Tag Archives: 13 days of pan-demonium

Creating the Pandora Zwieback Annual Cover

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Wrapping up our review of Pandora Zwieback covers, here’s the story of an illustration that was never intended to be cover art. But it looked too good to pass up when I got it in my head to publish The Saga of Pandora Zwieback Annual #1, a one-shot special that would feature three original stories: Pan’s first comic book adventure, by me and artist Eliseu Gouveia; a Pan short story, by me; and an eight-page “Tale of the Paniverse” (my term for events set in the same version of Earth as the one presented in the Pan novels—it’s a comic book thing) by friends Sholly Fisch (currently the writer of Scooby-Doo Team-Up) and Ernie Colon (a legendary artist whose lengthy credits include Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld and Richie Rich).

still_a_happy_goth_by_liesterIn 2011, as I was gearing up for the release of Blood Feud, the first Pandora Zwieback novel, I considered ways to attract attention to this momentous occasion in publishing history, and eventually came up with the idea for an art gallery featuring Pan. But it wouldn’t just be any sort of art gallery, it would be “The 13 Days of Pan-demonium,” during which thirteen commissioned artists would present their unique takes on SWC’s latest leading lady. (As it turned out, only twelve artists wound up being commissioned, with me ending up as the thirteenth contributor.)

The first artist I approached was Henar Torinos, whose manga-influenced gothy style grabbed my attention during a search for “happy Goths” in the online art community deviantArt. Henar’s art came up first, mainly because she had two pieces on display: “Happy Goths Exist” and “Happy Goths Still Exist” (which you see to the left). It was the joy expressed in that second piece that caused me to e-mail Henar about the 13 Days project, and include a link to the digital version of the Saga of Pandora Zwieback #0 comic. She immediately got back to me with a yes, and asked what I had in mind. I told her I was looking for her interpretation of Pan—as long as she stayed on-style with Pan’s design, and left an open space for the inclusion of the Blood Feud cover, I wanted her to be the one to come up with something amazing. And did she ever!

pandora rockslowLG

Titled “Pandora Rocks!” it has Pan sitting on the shoulders of her best friend, Sheena McCarthy, while they attend a concert (perhaps one put on by their favorite death-metal band, Sarkophagia?), while Pan’s immortal mentor, Sebastienne “Annie” Mazarin, looks on. And check out the monsters! And once webmaster Dave de Mond had Photoshopped the Blood Feud cover onto a blank sign Henar had placed in the background, it was ready for its Internet debut.

Then in 2013, I decided to do the Pan Annual—but what could I use for the cover? I considered commissioning a new drawing, but then I looked at the 13 Days illustrations and thought, Why not repurpose Henar’s art? That colorful, manga-ish, happy piece was certain to catch the eye of prospective comic book buyers. So I e-mailed her an offer to reproduce the illustration as a cover, and she agreed to it. From there I handed the design process over to Mike Rivilis, who, in no time at all, turned out the final cover:

SWC_PanAnnual01

That’s a great-looking cover!

henar-torinos-pan-annualAnd who was the happiest Goth of all, when the published comic debuted? Why, Henar Torinos herself!

By the way, The Saga of Pandora Zwieback Annual #1 is still available for purchase in print and digital editions—just visit its product page at StarWarp Concepts for more information, including sample pages.

The 13.5 Days of Pan-demonium

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Here’s the story of a hidden gem.

Last year, this site hosted “The 13 Days of Pan-demonium”: a promotional event used to help launch the first Pandora Zwieback novel, Blood Feud. It involved thirteen artists (including me) doing interpretations of Pan and her monster-hunting mentor, Annie. (As you can see from the navigation bar up top, there’s a separate page that warehouses all the images, for your viewing pleasure.)

One of those artists was Dave Hoover, an artist who’d worked for Marvel and DC Comics in the 1990s on superhero projects such as Starman, Fantastic Four Unlimited, and Captain America, and as an animator on films and TV shows including Fire and Ice, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, and Men in Black: The Series. In 2011, he’d just finished a run as the penciler of Zenescope Entertainment’s comic series Charmed, based on the popular TV show.

When I started making plans for the 13 Days, I contacted Dave through his DeviantArt page and asked if he’d be interested in drawing my teen Goth heroine. He was, we negotiated a price, and the result was a spectacular illustration of Pan and Annie that I used for Day Four.

The big surprise, however, was when I received the actual 11” x 17” art. I’d been dealing with so many digital artists by this point that I’d assumed his pinup existed only as a Photoshop file—but no! When I tore open the package—one Dave had never told me he was sending—I found the hand-colored final piece inside. I was thrilled beyond belief!

Sadly, Dave passed away on September 4, 2011, at the age of 56. When I heard the news, I pulled the illustration from the art drawer and just sat awhile, admiring it. Such a fantastic artist, and now I’d never have a chance to collaborate with him again. I started to put the drawing away and did something I’d never thought of doing in the three or four months I’d had the art: I turned it over.


What you’re looking at is Dave’s original blue-pencil sketch, before he came up with what he no doubt considered a better composition. Still, as great as the final art is, I think this one would’ve made a helluva pinup, too.

Thanks, Dave.

13 Days of Pan-demonium: Werewolf Café

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And so we reach the end of “The 13 Days of Pan-demonium,” our artistic celebration of the release of BLOOD FEUD: THE SAGA OF PANDORA ZWIEBACK, Book 1 (on sale now!).

Our final artist is: CIARAN LUCAS!

Now that’s what I call a magnificent digital painting! “Werewolf Café” shows Pan discovering that not even her favorite coffee house is a safe haven from the horrors that constantly haunt her. I mean, a werewolf—drinking tea! Tea! In a coffee house! How horrific is that?

Here’s a true tale of artistic mistaken identity: I discovered Ciaran’s work through DeviantArt, where he’d posted a cartoony Doctor Who drawing in his gallery. I liked the illustration so much I added to my own page’s Favourites, then asked him if he’d like to be part of the 13 Days because I enjoyed his art so much.

Unfortunately, it turned out he didn’t draw that Doctor Who piece—he only colored it! (Oops.) Embarrassed, I went back through his gallery to check out his own work and saw that he was an amazing digital painter—so I invited him again! He said yes (thankfully), and the fantastic results are here for all to enjoy.

These days, Ciaran is busy working as a colorist for such projects as Bluewater Production’s Vincent Price Presents, and Image Comics’ upcoming MacGyver miniseries (yup, based on the old Richard Dean Anderson TV show). Click Ciaran’s name up top to stop by his DeviantArt page and see his other work. You can thank me later.

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So, what do you think? Has the art we’ve showcased during the “13 Days” promotion been as jaw-droppingly amazing as I think it is? Lemme know, you Pan-atics. (No, the 13 Days may be over, but the awful puns will never stop!)

13 Days of Pan-demonium: Subtlety? Not Really Her Strong Suit

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The Pan-demonium reaches its penultimate moment as we continue celebrating the publication of my novel BLOOD FEUD: THE SAGA OF PANDORA ZWIEBACK, Book 1, on sale right now from StarWarp Concepts and all fine online bookstores.

Say hello to…ME!

That’s right, on rare occasions I actually will pick up a pencil and draw something, although not as often as I used to. (Hey, somebody’s gotta write these Pan novels!) Back in the day, I did my share of convention sketches, usually involving superheroines and cartoon characters—or a combination of both. Once I even crossed Ariel, the Little Mermaid, with Catwoman and created…CATFISH-WOMAN!

These days, however, I tend to focus on my writing and let the professionals do the art. In fact, the only reason I did this particular Pan drawing was because I realized I was one artist short for the 13 Days promotion. Still, it was fun to try my hand at drawing Pan and Annie; maybe I do it again one day!

In the meantime—look! I have my own DeviantArt page, where I post some of my drawings, along with sample pieces by other artists that tie into my various projects. So, feel free to take a look at the gallery I set up—after you buy Blood Feud, that is!

Tomorrow, the “13 Days of Pan-demonium” reach their senses-shattering conclusion! Be there, effendi! Excelsior!

(Hey, who let Stan Lee in here…?)

13 Days of Pan-demonium: Hey, You Mind? I’m Trying To Read!

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The Pan-demonium continues as we celebrate the publication of my novel BLOOD FEUD: THE SAGA OF PANDORA ZWIEBACK, Book 1, on sale right now from StarWarp Concepts and all fine online bookstores.

Stupid ghost—get your own book! Today’s illustration is a special treat, because it’s by none other than Pan’s co-creator and designer: URIEL CATON!

I first met Uriel back in the early ’90s, through a mutual friend (and comics artist) named Delfin Barral. At the time, I needed an artist for a “bad girl” comic project I was working on, so Del opened up the copy of the Comics Buyer’s Guide that I had with me, and pointed to a full-page ad for a comic titled The Outer Space Babes. The first-issue cover art and interior pencils were by his friend, Uriel Caton.

Holy Moses! Sexy women—in spaaaace? And before that he’d been drawing sexy women for b&w publisher Eternity Comics’ flagship title Ex-Mutants? Now I had to meet the guy! (What? I did say it was the 1990s, didn’t I? It was the decade of the bad-girl comic!)

Not long after, Uriel signed on as co-creator and penciller of the bad-girl project, titled Heartstopper, which introduced readers to Sebastienne “Annie” Mazarin, sexy monster hunter and all-around badass. (Now sexy monster hunter and fully clothed mentor to our Goth adventuress.) The comic made its debut in 1994, through Millennium Publications—and quickly died, unfortunately.

(For the story of what ultimately happened with Heartstopper, and how it morphed into The Saga of Pandora Zwieback…well, that’s a blog post for another day.)

After Heartstopper, Uriel went on to do work for other publishers, including DC Comics’ JSA Annual #1. Did you know he’s listed as co-creator of the female assassin Nemesis, along with now-big-time Hollywood screenwriter David Goyer of Blade, Batman Begins, and The Dark Knight fame? It’s true!

These days, Uriel works as the Senior Minimate (2D) Artist for Diamond Select Toys, a division of Diamond Distribution (the folks through which your local comic shop gets its weekly funny-book shipments). But even though a lot of his time is spent designing blocky figures based on movie and comic book licenses, it’s apparent from today’s “Ghostreader” art that he still knows how to draw the cutest girls around.

The “13 Days of Pan-demonium” keep rolling on! Tune in tomorrow for (or hide in fear from) my contribution to this event!

13 Days of Pan-demonium: Enter: Green Pan-tern!

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The 13 Days of Pan-demonium continue…in spaaaace!

Who’ll protect us from the Lovecraftian monsters threatening to destroy the universe? Why none other than the Gothess of Goodness, GREEN PAN-TERN, courtesy of today’s artist: CHRIS MALGRAIN!

No, Pan isn’t an actual superheroine—she just occasionally cosplays one at conventions. But our adventurous Goth heroine is the star of the dark urban-fantasy novel BLOOD FEUD: THE SAGA OF PANDORA ZWIEBACK, Book 1, available from StarWarp Concepts and fine bookstores.

The talented Mr. Malgrain and I were first teamed up in 2004 by publisher ibooks, inc. for a comic book spectacle called Stan Lee’s Alexa #1. Stan was credited with the plot; I wrote the dialogue.

Based loosely on the Stan Lee’s Riftworld series of novels by New York Times bestselling author Bill McCay, the comic introduced readers to Alexa Moran, a comics artist who worked for a Marvel-like company called The Fantasy Factory. Too quiet an idea for something from the mind of Stan the Man, you say? Not when Alexa discovers she has the power to open doorways to other dimensions—and some of those dimensions’ superpowered residents are dropping by to visit Earth!

Yeah. Now it’s a Stan project.  😀

The majority of the art for the first issue had been sitting in a drawer for years before ibooks, inc. decided to pull it out and publish it. I was hired to write new dialogue for the comic (the original script—not by Stan—had been misplaced long before), and Chris was brought in to draw a new prologue—Stan wanted a darker, grittier opening sequence, for some reason.

Unfortunately, Alexa never made it to her second issue—due to the untimely passing of ibooks publisher Byron Preiss in 2005, and the company’s closing soon after—but that hasn’t stopped French publishing house Organic Comix from picking up the reprint rights. That sole first issue is scheduled for publication later this year, with 14 new pages of art and story by Chris and me. It’ll only be available in France, though, so if you know anyone in Europe, ask them to pick up a copy for you.

In addition to Stan Lee’s Alexa, Chris has the science fiction graphic novel The Rovers set for release in November, from Arcana Comics. More info and preview pages at the link.

The 13 Days of Pan-demonium continue! Who’s our next artist? Why, Pan’s co-creator, Uriel Caton! You can’t miss that, can you?

13 Days of Pan-demonium: The Evil Dead-Pan

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Another day, another outbreak of Pan-demonium! Thanks for joining the artistic celebration of the publication of BLOOD FEUD: THE SAGA OF PANDORA ZWIEBACK, Book 1, on sale right now from StarWarp Concepts and all fine online bookstores.

Hail to the king, baby! It’s NEIL VOKES!

If I remember correctly, I was first in contact with Neil in the late ’90s, when I was an associate editor at Byron Preiss Visual Publications, and Neil was the artist for the BPVP comics adaptation of Douglas Adams’s third Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy novel, Life, the Universe, and Everything, published through DC Comics. (You really should track down copies of the miniseries, it’s a fun comic.)

However, I was already aware of Neil’s great comics art, having read his indie comic, Eagle, and by following his work on such horror titles as Blood of Dracula, Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, and Fright Night.

(That’s right: we have the former artist of Fright Night, drawing Pan as Ashley Williams from the Evil Dead movies, spotlighted on the day that the remake of Fright Night debuts in theaters. I’m shameless!)

Neil was the first artist I approached for the 13 Days promotion, remembering the amazing four-page b&w sequence he did for the upcoming Lorelei: Sects and the City graphic novel. (It’ll amaze you, too.) And, thankfully, he was happy to contribute!

Neil’s latest project is the graphic novel Flesh & Blood; volume 1 will be out this Halloween from Monsterverse Entertainment. Click here to see the trailer. And if you want to meet the talented Mr. Vokes, look no farther than Artists Alley at this weekend’s Baltimore Comic Con, being held at the Baltimore Convention Center.

The 13 Days of Pan-demonium are far from over! And tomorrow’s entry will have actor Ryan Reynolds fearing for his superhero job!

13 Days of Pan-demonium: A Break From the Action

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Day 8 of The 13 Days of Pan-demonium has arrived, and we’re still celebrating the publication of BLOOD FEUD: THE SAGA OF PANDORA ZWIEBACK, Book 1, on sale right now from StarWarp Concepts and all fine online bookstores.

Hey, look, everybody! It’s our resident Pan artist, ELISEU “ZEU” GOUVEIA!

I Internet-met Zeu through the kindness of a mutual fan, Richard Boom, the Netherlands’ premier good-girl art fan. I was looking to revive my Lorelei comic-book character, and I knew that Richard was well connected with plenty of artists who could draw sexy women. Zeu was at the top of his list, and after seeing his gallery at DeviantArt I knew he was perfect for the job. The results of our collaboration will appear in Lorelei: Sects and the City, a Mature Readers graphic novel from StarWarp Concepts that’ll be on sale soon enough.

(BTW, European comic fans have already had a sneak peek. The first four chapters were serialized under the title “Lorelei: Une Marée de Sang” [A Pool of Blood] in the comic magazine Strange, from French publisher Organic Comix.)

In the midst of his Lorelei work, I approached Zeu with a new project: The Saga of Pandora Zwieback #0—a comic book giveaway that would introduce readers to Pan’s novel series. He jumped at the chance to draw Pan and Annie, and I was blown away by his art and coloring—and you can be, too. See that “Download Free Comic” link to the right? Go click it and check out Pan in full hype mode. Zeu followed that by agreeing to provide b&w frontispiece illustrations for the novels; you’ll find the first one in Blood Feud. And then I asked him about drawing a 13 Days pinup of Pan in a New York subway car…

But wait, you say, if she’s a budding young monster hunter, then where are the monsters? And who the hell is she playing tongue hockey with?! Well, even Pan needs a day off from all the world saving, and who better to share it with than her new boyfriend, Javier Maldonado.

Don’t know who Javi is? Well, then grab yourself a copy of Blood Feud and experience Pan’s first meeting with the new man in her life. And talk about drama! She’s a New York Mets fan, he’s a Yankees fan, and neither of their fathers is thrilled. Dealing with that conflict might be even more dangerous than facing down monsters!

The 13 Days of Pan-demonium keep rolling along! What’s in store tomorrow? Here’s a hint: “Good? Bad? I’m the girl with the chain saw.”

Hmm…I wonder what that could mean…?  😉

13 Days of Pan-demonium: T(r)oll Bridge

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Week One of The 13 Days of Pan-demonium concludes, yet we’re still celebrating the publication of BLOOD FEUD: THE SAGA OF PANDORA ZWIEBACK, Book 1, on sale right now from StarWarp Concepts and all fine online bookstores.

Now on deck: CAANAN GRALL!

Visitors to the news site Comic Book Resources may recognize Caanan’s style from their ongoing feature “The Line, It Is Drawn,” in which artists take readers’ ideas for pinups and really go to town on them. The one that really grabbed my attention was an X-Babies Christmas drawing he did: the X-Babies all asleep in their beds—except for Lil’ Rogue, who’s staring up in wonder at Santa Claus flying by overhead in his sleigh. It was so charming I thought, Well, I just have to get this guy to do a Pan drawing!

His idea: Pan and Annie try to cross a footbridge, only to have a troll demand payment. My response? Give him a uniform! After all, who’s to say New York’s Bridge and Tunnel Authority wouldn’t hire trolls to collect tolls? They’re experts at it!

Good thing Annie brought her change purse…

Check out Caanan’s webcomic “Max Overacts” at his Occasional Comics site (the link’s above), and keep an eye out for his latest “The Line, It Is Drawn” appearances at Comic Book Resources.

The 13 Days of Pan-demonium continue! Come back tomorrow for the return of Pan comic artist Eliseu “Zeu” Gouveia!

13 Days of Pan-demonium: Chopping Maul

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Day 6 of The 13 Days of Pan-demonium has arrived, and we’re still celebrating the publication of BLOOD FEUD: THE SAGA OF PANDORA ZWIEBACK, Book 1, on sale right now from StarWarp Concepts and all fine online bookstores.

Give a big welcome to ELIZABETH WATASIN!

I first became aware of Elizabeth through her small-press minicomics starring A-Girl, and then followed her full-size comic work in the anthology Action Girl and her own self-published comic, Charm School—think of it as Twilight long before there was a Twilight, only with better writing, romance without being cloyingly overwrought, and interesting characters. 😉

When I was putting together plans for the 13 Days, I started looking around for artists I thought would be a good fit for the project, and remembered Elizabeth. A quick Google search for her site, an exchange of e-mails, and YAY! she agreed to join the party!

The idea of Gothic Lolita vampires mixing it up with Pan and Annie at a mall is all her idea, and made complete sense to me—after all, where else would you find the “vampire fashionistas” mentioned on the cover of Blood Feud? The lame title for the piece, however, is entirely my fault.  😀

Currently, Elizabeth is working on the final draft of her first dark-fantasy novel, Wit’s World: Never Was. You can read the latest serialized chapters at her site (click her name link above), and check out her A-Girl and Charm School comics. You’ll be glad you did.

The 13 Days of Pan-demonium continue! Come back tomorrow to see who our next artistic guest is!