As the novel coronavirus pandemic has continued to spread around the world, scientists have scrambled to try and find effective ways to impart the risks and needs required of the public to mitigate the impact of covid-19. And now some scientists in the UK have decided to turn to comics to help educate people.
Gizmodo can exclusively reveal the first look at Planet DIVOC-91, a 9-part satirical sci-fi webcomic being produced by Dr Bella Starling, Director of Vocal at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and Sara Kenney, Creative Director at Wowbagger Productions, in association with the UK Academy of Medical Sciences. Featuring a cavalcade of comics talent across each chapter, Planet DIVOC-91 wants to tell a fictional, sometimes absurd story about an intergalactic pandemic while educated readers about the threats faced closer to home with our current grasp of the novel coronavirus crisis.
While we’re arguing about social distancing over a handful of feet, the young stars of Planet DIVOC-91 have a much greater distance to worry about. The series follows Sanda Oung, a 23-year-old woman from the UK, and Champo, Sanda’s younger, non-binary sibling, after they ” and 15% of the world’s population ” find themselves suddenly whisked to another planet, Divoc-91. Sanda and Champo quickly learn the reason for their predicament is a dire one, after a mysterious and charismatic alien named ADRO tells them that they, and millions of other young adults, have been isolated from Earth to avoid an extinction-level pandemic outbreak.
Being released weekly on WebToons from next week, each chapter of Planet DIVOC-91 will also include supplemental material to help educate readers about the novel coronavirus, from scientific editorials to pieces of art and music inspired by the impact the pandemic has had on people across the world. “Sharing high quality information about Covid-19 is so important,” Sir Patrick Vallance, the Chief Scientific Adviser to the UK Government said in a statemnt provided to Gizmodo. “This project takes a fresh approach that will help explore the most pressing issues of the pandemic for young adults.”
Check out a preview of Planet DIVOC-91‘s first chapter ” written by Sarah Kenney, with art from Charlie Adlard and James Devlin, and lettering by Hassan Ostmane-Elhaou ” below, making its debut here on Gizmodo:
Planet DIVOC-91 will begin releasing weekly on WebToons from June 15.
[referenced url=”https://gizmodo.com.au/2020/06/we-are-frightened-disney-cast-members-share-their-anxiety-and-anger-about-the-parks-reopening/” thumb=”https://gizmodo.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/30/kelt6cu3gorvepxxeivb-300×168.jpg” title=”˜We Are Frightened’: Disney Cast Members Share Their Anxiety and Anger About the Parks Reopening” excerpt=”It’s time for magic.” With that phrase, Disney revealed on June 10 that Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure would reopen on July 17, the 65th anniversary of opening day in 1955. That date’s been pushed back because of the novel coronavirus pandemic, but Disney is determined to open its doors…”]