Lumberjanes: The Infernal Compass the First OGN for Series

Recently released is Lumberjanes: The Infernal Compass, the first original graphic novel for the franchise (which has already expanded from comics to original prose novels). It’s written by Lilah Sturges and illustrated by polterink with a cover by Alexa Sharpe.

The premise is that the five scouts learn about orienteering from their guide, Jen. April quickly gets separated from the group. There’s a mystical compass, steampunk robot butlers, character development — Molly is insecure about her relationship with Mal — and a lesson learned.

As you can see from these preview pages, the long-form comic has a different look from the usual art style. It’s reminiscent, to my eyes, of children’s book illustration, with the fine lines and gentle faces. The subtle coloring, mostly black and white with touches of bright green for emphasis (and to substitute for minimal backgrounds), draws the eye to key character moments and provides a comfortable, relaxing feeling suitable for a summer camp setting.

You can see more preview pages at the publisher’s website. The graphic novel also contains a reprint of the first comic series issue and behind-the-scenes character designs and page layouts.