Sometimes, I wonder about the first person to ever be sad. At first, I thought it would have been transpired by the first human death, but then I thought there is so much more to be sad about. My therapist tells me not to indulge my depression, but I can’t stop thinking about it. Where did sadness begin and how has it come so far?
— Dorian Rhodes (Chapter 0)
View Larger Here are three sketches of the main character, Dorian Rhodes, in my graphic novel These Quiet Worlds. Dorian Rhodes is a gay guy who has psychokinetic powers.
I think it’s time for a Gay Superhero.
What about you?
Drawn by the illustrious Eric Zendejas.
I decided early on when I first started writing TQW that I wanted to do this on my own. I didn’t want someone to change the artistic direction of the story or the idea that had been manifesting itself in my mind for so long. A lot of gay comic books go with an independent publisher, but with that comes certain stigmas and expectations that I didn’t want to taint my graphic novel. I want my characters to exist as they are and not have to state what it means to be gay, or themselves, out loud. I want to be able to tell the story of Dorian, who is gay, and have him exist (as an alternative person) in a world that is constantly asking people to tell everyone who they are. I wanted him to have the quiet acceptance of himself that I myself have as a gay person.
This has made it harder and easier for me as a creator. I get to depict how I want These Quiet Worlds to be seen, and submit it where I want it to be submitted, but it also begets a genuine reliance on the readers and gay press that takes a lot of out my hands. It’s always been hard got me to rely on strangers, as I find it exhausting to leave my comic (or anything of mine) in the hands of others. It’s scary, but aptly fitting to have a story which, at its utmost core, is about how do you exist in a world with so many conflicting motives and come out as yourself when everything comes to completion.
These Quiet Worlds is a sort of love letter to life in a world of constant transition and I really hope that in the end it is recognized as such, but I am contending with a lot of other people and that is pure terror.
These Quiet Worlds is a Science-Fiction Drama.
The illustrator for These Quiet Worlds sent me a text today, telling me he was laughing at the descriptions of the characters’ wardrobes I gave him. Anybody that knows me understands how I have a very loose grasp on clothing. I am a t-shirt, jeans, and athletic shoe kind of guy, and very rarely does it get more complicated then that. I am glad to have people on my team that have a better grasp on clothing, make-up, and all of the cosmetics than I do. Otherwise, my instinct would be to shove everyone in a basic t-shirt and jeans. It would make it seem like everyone lived in a cult in their worlds which would not be sending the right message.
Prism Comics posted about These Quiet Worlds!
