Contact, the third and final book in the Jupiter’s Ghost comic book trilogy is now available from Compassiviste Publishing. To celebrate the launch, we sat down with author Tani Gill to learn about the inspiration behind the story, and what we can learn from this visually striking sci-fi adventure.
Compassiviste: What inspired the story of Jupiter’s Ghost?
Tani: I get tired of politics and hypocrisy. Powerful people flying to conventions and giving talks on conservation and eco-friendly fossil fuels. I wrote Jupiter’s Ghost to examine the possibility of human extinction—or of repopulating on other planets. Which would be the lesser of two evils?
Compassiviste: Which character from the story do you most identify with, and why?
Tani: I relate the most to Jove—he makes a good point about our species. He asks his father, “Out of all the species on Planet Earth, why did you choose to bring this one back?” It’s true, why did Dr. Crete choose this one? My internal conflict about this question is present in my writing. I want humans to have another chance, but maybe it needs to be their last! They say that humans fight to survive when pushed to the brink of extinction. But at what cost?
Compassiviste: Jupiter’s Ghost asks the question, do humans deserve a second chance? What do you think we need to do to earn that right?
Tani: Again, I will mirror Jove’s feelings for this answer. Jove does not think humanity deserves another chance—the truth is, they have had so many chances over the centuries. Now we are parents to artificial intelligence, yet we feel threatened by our creation.
I think humanity is so much like its AI baby—destructive and life-changing at the same time. I am not a cynic and nor am I a pessimist, but I think what this planet needs is a cleanse. If you doubt this, just remind yourself of the truth by reading the world news.
Compassiviste: Jupiter’s Ghost has had quite a journey – from the stage to the page. Tell us a little about this.
Tani: Jupiter’s Ghost began as a stage production, premiering at The Cockpit in London in 2024. It received great reviews, and I knew I wanted to bring the show back.
But this time I wanted to create a visual film deck, which has never been done before. Audiences went home with a PDF film deck after seeing the synopsis come to life.
We designed a prequel, Jupiter’s Ghost Origins, for agents and producers affiliated with BAFTA and Cannes. Since then we have had interest from across the board to develop this story into a film.
Compassiviste: What makes this series a must-read?
Tani: This is not just a comic book series and theatre show. The story is bigger than humanity. I want the reader to take a long hard look at their lives and the lives of people less privileged around them. What is the legacy you want to leave behind? You have the power to choose and influence—so choose wisely.
About Jupiter’s Ghost:
Humankind destroyed the only home they ever knew. Do they deserve a second chance?
June 2124. Earth is uninhabitable, ravaged by climate change and turned to rubble. In a post-apocalyptic world ruled by artificial intelligence, the line between human and machine has begun to blur.
On board a space vessel orbiting Jupiter’s moon, Europa, hybrid humanoid Dr Elias Crete is racing against time to save his teenage son, Jove. In his lab, he works tirelessly to create Jupiter 101, a genetically engineered human clone. But when Jupiter 101 wakes, the consequences are far more profound than he ever imagined.
Jove is struck by a deep love for Jupiter 101 and Dr Crete is forced to confront a difficult moral dilemma: is humanity truly worthy of being given a second chance and being brought back from extinction?
Jupiter’s Ghost is a gripping, thought-provoking science-fiction comic that asks whether we can redeem ourselves from the destruction we’ve caused—or if we are doomed to repeat our mistakes…
Proceeds from the sale of Jupiter’s Ghost support both Compassiviste Foundation’s global sustainability and human rights projects, and Just One Tree’s work to combat climate change through the replanting of forests around the world.
About Tani:
From an early age, Tani harboured an ardent passion for film and theatre. While pursuing an Honours Degree in Animation, she worked on Ridley Scott’s Gladiator, filmed adjacent to her university campus in Surrey.
She also pursued a Master’s in Dance Psychology, specialising in mental health causes, which led to her becoming a spokesperson for UNESCO-CID.
Tani’s writing and theatrical productions, deeply influenced by the causes she advocates for, are daring in challenging social norms, rendering her work relevant, speculative, fresh, and unapologetic.
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