All content © 2006-2007 Action Adventure Comics
"The sun became black as sackcloth and the moon became as blood. The seas boiled and the skies fell.
I'm not a man of faith, but they say the Devil's greatest trick was convincing man that he doesn't exist. I say his greatest trick was convincing man that God exists.
My name is Draven, I am a vampire. I got my name because those who made me felt I resembled a character from a bookstore fairytale. This is my story...."
This is the official MySpace profile for Draven: The Vampire Chronicle , an Action Adventure Comics graphic novel.
How was Draven conceived?
Back in 2001, I decided I wanted to produce a graphic novel about a vampire named Draven, but had no idea where to go beyond that. I moved to Michigan in early 2002. For the next couple of years, my will was tested in many ways and the experiences I dealt with became overwhelmingly emotional. I needed an outlet. So I sat down in 2004 and began to write the script for Draven: The Vampire Chronicle.
For a week straight I wrote, nonstop until I passed out with my pen in hand. My mind slipped into what I refer to as a "controlled schizophrenic state," that is, I developed a personality for every character I used in the book. I indulged in a state of temporary insanity and conceived my love-child, this graphic novel. Draven himself portrays what I was experiencing at the time and was the outlet for myself. Jazz, the Devil's advocate. Bronx was there for the bubble headed/femme fatale/comic relief, my outlet for a little humor. Janette, the love interest, because any good story needs a love interest. Which brings us to David and his pack of white lighters. Michigan is full of them and I was stuck living with two of them. David and his crew represent that force that was eating away at my livelihood and needed to be smashed.
Many of the supporting characters are based on people I've met in my time, most of which reside in Dixon, Illinois; the location of the story.
Once the script was completed, one week after I began, I put it in a drawer and left it there for sometime. In late 2006/early 2007, I pulled it from it's dusty locale and began putting together stills for the project. It can now be read on Webcomics Nation, where it will remain until it is ready to print.
Draven himself is based on me, as has been pointed out. The timeframe of my life that I based him on, with exception of the actual emotions that inspired the story, is my late adolescence, when I still wore long hair and a very Crow-like aesthetic. James O'Barr is a big influence of mine and a lot of the elements that have gone into its inception have been inspired by him. The city being one I actually lived in, the idea that the story was telling my own story (in a way) and the namesake is based on his character. However, the name Draven is free to use (I checked with his staff ahead of time).
Draven starts off as a man, an atheist named Donald Brandt. He is involved in an accident that turns into a vampire attack and Draven is born. He goes through an identity crisis, a moment of insanity and a moment of clarity. The story eventually unfolds into a large vengance tale, a cornucopia of mayhem, death and angst. You'll have to check out the webcomic to see for yourself!
Achtung!
This graphic novel contains mature content not suitable for people under the age of 18.
Links:
Draven: The Vampire Chronicle(WebcomicsNation)
Action Adventure Comics Official Website
AAC ComicSpace
AAC MySpace
With regards to Vampirism...
I am a Vampire.
I am a loyal member of the Temple of the Vampire.
I aspire to be worthy in the eyes of the Undead Gods Who rule the Temple.
They expect me to not advocate or involve myself with crime or physical blood drinking.
They view blood drinkers as self-deluded at best and mentally unbalanced at worst.
Crime is commonly associated with such practices and is therefore rejected by Them
They view crime as a confession of personal weakness.
They view mere “energy†drinkers as incomplete.
True Vampirism requires the completion of the Lifeforce Circuit with the Undead Gods.
Anything less is meaningless and ephemeral in its value.
The Temple is unique.
This is the only true Vampire religion in the world.
The Temple of the Vampire remains the only authorized public access to this religion.
www.vampiretemple.com is the only authorized Temple internet connection.
The Temple does not recognize any other person or organization claiming to be Vampire.
Do not be fooled
Copyright © 2007 Temple of the Vampire
So why am I writing a comic book that supports the Myth of Vampire?
Simple.
It's a fairy tale. Nothing more nothing less. The above Declaration is a statement of My Loyalty to the Temple and its Priesthood.
I edited my profile with Thomas' Myspace Editor V4.4
