Wakan rejected again

Right, we resubmitted Wakan Unwanted #0, 1 and 2 to Apple, this time with two pages of background on the Wakan universe and an outline of the story. No luck. #1 has been rejected again, and we fear #0 and #2 will suffer the same fate.

The next step will be to rewrite some dialogue and resubmit again. At least then we will know if it is the language they are rejecting, or if they have a more fundamental problem with the story.

As Apple hasn’t provided any more info on this, we will get in touch with other relevant actors for their take on the book. So far, no one else has mistaken the intent of Wakan Unwanted.

And – just for the record – the book’s intent is strongly anti-racist, in line with the convictions that Seth and I have always held.

Norwegian writer Eirik Newth has been covering the AppStore a while. You can read about his take on Apple’s rejection of Wakan Unwanted on his blog.

More news to follow.

- Lars

Wakan Unwanted unwanted for iPhone

You may have heard this through other channels already: We have been collaborating with the company Oxicomics to have Wakan Unwanted adapted for the iPhone. Issues 0, 1 and 2 are done and look great, but Apple has not approved the applications for their AppStore, saying they find the series “extremely racist”.

Seth and I are – of course – staunch anti-racists. We are surprised and upset that our work can be labelled as representing the opposite of our own views, and the opposite of the intention behind the series.

Apple’s reason for refusing the app has caused considerable head-scratching and incredulity among the Wakan readers I have spoken to.

Apple has not elaborated on exactly why they find the series racist, so for now we are left to speculate.

Wakan Unwanted deals with an African American protagonist in an alternate universe Old West. Our hero confronts a lot of racism in the stories, including some language that most people (myself included) would find disgustingly objectionable in real life.

But labeling a series as racist on the grounds that its hero confronts racism seems extremely odd, to say the least.

We strongly believe that the folks over at Apple are misreading Wakan Unwanted. We have sent them some more background materials as well as an outline of where the story is going. Hopefully, this will clear things up.

I will keep you posted on developments.

In the meantime, I recommend that you iPhone users check out Oxicomics’ brilliant app. Just search for “Oxicomics” in the AppStore, and you will be treated to some excellent comics by Kim Holm, Flu Hartberg, InkaLill, Tore Knutsen and many others.

- Lars

Clarius and the ashcloud

For those of you eagerly awaiting the next installment of Wakan Unwanted, I have some good and some bad news.

Good first? Okay, if you insist: Issue #2 is in the can and being printed as I write this. We have also found a cheaper printing option, meaning we can bring the price down.

Bad news: The printer is based in the US, and I don’t know if you heard, but there was this volcano. I would not be surprised if we will see some delays in getting the books across the Atlantic. We will keep you posted.

Right now, Seth and I are crossing fingers and toes hoping the books will be in Oslo in time for OCX, and we would appreciate it immensely if you would do the same.

By the way, OCX is happening May 28 and 29. Save the dates.

And one last thing: Be sure to check out ComixPress, our new printer. They have a great online store, from which you will soon be able to order your copies of Wakan Unwanted #1 and #2.

- Lars