The making of In Flesh and Spirit - by: Baron Misuraca
Untitled Document
Greetings Comic Monsters readers. My name is Baron Misuraca, I am the writer, creator and main character of the newly unleashed IN FLESH AND SPIRIT comic book series from Overtone comics. I bid you welcome.
On behalf of myself and artists Alex Horley, David G. Williams and Jarreau Wimberly, it's an esteemed pleasure to be able to give you all a glimpse into the making of our debut issue available for inhuman consumption in the February 2009 edition of Previews and at www.InFleshAndSpirit.com.
Let's begin with our cover painted by my old friend, the incomparable Alex Horley of Vampirella, Heavy Metal, Lobo, etc. fame, who I'm sure most of you are familiar with.
Connecting on our love for the art of Gene Colan, dark music and Hammer horror films, Alex was the first person on board with me for IN FLESH AND SPIRIT. I had worked with him previously in a poster series he did for Universal in which I was the model for Dracula, so he was my obvious choice.
Also involved in that particular project, modeling as one of my brides, was none other than sci fi super model Stacy E. Walker who stepped in as model for the Apathess character in IN FLESH AND SPIRIT. Conceived as the ultimate antagonist, Apathess was originally an angel cast out of heaven with Lucifer himself. She is responsible for turning my character into the foul creature of the night that he is.
I gave Alex a few interior pages done by David G. Williams, photographs of myself, photographs of Coney Island NYC scenery, some Dracula Lives! covers from Marvel and some classic Universal Pictures stills and told him to run with it!
Here is the original sketch. The collage-type layout, Alex explained to me, was heavily influenced by an old Marvel Comics Brother Voodoo illustration. I knew then this was going to be interesting.
Here is the final painting which totally blew us all away. My vision was shockingly captured beyond my wildest expectations. 'Nuff said.
Check out more of Alex's breathtaking works at www.alexhorley.com.
After a long hard search for the right interior artist, David G. Williams from Australia had arrived. David, whose resume includes works for Marvel and DC, also connected with me on a love for classic horror and dark music and instantly picked up on the vibe of IN FLESH AND SPIRIT. The odyssey had begun. Do check out more of David's work at www.ddubbstudios.com.
In this page David begins to bring to life the sheer pathos and desire for redemption that my character struggles with throughout the story. Here I decide to attempt to save the soul of my latest victim, Kira Lauren.
David takes things to the next level with his hand precision inking.
Lastly, grey tones and washes are added via computer by Jarreau Wimberly giving us the old Vampirella/ film noir aesthetic that is the basis of IN FLESH AND SPIRIT. Jarreau, an awesome talent in his own right, was the last member of my team to arrive coming to us through an open call I had for colorists. Check out more of Jarreau's work at http://reau66.blogspot.com.
Many of the panels in IN FLESH AND SPIRIT were drawn from actual photo shoots. What follows, the reference for panel 5 on page 12, is a prime example. Dramatized here is my 14th century demise.
Here we have David's pencils in progress illustrating the events leading to my untimely demise at the hands of the ever sadistic Sister Andrea of the Church of His Holy Majesty.
Adding a rather disturbing quality to the scene, David's inks completes the page.
And of course Jarreau's grey tones finalize the page and make us feel as though we have stepped into a demented yet classic black and white film.
... and so readers, that concludes our preview. We hope we have instilled in you the desire to check out IN FLESH AND SPIRIT #1 and may the last words you read -- be mine!
Baron Misuraca
1.21.09 AD
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