Creating a Monster!

Adapting a story to comics.

While working on the comic anthology Shriek, I was fortunate to work with some talented creators. The writer Dorian J. Sinnott contributed the story, The Hunger. I did the illustration for the prose introduction in the first issue.

The art for the hunger in Shriek #1.

The Hunger is a haunting story of madness in a secluded cabin,  with haunting imagery, a natural for adapting into comics. While throwing around ideas for Shriek #2, with fellow artist Keith Haugen, we came up with the idea of adapting The Hunger into comic form. I would adapt the story to comics by doing the breakdowns and Keith would do the final illustrations. I don’t know if any book has ever run the story in prose form first, and comic adaption in the next issue, but Shriek isn’t above breaking a few cliches.

Breakdown…

Here is my rough for the first page with temporary lettering inserted to give the artist the mood of the setting.

Art…

Keith Haugen’s finished art for the first page.

The story…

More of the lettered breakdowns for The Hunger.

As you can see, this process is a collaboration, I have left room for Keith to bring in his unique style, and remain true to Dorian’s story.

I will be posting updates on the process of collaborating on The Hunger in future posts. Shriek featuring this adaption will be available later this year.

The first issue of Shriek is available in print and digital at my store.

The Shriek logo by artist Dave Lentz.

The studio store

Keep creating,

James Whiting