Los Angeles, CA — Creator Caspian Darke (Talyn – Seed of Darkness, The Nightlings), writer Geoffrey Vincent (Talyn – Seed of Darkness) & popular artist Emmaline Mae Kelly release JACK OF SHADES, a edgy comedy/dark fantasy noir comic drawing inspiration from many references, from Sorry to Bother You to Fight Club to Devilman Crybaby. JACK OF SHADES follows a twenty-something despondent officer worker who – after being accidentally turned into a vampire – must balance navigating realities of daily life & the chaos of a nightmare city. In this underworld, he must confront the dark forces responsible for the murder of his friend.
Set in a shadowy world that blurs the lines between secrets and lies, the supernatural & the super normal, JACK OF SHADES takes the reader on a unique journey through the perils of modern love and the importance of self-discovery.
“We’re exploring a black man in a world who doesn’t quite understand his identity,” Caspian Darke states. “In a world, where everyone else tries to tell your identity, we explore the character trying to discover identity for himself [contextually] through this very strange platter that’s modern dating. Other influences for Jack of Shades of course include the love of films like Beetlejuice, Nightbreed, Fight Club, and their satirical take on issues through a specific character journey. Our comic also uniquely places a black lead character, who is not very sure of himself and a bit nerdy, while also leading us through presenting a very zany, nious, textured world.”
Emmaline Mae Kelly, illustrator and comic artist, added her excitement about the project: “A huge part of the appeal was being able to work on something with such a diverse group cast of characters, plus being a fan of the horror/vampire genre. My creative process really starts with getting to know the characters and the world first. Before I even started drawing, I really had a great time envisioning each character with their individual personas and designs in mind.”
“At the end of the day, this story will connect with people because it’s also about modern loneliness,” Vincent adds. “It’s about the social isolation of a generation, the loss of family, or making sense of a dysfunctional one. These traumas could negatively impact potentially a whole generation’s ability to find what so many of us desire – true love – a void our main character tries to fill. The confrontation with a vampire is the thrust that forces him to find the true source of why love’s missing in his life.”
JACK OF SHADES, a comic offering you a bloody good time, is available on Kickstarter until July 2, 2022. Along with the comic, they’re also offering special edition art prints and posters.
