Review Fix Exclusive: Inside Issue # 7 of Long Ago & Far Away

Review Fix chats with “Long Ago & Far Away” writer Chris Mancini who breaks down the action in a huge issue of the awesome indie comic.

Review Fix: How is this a turning point for the series?

Chris Mancini: This is the turning point where we realize that the journey has always been a personal one. Jason has made this personal journey, and it’s always been about him embracing the heroism, optimism and growth from his childhood. Characteristics he abandoned when he grew up, as manifested as a younger version of himself who was abandoned and killing the old world tree. It’s a metaphor for how we often abandon and kill our own dreams, and how that can cause us to give up on everything. But it’s also a metaphor for hope, and that it’s never too late, and that you can always course correct to be a better person, to do good, and to dream again.

Review Fix: What was the creation process like for this one?

Mancini: Honestly, it was really difficult. I rewrote the section where Jason is confronted with his younger self many, many times. I felt it was really important, and the core to the entire story. I wanted to get it just right. I also went back and forth with Artist Fernando Pinto on this issue a lot. Sometimes we expanded a few panels to pages.

Review Fix: How do you think it’ll affect the series?

Mancini: It’s the issue where everything falls into place, and there’s no going back from it.

Review Fix: How do you want this issue to be remembered?

Mancini: See question one. Ha. It’s the turning point in the series, and it’s where we learn how everything is connected. It’s how we learn how Jason is the true hero and villain of Elvenwood and his own story, as is often true with ourselves.

Review Fix: What’s next?

Mancini: We pivot back to an external conflict now that the internal one is resolved. How can we have an epic fantasy story without an epic final battle? The Witch Queen still has a few tricks up her sleeve. Now that Jason is the hero he was always supposed to be, it’s time to finally embrace that call to action in both worlds.

Review Fix: Anything else you’d like to add?

Mancini: Thanks to everyone for buying the comics!

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About Patrick Hickey Jr. 14316 Articles
Patrick Hickey Jr. is a full-time Assistant Professor of Communication & Performing Arts and Director of the Journalism program at Kingsborough Community College and is the chairman of the City University of New York Journalism Council. He is the Founder and Editor-In-Chief of ReviewFix.com. He's also a former News Editor at NBC Local Integrated Media and National Video Games Writer at Examiner.com where his work was mentioned in National Ad campaigns by Disney, Nintendo and EA Sports. Hickey was also the Editor-In-Chief of two College Newspapers before he received his BA in Journalism from Brooklyn College. Hickey's work has been published in The New York Daily News, The New York Times, Complex, The Hockey Writers, Yahoo!, Broadway World, Examiner, NYSportScene Magazine, ProHockeyNews.com, GothamBaseball.com, The Syracuse Post-Standard, Scout.com and the official sites of the Brooklyn Aces and New York Islanders. His first book, The Minds Behind the Games: Interviews With Cult And Classic Video Game Developers was released in April 2018 and is chock full of interviews with legendary developers. His second book in the series, The Minds Behind Adventures Games, was released in December 2019. His third book, The Minds Behind Sports Games, was released in September 2020. His fourth book, The Minds Behind Shooter Games, was released in March 2021. The Minds Behind Sega Genesis Games and The Minds Behind PlayStation Games were released in 2022 and The Minds Behind PlayStation 2 was published in January 2023. Hickey is also a contracted comic book writer, currently penning his original series, "Condrey," as well as "The Job," "Brooklyn Bleeds" "Dem Gulls" and "KROOM" for Legacy Comix, where he serves as founder, owner and Editor-in-Chief. Hickey Jr. is also a voice actor, having starred in the 2018 indie hit and 2019 Switch, PS4 and Xbox One release, The Padre (also serving as English language Story Editor), from Shotgun With Glitters. The sequel, The Padre: One Shell Straight to Hell was released in February 2021- Hickey also served as a Story Editor and Lead Voiceover performer. He has also done narration and trailers for several other titles including The Kaiju Offensive, Relentless Rex and Roniu’s Tale. Hickey is also the lead voiceover performer on Mega Cat Studios’ upcoming title WrestleQuest, responsible for nearly 90 characters in the game, as well as Skybound's Renfield: Bring Your Own Blood, where he voices both Dracula and Renfield, as well as several other characters. He also stars in Ziggurat Interactive’s World Championship Boxing Manager 2, where he performs the VO of nearly every male character in the game. He also worked on the Atari VCS’s BPM Boy.

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