Get ready for a very unique spin on the murder mystery genre this summer. FANGORIA is pleased to exclusively announce The Patron, a brand new comic book series from Ignition Press that takes place at the bloody intersection of art and commerce.
See also: Murder Mystery KILL ME Has A Killer Cast
The Patron hinges on the idea that all the great artists have one thing in common; they’re dead. But why wait for a natural death when you can profit faster from murder? The book hails from writer Christian Ward (Event Horizon: Inferno) and artist John J. Pearson (The Department of Truth). We’ve got two pieces of cover art from the book’s first issue for you to check out below. As for the story at hand? The synopsis reads as follows:
“A true patron of the fine arts, Mr. Cherish has dedicated his life to scouting and supporting emerging artists, launching countless unknowns from obscurity into industry superstardom.
Unfortunately for these young artists, the secret to Cherish’s success is their untimely demise. Nothing makes a work of art more desirable and valuable to collectors than the passing of its creator, and Cherish has refined his ability to orchestrate spectacular tragedies without leaving a trace…before selling his dead protégés’ oeuvres for massive profits.
Painter Matty Barnes is primed to become Cherish’s next ‘hit,’ but when the script is flipped on this latest murder, a shocking twist puts his empire in the crosshairs.”
“We were chatting about being artists who have both taught and dabbled in fine art over a curry at Thought Bubble about 3 or 4 years ago, when we joked about our work being worth something when we die and it was a lightbulb moment,” Ward told Fango. “The story of an art dealer who kills to increase the value of his artist's work. As this seed grew in my mind it became something greater.”
“From a visual perspective, I take a lot of influence from Italian horror and giallo,” Pearson said. “I love the surreal, horrifying and lurid approaches of directors like Dario Argento and Mario Bava, so with a story like The Patron an approach that embraces the feel of those makes perfect sense.”
Ward added that he’s a “huge fan of Korean thrillers,” name-checking Bong Joon-Ho’s Parasite and Mother, while promising to deliver “a thriller that is full of twists and turns, but instead of the twists being for shock value, they instead deepen the story.”
This is just one of many horror comics that should be on your radar this year, but in an endless sea of new things to enjoy, what makes this stand out? For one, it’s a new series, meaning there’s no homework and one can just jump right on in. Beyond that, the creators had compelling reasons of their own.
“This isn’t simply another murder mystery thriller, it’s a book made from and about our passion and creativity in this world. Everyone loves a juicy story, but what people remember is something that resonates with them in a personal way,” Pearson said. “In a time where people are inundated with artificially created images and content that lacks clarity and believability, this series is very much human. I’ve fully painted this series, embracing the traditional process as an extension of the storytelling. That tangible nature runs alongside the violence and mystery in The Patron, making an unforgettable experience that contemplates the place that creativity has in the world around us.
“You only need to look at the success of DC’s Absolute line or IDW’s Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees to see that people are craving original and wild swings in comics. That’s what The Patron is,” Ward added.
The Patron #1 hits shelves on July 22.
