Official Art Team Announcement!

I am incredibly excited to announce that two artists from Italy's EdenStudio, Manuela Soriani and Michela Da Sacco, along with painter Reuben Negron, will form the core of the art team for the upcoming "Deathlings" graphic novel! Read on for more information about the team, and some official sample images they have put together of many of the characters.

(If you have been paying attention over the last couple of weeks, you know that it has been driving me crazy not to be able to share this news, so posting this is a huge relief! I really could not be more personally thrilled with the people that have agreed to work with me. I don't think I ever really believed I could put together a team like this.)

Manuela will be doing pencils and inks for the real-world elements of the story, featuring Anne, and her friends and family, in small-town New England. Her previous credits include "Jonathan Steele" and "Rourke" (Star Comics) and "Galaxies" (Ass. Cult. Alex Raymond).

Michela will be doing pencils and inks for the more fantastic elements of the story, including other-worldly and dream sequences featuring the Deathling, Ani. Her previous works include Jonathan Steele (Star Comics), "L'Insonne - Desdy Metus" and Maisha (Edizioni Arcadia), Gli Scorpioni (Ass. Cult. A. Raymond), and Thumos (an original webcomic).

The especially cool thing about this is that Maneula was once Michela's apprentice, before becoming a full member of EdenStudio. The two work very well together, with distinctive but complementary styles. You will see the difference when the story moves from setting to setting, but the effect won't be jarring. Obviously, I'm also incredibly excited to be working with such consummate professionals, with such amazing portfolios and publication histories-- who it also turns out are just wonderful, sweet people to work with.

The news doesn't end there, though. Brilliant artist Reuben Negron will be providing painted covers for the entire six-issue mini-series! I already knew him for his Dirty Dirty Love series of paintings, among others, before he said he was interested. His artworks are currently showing in the "Off the Clock" show at Like the Spice Gallery, and in the "New Breed" exhibition at Last Rites Gallery, the most recent of many group and solo shows. His published works include "Democracy for Beginners" (Steerforth Press), Playboy Magazine, New York Press's "Underground Comics Spectacular", and "Rabbit Rabbit Comics Anthology".

We are still looking for a Color Artist and a Letterer, and will be also working with various talented artists on pinups, variant covers, and promotional art. In other words, if you've been hoping to get involved, this announcement doesn't mean it's too late!

Official Character Art

I hope you enjoy these official character sketches by Manuela and Michela, which are our first taste of their excellent work on this project.

A Word on the Story

Anne's Story is the first chapter of a larger story. It is a coming-of-age tale that starts with the protagonist's death. A teenager gains power over life and death, in a world where it turns out that the real stakes are bigger things-- and smaller ones.

The overarching story is about a war against the undead, fought by secretive beings-- Deathlings-- who are similar to their immortal enemies. There is another war, within their ranks, over whether the innocent lives are an acceptable cost. The core concepts are death, purpose, growth -- and the lack thereof.

This chapter is all about grounding fantastic concepts (especially the undead) in reality, and most importantly, with characters who are real people. The art team I have brought together is going to be just perfect for exactly that!

To find out the rest, you will have to read the series...