By Robin Jones
Welcome to another Indie Spotlight, this column aims to make you, the readers, aware of cool indie/crowd funded comic book creators and projects! This time around we are looking at Born Dark, written by Lela Gwenn and illustrated by Richard Clark, edited by Eisner Award winner Adam P Knave and lettered by Frank Cvetkovic! We’ll be chatting to writer Lela Gwenn!
Born Dark is a dark fantasy comic book with a edge of horror. It focuses mostly on Bulvis– a goblin who made and lost his fortune betting on his ability to manipulate an 11 year old Malcolm. That was twenty years ago and the loss has grown exponentially over the years. But now he has a new target, a young boy named Jake. Jake is lost. Shelved in a foster home that sees him as a cash crop. But he’s made friends with a funny little guy in the mirror. Maybe the mirror guy can help him find his sister?
Me: Where did the inspiration from Born Dark come from? I get a very Labyrinth feel to the artwork!
Lela: It is sort of a darker, angrier Labyrinth. Less tight pants and singing, more blood. Portal fantasies were the starting point for me… from there it just kind of took off. The starting place is all the great portal fantasies. I just asked, “What if everything went wrong?”
Me: What kind of comics do/did you read and which creators have most heavily influenced your work?
Lela: Everything. I started reading the old horror comics which definitely shaped the way I think about story but so much of what I read does. I couldn’t pin down one particular comic that influenced me, but a lifetime of reading has made me what I am.
Me: Which artists inspired the look of Bulvis or have you delved into mythological creatures such as Bogles, goblins etc to get the right look/feel?
Lela: Richard & I came at the inspiration for the look of the Goblins from different points of view. We tried a couple different looks before we found Bulvis, but as soon as I saw him I knew it was perfect.
Me: What kind of tone should we expect from your work?
Lela: Dark.. But not ceaselessly so. I’m not into stories that just drudge on in endless misery, so you’ll get your chance to chuckle and cheer too.
Me: What’s the best aspect, to you, about crowd funding your work? Wasn’t it a risky thing to undertake?
Lela: For me, it was really the only way to get my work out there. It’s also amazing because I can honestly say “x number of people will buy my comic.” Which is amazing! There is always a risk when it comes to putting your work out there, no matter how you do it. I am very fortunate to have a great community around me that supports each other.
Me: What projects do you have lined up next? Can we expect more from the world of Born Dark?
Lela: I have a sekrit project that I can’t talk about! But I can’t talk about it. So. *zips lip*. I’m working on a Cyberpunk script, also a novel. For Born Dark… we are hoping to find a publisher that will love the story as much as we do and will give the other 6 issues a home. If that happens, EVERYONE will know. 
I’ll be singing from the rooftops (it will be no more on-key than my rendition of Every Woman In The World)
Me: If you had to sell Born dark with one sentence, what would it be?
Lela: Never trust a Goblin.
Me: Where can people get hold of Born Dark?
Lela: Right now the Kickstarter is the only way!
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/lelagwenn/born-dark-issue-0
Hopefully soon it’ll be in ALL THE PLACES! :D
So Born Dark is fully funded but still has until March 27th for you to help it reach it’s stretch goals! Head to the Kickstarter Page here, follow Lela on Twitter here: @LGwenn, artist Richard Clark @Zipyrich and letterer Frank Cvetkovich @GoFrankGo . You can check out Lela’s Facebook page here.
See you all next time.
For more comic views and reviews follow Robin on Twitter at @Hulksmash1985
Posted on March 23rd, 2014
Category: INDIE SPOTLIGHT, PREVIEWS & UPCOMING RELEASES
Tags: Adam P Knave, Born Dark, Comic Reviews, Frank Cvetkovic, Kickstarter comics, Lela Gwenn, Richard Clark, Robin Jones