''Channel Zero'' is a

graphic novel A graphic novel is a self-contained, book-length form of sequential art. The term ''graphic novel'' is often applied broadly, including fiction, non-fiction, and Anthology, anthologized work, though this practice is highly contested by comics sc ...

by Brian Wood and Becky Cloonan set in a near-future

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

. The character Jennie 2.5 also appears in Wood's ''

The Couriers ''The Couriers'' is a series of graphic novels created and written by Brian Wood (illustrator), Brian Wood and illustrated by Rob G. and published by AiT/Planet Lar. Publication history Woods has discussed a fourth volume, saying, in mid-2009: ...

''.

Publication history

''Channel Zero'' was first published by

Image Comics Image Comics is an independent American American comic book, comic book publisher and is the third largest direct market comic book and graphic novel publisher in the industry by market share. Its best-known publications include ''Spawn (comics) ...

in 1997 as a serial before being collected as a standalone work by

AiT/Planet Lar AiT/Planet Lar is an American comic book publishing company based in San Francisco, California. It was founded in 1999 by Larry Young and Mimi Rosenheim. The company focuses on releasing original graphic novels into the mass market, although th ...

in 2000. In 2002, ''Public Domain: A Channel Zero design book'' was released, and a sequel, ''Channel Zero: Jennie One'', appeared a year later. The book is currently published by Dark Horse Comics in omnibus format.

Synopsis

The story focuses on Jennie 2.5, a hacker who uses an illegal television channel to urge viewers to fight back against New York and America's violent theocracy.

Reception

Matthew Shaer of ''

The Village Voice ''The Village Voice'' is an American news and culture publication based in Greenwich Village, New York City, known for being the country's first Alternative newspaper, alternative newsweekly. Founded in 1955 by Dan Wolf (publisher), Dan Wolf, ...

'' described the work as reminiscent of

William Gibson William Ford Gibson (born March 17, 1948) is an American-Canadian speculative fiction writer and essayist widely credited with pioneering the science fiction subgenre known as cyberpunk. Beginning his writing career in the late 1970s, his ear ...

, while Keith Giles of

Comic Book Resources ''CBR'', formerly ''Comic Book Resources'', is a news website primarily covering comic book news, comic book reviews, and comic book–related topics involving movies, television, anime, and video games. It is owned by Valnet, parent of publicat ...

declared that the novel "established

ood The Ood are an alien species with telepathic abilities from the long-running science fiction series ''Doctor Who''. In the series' narrative, they live in the distant future (circa 42nd century). The Ood are portrayed as a slave race, natura ...

early on as a talented artist and writer to keep an eye on".

References

External links

''Channel Zero''
at Brianwood.com Science fiction comics Image Comics graphic novels Comics by Brian Wood (comics) Comics set in New York City {{Image-comics-stub