Happy Crowy Yule! It's A Reall Whose Who Of Yuletide.

i was supposed to finish this as full illustration for some inctober list but i gave up so here

Women in Shakespeare

The Golden Boy and the Other Thomas Constantine.

Fan comic exploring dead twins, survivor's guilt and Hellblazer characters dreaming of other realities.

Birdcage

You feel the cold grip of fear course through your veins. One moment you were sitting by the campfire waiting for the Destined One / Sun Wukong to come back the next a group of yaoguai showed up and took you captive. Large clawed hands ding into your arm as you’re lifted effortlessly off the ground. Kicking, screaming, you do everything in your power to escape. 

But it’s useless. You're dragged further and further away. 

Taken to a cave deep within the mountain, the cavernous lair is cold and haunting. It stinks of flesh and rot. Littered on the ground are bones of people who met an unfortunate end. You’re going to die. That’s the only thought running through your head.

But to your surprise the leader of the group has different plans. Instead of being turned into dinner, you're thrown into a massive birdcage. The bars are too narrow for you to squeeze through and you have nothing in hand to pick the lock. 

A day and night passes. 

You’re left to your own devices inside that lonely birdcage. With only the occasional visit. Your kidnapper does nothing, simply watches you inside your cage. You cling on to the hope that soon you’ll be rescued.

Destined One

[-] Starts to immediately go on the search for you the moment he realizes you’re gone.

[-] His one goal is to find you and make sure you are safe. His eyes narrow as he looks for any clues that will lead him to you. When he does find the cave, he initially sneaks inside but is spotted.

[-] The ensuing fight is a mess. His staff is swung left and right. Pushing through the enemy until he reaches you.

[-] Busting open the birdcage, DO rushes to your side. Pulls you into a hug and immediately starts to check you for injuries. When he’s sure that you’re okay, he’s going to slump against you.

[-] The stress of worry finally caught up to him. Both of you walk out of that cave together,exhausted but relieved.

[-] He’s going to follow you everywhere. Need to collect herbs and vegetables for dinner that day, he’s going to be at your side carrying anything you find. Need to take a bath, well better be comfortable with sharing a bath. 

[-] You’re going to have to reassure him that everything will be alright. And only after you’ve given him kisses will he relax.

Sun Wukong

[-] WHO WOULD DARE KIDNAP YOU?! Sun Wukong, known for wreaking havoc in heaven, earth, and the underworld, is beyond  furious. It’s not a matter of if he’ll find you, but a matter of when he’ll find you.

[-] Will do anything within his power to get you back. If he can’t do it on his own, he’ll threaten to cause another incident in heaven if they don’t help get you back.

[-] When he does find out where you are being kept, his first instinct is to storm in and take you. But, not wanting to risk you getting hurt, Wukong transforms into a small beetle and sneaks inside.

[-] Seeing you inside a birdcage causes him to detransform. The fight that follows is bloody. He shows no mercy to those that kidnapped you.

[-] By the time he’s done, you know that no one would think about ever kidnapping you.

[-] Wukong is going to check to make sure that you’re alright. Will tend to any wounds you may have gotten. Will make sure that you eat something and will stay by your side. 

[-] For the next couple of days, Wukong is going to be clingy. He’ll never admit it, but the thought that you could have died keeps him up at night. He has a lot of enemies that want revenge and any of them could try to hurt you.

[-] Keeps you within sight and reach. His tail is going to be wrapped around your waist or wrist.

[-] Is going to hold you closer at night, dreading the idea of waking up to you gone. He’ll only ease up when he knows you can protect yourself. Expect to get personal one-on-one training with him.

im literally not exaggerating when i tell you guys this video saved my life

Flashback to 2018 when I painted this for the first Art Ghoullery exhibition at the Rourke Art Gallery + Museum in Moorhead, MN!

I have giclee prints on my website if anyone wants to add some Halloween spirit to their walls! heatherfranzen.com/shop/reunion

so soft it hurts

I still can't believe that Tommy "Karate" Pitera, the mafia boss who was also a karate champion and who killed people by doing karate on them, was a real person. That's not a combination of traits a real guy has. That is a Metal Gear character. That is Chuck Norris playing the heel in a Bruce Lee movie. But no, there was a time not that long ago when people on the mean streets of Brooklyn might whisper "Hey, watch out for Tommy Karate, he'll kill you with his bare hands" with the gravest seriousness.