Tag Archives: laci

Preview: Death Ratio’d

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Death Ratio’d

Writer: Mark Russell
Artist: Laci
Colorist: Marco Lesko
Letterer: Sal Cipriano
Cover A: Rahzzah
Cover B: Chris Ferguson & Laci

In this futuristic dark comedy by Eisner and ‘Ringo Award-winning writer Mark Russell, life and death are ruled by social media. One too many dislikes…and you’re dead.

When Arnold awakes from a coma twenty years into the future, he discovers that society is now ruled by social media. Enough “likes” and “upvotes” can unlock fame and fortune but — watch your step! — enough “thumbs down” clicks and the collar around your neck explodes. And you’re done. Now, confused and running on his last Like, Arnold must navigate a world in which the slightest online misstep can have fatal consequences.

Death Ratio'd

Mark Russell and Laci deliver a futuristic dark satire in Death Ratio’d

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Eisner and Ringo Award-winning writer Mark Russell returns to Artists, Writers & Artisans (AWA) with Death Ratio’d, an all-new futuristic dark satire where social media rules life and death. One too many dislikes…and you’re dead! This horror comedy from Russell and artist Laci is a cautionary tale about systems designed to control expression and behavior, exploring how society organizes itself when ratings affect your day-to-day life.

As one of the comic book industry’s foremost satirists, Russell is an expert at shining a light on contemporary society through the satirical mirror of genre tales. Teaming up with visionary artist Laci, the pair have created a world in Death Ratio’d where your online reputation bleeds into real life with the highest possible stakes. This one-shot format with a fast-paced tale showcasing humor, horror, and the repercussions of nonexistent humanity, offers readers a fresh look at how today’s social practices can be pushed to the extreme and do anything but bring the world closer together. The story uniquely showcases the dark depths human beings are capable of reaching when algorithms gain the upper hand.

When Death Ratio’d protagonist Arnold awakes from a coma twenty years into the future, he discovers that society is now ruled by social media conventions. Enough “likes” and “upvotes” can unlock fame and fortune but watch out, because enough “thumbs down” clicks, and you’re done when the collar around your neck explodes. Confused and running on his last “like,” Arnold must now navigate a world in which the slightest misstep can have fatal consequences.

Death Ratio’d is written and created by Mark Russell with artwork by Laci; covers by Rahzzah and Chris Ferguson; colors by Marco Lesko; and letters by Sal Cipriano. The one-shot will be available Wednesday, May 29, 2024.

Death Ratio'd

Preview: Trojan

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Trojan

(W) Daniel Kraus (A) Laci (CA) Jeff Dekal
In Shops: Jun 28, 2023
SRP: $9.99

Once upon a time, we lived alongside Legends. Creatures of myth. Centaurs, fauns, gorgons, kelpies, gnomes, and more. They were spectacular. Majestic. Powerful. Peaceful. Pure. In comparison, we were ugly. Weak. Warmongering. Rotten. Is it any wonder we could not live alongside them any longer? After driving these Legends to the fringes of society, an uglier form of mythos takes shape in the form of rumors of live snuff shows for dark web high rollers. When a mysterious young woman, Nessa, enlists the help of a hacker to take a tour of the grisliest corners of the Dark Web, she sets in motion a war between those who peddle to mankind’s darkest fantasies and a world that transcends imagination. Trojan is fantasy thriller full of wonder and horror in equal measure.

Trojan

Preview: Trojan #4

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Trojan #4

Writer: Daniel Kraus
Artist: Laci
Colorist: Marco Lesko
Letterer: Sal Cipriano
Cover Artist: Jeff Dekal

Once upon a time, we lived alongside Legends. Creatures of myth. Centaurs, fauns, gorgons, kelpies, gnomes, and more. They were spectacular. Majestic. Powerful. Peaceful. Pure. In comparison, we were ugly. Weak. Warmongering. Rotten. Is it any wonder we could not live alongside them any longer? After driving these Legends to the fringes of society, an uglier form of mythos takes shape in the form of rumors of live snuff shows for dark web high rollers. When a mysterious young woman, Nessa, enlists the help of a hacker to take a tour of the grisliest corners of the Dark Web, she sets in motion a war between those who peddle to mankind’s darkest fantasies and a world that transcends imagination. Trojan is a fantasy thriller full of wonder and horror in equal measure. In this concluding issue, Nessa goes live in what might be the final appearance of her life.

Trojan #4

Preview: Trojan #3

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Trojan #3

Writer: Daniel Kraus
Artist: Laci
Colorist: Marco Lesko
Letterer: Sal Cipriano
Cover: Jeff Dekal

Once upon a time, we lived alongside Legends. Creatures of myth. Centaurs, fauns, gorgons, kelpies, gnomes, and more. They were spectacular. Majestic. Powerful. Peaceful. Pure. In comparison, we were ugly. Weak. Warmongering. Rotten. Is it any wonder we could not live alongside them any longer? After driving these Legends to the fringes of society, an uglier form of mythos takes shape in the form of rumors of live snuff shows for dark web high rollers. When a mysterious young woman, Nessa, enlists the help of a hacker to take a tour of the grisliest corners of the Dark Web, she sets in motion a war between those who peddle to mankind’s darkest fantasies and a world that transcends imagination. Trojan is a fantasy thriller full of wonder and horror in equal measure.

Trojan #3

Preview: Trojan #1

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Trojan #1

by Daniel Kraus (W), Laci (A)
Marco Lesko (C), Sal Cipriano (L)
Jeff Dekal (CA), Mike Deodato, Jr. (Variant CA), Lee Loughridge (Variant CA)
In Stores: Wednesday, January 4, 2023
Diamond Code: NOV221313 (Dekal), NOV221314 (Deodato)

Once upon a time, we lived alongside Legends. Creatures of myth. Centaurs, fauns, gorgons, kelpies, gnomes, and more. They were spectacular. Majestic. Powerful. Peaceful. Pure. In comparison, we were ugly. Weak. Warmongering. Rotten. Is it any wonder we could not live alongside them any longer? After driving these Legends to the fringes of society, an uglier form of mythos takes shape in the form of rumors of live snuff shows for dark web high rollers. When a mysterious young woman, Nessa, enlists the help of a hacker to take a tour of the grisliest corners of the Dark Web, she sets in motion a war between those who peddle to mankind’s darkest fantasies and a world that transcends imagination. Trojan is fantasy thriller full of wonder and horror in equal measure.

Trojan #1

Trojan #1 delivers a sick twisted take on a magical world

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Trojan #1

The internet is full of some very dark places and corners. While there’s lots of fantastic experiences, there’s also some things that are best to not discuss. Trojan #1 seems to want to go there. The comic focuses on Nessa who hires a hacker to take her on a tour of the dark web. She’s on a mission to find something… snuff films. For those unaware, they’re videos where people are killed for the enjoyment of others. It’s a very taboo subject and this debut’s build to the revelation is the intriguing aspect. And then it gets a little nauseous.

Written by Daniel Kraus, Trojan #1 is an intriguing start that in the end is about a woman trying to raise money to help her mother. She’s just willing to die to make that happen. That in itself is an intriguing story but this debut goes in a direction that pushes limits. I’m pretty liberal, but this is something I’m not sure I’m even willing to read about.

But, Kraus has created an interesting world and with that world a lot of interesting stuff. This is a world where magical beings exist. Those beings, called Fey, are abused and tortured because of what they are and for entertainment. Videos of their torture are popular and live streamed for people to pay to watch. All of that creates an interesting discussion about how we treat people in our world and how we see “other”. There’s a dip into internet fame due to the abuse of others. While it’s an underlying concept, I’m not sure it’s where the series will go.

Trojan #1 features art by Laci with color by Marco Lesko and lettering by Sal Cipriano. It depicts a dark and dirty world, a rundown city, that will make you feel dirty like the topic of the comic itself. There’s something about that art that feels like it hides the even darker underlying world, it sucks you in much like Nessa’s initial trip into the dark web. It adds to a comic you might need to give yourself a wash after reading.

Trojan #1 is an intriguing concept that’s a lot of shock. It’s definitely one to go into know what to expect, it’s absolutely not for the faint of heart.

Story: Daniel Kraus Art: Laci
Color: Marco Lesko Letterer: Sal Cipriano
Story: 8.3 Art: 8.3 Overall: 8.3 Recommendation: Buy

AWA Studios provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Zeus Comics – comiXology/Kindle

Preview: Trojan #1

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Trojan #1

by Daniel Kraus (W), Laci (A)
Marco Lesko (C), Sal Cipriano (L)
Jeff Dekal (CA), Mike Deodato, Jr. (Variant CA), Lee Loughridge (Variant CA)
In Stores: Wednesday, January 4, 2023
Diamond Code: NOV221313 (Dekal), NOV221314 (Deodato)

Once upon a time, we lived alongside Legends. Creatures of myth. Centaurs, fauns, gorgons, kelpies, gnomes, and more. They were spectacular. Majestic. Powerful. Peaceful. Pure. In comparison, we were ugly. Weak. Warmongering. Rotten. Is it any wonder we could not live alongside them any longer? After driving these Legends to the fringes of society, an uglier form of mythos takes shape in the form of rumors of live snuff shows for dark web high rollers. When a mysterious young woman, Nessa, enlists the help of a hacker to take a tour of the grisliest corners of the Dark Web, she sets in motion a war between those who peddle to mankind’s darkest fantasies and a world that transcends imagination. Trojan is fantasy thriller full of wonder and horror in equal measure.

Trojan #1

AWA Studios announces a new fantasy horror series Trojan

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AWA Studios has revealed Trojan, a 4-issue original story debuting on January 4, 2023. From New York Times best-selling writer Daniel Kraus and acclaimed Serbian artist Laci, the new 4-issue series is a mix of fantasy and horror by way of modern tech. 

A world of wonder and horror in equal measure, Trojan creates a parallel universe in which creatures from myth and legend live among us, just trying to get by like everybody else. But it’s a world in which sinister urban legends, like live deadly shows for dark web high rollers, also exist. With an intense script and vivid characters, Trojan’s unique world spans, blends, and elevates genres in this dark fantasy tech noir.

When a mysterious young woman, Nessa, enlists the help of a hacker to take a tour of the grisliest corners of the Dark Web, she sets in motion a war between those who peddle to mankind’s darkest fantasies and a world that transcends imagination. As the story progresses, readers come to find that Nessa isn’t the benign faerie she appears to be — she is something much, much more, and she’s about to hatch a scheme that will shock those who would prey upon her people.

Trojan is written by Daniel Kraus, illustrated by Laci, colored by Marco Lesko, and lettered by Sal Cipriano. Issue #1 will be available January 4, 2023, both digitally and in stores wherever comic books are sold, with the following issues available on a monthly basis.