About Brilliance

The most popular woman in the world is about to become the most wanted object in the Universe.
As a young girl, Brittany Lane saved the life of a young boy, named Gregory Barrett. Taking advantage of the press surrounding the event, Brittany rocketed to stardom, becoming a singer, actress, and entrepreneur.

Now, as adults, she and Gregory will reconnect and a new life for both of them will begin. However, the drama of dating a celebrity and the impact that has on Gregory and his nine-year-old son, Russell, is nothing compared to the problems that are coming. The spotlight on Brittany is about to become bigger … much bigger.

Out beyond our solar system in a Universe filled with systems full of millions of other creatures and cultures, Brittany’s image has been found amongst the detritus of signals and noise. And someone out there knows what she really is. She is more than some simple human who has lucked upon stardom. She is something significant, something feared and revered, something that will be hunted and fought for.

Will her hopes of a life with Gregory be dashed by the secret of what she is? Will Earth continue to be a safe place for her? Will her newest movie do well at the box office?

All these questions will be answered in the ongoing webcomic, BRILLIANCE.

Main Characters

Brittany Lane

Brittany, 31, is an international celebrity, whose main home is in Los Angeles, California and whose immense fame has led to her being dubbed “the most popular woman in the world.”

She was ten when she saved the life of a twelve-year-old Australian boy, named Gregory Barrett. Her story made her famous and she ran with that fame, becoming a recording artist, actress, producer, model, philanthropist, and political influence.

However, she is more than what she seems. Something about her makes her extraordinary, not just to people on Earth who enjoy her films or benefit from her humanitarianism, but for cultures and races across the Universe. Few know what she is, and they have many names for her, but they all know that they want her for themselves. Brittany also enjoys walks on the beach, lemon-lime soda, and her favorite movie is “Independence Day.”

Gregory Barrett

Greg, 33, lives in a suburb of Perth, Western Australia, with his nine-year-old son, and is the president and co-founder of Karlvolt, Inc., a developer and distributor of solar energy resources.

Greg was twelve when he was saved from a kidnapping plot by Brittany Lane. After the blitzkrieg of press that followed, Greg and his family tried very hard to recede from the public eye, even selling and retiring from their successful coal mining business. He married his college sweetheart, Sienna, and fathered Russell, his son in 2002. His wife died of cancer in 2005. With help from his father, Greg co-founded Karlvolt, Inc. in 2008.

Greg has always had mixed feelings towards Brittany and their shared history. He views her as a vapid celebrity who stopped being the selfless girl he knew in the outback once she got her first taste of fame. However, all that is about to change. Greg also enjoys authentic Italian food, plays jazz piano, and thoroughly hates people who leave the toilet seat up.

Russell Barrett

Russell, 9, is Greg’s son who lives with him in their home outside Perth, Western Australia.

Russ’ mother passed away from cancer when he was only two years old. At his mother’s funeral, he first met Brittany Lane (although he doesn’t remember her well) and hasn’t seen her since. His father and he moved to Augusta with his fraternal parents who helped raise Russ until 2008 when he and his father moved back to Perth so that his father could found Karlvolt, Inc. Russ and his father became close to their neighbor, Rosemary, who babysits Russ almost every day after school.

Russ has a rather typical childhood, going to school and living out of the spotlight. However, his fascination with Brilliance and his father’s relationship with her will have resounding affects on his life. Russ also enjoys playing “Space Ranger Draxx” with his trusty “Faster Blaster”, has tried over two hundred types of chewing gum, and his favorite cartoon is “P.B.J. & P.J.”, a show about the bond between a sandwich and its best friend, a pair of flannel pajamas.

Ram Yid Josek

Josek is a “Ram”, a high-ranking officer in the Antagon Solidarity, the most extensive mercenary guild in the Universe, and is currently assigned as Queen Blobbe’s military leader for the expansion campaign for her empire.

Josek, like most Antagons, joined the Solidarity at a young age. It has taken him fifty-five birps (approximately seventy-two Earth years) to rise to his current position. Along the way, he was part of a few famous conflicts, such as the Nudel Invasion, the Wicky-Wicky-Piddly-Pat-Pat War, a.k.a. The War With No Name, and received his promotion to Ram after his victory in the Battle of The Banzz.

Josek’s position as a Ram is more political than military for as a Ram, it is his job to deal with the Solidarity’s employer, in this case, Queen Blobbe. He has little love for this position and wishes nothing more than to move up further and quicker in the ranks. This compulsion will lead him to discover Brittany’s secret and cause a chain reaction that will change everything for her. Yid also enjoys playing battledisc, is a connosiour of Tuxi’ium Whiskey, and collects vintage 2-dimensional art from Oooquilli’s early Ru’egg period.

Calvin Chadd

Cal, 34 is co-founder and vice-president of Karlvolt, Inc., Greg’s best friend and Russell’s godfather.

Cal was born in Coolgardie, Western Australia to Aboriginal parents from the Wangai tribe. Cal and Greg became friends in college where Cal introduced Greg to his future wife, Sienna. After college, Cal spent a few years travelling Europe before moving back and living in Sydney for a time. While visiting Greg in 2008, Cal suggested Greg start his own company and so it was, Karlvolt, Inc. began.

Cal’s favorite pastime is his job, convincing people to invest in Karlvolt’s solar technology, while having no real idea how any of the technology works. His friendship with Greg and Russell will be tested as Greg’s relationship with Brittany will grow. Cal also enjoys pop/dance music, is an avid wine collector, and has a particular mania for Asian blonde women.

Queen Blobbe

Queen Blobbe is the dictator over the Blobbe Empire, a widespread, but not overly powerful empire approximately 20 light-years from earth.

The Queen was raised along with her 823 siblings by the nursing guild of Pewtershmit. Upon her ninth birp she received her crown after winning the prerequisite Sooperphlewis contests against her 822 siblings. The contest involved tests such as judging texts and compendiums by their bindings, and guessing the abilities and worth of other races based on their skin texture and hair growth. With a 345 peti rating (a record she still holds) she proved her worth and took her mother’s place as Queen. Within two birps, advised by her economists, she sought to expand her empire. However, having little to no military resources of her own, she hired the Antagon Solidarity to fight her campaign for her. For three birps they have been helping her expand her empire and she has conquered over seventeen new systems.

Blobbe cares very little for war or even the expansion of her empire. But her shallow and competitive interests will soon send Brittany Lane into the Universe’s limelight. The Queen enjoys a comfy pillow, asexual love-slaves from the Sexigudetyme system and wants anything pretty that isn’t hers.

Rosemary Chamberlain

Rosemary is Greg and Russ’ neighbor who babysits Russ regularly. She also has some “history” with Greg.

Arbellest Desteff

Arbalest (his Antagon rank) De’steff is Ram Josek’s second in command and, unlike Josek, has a great understanding of politics and schmoozing which makes him very valuable to Josek.