The Chronicles of Shamal, an epic adventure with Bahrain as its backdrop was launched yesterday at an exclusive media event in Al Riwaq Art Space. The three books originally published individually are now released as an Omnibus.

Created by Bahrain-based artist and illustrator Anna Thackray, The Chronicles of Shamal has taken 39 months to bring to completion with Anna undertaking all aspects of creation including storyline, illustration, colouring and production.

Considered a pioneer in the comicbook industry in Bahrain, Thackray is thought to be the first female expat comicbook creator and publisher in the kingdom.

Commenting on the launch she said: “The Chronicles of Shamal has been a labour of love. I draw inspiration from the Kingdom of Bahrain itself, the people, the scenery, the weather and the old fables told by many Bahraini friends. The story started to live in me and I needed to get it out, hence Shamal was born.”

A resident in Bahrain since 2008, Thackray has been commissioned for various high profile art projects creating uniquely styled oil paintings. In 2011 she was contracted to illustrate a guidebook about Bahrain - Streetsmart Bahrain. It was during the making of Streetsmart that she started to scribble some roughs of the Shamal characters in the margins of her sketchbook.

Asked about the central character’s name in the story, Thackray said: “Before Bahrain I had never experienced a dust storm or even raging winds, until one day a dust cloud appeared over the horizon and engulfed the island. I asked a Bahraini friend what it was and he said it was the north-westerly wind Shamal.”

Impressed by the natural phenomenon, in Anna’s mind the wind painted a picture of an event that is both powerful and destructive at the same time. Later she decided that this conflict of sorts would make a brilliant lead character name, bringing Shamal alive.

Each panel of the graphic novel is an artwork in its own right, therefore appreciated and collected by both young and old. Depicting familiar scenes from Bahrain, the target audience for The Chronicles of Shamal is diverse, crossing cultural, age and language boundaries.

The story of Shamal continues. Thackray is already working on the next instalment which sees the Shamal character travelling to the UAE, fighting evil as he goes along. However, Bahrain is Shamal’s home and he will always return.

In real life the Shamal franchise is diversifying, branching out into the accessories market and looking into the film and gaming market. Further information can be obtained from www.desert-comic.com. - TradeArabia News Service