Masque of the Red Death

Edgar Allan Poe meets "Blade Runner." Elfquest creator Wendy Pini's super-sexy, super-dark webcomic pays tribute to the master of the macabre. View the teaser, then check out the webcomic at www.gocomi.com

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• manga
• anime
• elfquest
• poe
• wendy
• pini
• yaoi
• fantasy
• sci-fi
• masque
• gay
• lesbian
• metro
• lgbt
• goth
• death

[MadamMasque]

For those who don't grasp the concept of "free adaptation..." Classic literature has long been the source of wildly diverse re-imaginings. Easy examples: "West Side Story" and "Forbidden Planet" are from Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" and "The Tempest." With all honor and respect to Poe's "Masque," it, too, has seen many interpretations. The Pini graphic novel/web comic is just wilder than most. Keep an open mind and give it a try!

[rocketprime]

I'm sorry, the artwork is wonderful but this doesn't seem to have anything to do with Poe's story about a bunch of selfish aristocrats who try to escape a gruesome plague by shutting themselves in a castle and throwing a wild party.

[MadamMasque]

Poe's very short "story" (more a tone poem than a story) provides the most basic seed, which has been adapted, expanded, evolved and morphed into a futuristic, science-fiction exploration. There are many more characters than the original Prospero (Anton Prosper is his ripply "mirror"), there's an actual story arc, and it's much more mature. Also, you've only seen the first third; there's nastiness and fireworks just waiting in the wings!

[pookoos]

I really love this trailer for the comic...what is the music you used? I really love it.

[MadamMasque]

It's from the soundtrack to a great movie called "Odd Man Out" (starring James Mason) from 1947. The composer is William Alwyn.

[BlinJe]

masque is a true triumph!

it was good enough to make me sit through the homo-erotic scenes... determined to make it to the end haha

[MadamMasque]

Your willingness to be open-minded is much appreciated. These characters are people first - in their futuristic society sexual orientation is a non-issue. Their world has plenty of other problems that we don't, though! Stay tuned!

[stalkingseverus]

Wendy's artwork and storytelling. ~wistful sigh~ Always leaves me nostalgic for the past and yet craving the future.

Looks wonderful. I will definitely check it out.

~Ami

[vipewolf]

Did anybody read the latest chapters of the comic at "go comi,com"?

OMG! Anton is starting to piss me off!

And all Steffan wanted was Anton's love from the very start!

Anton.... the STUPID IDIOT

[shawnjohn0369]

@vipewolf Stephan is a little cry baby if he only had patience they had all the time in the world and he could not wate ...the prince gave him eternal life but Stephan couldn't deal with a little swinging so he killed the world when u are really mad that is the worst time to make decisions.

[shawnjohn0369]

@MadamMasque would u ever consider making Stephan into Stephani ? also i think this could be a cool idea for a big stage production in Vegas like a cerc da sola type of thing ?

[SwedishHammerHawk]

I dont think this is good, not with my expectations to "Masque Of the Red Death"

[KSClaw]

I really love the trailer for this comic <3 but I'll never forget the beautiful first trailer you posted on Elfquest, but I can unfortunately not recall what the music for it was there. Something with Jekyll and Hyde, I think?

[Edenhyde246]

A young prince becomes.... a corpse.

[cynycyl]

Long-time Pini fan, collector of all things EQ and seeing she has new work is exciting. I like what I see here. Some settings and coloring are reminiscent of the anime Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo (which is a compliment - it is quite lush). Can't wait to read this - please keep up the great work! (More EQ please? <3)

[scherbackoff]

And oh, about sexuality in Wendy's work.

For everyone, who shits bricks seeing two male people embrace. Smoke some Clawfinger (the song called Faggot In You to be exact). They said everything for me.

(what's going on today - just can not shut up...)

[scherbackoff]

tl;dr Cool but too gloomy story with atmosphere of a feast during a plague and general hopelessness.

p.s.: my comments make a good copypasta. Oh, exploitable (maybe)

[scherbackoff]

But, anyway, it is the serious thing.Not as heart touching as ElfQuest, but who compares... Characters are very strong. "StephAnton" almost-love story adds to the illustration of "lovelessness". Designer-girl (i always forget names, you can slap me for that)seems crazy but it makes her outstand. Anton Prosper looks like Strongbow (and acts as dumb) My only advice to them is to use Brain(tm)(r). 100% free, 100% natural, 100% legal to posess. And to be less selfish. That would save them a trouble.

[scherbackoff]

But even they forgot everything just to enjoy their new powers and skills. Nothing surprising, they have passed the moment when worries about future of the planet were nescessary. Their party ended when they found out that their star loses temperature badly. Fortunately, they went to find other globes.

People of MoRD's word will hardly reach this stage, i think.