Comics have a way of bringing people together. They provide a common ground that allows oth erwise very different people to share in their enthusiasm for this medium. Just look at the global phe nomenon that is Comic-Con, which attracts lovers of comic books from all around the world and from all walks of life.

There are, of course, many places for comic lovers to meet and do things together, other than dress up as their favorite characters and add to their collections. For instance, if a group of friends is enthusias tic enough about comics, they may even create comics of their own. This is precisely what a group of pri marily N.C. State alumni is doing.

This group of writers and artists work together to produce a collec tion of comics which they call Qui nate Anthology, and they are cur rently working diligently on their first publication.

N.C. State and the Technician alumnus Jordan Alsaqa shared his thoughts about being a member of Quinate Anthology.

“It was never my goal to write comic books, specifically,” Alsaqa said. “I just wanted to write.”

Alsaqa joined Anthology several years ago when he was still study ing creative writing at N.C. State. Editors Derrick Freeland and Max Miller Dowdle, who were also State students at the time, approached Al saqa with the idea, and he accepted.

The group meets at the Royal Bean coffee shop on Hillsborough Street several times a month. Every time they meet, there are two separate events.

The first is open to everybody who cares to come and talk about writing or drawing for comic books. During this meeting, there are often panel activities, which involve breaking off into smaller groups and start ing with a blank sheet of paper. One person creates a single panel with whatever characters and dialogue they want. The rest of the group then takes turns drawing panels until the page is full.

The second meeting is specifically for members working on the anthol ogy itself. Their first publication will feature five unique stories, each with a common theme.

“These are sci-fi stories that chal lenge modern ideas and question how technology will affect our lives,” Alsaqa said.

Most of the details about each story are up to the author and artist, except for the underlying theme. All stories penned for Anthology belong to a genre known as speculative fic tion, a rather broad genre. For An thology, it can mean anything from putting your consciousness in a ro bot and talking dogs and portals, to anything that gives a glimpse into a possible future for mankind.

Alsaqa’s story, entitled “Terminal Protocol,” is about a robot special ist attempting to save her dying husband. The other stories being featured in the first publication are named “Invited,” “Greasemonkey,” “Correctolin” and “No Dog Before Dog.”

“Inspiration is a weird thing,” Alsaqa said. “It can come from so many different places, especially when it comes to sci-fi, since there are so many different ways to spin ideas.”

As a long-time comic book and sci-fi lover, Alsaqa discussed the genesis of this story.

“I just thought it would be cool to explore the idea of uploading your consciousness into a robot and the weirdness that comes from not be ing yourself anymore.”

Alsaqa also said collaboration be tween writers and artists is essential in the comic book business.

“While I was writing Termi nal Protocol, I intentionally left it kind of vague to give Derrick some creative freedom with the illustra tions,” Alsaqa said.

Alsaqa said feedback and con structive criticism was very impor tant in publishing the books.

“Starting out, I wrote a lot, and I was willing to change,” Alsaqa said. “So many writers view their own work as scripture, but suggestions are a huge part of this, and being willing to accept edits from other people is a necessity.”

According to Alsaqa, the plan is to have each of the five stories pub lished alone, and then collect them all into one package later. Finish ing touches are being applied and a publisher is being lined up, which means that the first runs should be reaching shelves in the near future.

For more information about this group, visit the Quinate Anthology website at www.quinateanthology. blogspot.com.