EXCLUSIVE: Meet the Godfather of Hell characters
Pius Bak's amazing character designs revealed, plus why I have an annual reading goal and approaching the end of the High Republic!
Hello there!
How are you doing?
I'm still on cloud nine following the launch of Night of the Slashers #1. The Nerd Initiative gave the debut a blistering review, awarding issue 1 9.5 out of 10 while Capes & Tights said:
"Night of the Slasher #1 delivers everything you could want from a slasher horror"
Thanks to everyone who has been reading and raving about our Purge-meets-Freddy-Krueger horror from Magma. I really appreciate all the cheerleading, and the best thing is that the Halloween celebrations aren't over yet, with the launch of my SECOND spooky season comic next week from Vault.
But more on Godfather of Hell later. Let's see what's in this week's Cavletter!
- MEET DARIO, ELENA AND THE GODFATHER OF HELL CREW!
- Q&A: WHY BOTHER WITH ANNUAL READING GOALS?
- OUT TODAY: SABER FOR HIRE #4
MEET THE GODFATHER FROM HELL CREW!
We're a week away from Godfather of Hell hitting stores and so I thought it was about time I shared some more EXCLUSIVE art with you!
Here are artist and co-creator Pius Bak's original sketches for our main cast.
Dario Santini
First up is our main protagonist Dario. Young Mr. Santini has run with the mob almost all his life and, in recent years, has been the top enforcer and debt collector for gang boss Niccolò Menchini.
When we first meet Dario, he's living a charmed life until a mistake leaves him in Niccolò's sights. After a drive-by execution, Dario finds himself in Hell with a very different type of boss and a brand new position as the devil's debt collector.
Originally, Pius designed Dario wearing a blue tracksuit, but Vault's Editor-in-Chief Adrian Wassell suggested we shift to white and silver to contrast the darkness of the mean streets of his gangster life and the neon lights of his new underworld existence.
The scar was a later addition as well. As we've hinted in the promos, Godfather of Hell is a possession story from a demon's point of view... and Dario is that demon! Managing Editor Der-Shing Helmer suggested a scar or other distinctive feature which would be seen on every poor soul that Dario possesses. We ran through several different scars until Pius came up with an inverted cross above Dario's eye, a subtle hint of what is to come.
Elena Menchini
Elena is a woman who always knew what she wanted - and that's getting out of her criminal father's clutches. Running in the same circles as Dario, the pair became lovers when they were young, although Elena broke our anti-hero's heart when she suddenly vanished, setting up a new life away from the mob.
Elena is smart in every way, dressing to impress in her new life.
But how did she get there? Time – and Godfather of Hell – will reveal all.
Niccolò Menchini
And here's the monster that Elena ran from... and the reason Dario finds himself in an early grave: a mobster with deep scars of his own.
One thing is for certain; you do not want to mess with the owner of Nick's Sport Bar.
Jaakobah
Say hello to one of my favourite characters in the book. Jaakobah is a mischievous imp who becomes Dario's... I was about to say friend, but that's not right. He becomes Dario's hellbound handler, championing Dario's skillset to his infernal masters.
Part Bat-Mite, part Mister Mxyzptlk, part Tex Avery character, Jaako is someone to watch. He may look cuter-than-cute, but there is more to this lil' devil than meets the eye.
Samael
Last but by no means least is Dario's new boss down below.
To give him his full title, Samael is the Seventh Duke of Hell, Lord of the Damned and Husband to Lilith. He also likes to describe himself as the devourer, tormentor and final judgement of any sinner that stands before him.
Oh, and he's HUGE!
There are so many details in these early sketches I love, from Samael's throne of melted bones to his ring. The latter came from a suggestion in my character brief that the Seventh Duke wears the 'Leviathan Cross', the alchemical symbol for Brimstone.
You'll meet all these characters and more in Godfather of Hell which ascends from the fiery pit next Wednesday, 16th October. Go talk to your friendly neighbourhood comic store now!
😈 Our awesome classic homage covers for issue one!
😈 Artist Pius Bak's choices for a Perfect Sunday!
😈 A preview of issue one!
😈 An interview with me about the series on The Comics Beat!
Q&A: WHY HAVE AN ANNUAL READING LIST?
Contacting me via my Ask Me Anything form, Cavletter subscriber Suzy says:
"You've been talking a lot about reading goals, but my question is... why do it? Why not just enjoy reading for reading's sake rather than adding the stress of hitting a target every year?
It's a good question, Suzy, and I agree, we can get bogged down with targets and numbers. This is only my second year of setting a reading goal, and the reason I adopted one was to hold myself accountable, not to read more but to be online less!
I'll explain. Back in the day, I went hard down the social media rabbit hole. I was tweeting all the time, checking Instagram, posting all through the day and sometimes the night. And I enjoyed it, a lot... until I didn't. Until I realised it was dragging me down.
In its heyday, social media was great. It connected me with people I wouldn't have met otherwise, and it was vital to launching Star Wars: The High Republic in the middle of lockdown. Yes, there was a darker side to it all, but I handled that.
At least, I thought I did.
In fact, I obsessed about all the hate and drama that was flying around. The doomscrolling became intense, especially when the tenor of the networks changed. Before long social media was breeding a new form of entitlement, with constant demands for instant responses and likes, not to mention the polarisation of views that leads to a need for absolutes. Believe this or you're done. Comment in the way we perceive is acceptable or face the consequences. And if you don't comment, your silence will tell us everything we need to know. Over time, nuance was squeezed out, followed quickly by the ability to admit that situations were complex and you might not know enough about to be part of the discourse. We throw the word toxic around a lot these days, but for me, that's exactly what social media became. And yet I kept coming back for more. And more. And more!
It was taking up so much of my time. Too much! I'd remove the apps from my phone but just headed to the networks in Safari. I cut down on Twitter, eventually deleting my account, but still felt the pull to play my part in a game I no longer enjoyed. A game that was making me feel ill.
So, I decided to replace social media with something else I actually enjoyed. Something I loved: reading! Whenever I felt the urge to scroll, I'd try to reach for a newspaper, magazine, book or comic instead.
And that's when reading goals came in. If I set a goal, then it would give me some impetus to choose a book (fun) over social media (stress).
Am I still on social media? Yes. Do I still feel that pull? Yes. Does that negative tweet telling me I won't have a career after all this High Republic nonsense is over still live rent-free in my head? More than I care to admit. But I have cut right down on my social media compulsion largely by ramping up my reading. A lot of that is thanks to my annual book goal.
Everyone is different, and many readers won't feel the need for a reading goal, but for me, it helps.
I hope that answers your question, Suzy.
And if anyone's wondering, I'm currently reading Slewfoot by Brom and listening to Dan Stevens read Frankenstein on Audible.
Do you have a question for me about reading, writing, my books or even my current favourite tea? Then ask away by a) posting a question in the comments, b) replying to this mail or c) using the Ask Me Anything form on my website!
OUT TODAY: STAR WARS: THE HIGH REPUBLIC ADVENTURES - SABER FOR HIRE #4
It's been a while coming, but the final issue of Saber For Hire is here.
The epic miniseries comes to a shocking conclusion! The identity of the sinister Child of the Storm revealed. A past confronted and a sacrifice made as Ty Yorrick and her apprentice face their biggest challenge yet. Ty’s life will never be the same!
But is that the end of Ty Yorrick's story? No, dear reader, it is not!
Jake Bartok's dynamic cover for Dispatches From the Occlusion Zone #4 was revealed last week...
As calls for help make their way across the Stormwall, the Marshal of the Republic Fleet turns to an unlikely ally: former Jedi Ty Yorrick! But can the maverick saber-for-hire be trusted when she encounters an old enemy on the ravaged plains of Dalna?
It's great to be working with Vincenzo Riccardi again in a story that sees Ty teaming up with a familiar face from elsewhere in the High Republic? And just who is the mysterious Marshal of the Republic Fleet. All will be revealed as Dispatches From the Occlusion Zone leads us into the final wave of Star Wars: The High Republic.
And talking of the final wave, I posted this on Instagram yesterday!
Yup, I am now one script away from completing Keeve and Sskeer's story. The end is literally nigh! It's a little scary, and I'm really going to miss these characters, but I'm also looking forward to this next chapter of my life and career. Plans are in motion!
That's all folks!
That is everything for this week! Now it's head done and full speed ahead to Godfather of Hell.
Until next time, look after yourself and each other,
PS: Did you catch author Kiersten White's Perfect Sunday? You can check out her recommendations here!
