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Wemblex Comics · a graphic novel, after James Joyce · collected edition
THE ETERNAL CYCLE
Simon Armitage, aka Barnzley, after Finnegans Wake (1939). Assembled from the Wemblex Comics art sessions, the linocut prints of M.B. (2024, editions of 50), and new material written and designed for this edition. “Every telling has a taling.” The complete 71-page cycle, printed as published.
Created by S.P. Armitage · based on Finnegans Wake by James Joyce · published by Wemblex Comics
Cover — Finnegans Wake: The Eternal Cycle , a graphic novel, after James Joyce.
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Collected edition note — assembled from the Wemblex Comics / Eternal Cycle art sessions and the linocut prints of M.B. (2024, editions of 50).
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“So be it. My fate is carved in bone and stone.” — HCE, the fallen giant. Linocut, M.B. ’24, edition 10/50.
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Wemblex Comics · 11 APR — Finnegans Wake , with Hodley Podley Plurabelle, fetch fall, feel.
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“Riverrun, past Eve and Adam’s…” — the first words of the book. This adaptation begins, as Joyce’s does, in the middle of a sentence.
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A note on this book — who is falling, and why it keeps happening.
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BOOK FIRST — THE FALL. The thunder.
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Wemblex Comics presents THE ETERNAL CYCLE — Simon Armitage, aka Barnzley. Until the eternal cycle is complete!
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THE FALL! — and then I smash into a timeless eternity. KRASH.
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The same fall, told four ways at once — the giant’s fall, Shem’s story, Shaun’s duty, the river’s return.
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“I have become the eternal scapegoat…” — linocut, M.B. ’24, edition 7/50.
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The figure in the red cape hangs upside down — red lightning through the rocky landscape.
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ALP, the river goddess… of time and nature.
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BOOK SECOND — THE CHILDREN. Shem the outcast, Shaun the approved, Issy the mirror.
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The twin sons… Shem and Shaun! One artistic and rebellious… one conformist and popular. And their eternal struggle!
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SHEM THE ARTIST — he’s a madman! Get a job!
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Shaun’s progress — the crowd, the handshake, the kiss, the worried brother.
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The mysterious daughter ISSY — innocent child… and knowing woman!
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“And always, beneath them, the river goes on.” — Wemblex Comics, p.2.
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BOOK THIRD — THE DREAM. The second thunder.
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DREAM REALM.
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The age of gods — the age of heroes — the age of the people — and ricorso: the fall that starts it over.
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A muscular figure with glowing red eyes, stars on his body, against the starry background.
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KRAKOOM.
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Falls, rises, conflicts, renewals… and history repeats.
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History, seen up close, is only this: a day, repeated — 7:00, a man waking up in bed.
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BOOK FOURTH — THE WAKE. The dream lets go. The house wakes up. Nothing here is finished.
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The last thunder — the Norse gods, Ragnarok. And then, thunder becomes daylight.
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DAWN — the dream begins to fade; reality reasserts itself.
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A family sleeping in bed, all snoring with red smoke coming from their mouths.
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A man in a white t-shirt lies in bed holding a sleeping child; a woman in a red dress sits on the edge of the bed.
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THE ETERNAL CYCLE BEGINS ANEW… the story continues forever.
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“And so we see… even in our dreams, the cycle continues!” — riverrun, past Eve and Adam’s…
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Riverrun, past Eve and Adam’s… — Wemblex Comics, p.18.
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“A way a lone a last a loved a long the” — the sentence is not finished. Turn back to page one.
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COLOPHON — notes on this adaptation. The story continues forever. Turn to page one.
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BONUS MATERIAL — two Wemblex Comics one-shots in black, white & purple spot colour.
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WEMBLEX COMICS PRESENTS: THE FALL OF HCE — 25¢.
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The deed… it haunts me still.
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Here Comes Everybody… and Everybody falls!
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ANNA LIVIA PLURABELLE, by the river Liffey — time flows on, washing away all sins.
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SHEM: “I write the truth they fear!” / “Order must be maintained!”
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A woman looks at a framed portrait of herself.
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THE CYCLE BEGINS ANEW… — Wemblex Comics.
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THE ETERNAL CYCLE CREDITS — created by S.P. Armitage (aka Barnzley); based on Finnegans Wake by James Joyce; published by Wemblex Comics.
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THE ETERNAL CYCLE CONTINUES… next issue: the dreams continue!
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Wemblex Comics presents: THE TRIALS OF SHEM.
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SHEM THE PENMAN — the words… they burn within me!
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Wemblex Comics.
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“Your words corrupt society!” / “Art must challenge, not comfort!”
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The Eternal Cycle — page 51.
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The Eternal Cycle — page 52.
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The Eternal Cycle — page 53.
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The Eternal Cycle — page 54.
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The Eternal Cycle — page 55.
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The Eternal Cycle — page 56.
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The Eternal Cycle — page 57.
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The Eternal Cycle — page 58.
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The Eternal Cycle — page 59.
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The Eternal Cycle — page 60.
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The Eternal Cycle — page 61.
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The Eternal Cycle — page 62.
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The Eternal Cycle — page 63.
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The Eternal Cycle — page 64.
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The Eternal Cycle — page 65.
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The Eternal Cycle — page 66.
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The Eternal Cycle — page 67.
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The Eternal Cycle — page 68.
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The Eternal Cycle — page 69.
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The Eternal Cycle — page 70.
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End of the companion guide — the eternal cycle of the Wake continues. The story goes back to page one.
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