Alex + Ada

Jonathan Luna had previously created comics with his brother Joshua, but was exhausted after six straight years of work. Inspired by a TED Talk, he decided to take a break from working. During his two years away from comics, he painted Star Bright and the Looking Glass, a fairy tale picture book that was proofread by his friend Sarah Vaughn and published in 2012.(July 30, 2012), "[https://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=40119 Jonathan Luna Goes Solo With "Star Bright and the Looking Glass"]", Comic Book Resources. Retrieved June 24, 2016

While working on the picture book, Luna realized he missed telling a story panel by panel and decided to return to comics.BigJ (November 7, 2013), "[http://bloody-disgusting.com/news/3263725/exclusive-interview-jonathan-luna-and-sarah-vaughn-reprogram-science-fiction-with-alex-ada/ Jonathan Luna and Sarah Vaughn Talk Robots & Love In ‘Alex + Ada’]", Bloody Disgusting (accessed March 12, 2016) He and his brother had decided to work on separate projects, so Luna pitched the idea of a young man who falls in love with a female android to Vaughn over dinner. Vaughn, who began writing and drawing romance comics in her youth,Dietsch, TJ (August 12, 2013), "{{cite web|url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=47273|title=Jonathan Luna Returns To {{sic|nolink=y|reason=error in source|Montly}} Comics With "Alex + Ada|publisher=Comic Book Resources|access-date= March 12, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130814160622/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=47273|archive-date=2013-08-14 |url-status=dead}} jumped at the opportunity.

After initializing the concept in January 2013, the two discussed the project for three or four months before creating an outline for the whole story. The original outline was for 12 issues, but it left room for improvisation and a few points were removed as the story progressed. They looked at past and present social movements for civil rights for inspiration for how one would progress and how people might respond to a movement for android rights. Luna wrote the first draft of issue one, then the two worked together to rewrite it.

Luna began drawing around April. Alex + Ada is the first comic Luna drew completely digitally. Because Luna needed to focus on art, Vaughn wrote the first draft of the remaining issues. She and Luna would discuss the draft, then she would rewrite it.

The first issue of Alex + Ada was released on November 6, 2013,(November 7, 2013), "[http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=user_review&id=6628 Review: Alex + Ada #1]", Comic Book Resources (accessed April 1, 2016) and was Vaughn's first published comic work. It was the 141st best selling issue of the month with estimated sales around 15,000,"[https://www.comichron.com/monthlycomicssales/2013/2013-11.html Comic Book Sales Figures for November 2013]", Comichron (accessed April 1, 2016) which was more than any book Luna had done previously. During the course of publication, the series length was increased from 12 issues to 15 issues. Each issue was released approximately six weeks apart, with the final issue available June 18, 2015."[https://imagecomics.com/comics/release-archive/series/alex-ada Alex + Ada Series Release Archive] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160413225655/https://imagecomics.com/comics/release-archive/series/alex-ada |date=2016-04-13}}", Image Comics (accessed April 1, 2016) Issue 15 was the 206th best selling issue of the month with estimated orders around 8,250."[https://www.comichron.com/monthlycomicssales/2015/2015-06.html Comic Book Sales Figures for June 2015]", Comichron (accessed April 1, 2016) The series has been collected into three trade paperbacks, each containing five issues."[https://imagecomics.com/comics/series/alex-ada Alex + Ada]", Image Comics. retrieved June 24, 2016

Alex is a young man who is depressed after his fiancée breaks up with him. Tired of seeing him unhappy, Alex's grandmother sends him Ada, a Tanaka X-5 android which is capable of intelligent human interaction. The robot is initially incapable of self-awareness, as each android has a program that blocks any potential free thought or consciousness.

Alex decides to remove this inhibition and grant Ada her own mental freedom, as he is uninterested in a partner who cannot truly interact with him. Because removing the program is illegal and carries harsh consequences for both Ada and Alex, they have to pretend Ada is not self-aware. When a jealous love-interest of Alex reports Ada as sentient to the FBI, Alex and Ada attempt to flee the country. When they are intercepted by the FBI, Ada gets shot by the police and Alex is arrested. He is convicted and sentenced to 25 years in prison, but Ada is not found to be sentient.

During his time in prison, rights are granted to sentient robots. On Alex's release, Ada is returned to him. She appears to be non-sentient, but Alex discovers she locked her consciousness to protect him. He restores her freedom and is re-united with her.

According to review aggregator Comic Book Round Up, critics gave the first issue an average 8.0/10based on 21 reviews, "[http://comicbookroundup.com/comic-books/reviews/image-comics/alex-+-ada/1 Alex + Ada #1 on Comic Book Round Up]", Comic Book Round Up (accessed March 12, 2016) and the series as a whole 8.5/10.based on 134 reviews, "[http://comicbookroundup.com/comic-books/reviews/image-comics/alex-+-ada Alex + Ada on Comic Book Round Up]", Comic Book Round Up (accessed March 12, 2016) During its publication, Alex + Ada appeared on many "best of" lists created by comic news websites.*O'Neil, Tim and Sava, Oliver (December 9, 2014), "[http://www.avclub.com/article/best-comics-2014-ongoing-and-special-series-212601 The best comics of 2014: Ongoing and special series]", The A.V. Club (accessed March 12, 2016)

• Simons, Kyle (February 5, 2015), "[http://www.popmythology.com/best-comics-of-2014/ The Best Comics of 2014]", Pop Mythology (accessed March 12, 2015)
• CBR New Team (December 29, 2014), "[http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=58047 CBR's top 100 comics of 2014: #75-51]", Comic Book Resources (accessed March 12, 2016)
• Deadshirt Staff (December 15, 2014), "[http://deadshirt.net/2014/12/15/deadshirts-top-ten-comics-2014/ Deadshirt's Top Ten Comics of 2014]", Deadshirt (accessed March 12, 2016)
• (December 15, 2014), "[http://www.grayhavencomics.com/2014/12/15/best-of-2014/ Best of 2014] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160403165429/http://www.grayhavencomics.com/2014/12/15/best-of-2014/ |date=2016-04-03}}", Grayhaven Comics (accessed March 12, 2015)
• Long, Aaron (December 30, 2014), "[http://www.comicosity.com/best-of-2014-best-series/ Best of 2014: Best Series]", Comicosity (accessed March 12, 2016)
• Rodriguez, Peter (January 15, 2015), "[http://geeksushi.com/best-ongoing-comics-of-2014/ Best Ongoing Comics of 2014] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408055853/http://geeksushi.com/best-ongoing-comics-of-2014/ |date=2016-04-08}}", Geek Sushi (accessed March 12, 2016)
• Multiversity Staff (December 19, 2014), "[http://www.multiversitycomics.com/news-columns/2014-in-review-best-ongoing-series/ 2014 in Review: Best Ongoing Series]", Multiversity Comics (accessed March 12, 2016)

Reviewing for Bleeding Cool, Zac Thompson and David Dissanayake made favorable comparisons to the 1982 film Blade Runner and the 2013 film Her.{{cite web|last1=Thompson|first1=Zac|title=Review: "Alex + Ada" #7|date=18 June 2014 |url=http://bloody-disgusting.com/reviews/3299456/review-alex-ada-7/|publisher=Bloody Disgusting|access-date=20 December 2014}}{{cite web|last1=Dissanayake|first1=David|title=Image Watch: On Alex+Ada Being The Most Underrated Series Being Published|date=12 June 2014 |url=http://www.bleedingcool.com/2014/06/12/image-watch-on-alexada-being-the-most-underrated-series-being-published/|publisher=Bleeding Cool|access-date=20 December 2014}} Dissanayake also noted the entertaining realism, as it "feels like our world, full of technologies that...will [exist] very soon". Comic Book Resources' Sonia Harris also praised the series for its realism, writing the "metaphor of artificially intelligent beings living out their secret lives, unsafe and insecure, yet potentially stronger and smarter than humans is potent".{{cite web|last1=Harris|first1=Sonia|title=Committed: The Unfolding Layers of Alex + Ada|url=http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2014/10/22/committed-the-unfolding-layers-of-alex-ada/|publisher=Comic Book Resources|access-date=20 December 2014}} Dean Stell, a reviewer for Weekly Comic Book Review, said Luna and Vaughn created "a wonderful and classically-themed science-fiction story".Stell, Dean (November 7, 2013), "[http://weeklycomicbookreview.com/2013/11/07/alex-ada-1-review/ Alex + Ada #1 Review]", Weekly Comic Book Review (accessed March 12, 2016) Writing for Bloody Disgusting, Lonnie Nadler said Luna's work on facial expressions was the "major highlight" of his illustrations.Nadler, Lonnie (November 8, 2013), "[http://bloody-disgusting.com/news/3264107/review-alex-ada-1/ Review: Alex + Ada #1]", Bloody Disgusting (accessed March 12, 2015)

Luna's simplistic artwork is a frequent point of criticism among reviewers,Pepose, David (November 5, 2013), "[http://www.newsarama.com/19486-best-shots-advance-reviews-trio-of-image-first-issues-umbral-drumhellar-alex-ada.html Best Shots Advance Reviews: Trio of Image First Issues: Umbral, Drumhellar, Alex & Ada]", Newsarama (accessed March 12, 2015){{cite web|last1=Grey|first1=Melissa|title=Alex + Ada #1 Review|date=7 November 2013 |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/11/07/alex-ada-1-review|publisher=IGN|access-date=20 December 2014}} although some call it appropriate for the setting.Reese, Nathan (December 17, 2014), "[http://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2014/12/sarah-vaughn-and-jonathan-luna-interview/ Dystopian Dream Girl: Sarah Vaughn and Jonathan Luna Talk Their Android Love Story, "Alex + Ada"]", Complex (accessed March 12, 2016)Harper, David (June 25, 2015), "[http://sktchd.com/interview/jonathan-luna-and-sarah-vaughn-talk-the-star-crossed-lovers-of-alex-ada/ Luna and Vaughn Talk the Star Crossed Lovers of Alex + Ada]", SKTCHD (accessed March 12, 2016){{cite web|last=Thompson|first=Kelly|author-link=Kelly Thompson|title=Alex + Ada #1 (review)|url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=user_review&id=6628|publisher=Comic Book Resources|access-date=20 December 2014}} In addition to Luna's "painfully plain" illustrations, Newsarama's David Pepose also criticized the story's pace.

Alex + Ada prompted artist Leila del Duca to approach Vaughn about collaborating on a romance comic at the 2015 New York Comic Con. They eventually created Sleepless, which began in November 2017.{{cite web |url=http://www.comicosity.com/interview-vaughn-del-duca-sallah-are-sleepless/ |title= Interview: Vaughn, del Duca & Sallah Are Sleepless |last=Long |first=Aaron |date= December 1, 2017 |website=Comicosity |access-date=March 29, 2019}}

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• {{official website|https://imagecomics.com/comics/series/alex-ada}}

{{Luna Brothers}}

Category:2013 comics debuts

Category:Science fiction comics