December 7, 2009
12:08am PST
I have always loved the “Resident Evil” series with the release of “Resident Evil 5” this year, as a way to pay tribute to the series that I loved so much, I thought of this:
Why not try to do a fan comic that did something different and yet still be called “Resident Evil” all at the same time. Using the techniques that I picked up from my Fine Arts Major in college. I decided to take on the task…
“What are you trying to do here?” That turned out to be the biggest questions for me as I was writing the initial script for this project. Even though I have drawn several Illustrations for this comic (all which are available to view on my site at ladymaverick81.com), I haven’t drawn a single page. Which the way the series changes from title to title and the way my style is. I just can’t seem to get it all of paper. Also it feels that with my current drawing skills, inferior. So I’m planning to muster all of my strength and draw this entire damn comic as my senior thesis and submit to Wild Storm or who ever draws the official Resident Evil Comics at the time.
As for the characters in this story, they are a barrage of images, words, and emotions. But, the subtitle, the word “coexistence” strikes the biggest and loudest chord with the two main characters.
In the case of Marilyn Grey, a 26 year old woman who’s past she cannot remember and is haunted by it. She has a friend and confidant, Jacqueline Teige who does understand her to some extent; but not all of it. She is a cold and distant woman, convinced that her life is not even worth living, she can’t even commit suicide. She just lives on and on, wandering aimlessly amidst the cold.
As for the case of Lucas Zane Mackenzie that is, a 37 year old man. A drifter and loner whose past he wished to forget. He lives a life now; so lightly as to barely allow the possibility of human touch. He views the world as a cold and humanity even colder, but amidst that he’s searching for some warmth.
One’s whose past they wish to remember and one’s whose past they wish to forget, but both searching for some warmth.
To others they are heroes in a story and they are heroes in this story. You might say this is love story, a dark and twisted one. But I don’t think so; I believe this is a story of two people; who both have emotional baggage and how they react when thrown into an unusual situation.
That’s why I took on the project.
This project is my memories of my childhood, with all of its pain, sorrow and joy that I have experienced so far. Also, I can relate to Lucas and Marilyn on so many scales. In that this is the true essence of this comic… Who knows it maybe published one of these nights. But otherwise enjoy the prose to this comic.
-LADY MAVERICK81
P.S. The name Lucas Zane Mackenzie, I’m a fan of Linda Howard’s works. She blends romance, action and intrigue seamlessly into one package and makes is rather amusing to read. Lucas’s full name is some of the names of the characters from some of her novels. Can you guess which ones that I used?
coexistence (n) -
1. be in existence together: to exist together at the same time and in the same place
2. live together peacefully: to occupy the same place in a peaceful way
-from the Encarta® World English Dictionary (North American Edition)
October 2010
After a decade to the date after the Raccoon City incident, to those it was a tragic event that claimed so many. But to others, they couldn't didn't care less about it.
Marilyn Grey was one of those kinds of people...
She only lives in the present. Not caring about her past and possibly the future, but in reality; quite ignorant of it. Diagnosed with lacunar amnesia, she cannot remember anything up until she was six years old. The doctors told her that she experienced a traumatic even in her early childhood and a direct result she shut out that event, along with a part of her early childhood. Because of this diagnosis she is a cold and remote person. She views humanity as ignorant and mindless, only trying to please either themselves or others. Because of this, she becomes tired of life; depressed and despondent, she wishes that she could just fade away.
To make the pain of her everyday living stop hurting, so that she could just breathe. Her pain would resonate with that of another she will met, and ultimately that "meeting" will change her life forever in so many ways.
Days after her 26th birthday, she decides to attend a memorial dedicated the victims of the Raccoon City Incident. Like a memory that is just under the surface, long forgotten; but trying to be recovered. She is drawn to this event and heads to the memorial on board a Tricell owned train bound for Latham, which is only 50 miles from the remains of Raccoon City.
She does not tell of her plans to Jacqueline Teige, her longtime and only best friend who works as Intel for the BSAA alongside Chris Redfield.
Marilyn Grey never makes it to her destination...
Lucas Zane Mackenzie is a drifter and loner, who’s haunted past is locked away in the darkest corners of his mind. He lives a life now; so lightly, as to barely allow the possibility of human touch. In his travels he views humanity as cold, ignorant and selfish. Because of his view of the world, he’s searching for someone or someplace that he can call home, that could help him slay his own demons once and for all, so he can breathe again. He’s also in en route the memorial in Latham, as if being drawn there by some unknown force.
Lucas would meet a woman almost like himself. Tired of the pain of everyday living, and with eyes has lost as he is. He finds within her, a chance to make himself whole again.
The events that will follow, will take them to the brink of madness and back. The keys to Marilyn Grey's shattered past have been given to her. How she'll use them will decide the fate of everything...
Information:
"Resident Evil: Coexistence" is a project that I have been working on for quite some time now. Originally I wanted this story to take place during the events of "Resident Evil Zero", but something stopped me from doing that and ditched that idea and was changed into the form of "Resident Evil: Coexistence".
So far the rough draft of this project I am planning is going to be the span of 150+ B&W pages. I wanted this to be a 350+ page full color comic but, that might kill my drawing hands and will take me over a year to finish or longer... Considering this is comic is not for publication, unless Wildstorm lets me publish this comic that is...
When this comic is posted online, it will be posted on my site and hopefully Resident Evil Fan.com as well. Since my bandwidth is pretty darn low and I can't afford to any get more... In the meantime you can see the concept art of the project over at my site ladymaverick81.com
I hope you like the illustrations that I have so far of "Resident Evil: Coexistence" that are posted in the gallery of Xanthe. Also, I made a little F.A.Q. for your F.Y.I.
F.A.Q.
Q. Who is Marilyn Grey anyways?
A. Marilyn Grey is the main/original character for "Resident Evil: Coexistence". Here's her profile:
Full Name- Marilyn Grey
Height: 5'6
Weight: 145 lbs.
Blood Type: Unknown
Age: 26
After the death of her mother and abandoned by her father all at the age of six. Marilyn was placed in the care of the Roman Catholic Church of Raccoon City. For the next fourteen years she stayed with the Church, but days after the "Mansion Incident" the Church moved out of Raccoon City along with Marilyn and relocated to San Diego, California. To this day Marilyn does not know why the Church left Raccoon City or that does she care about it. Cold and distance at first glance. She is often commented on her exotic beauty, to her tanned skin and wavy blonde hair. She is often haunted by the nightmares of her Mother's death. Days after her 21st birthday she is given a modeling job from one of Umbrella's higher ups. Against the wishes of her long time best friend Jacqueline Teige, she leaves for Reno. But, her meeting with Billy Coen onboard the "Ecliptic Express II" would ultimately change her life forever.
Q. What's the meaning of the title LM81?
A. The title comes from the idea of the word "coexistence". The theme of "coexistence" will play a lot in this comic. Like for example, from Marilyn coming to terms with her past to Lucas and Marilyn's relationship.
Q. LM81, I have heard that you are going to have a soundtrack to this project. What do you mean by that?
A. The meaning is that I have listened to SEVERAL CDs and I mean A LOT of CDs to serve as the soundtrack. Most of these CDs I listen to while I am planning this comic. So far I have this list of songs that I have listened to A LOT:
"Down with the Sickness" by Disturbed
"Come Away With Me" by Norah Jones
"Twilight" by Vanessa Carlton
"The Chemicals between Us" by Bush
"Numb" by Linkin Park
"Electrical Storm" by U2
"I Won't Walk Away" by Jewel
"Mother Love" by Queen
"Zachem Ya" by t.A.T.u
"Solitary" by VNV Nation
"Clocks" by Coldplay
"Lies" by Evanescence
"The Man in the Desert" by Yoko Kanno
"Sleeping Beauty" by A Perfect Circle
"Let Go" by Frou Frou
"Pictures of You" by The Cure
"This" by Natasha's Ghost
"Closer" by Nine Inch Nails
"Harder to Breathe" by Maroon 5
"Such Great Heights" by The Postal Service
"Parabol & Parabola” by TOOL
"Passenger”by the Deftones
"The Hallow" by A Perfect Ciricle
"Sweet Surrender" by Sarah McLachlan
"The Journey" by Tasha Baxter
"Carnival of Rust" by Poets of the Fall
"Illusion" by VNV Nation
"Fumbling Towards Ecstasy" by Sarah McLachlan
Q. In your gallery you have some illustrations under the file name "mk-rosalyngrey.jpg". Who is she? Also, why do she and Marilyn Grey have the same four dots on their foreheads?
A. If you really want to know those illustrations are of Rosalyn Grey. She's the mother of Marilyn Grey. Everything else about her, if I would tell you know would be a spoiler. All I can say that she'll appear in the form of mostly flashbacks. The four dots on their forehead, well that is a spoiler too. You'll learn about that in the comic as well.
Q. So LM81, why did you want to do something like this in the first place?
A. I always wanted a challenge. Also, that you are looking at one of the biggest RE fan girls on the net as well. But this comic is more of an "experiment" on my terms that is, so wait and see then. X3
Q. Are you a fan of the novels that were written by S.D. Perry?
A. Of course I am a fan! I love her writing style a lot. Also, she oddly in her first RE novel illustrated Rebecca's personality like to the one that she had in the Remake of the original RE and Resident Evil Zero. Also, I love her original character Trent as well. Who knows I might add him to the story. XD
Q. Okay, LM81 since this project of yours is super under wraps. Can you at least give us the information of at least ONE other character that will appear in the comic?
A. Okay then, here is the stats and profile of the other character that shows up in "RE: C":
Name- Jacqueline Teige
Height: 5'9
Weight: 175 lbs.
Blood Type: O
Age: 25
Marilyn's best friend since childhood and a former resident of Raccoon City. Both Marilyn and Jacqueline lived in Raccoon City prior to the incident and moved out days after the "Mansion Incident". Relocated to San Diego and currently attends San Diego State University along with Marilyn, as a computer science major. A master computer hacker; wants revenge for the death of her friends and loved ones in Raccoon City. So she sets out to find the truth about Umbrella and its operations. Jacqueline is currently employed by the BSAA as intel.
Q. Who else is showing up in this comic LM81?
A. That's a secret for now but the recent profile of Jacqueline Teige is the only other original character that will appear in this comic. Any other character will be either from the novels, games, or movies.
Q. What do to think of the RE movies LM81?
A. Kick ass! I am a sucker for action flicks and those three movies are no exception! I'm kinda looking forward to seeing the fourth movie this fall.
That's it for now, more to come later!
-LADY MAVERICK81 06/13/10