DEREVANCHUK Gordon
Gordon Derevanchuk used the pseudonym “Gordon Derry”. Only in Dark Fantasy, 14, 1979 for “Lord Of Lightening” did he use his surname. Fortunately, Gene Day described the connection.
“Gordon Derry” is one of the more interesting individuals in the Canadian cartoon periodical industry of the 1980’s. He emerged as a writer second in importance only to Barry Blair in Aircel Publishing, then vanished completely not only from the cartooning industry but from speculative fiction as well.
Gene Day introduced Gordon as a new author “who had been sitting on our doorstep (Ottawa, Ontario) all the while.” when his short story “Perchance to Dream” appeared in Dark Fantasy, 9, 1976. It was followed by “Lord Of Lightening” in Dark Fantasy, 14, 1979. Dark Fantasy 24/25, 1984 which appeared after Gene died suddenly in September 1982 was published by Gordon in association with Shadow Press. His editorial was one of the finest tributes to Gene to appear at the time.
Gordon’s first venture into sequential story telling was probably with the Day Bothers and Deni Sim’s Renegade Press. He wrote a biography of Sir Arthur Conon Doyle for the Day brothers’ Cases of Sherlock Holmes series and a sequential story “Between Two Worlds.” in Gene Day’s Black Zeppelin, 1-5, October 1986. Barry Blair penciled this story, and this may be the link that connected Gordon with Aircel Publishing.
His first effort was Stark Future commencing June 1986.
He quickly became a major writer in this company partnering with illustrator Denis Beauvais to create the well received “Warlock 5; with Adrian Kleinberger to produce “Darkewood” and Starstone” and with Tom Grummett to author “Shadowalker”. For a short period he wrote the “Elflord” series as well he wrote sequential back up stories “Death Caller” and “Bogwyn’s Bane” for Elflord.
Starstone is set in a dystopia as described by Gordon in the Gallery Section below. The story opens with “Seer” a shaman in a dream quest where he sees past spirits representing the three groups; humans, magabites (mags) and androids all advocating enslavement or annihilation for the other groups. “Seer” despairs as he desires the three groups to live in harmony and avoid further calamity. A head appears that he has formerly seen in his dreams. The head tells him to return to his village and to seek out the “Starstone” through which they can partner. Seer returns to his village and becomes involved in protecting the mutant “Bron”. He is joined by “Raze” who calls himself a friend of “Bron”. While this conflict unfolds everyone is attacked by “magabites”. The “mags” are defeated but the village is left in flames. “Raze” and “Bron” leave for the wilds. “Seer” goes to visit an old companion “Chela”. Emerging from the shadows is “Azork” the android who takes pleasure in the conflict and plots the peacemaker “Seer’s” death. “Chela” is a female who rebuilds machinery of the destroyed civilization previously. She has discovered a power source for her latest achievement which “Seer” realizes must be the “Starstone”. Unfortunately, “Chela” when testing the backhoe, uncovers a nest of “mag” hatchlings which the “mag” parents come to rescue. They also seize the “Starstone” and disappear back into the earth. “Seer” and “Chela” decide to follow them and get the “Starstone” back. “Azork” will follow them and seize the “Starstone” and its immense power for himself. We now discover the head is a “Guardian” in a distant galaxy. He watches the small world tottering on the brink of destruction but can do little unless “Seer” can channel the energies of the “Starstone” to him. Meanwhile, “Raze” and “Bron” on their wilderness trip encounter the “mags” who have the “Starstone” which the two think is a jewel. The “mags” again escape with it. “Bron” takes some items he stole from the “mags” dwelling to a village to sell. There he encounters “Seer” and “Chela. He tells them about his and “Raze’s” encounter with the “Mags”, their possession of the stone and their escape towards the burning city. “Azork” and his army enter this village to kill the inhabitants and capture “Seer”. However, one android “Itara” who has previously suggested co-operation with humans now begins to wonder about “Azork’s” sanity. “Bron’s” mutant sense allows him to detect the presence of android army and their intention and so the three of them are prepared for the attack and make their escape. “Itara” comes to the conclusion she can no longer support “Azork’s” schemes. The three meet “Raze” and enter the “Mags” underground network. Here they meet an ancient “Mag” “Zev” who to their chagrin shows them that all three of them not just “Bron” are mutants. “Zev” himself is a mutant. They all realize that each is an “other” in their own way. Reconciliation and co-operation follow. “Zev” helps them reach the “Burning City”, but “Azork” is ahead of them and seizes the ”Starstone”. With it he inflicts a mortal wound on “Seer”. The “Guardian” draws the spirit of “Seer” across the universe to his galaxy. He gives “Seer” the history of the “Starstone” (see the Gallery Section below) and returns “Seer’s” spirit to earth to heal and reinvigorate the physical “Seer” for the coming battle with “Azork”. The “Starstone” comes back into “Seers” hands. “Seer”, “Chela”, “Raze” and “Bron” sit in a circle around the stone, join their hands and their souls and destroy “Azork”. The victory is not complete as “Raze” is killed by a war machine while protecting “Seer”. “Chela” and humans, “mags” and androids repair an inter-galactic craft from the vanished civilization. The story ends with “Chela” leaving to bring the “Guardian” to their world so he can show them how to properly use the “Starstone”.
After Gordon and Adrian completed “Starstone” they began Darkewood 1, which was published November 1987, at least as far as can be determined from an advertisement in Starstone 3. According to the letters page in Darkewood 5, it was originally intended to be a serial, but Aircel was not satisfied with its profitability and so converted it to a five-issue miniseries. There was supposed to be a follow-up in a July miniseries called “Soulfire”, but there is no evidence such a miniseries was published. Below in the Gallery section, the premise and character descriptions for “Darkewood” are given in Gordon’s own words. Both “Darkewood” in a fantasy past and “Warlock 5” in the present are based on similar themes that is a world threatened by destructive exterior forces that must be defended by a group of guardians who put their own interests first.
There is only one perhaps two of his titles named after a central character although “Stark Future” is a play on words.
There are several motifs that Gordon favours in his stories. “Darkewood”, “Starstone” and “Warlock 5” all involve worlds in crisis while those whether individuals or as in the case of “Starstone”, groups who could resolve the crisis are in conflict. For Darkewood and Starstone it is the resolution of those conflicts that save the world in question. The “Warlock 5” story remains unfinished. Another idea is that of guardians. In “Darkewood” and “Warlock 5” these guardians are present and active. In “Starstone” only one is left. A third motif that appears in “Darkewood” and “Starstone” is the auras of central characters “Tamryn” in Darkewood and “Seer” in Starstone as they are dying encounter spirits who exist on another plane or in another dimension remote from the world the characters live in. These spirits give them new energy to live and fight on. “Shadowalker” on the surface appears to be different, but it as well presents us with individuals with special powers who battle creatures of another plane who are invisible to the general population who can nevertheless be manipulated by them.
The final appearance of this enigmatic writer seems to have been “Hellstorm Locust” for Day Brothers Present, 1-2, June 1990. Then he vanished at least in Canada.
WORK:
WRITER:
BOOK GRAPHIC:
Content novel:
Warlock 5, Illus., Denis Beauvais. Outland Entertainment, 2020. Contains the episodes done by Gordon and Denis for Warlock 5 issues 14 & 15 that Aircel did not publish.
PERIODICAL GRAPHIC:
Published by Aircel Publishing.
Content serial:
| Darkewood …: Illus., Adrian Kleinberger. | ||
| 2, 1987. | 3, 1988. (?) | 5, 1987 (?) |
Elflord, 6, 1986: “Farewell Greenhaven”. Pen., Barry Blair. In., Craig Taillefer. Let., E. Mark.
“Death Caller”. Illus., Dave Cooper.
| Elflord …: Illus., See below. Let., See below. |
| 2-1, 1986: Illus., B. Blair. Let., E. Mark. Plus “Bogwyn’s Bane”. Writ., “G. Derry”. Illus., D. Cooper.
2-2, 1986: Illus., B. Blair. Let., E. Mark. 2-3, 1986: Illus., B. Blair. Let., E. Mark. |
Shadowalker 1, 1988. Illus., Tom Grummett.
Stark Future 1-1, 1986:
“Welcome to Kanen”. Writ., Gordon Derry. Illus., Tim McEown & David Day: 1-26.
“The History of Kanen’s Rangers”: Writ., Gordon Derry. Illus., unidentified: 27-31.
| Stark Future …: “…”.Illus., …: … |
| 2, 1986: “Stark Future”. Illus., Tim McEown & Jim Somerville: 1-25.
“The Legend of Kalichakra”: 26-27. “The Inhabitants Of Herod”. Illus., Jim Somerville: 28-30. 3, 1986: “Hell In Heaven’s Ruins”. Illus., Jim Somerville: 1-23. “The Metamorph” Illus., Warren Huska: 25-30. 4, 1986: No title. Illus., Jim Somerville. Assist., Pat. McEown: 1-24. “The Metamorph”. Warren Huska: 26-32. 5, 1986: No title. Illus., Jim Somerville: 1-21. “The Salvage Police” Illus., Collin R. Young: 23-32. 6, 1986: “What Are Dreams Made Of?” Illus., Jim Somerville: 1-20. “The Salvage Police: The Sewer of Life pt. 1”. Illus., Collin R. Young: 22-31. |
Stark Future 7, 1987: “Herod Invaded”. Illus.’ Peter Drinnan: 1-15.
| Stark Future …: “…”. Illus., …: … |
| 8, 1987: No title. Illus., Peter Drinnan: 1-17.
“The Salvage Police: The Sewer of Life pt. 3”. Illus., C.R. Young: 18-33. 9, 1987: “Out Of The Ashes”. Illus., Peter Drinnan & Rob Clark: 1-22. “Thorgamman JVNK”. Illus., C.R. Young: 23-32. 10, 1987: “New Worlds For Old”. Steven Huges: 1-21. “Thorgamman JVNK”. Illus., C.R. Young: 23-30. |
| Stark Future …: “…”. Illus., Steven Hughes: … |
| 11, 1987: “The Secret of Yaxala’s Doom”: 1-31.
12, 1987: No title: 1-31. 13, 1987: No title: 1-28. “Who Is Lazafar”: 29-30. 14, 1987: “Death Of A Legend”: 1-26. 15, 1987: “To Be … Or Not To Be”: 1-28. 16, 1987: No title”: 1-28. |
Stark Future 17, 1987: “The Final Chapter”. Illus., Steven Hughes: 1-28.
“Epilogue: A personal note from Gordon Derry”. 29.
| Starstone …: Illus., Adrian Kleinberger. | ||
| 1, September 1987. | 2, 1987. | 3, 1987. |
| Warlock 5, …. writ., Gordon Derry”. Illus., Denis Beauvais. | |||||
| 1, 1986.
2, 1986. 3, 1987 |
4, 1987
5, 1987. |
5, (6)1967.
7, 1987. |
8, 1987.
9, 1987. |
10, 1987.
11, 1987. |
12, 1988.
13, 1988. |
PERIODICAL GRAPHIC:
Published by Ground Zero Graphics.
| Shadowalker Chronicles …: Writ., “Gordon Derry”. Illus., Tom Grummett. | |
| 1, July 991. | 2, Sept.1991. Let., Roger Williamson. |
PERIODICAL GRAPHIC ANTHOLOGY:
Published by Renegade Press.
Content story:
Day Brothers Present, 1-2, June 1990: “Hellstorm Locust.”. Illus., Dan Day: 1-13.
Gene Day’s Black Zeppelin, 1-5, October 1986: “Between Two Worlds.” Pen. Barry Blair. In. David
Day: 21-31:
PERIODICAL TEXT & GRAPHIC:
Published by Renegade Press.
Content biography:
| Cases of Sherlock Holmes….: “In the Shadow of Sherlock Holmes: A Biography of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle”. | |||
| 1, May 1986: 27-30. | 2, July 1986: 27-30. | 3, Sept.1986: 27-29. | 4, Nov. 1986: 27-29. |
Content story:
Cases of Sherlock Holmes, 3, Sept. 1986: “Sherlock Holmes: The Strange Adventure of the Vourdalak.”
Illus., Dan Day: 1-26.
PERIODICAL–MINI; TEXT & GRAPHIC:
Published by Shadow Press.
Content short story & editorial:
Dark Fantasy, 9, 1976: “Perchance To Dream”: Illus., Tim Hamell. 14-23.
Dark Fantasy, 14, 1979: “Lord Of Lightening”. Illus., Dave Vosburgh: 4-24.
Dark Fantasy, 24/25, 1984. “Editorial”: 4-5.
“ Fool’s Gold”. Writ., “Gordon Darry”. Illus., Undecipherable: 22-31.
CO-WRITER:
PERIODICAL GRAPHIC:
Published by Aircel Publishing.
Elflord 2-4, 1986: Co-writ., Barry Blair. Illus., B. Blair, Patrick McEown, Eiwin Mark, Don Lanouette. Let. E. Mark.
PUBLISHER:
PERIODICAL–MINI; TEXT & GRAPHIC:
Dark Fantasy, 24/25, 1984.
SOURCE:
Article periodical:
Dark Fantasy, 9, 1976: 14.
Dark Fantasy, 12, 1979: 4.
Darkewood, 5, 1987: “Darkemail”: Inside back cover.
Elflord 5, 1986: Advertisement: Inside back cover.
Stark Future 10, 1987. Advertisement for Starstone commencing in September.
Starstone, 3, 1987: “Darkewood” (Advertisement): Inside back cover.
GALLERY:
Darkewood 2, 1987: Inside back cover.
Darkewood, 3, 1988: Inside back cover.
Starstone 1, 1987: Inside front cover.
Starstone, 3, 1987: 2