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COLUMBIA — When he’s not spending hours poring over legal precedents, third-year MU law student Brad Desnoyer is dreaming up the next big comic. His "Scared and Scarred" hit comic book stores late last month as part of the DC Universe Halloween '08 issue.
The story takes place in Arkham Asylum, the psychiatric hospital in the DC Universe for the criminally insane. Occurring on Halloween, the story is about Two-Face and his internal struggle between his two sides and his realization that the scariest thing in this life are people like him, people who can turn on a dime and commit murder.
Where to buy
- Comic released on Oct. 22
- Available at Rock Bottom Comics at 1029 E. Walnut St.
- Costs $5.99 (tax not included)
Main Characters
- Batman
- Superman
- The Green Lantern
- The Joker
- The Penguin
- Harvey Dent a.k.a. Two Face
- The Scarecrow
Comic synopsis
- The DC Halloween special includes nine short stories by nine authors and several illustrators.
- Harvey Dent gets lost in his split personality in an excerpt from “Scarred and Scared” written by Brad Desnoyer and illustrated by Riccardo Burchielli. The story is a mix of classic Batman characters and Halloween folklore.
“Two-Face is scared of himself," Desnoyer said. "He hates the person he has become.”
Two-Face’s thoughts are provoked by a patient, a werewolf, who was recently admitted. Desnoyer says the werewolf represents reality and the dynamic element of human nature and emotion.
Desnoyer, a 2006 graduate of the Missouri School of Journalism, got his break through Brad Meltzer, who wrote for DC from 2002 to 2006 and is also a novelist. Desnoyer first contacted Meltzer via e-mail looking to study under him. The two clicked, and soon Desnoyer was helping Meltzer research his novel “Book of Lies.”
"Scared and Scarred" is illustrated by Riccardo Burchielli, an Italian artist best known for his work on the comic “DMZ."
Desnoyer, who has read comics most of his life, was 16 when he realized how “great and deep” comics were. He was hooked by the mythology, the characters and the intertwined and carefully crafted plots.
It wasn’t until last year that Desnoyer seriously sat down to write a comic.
“Finally, after feeling comfortable with my writing and having Meltzer give me much advice and pushes directed at DC," Desnoyer said, "I got my shot.”
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