About

The 21st century edition of the Alexander Romance, a nearly 2000 year old literary tradition recounting the legendary life and accomplishments of Alexander the Great.

The Story

In 323 BCE, Alexander the Great begins to fear.

Fearing the destruction of his pothos — his longing for life, ambition, and eternal conquest — from old age, Alexander embarks on a quest for the elusive Water of Life while accompanied by his wisest, most trustworthy Servant.

As they experience a series of countless fabulous wonders, including glass submarines, naked philosophers, Amazonians, and talking prophetic trees, Alexander confronts his complex legacy and reflects on the life and deeds that will cement his transformation into one of the most unforgettable figures in world history.

What on earth is this site?

It’s a webcomic… and a resource for anyone interested in the Alexander Romance and the process of comics making.

When you click COMIC, it takes you to the webcomic. Each page will have author notes underneath.

When you click RESOURCES, it takes you to a page that contains introductory materials about the Romance, my research notes, and behind the scenes.

I explain more about the site and the work in my FAQ.

Update Schedule

Multiple pages every two weeks, on Tuesday noon (US) or Wednesday midnight (Southeast Asia).

CURRENTLY ON HIATUS UNTIL BOOK TWO

Follow the Twitter account or subscribe to the newsletter to be notified of updates.

Media

1. The AV Club Best Comics of 2021
2. The AV Club, Comics review: Alexander, The Servant & The Water Of Life innovates in bringing poetics to comics
3. The Star, Reimena Yee's latest webcomic on Alexander The Great is a true labour of love
4. BFM, Everyone's a Critic Podcast, 28 June 2021

Awards & Support

1. Supported by Rimbun Dahan Southeast Asia Artists Residency 2021
   
2. 2022 Cartoonist Studio Prize Award shortlist
3. 2022 Comics Arts Awards Australia shortlist
4. 2022 Ignatz Nominee for Outstanding Online Comic
5. 2022 Ignatz Winner for Outstanding Artist

Appearances

1. Alexander the Great: The Making of a Myth, Exhibition at the British Library
2. An interview with Reimena Yee: creator of a modern Alexander Romance - The British Library
   
   
   

The Author & Artist

Reimena Yee is a strange and fancy storyteller and illustrator originally from the dusty city of Kuala Lumpur. She is the creator of the Eisner-nominated The Carpet Merchant of Konstantiniyya, the gothic suburban fantasy Seance Tea Party and the whimsical adventure comedy My Aunt is a Monster. She is also one of the core founders of UNNAMED, a Southeast Asian comics collective. https://reimenayee.com

The Consultant

Richard Stoneman is a former editor for classics and other subjects at Routledge; and the foremost expert globally on the legends of Alexander. He is also the author of several books on the Alexander Romance, Greek mythology, early travellers to Greece, and the relations between Greece and India, including Alexander the Great: A Life in Legend, The Greek Experience of India and A Traveller’s History of Turkey. He continues to hold an Honorary Professorship at the University of Exeter.

The Editor

Atla Hrafney is a queer comics writer and editor from the sunny country of Iceland. She is one of the founders of the Icelandic Comics Society. Her editorial portfolio includes the Eisner-nominated The Carpet Merchant of Konstantiniyya, the popular webcomic, Countdown to Countdown, and many more.

Published by Hiveworks Comics

A member of the Cartoonist Cooperative and Knife Beetle.

Alexander, the Servant & the Water of Life was born and nurtured on the unceded land of the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation.