"Thomas Woodwind. A man of six feet or so, quite lean, with a good Patrick Stewart-ish skull fuzzed with very short pale hair. Paranoid eyes. Tending to very long black coats, with poacher’s pockets sewn on the inside. A bluetooth earpiece cupping each ear. Black gloves – no fingerprints, reduction of epithelials."
SVK is a collaboration between writer Warren Ellis (Transmetropolitan, Planetary, Crooked Little Vein, RED), artist Matt "D'Israeli" Brooker (Stickleback, Lazarus Churchyard, 2000AD) and London-based design studio BERG.
An experimental publication, SVK comprises the SVK object and a comic book.
Comics break the rules of storytelling, invent new ones, and break them again – more often than almost any other medium. This graphic novella is about looking – an investigation into perception, storytelling and optical experimentation that inherits some of the curiosities behind the previous work of BERG.
Litho printed on 115gsm silk paper in tones of black and blue, SVK uses a third ink invisible without the SVK object. The object is a UV light source which unlocks hidden layers woven throughout the comic book. Reading SVK becomes a unique and strange experience as you see the story unfold through the eyes of Thomas Woodwind.
First and foremost SVK is a modern detective story, one that Ellis describes as “Franz Kafka’s Bourne Identity”.
It’s a story about cities, technology and surveillance, mixed with human themes of the power, corruption and lies that lurk in the data-smog of our near-future.
Special Viewing = Special Delivery
The comic book is shipped to you in protective packaging, complete with the SVK object. There is a choice of shipping options at the checkout.
UV, You See?
Printed with a third ink – invisible without a UV light source—the comic book has hidden layers which are only revealed with the SVK object.
SVK is for mature audiences. It's only available to purchase direct from BERG online, and shipped from our warehouse in the UK.
Our first print run has sold out! Add your name to our mailing list to find out the second it's available to buy again.
What people are saying about SVK
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"Why should superheroes have all the fun? In SVK, a new one-shot comic by Warren Ellis (Transmetropolitan) and Matt Brooker (2000 AD), you get a power of your own: mind-reading. Shine the special torch (bundled with the book) on the page and you reveal the characters' thoughts, printed in UV ink."
Charlie Burton, Wired UK
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"I thoroughly enjoyed SVK, which either in spite or because of its concision is somehow Dickensian, and while quite thoroughly dark, is also quite touching. Memorable. And couldn't be done as well, or even be born, in any other medium at all”
William Gibson, author of Zero History, Spook Country, Neuromancer etc., in his foreword for SVK.
SVK on the Blog
- 19/07/2011 Broken SVK torches and what we’re doing to fix the problem
- 05/07/2011 SVK is go for launch
- 27/06/2011 Evolving an imaginary logo
- 17/06/2011 SVK at the printers, next stop: warehouse
- 11/06/2011 SVK vs Kinect
FAQs
PRIVACY
How we handle your information
To purchase a copy of SVK, you must provide your name, address, phone number, and email address. In order to make a payments you must provide credit card, debit card or bank account information. This required information is necessary to process your transaction, and for us to contact you should the need arise as your order is processed.
BERG do not store your credit card information or share your details with anyone outside the fulfilment process. SVK orders are fulfilled using Shopify and Shipwire. Please see the Shopify privacy policy and the Shipwire privacy policy for further information.
How we use your email address
If the SVK store is closed and you sign up to be emailed when it is reopened, you will receive two emails: one to confirm your addition to the list, and one further email when the store is open.
A confirmation email is sent when you place an order for SVK. Another email is sent to notify you of the order's dispatch. Your details will not be used for any other purpose.
SHIPPING
The cost of shipping is determined by the delivery location. We ship from our warehouse in the UK and all orders are tracked to ensure efficient delivery. Approximate delivery cost are £3 (UK) - £8 (Rest of world).
We aim to dispatch your order within three working days of the order being received. Delivery typically takes 3-15 days. Where appropriate, the dispatch confirmation email includes a tracking number, and is sent from Shipwire, our fulfilment partner.
An order is deemed lost if it has not arrived within 30 days after the dispatch date. If your order is lost, please contact us at the address below.
Please note: BERG does not accept responsibility for orders lost due to incorrect delivery or email addresses supplied on order. Please check delivery details carefully as you place an order, and when you receive your confirmation email.
REFUNDS AND RETURNS
Returns are accepted up to 45 days after the original purchase date, so long as the polybag containing the comic is unopened. To make a return, contact us and let us know why you'd like to return your order. If it's not possible for us to rectify the problem, we will then give you a returns number and address. Please note, this may not be the BERG studio address listed below.
We are able to refund the price you paid for the product, but not the shipping costs. Please get a tracking number for all return items, as BERG are not responsible for items lost in the returns process.
Should you receive a defective torch:
- Try pressing harder on and around the power button until you feel a click - the mechanism might be a little stiff.
- Try knocking the object on a hard surface - the battery may have been dislodged in transit and knocking will re-seat it.
When fully functioning, the torch will have two glowing blue lights, visible in daylight.
Still not working? We're sorry to hear that, please contact us with details. Depending on the circumstances, we'll do our best to replace your order or issue a refund.
Please contact us in the event of any dissatisfaction. We're always looking for ways we can improve our service!
CONTACT
For queries, refunds or comments, please email shop@berglondon.com.
Our postal address (note, not the returns address, see above) is
BERG32-38 Scrutton St‚ London
EC2A 4RQ
UK
ABOUT BERG
BERG is a London-based design consultancy, working hands-on with companies to research and develop their technologies and strategy, primarily by finding opportunities in networks and physical things. Find out more about us and our work.