Three Shadows is a graphic novel concept that reimagines one of the world’s oldest legends as a brutal survival epic. An exiled Germanic warrior, an African hunter, and a fallen Chinese prince follow visions across collapsing empires, deserts, and jungles. Their paths collide in a small village where a child waits, and each carries a gift that will shape history. Gritty, mythic, and visually striking, it’s 300 meets Northlanders with a global scope.

Tone & Style
Three Shadows blends mythic realism with epic adventure, in the tradition of Cormac McCarthy’s stark fatalism and the visual grit of Frank Miller’s 300. The artwork is bold, graphic, and stylized—sharp shadows, strong color palettes tied to each character (blue-gray-white for the Northman, green-yellow for the Tribesman, red-gold for the Prince). It is classic epic fantasy told with a historical edge.

Plot Snapshot
Each character sees a light in the sky, a call they cannot ignore. Their journeys are long and brutal: wars, treachery, exile. The Northman fights his way across collapsing Rome’s borders; the Tribesman survives hostile tribes and hunger; the Prince loses everything and rebuilds himself on the road. When they meet, the truth of the light is revealed—they were never meant to bring power to themselves, but to deliver their gifts to something greater.

The Northman

A Germanic tribesman, scarred from endless wars, drawn south across Europe by a vision. Stoic, brutal, but searching for redemption.

The Prince

A pampered Chinese heir, who begins as soft and spoiled but is transformed by hardship into a hardened leader.

The Tribesman

A master of persistence hunting, a man of earth and spirit. His courage and survival skills carry him across deserts and jungles.

Comparable Works

  • 300 (Frank Miller) — mythic retelling through stylized art.

  • Northlanders (Brian Wood) — gritty historical character drama.

  • The Goddamned (Jason Aaron) — biblical myth, reimagined brutally.

Why This Story?

  • A fresh retelling of one of the world’s oldest legends, stripped of sentimentality and reimagined as a survival epic.

  • Global scope: three cultures, three perspectives, one destiny.

  • Visually striking: bold, stylized art with strong palettes.

  • Market fit: appeals to readers of historical fantasy (Northlanders, 300), religious myth retellings (Testament, Kill Six Billion Demons), and mature, character-driven graphic novels.

Format & Audience

  • Graphic Novel / 4–6 issue limited series (150–180 pages collected).

  • Mature readers (16+): violence, historical realism, mythic themes.

  • Target audience: fans of epic fantasy, historical sagas, and myth reimaginings.