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  Explore Dom Reardon's Haunting Layouts and Pencils for Nicnevin and the Bloody Queen

Aug 19, 2020 Nicnevin

Creators ranging from Tula Lotay to Emma RĂ­os and Over the Garden Wall writer Amalia Levari all share one thing in common: they adore Nicnevin and the Bloody Queen. The folk horror graphic novel follows one young girl—Nissy—as she descends into a pagan nightmare lying under the veneer of the British countryside. A series of brutal, ritualistic murders ignite this transformation, forcing Nissy to confront an identity she never knew existed. Written by Helen Mullane with art from Dom Reardon and Matthew Dow Smith and letters courtesy Rob Jones, this book churns with sinister precision. 

Much of the mood stems from primary artist Dom Reardon's angular, shadow-drenched pencils. He charts a world where the surreal slowly creeps into the peripheral of the mundane—swarms of geese and fauna hinting at a repressed force of nature waiting to reclaim its birthright. When Reardon finally unleashes his parade of horrors, it's in an onslaught of detail and fury. The acclaimed artist was kind enough to share his process, going from rough layouts to calculated inks. Check out the process below. 

Nicnevin and the Bloody Queen is currently available in the United States and releases in the United Kingdom on 8/20. 

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Layouts and Finished Pencils and Inks of Nicnevin and the Bloody Queen by Dom Reardon, Page 17

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Layouts and Finished Pencils and Inks of Nicnevin and the Bloody Queen by Dom Reardon, Page 18

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Layouts and Finished Pencils and Inks of Nicnevin and the Bloody Queen by Dom Reardon, Page 19
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Layouts and Finished Pencils and Inks of Nicnevin and the Bloody Queen by Dom Reardon, Page 20