The Lucent is an independent fantasy graphic novel series created by Australian writer and artist Michael Bancroft. The story blends mystery, the supernatural, romance and action in a world where the boundary between dreams and reality is dangerously thin.
The narrative follows Ella Forsythe, a young woman with the rare ability to manipulate her dreams. After unintentionally unleashing these powers, she finds herself targeted by the a secretive order — the same group responsible for her parents' deaths. She is aided by an enigmatic figure named Damon Spector, who mentors her as she navigates this ancient conflict.
The project has been largely funded through crowdfunding platforms like Indiegogo, Kickstarter, and thelucentcomic.com, and is noted for its "cinematic" art style and atmospheric storytelling. The series is planned as an ongoing saga, with the current and planned titles including:
- The Lucent: Waking Dream (Book 1): The 60-page debut graphic novel that introduces Ella and the primary conflict.
- The Lucent: Painted Death (Book 2): A 100-page sequel focusing on the mystery that follows immediately after the first book.
- The Lucent: Fractured Mind: A 36-page one-shot prequel set six months before the main events.
- The Lucent: Trading Cards: a 22 page ashcan featuring 12 one-page comics covering a character per page.
- The Lucent: Ember Crown: The planned third instalment in the series, following on from the events of Painted Death.
- The Lucent: Tempest Born: A planned prequel set in 4th century Britain, featuring a hunt for the mad druid, Myrddin Wyllt.
Key Characters
- Ella Forsythe: The protagonist who can control her dreams but struggles with fractured memories of her past.
- Damon Spector: A mysterious mentor who visits Ella in her dreams and helps her survive the real-world forces hunting her.
- Arthur/Lord Alwin: a central figure in The Lucent, serving as the guardian of the protagonist, Ella. He maintains a dual identity that is fundamental to the series' mystery.
- Olam / Utnapishtim: Known as "The Stone Man," a wise and powerful immortal whose role in the greater story is yet unknown.
- Le Maréchal (Jonathan Biram): An imposing, dangerous figure heading a secret society known as the Luminary Guard.
Ancient Myth
The Lucent lore is anchored in ancient Mesopotamian mythology, specifically referencing The Epic of Gilgamesh, while exploring the thin veil between consciousness and reality. The story weaves these ancient roots into a modern supernatural mystery, while drawing heavily from some of the world's oldest stories to build its foundation of its mysterious arcane forces:
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Gilgamesh & Immortality: In the second book, Painted Death, Gilgamesh is explicitly referenced as a legendary king searching for eternal life. This serves as a backstory for the ancient powers and "immortals" present in the series.
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Olam / Utnapishtim: This character, known as "The Stone Man", is a direct nod to the flood hero from the Epic of Gilgamesh. In the comic, he appears as mythic being who engages in 'dark bargains', trading lives for fragments of his power.
- Ish'um: An enigmatic character whose name is shared with a Babylonian plague god, often associated with fire and destruction. In the series, his role is complex and his true allegiances remain unclear.
The Philosophy of The Lucent
The central concept of the series is that the barrier between the intangible and the real world is fragile. It also deals with themes of power and morality, authority and freedom.
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The Lucent state: To be 'Lucent' means reaching an awakened state where dreams and reality become less blurred by degrees. When one has reached this state, they are said to be Lucent.
- Reflections of Reflections: The lore posits that much of what humans perceive is a "reflection" of deeper truths, with darker shadows cast by brighter lights.
Secret Societies and Immortals
The world of The Lucent is manipulated by hidden groups and powerful bloodlines:
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The Luminary Order: A mysterious group responsible for the death of Ella's parents, seeking to control those with "Lucent" abilities for their own ends.
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The Followers of Artemas/The Council of the Ember Crown: Artemas is an immortal figure who views his eternal life as a burden. His followers believe he carries the great flame of knowledge that will one day be rightfully returned to the world.
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The Luminary Guard: Founded by Jonathan Biram, (Le Maréchal) they are a elite organisation of 'Lucent' enforcing ancient law and covenant, and are behind much of the supernatural conflict that has been playing out for centuries.