5 o’clock in the morning, where you gonna be?
In the studio finishing up this page, lol.
So I just missed Loveless Wednesday because I underestimated digital painting this page. I’m not mad about it though. To me, this post was important and it had to be right you know. In case you haven’t noticed,
Cupid’s here!
I know at this point, many people were starting to think we were just going to keep following only Angel, but I mean, the title of the book is “Loveless Cupid”. He had to show his face one day. The funny part though is that this is the page I’ve been waiting on, and also the most afraid to do. Let me explain.
For those that don’t know, I started this brand in 2011. I’m not going to give a history lesson (because you can read that here) but I feel like this journey has led me to this point. This brand started with a single image of my downtrodden Cupid and it will die with it. I haven’t drawn this guy in months. What was an obsession for years took a back seat to all of the things in my life, mainly this comic you are reading (I made the decision early on that building Angel’s character was more important than rushing Cupid in).
When I came up with Loveless Cupid 5 years ago, I saw something special and I think people did too. He wasn’t another cookie cutter character. The expression on his face, his tattooed body, his eyepatch, his little weenie, and pistols told a story through his imagery alone. I’ve always told people his story and for the few that got to hear it, they typically dug it. I kept telling myself that I would get the story of Cupid out and have his star rise to pop culture status (I’m talking Ninja Turtle, Spongebob levels) but I just didn’t have the time with all the tattoos and other stuff this brand needed. The story always took a back seat.
Then I realized I didn’t have the time because, simply put, I was scared.
Scared that no one would care.
If you talk to me about Loveless Cupid, you would think I’m talking about a real person. He has been with me for some of my highest highs, and lowest lows, but through it all he has had my back. The more I need him, the better I seem to be able to draw him. In my quest to get him to the masses, it just always stuck with me “Why would anyone care about my character?”
One day enough was enough, I knew that beyond looking cool, that I had to get this story out of my system. A tale so grand that it would take hundreds of pages to draw, and eventually many episodes to animate (I’ll go ahead and throw a few movies in there too) just to get the whole point across (spoiler alert: Angel is just the beginning) . The only thing stopping me was putting pencil to paper and getting started. I’m glad I mad that first mark.
So after following a pretty normal story for all of this time, things now get interesting. Sad ass Angel is literally looking eye to eye (eye to knee?) with the God of Love. So far we have started to pick up a lot of steam with the comic. People have sympathized with Angel and grown to like the guy. So I guess my biggest fear was that would people be off put by Cupid coming in and messing with the story, or will they be like me and embrace him? If the world doesn’t, then I don’t know what the future holds for the brand past the tattoos, as he is our unique character that separates Loveless from anything else (live and die by him, remember).
While I’m nervous, I’m excited. The story I want to tell can only happen with him around. For those that have stuck with me this long, I promise that you will be rewarded with the best story telling and art I am capable of.
For now though, let’s just bask at this image that took for fucking ever to draw.
Welcome Loveless Cupid, I’ll see you guys next week.
Loveless Mel
PS: I found a few videos from one of my favorite artists Big Sean. Take heed to these words. I feel I am doing something special by finally making this story. I’m glad you guys are along for the ride. Make your dreams your reality. Peace.
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