uncovered, centered on a prophecy made long ago by Gottfaust, father to the Greys and hero of Mitteleuropa, that the 13th sister – the Carbon Grey – will one day spark a revolution.
Setting and style
Carbon Grey has been variously described as belonging to the steampunk genre, or its subgenre Dieselpunk. Although the series evokes a style and period strongly reminiscent of the First World War there are notable differences, especially in the anachronistic technology that populates the world, and later becomes a major plot-point as the series progresses. Nguyen describes the setting of Carbon Grey as a world "a few degrees away from our own."Publication history
Series creator Hoang Nguyen first conceived of the series in 2002, inspired by a sketch he had drawn of a young female soldier. He began developing the concept further in his spare time, recruiting writer Mike Kennedy to help flesh out the story. Soon after, artist Khari Evans joined the project as Principal Artist. Nguyen, Evans and Kennedy are together credited as co-creators. Nguyen found Malaysian painter and colorist Kinsun Loh through online art forum , and described the results of a test piece he produced as "spectacular". With Mike Kennedy tied up on other projects Nguyen approached writer Paul Gardner to revise the storyline and write the script. The book was picked up by Image Comics at the 2010 WonderCon in San Francisco, after artist Jimmy Palmiotti introduced Nguyen to Image Comics Publisher Eric Stephenson. The first issue shipped in March 2011.Volume one: Sisters at War
The sisters of the Greys; descendants of Gottfaust – Godlike hero of the nation's Golden Era. For over three hundred years their family have protected and counseled the Kaiser, ruler of Mitteleuropa. The sisters are beautiful, wise and deadly; bred for purity and groomed to perfection. Through generations there have always been three – one for Strength, one for Grace and one for Wisdom. But this is a different time. 1915 - At the beginning of the industrial age a great war is raging. As the myth of glory in battle is cut to ribbons on the frontlines of Mitteleuropa twin sisters - Mathilde and Giselle Grey - come of age. One of these two sisters is the 13th Grey – the Carbon Grey, prophesied by Gottfaust to bring about a renaissance, and restore the nation to glory. Both are flawed - imperfect in different ways. Giselle is disobedient, stubborn - but her faults are hidden. Mathilde does not share the physical perfection of her sisters, something she cannot hide - and an exposed flaw can be exploited. This war is a diversion, orchestrated by the ruthless Alena von Medeim - consort to the Kaiser, and Mitteleuropa's Queen. She conspires to manipulate Mathilde, twisting Gottfaust's prophecy to turn sister against sister - all to gain possession of the Stone, the source of Gottfaust's godlike power. When the Kaiser is murdered Giselle must run, traveling west across the scorched battlefields of Mitteleuropa on a mission to deliver a mysterious letter into the heart of enemy territory. Pursued by the sisters and hunted by the enemy Giselle must discover the prophecy's true meaning before the Cossack queen harnessed the power of the stone to rewrite history itself.Issue one
Released 2 March 2011
To a noble family twins are born; Mathilde and Giselle, the Sisters Grey. For generations the Sisters have protected and counseled the Kaiser, ruler of Mitteleuropa. But this is a different time. At the birth of the industrial age a great war is raging. When the Kaiser is assassinated Giselle is accused. Pursued by her sisters and hunted by the enemy Giselle must unravel the prophecy of the Carbon Grey before history itself is rewritten.
Issue two
Released 13 April 2011
The General moves to arrest the sisters, as the twins turn to their mentors. The Baron has a hand in Pepper and Dina's escape, and Howard is convinced he is blessed. As the Greys search for Giselle, Eva becomes concerned about her sister's allegiances. Who is manipulating the Kaiser's legacy?
Issue three
Released 25 May 2011
Giselle heads west, as Howard answers a higher calling. The Greys close in on their wayward sister and the General suspects he has been deceived. Mathilde learns that Gottfaust's rock is more than a metaphor. As Arc One draws to a close the truth surrounding the Kaiser's death is revealed...
Vol. 1 trade paperback
A trade paperback of volume one was released on 14 September 2011. Additional content included a scene cut from issue three, and a map of Mitteleuropa.
''Carbon Grey Origins''
The first volume was followed by spin-off series Carbon Grey Origins, an anthology of short stories set in the larger world of Carbon Grey. These served to flesh out the back-story of a number of important characters. For Carbon Grey Origins the cover price was increased to $3.99. Alongside the established team of Nguyen, Evans, Loh and Gardner the two issues of Origins feature a number of artists and writers new to the series, including Pop Mhan, Joffrey Suarez, Bryan Johnston, Tanya Landsberger and Thomas Redfern.Issue one
Released 16 November 2011
An anthology of short stories set in the universe of Carbon Grey. A boy becomes a god and two sisters become killers.
Issue two
Released 28 March 2012
A second anthology of short stories set in the Carbon Grey universe. Mysterious events are investigated by "Marshal and Marshall" and a refugee becomes a queen in the tale of "Raisa."
''The Art of Carbon Grey''
Released 1 February 2012In December 2011 Image announced The Art of Carbon Grey, a hardcover large-format book detailing, through interviews and pre-production art, the development of the series and the team's working process.
Volume two: Daughters of Stone
The second three-issue volume of Carbon Grey subtitled "Daughters of Stone" launched in July 2012. Although solicited on a monthly schedule, the second and third issues were released in December 2012 and February 2013 respectively. The long delay between issues was attributed by Nguyen to "...scheduling conflicts with other projects."Issue one
Released 18 July 2012
Months have passed since the events of volume one. By order of the Queen an expedition force sets out in search of the real stone of Gottfaust. Anna hunts down the conspirators behind an assassination attempt on Her Majesty. What has become of the sisters in exile, Eva and Giselle?
Issue two
Released 19 December 2012
In Kernow Lady Fermoy works to unravel the riddle of the Kaiser's letter, while Waldstatten receives a delegation from Her Majesty's homeland. Far away in a desolate outpost on the edge of the Empire Mathilde and her team make a horrific discovery. Is the stone's power more than a myth?
Issue three
Released 27 February 2013
As arc two draws to a close the Queen declares war on her homeland, and things thought long buried return to haunt her. In KOL the true purpose of Giselle's mission is revealed, and both sides realize too late that the power of Gottfaust's stone is not so easily tamed.
Vol. 2 trade paperback
A trade paperback of volume two was released on 2 October 2013. The collection includes all three issues of volume two, along with stories "Raisa" and "Marshal and Marshall", and other original material.
Volume three: Mothers of Revolution
The third and final volume of Carbon Grey subtitled "Mothers of Revolution" launched in December 2013.Issue one
Released 4 December 2013
Long ago, a child fled a revolution. She stole another's name, betrayed a king, took his country to war, and turned sister against sister—all to reclaim her Father's throne. She is Raisa Vasilyeva, illegitimate child of a Czar, Queen of Mitteleuropa, and now... destroyer of all things. The Sisters Grey return for the final devastating chapter of CARBON GREY.
Issue two
Released 15 January 2014
The war, which not long ago was everything, now seems insignificant in the face of the unimaginable destructive power of the stone. But there is still hope, for even as the world unravels, mortal enemies unite and the true meaning of Gottfaust's prophecy is revealed in this, the double-length finale to our EPIC saga.
Vol. 3 trade paperback
A trade paperback for volume three was released on 10 September 2014. The collection includes both issues of volume three, along with stories "A Test of Faith" and "Gottfaust - Man of Stone", and additional new content.
Translated Editions
In Fall 2013 publisher Panini Comics released translated editions of Carbon Grey volume one: Sisters at War. The book was translated into FIGS.Panini released translated editions of Carbon Grey volume two: Daughters of Stone in Spring 2014. The book was again translated into FIGS.
Translated editions of Carbon Grey volume three: Mothers of Revolution were published by Panini Comics in May 2015. The final volume was published only in French, German and Italian editions.