EYES ON THE LUCENT: PAINTED DEATH
THE LUCENT: Painted Death is the second installment in Michael Bancroft’s THE LUCENT graphic novel series, following “THE LUCENT: Waking Dream.” It continues the story of Ella Forsythe, who discovers her latent powers and is pursued by a secretive order.
When your dreams and the real world become indistinguishable from one another, you may be one of The Lucent. From the mind and hands of Michael Bancroft, comes The Lucent, a beautifully atmospheric comic about Ella Forsythe, a young woman with the ability to manipulate her dreams in amazing ways, however, the barrier between dreams and reality is far more fragile than we’ve been led to believe, and arcane forces, both good and evil, long to use Ella’s gifts to their ends.
After unleashing a power, she never knew she had, Ella wakes to find herself hunted by the same secret order that killed her parents. But when an enigmatic savoir comes to her aid, she’ll learn that accepting help means diving even deeper into the perilous world of THE LUCENT.
THE CREATIVE TEAM
Michael Bancroft is the author and artist of THE LUCENT: Painted Death. Joe Fulton is the editor, and Eric Weathers is the letterer.
THE BOOK
The second issue of THE LUCENT young adult fantasy series is a 100+ page, full-color graphic novel printed on quality paper with a hard cover and a soft cover. the soft cover is semi-glossy looking with a matte laminate and spot UV cover on the front and the back.
The hardcover looks great. the one thing that is a little bit annoying is that the material is not anti-greasy hands, especially on he back. The binding is excellent on all the books and the spine is also printed in detail. The second edition contains a credit page, the main story, and 2 bonus pages containing art by Micheal Bancroft and Shant Enjeti. The hardcover edition of the 1st issue doesn’t have any bonus material.
THE STORY
Packed with action and suspense, the story seamlessly picks up where THE LUCENT: Waking Dream left off, and for those who got the 10-page teaser comic you already know what’s coming. The story begins with Ella’s dramatic appearance—unconscious and vulnerable in the middle of the street. An ambulance supposedly rushes her to safety, but it is Damon who ultimately comes to her rescue, pulling her from the brink and setting the stage for the intense events to come.
From the moment Ella regains consciousness, the tension escalates. She is thrust into a relentless, high-stakes chase, pursued by mysterious forces that seem determined to capture or eliminate her. With danger closing in from all sides, Ella must rely on her wits, instincts, and the enigmatic powers that make her unique but there is still a lot she doesn’t know. However, these abilities come at a cost, as they are inextricably tied to her fractured memories, leaving her to grapple with confusion about her past and her place in the unfolding chaos. She struggles with trying to understand it all and with trusting Damon.
What follows is a thrilling, adrenaline-fueled journey that rarely slows down. Ella and Damon navigate a series of perilous encounters, each more intense than the last, as they fight to survive and uncover the truth. Brief moments of reprieve offer a chance to catch their breath, but even these are filled with tension as flashbacks reveal glimpses of Ella’s past. These memories are not only emotionally charged but also offer tantalizing clues about the larger mystery at play, including the nature of Ella’s powers and her connection to the strange events unraveling around her.
As the story unfolds, new characters are introduced, adding depth and intrigue to the narrative with their own hidden agendas and connections to the unfolding events, broadening the story’s scope and introducing new layers of complexity.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
The story goes deeper into the mysteries introduced in the first book, expanding the universe with new characters and interesting plot developments.
THE STORYTELLING
THE LUCENT: Painted Death masterfully integrates high-intensity action, mysteries, and richly detailed visuals to create an immersive reading experience. The story maintains a gripping pace, seamlessly blending heart-pounding moments with reflective interludes that allow readers to uncover the puzzle alongside Ella. The dialogue flows naturally, grounding the fantastical elements in realism and making the characters’ interactions feel authentic.
As the plot unfolds, allies like Damon, Amita, and James add layers of complexity and intrigue, broadening the narrative’s scope and raising the tension. The expertly paced storytelling balances relentless action with a steady drip of revelations, ensuring readers remain engrossed from start to finish.
THE ART
Special effects and dream sequences stand out vividly, while the meticulous attention to detail in cityscapes and interiors enhances the immersive atmosphere, drawing readers into a world where the boundaries between dreams and reality blur.
One of the standout elements of the book is its rich symbolism. Subtle visual cues and hidden elements encourage readers to delve deeper into the mystery, fueling a growing urge to uncover the truth behind Ella’s journey and the forces shaping her destiny. These details, combined with expertly crafted flashbacks, provide context and emotional depth, all of these have a different coloring style and tone to the main storyline that highlights Ella’s inner struggles and past connections.
The initial rescue scene, despite being previewed in an earlier 10-page preview comic, resonates more deeply within the full context of the story. The stakes rise with every chapter, testing Ella’s resilience and pushing her to confront the unknown, reclaim her identity, and understand the enigmatic powers that set her apart.
Ultimately, Lucent: Painted Death is not just a tale of survival but a journey of self-discovery and empowerment. It captivates with its intricate storytelling, vivid visuals, and ever-expanding mysteries, making it a thrilling continuation of the Lucent saga that leaves readers eager for more.
CROWDFUNDING
This time, the crowdfunding campaign for THE LUCENT: Painted Death was set up on thelucentcomic.com. Usually, comic book and graphic novel artists use crowdfunding websites like IndieGoGo, Kickstarter, or fundmycomic.com. However, since there have been issues with promotion and the collection of funds, particularly with the first two mentioned, many artists opted to set up their own version of crowdfunding. What I appreciated seeing was the transparency that was incorporated into the process, particularly with this project.
In this case, the website was first tested with the second printing of the first issue, which went well. I like it a lot. It has information about the project that you can share with someone new to the project, which I appreciate because it makes it easier to share the IP with someone else.
In addition to the books, there are other products you can get. In this campaign, I got the signed hardcover version of the first edition, the signed softcover of the second edition, and the signed softcover of the second edition. The bonus items received for supporting the campaign included 2 A4 prints, a bookmark, an Ella magnet, 3 trading cards, and a MOOCENT parody card.
PROMOTION AND CUSTOMER SERVICE
One of the main things I appreciate about this creator is how he shares the progress of the project including his art on his YouTube Channel. Now that I have the book in hand I can look back and see how he created certain panels. And the teaser trailer for the second edition which he also created is amazing.
“You speak as though I conquered death. I live death, every day. I am surrendered by it. Smothered by it.
Look at you now. He would have everlasting life. You seek to defy death but you cannot even defy sleep. And how alike sleep is to death.
It is a Painted Death.”
He also promotes campaigns of other creators that are less known or unconventional on his YouTube Channel. He is focused on his art and sharing the art of others but most importantly he is focused on growing his business his way. So far he has tried to keep a positive vibe and uplift others on his shows, leaving drama out of the equation.
One thing that I would like to see going forward is the details about the bonus items in a consistent manner. I would like to know who worked on the art. For example, one of the prints I know is from Shant Enjety because it’s one of the bonus materials in the book but I don’t know who created the second print. One of the 3 trading cards has no information on it. One was done by Joey Barr and the other by Micheal Bancroft.
FINAL THOUGHTS
THE LUCENT: Painted Death captivates with its compelling narrative, amazing artwork, and rich expansion of its unique universe. Michael Bancroft masterfully adds depth and complexity to the story and the visuals, creating an immersive experience that leaves readers eager to follow the next chapter of Ella Forsythe’s journey.
His ability to blend a gripping plot with stunning, detailed art is nothing short of remarkable, ensuring that readers remain deeply invested in the series.” The story will continue in “THE LUCENT: Ember Crown”. Visit thelucentcomic.com for more information about THE LUCENT graphic novel series.
For more interesting titles, check GRAPHIC NOVELS under the “EYES ON” series I documented my experience with crowdfunding entertainment and shared my notes on the products I received.
My notes are all set. Let me know what you think.
See you on the next page!
