Thanos creator Jim Starlin and artist Nikkol Jelenic have unveiled a new project.
Titled Midnight Rose, the one-shot comic will explore the "journey through the life of a singular, frightening and very lonely creature," called "Midnight Rose." Starlin serves as the book's writer with Jelenic creating both interior and cover art for the issue, DC Alonso on colors and Dave Sharpe responsible for letters. The writer and artist have discussed the series as being a great "character driven storyline," telling fans what they might expect from the book.
MIDNIGHT ROSE
- JIM STARLIN (W) • NIKKOL JELENIC (A/C)
- Colors by DC ALONSO
- Letters by DAVE SHARPE
- Incentive cover by STARLIN
- Join the legendary Jim Starlin (Creator of Thanos, Gamora, Dreadstar) and Nikkol Jelenic (AFTERDARK, A Taste for Killing, The Fall, Red Crow) on a journey through the life of a singular, frightening and very human creature: MIDNIGHT ROSE. A particularly bizarre tale of loneliness, love and what happens when you can’t help but give in to the vengeance growing deep within yourself.
- 64 PGS./ONE-SHOT/$8.99
"[Midnight Rose is] about living an alternative life and the ramification of such a hand being dealt to you," Starlin said. "But out of the ashes of misery and hardship sometimes a grand legacy buds."
In terms of misery and hardship, Starlin discussed what he enjoys about working on the book with AfterShock Comics as opposed to Marvel, where he created the mad titan, recently portrayed by actor Josh Brolin in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as well as Guardians of the Galaxy teammate Gamora. When asked what he enjoys most with AfterShock, Starlin responded with "the freedom of doing what I want with a story without having to lie to the editor. I also know Joe (the editor) won't sabotage the tale, as happened with my last work for Marvel." Starlin "moved on" from Marvel before his novel Thanos: The Infinity Siblings came out in Feb. 2018 due to editorial issues.
Starlin also spoke on how Jelenic's time with floral arrangements served as an inspiration for the new book, making the writer want to do a horror story with flowers that has not been seen, "with some exceptions such as Poison Ivy." Jelenic praised the book, saying that it "is great for readers that enjoy a character driven storyline. Jim wrote Rose beautifully from a discarded seed with great hardships that decided to control her own destiny and grow into a flower instead of a weed."
Jelenic has described that her love for detail really shows in this book, ensuring that "nearly every page of Midnight Rose would have some type of botanical elements drawn into it to show the connection to Rose and all that grows around her." Midnight Rose #1 is set to release April 13, 2022 from AfterShock Comics.
Source: AfterShock Comics