Fever Moon Page 107 – Original Comic Art by Al Rio, Karen Marie Moning, Dell Books, 2012
An incredible page from the NY Times Bestselling Graphic Novel “Fever Moon” written by Karen Marie Moning and illustrated by Al Rio. It’s on 11.5×17″ art board and features the highly detailed finished pencils of the late comic and fantasy artist Al Rio.
This page tells a story about the creation the Shades – and while I might not have all the facts exactly right, it goes something like this…
The Seelie King had a mortal lover, but the lives of mortals are “just a blink.” Knowing she wouldn’t live forever, he asked the Seelie Queen to share The Song of the Making – a powerful song that could make his lover immortal. The Queen refused.
On this page, the Seelie King (top left) is attempting to learn the Song himself to transform his lover into a Fae. But the first being he created in the process (panel 2) was “without form – in eternal pain, always hungering, and unable to bear the light”. While the King struggled to correct his mistake, the creature – known as the Shade – escaped (panel 3).
The Shade makes its way to the King’s lover’s mansion, devouring everything in its path (panel 4). In the final panel (panel 5), we see the King’s lover standing horrified as the Shade approaches.
Shades continue to be a constant source of trouble through the entire series!
