Kulprit Graphic Novel
by Kevin Darmanie with Darrell Goza
The story of an officer of justice who finds that the just he serves is at the mercy of the law. Follow him as he tries to better the system by outfitting himself in the garb of a self-styled vigilante whose sole purpose is to gather information where cops fear to tread and attorneys are hampered by the very laws they serve, Kulprit has circumvented those laws, but finds that the journey leaves him cold. The criminals he faces don't give a damn about the law or the justice it's supposed to represent and honest people, often those the most innocent, fall through the cracks.
Join him on his journey as he begins to understand just what will be required of him as a vigilante and would he be able to cross the line and take the law into his own hands. When gathering information wasn't enough, Kulprit had to make the hard decision of getting his hands dirty to stop those who are so morally reprehensible that the law has no answer for the crimes they commit and no form of punishment could ever fit their crimes. If he becomes as ruthless as them, would there be any salvation for him and would he want it?
These are the questions... be afraid of the answers.
KULPRIT IS NOW AVAILABLE AT AMAZON.COM!
by Kevin Darmanie with Darrell Goza
The story of an officer of justice who finds that the just he serves is at the mercy of the law. Follow him as he tries to better the system by outfitting himself in the garb of a self-styled vigilante whose sole purpose is to gather information where cops fear to tread and attorneys are hampered by the very laws they serve, Kulprit has circumvented those laws, but finds that the journey leaves him cold. The criminals he faces don't give a damn about the law or the justice it's supposed to represent and honest people, often those the most innocent, fall through the cracks.
Join him on his journey as he begins to understand just what will be required of him as a vigilante and would he be able to cross the line and take the law into his own hands. When gathering information wasn't enough, Kulprit had to make the hard decision of getting his hands dirty to stop those who are so morally reprehensible that the law has no answer for the crimes they commit and no form of punishment could ever fit their crimes. If he becomes as ruthless as them, would there be any salvation for him and would he want it?
These are the questions... be afraid of the answers.
KULPRIT IS NOW AVAILABLE AT AMAZON.COM!
About the Creative Team
Kevin Darmanie
One night, during a difficult summer of 1995, I sat and watched a movie about another darkly dressed, gun blazing vigilante of whom we are quite familiar and made an observation: at one point during the film this ‘hero’ was captured by police and as he was being taken away a news reporter noted that he had killed over a hundred people. I was amazed. Had the audience questioned whether this one was indeed a hero or a crazed person that should be stopped? With so many so-called heroes like this in media, what effect does this have on our concept of justice? What sort of man would do such a thing in reality? From these questions Kulprit was conceived.
In the mid 90s amongst the glut of over-published titles on comic shop stands, one would be hard pressed to find an issue that addressed the needs of urban youth. Hip-hop was only at the beginning of its official permeation of everything hip and trendy. The urban esthetic was yet relegated to the underground. Kulprit was a first, a compilation of sincere urban grit. Today there are a number of graphitti styled graphic novels available but I believe that Kulprit stands apart. There are no super heroes to cloud the milieu, no magical happenings or impossible abilities to soften the book’s integrity. Kulprit will continue to express itself starkly, and while I have grown quite a bit since I first created it and many of my opinions have changed, this book will boldly explore the dark side of man’s will and the outcome that ultimately lies ahead.
One night, during a difficult summer of 1995, I sat and watched a movie about another darkly dressed, gun blazing vigilante of whom we are quite familiar and made an observation: at one point during the film this ‘hero’ was captured by police and as he was being taken away a news reporter noted that he had killed over a hundred people. I was amazed. Had the audience questioned whether this one was indeed a hero or a crazed person that should be stopped? With so many so-called heroes like this in media, what effect does this have on our concept of justice? What sort of man would do such a thing in reality? From these questions Kulprit was conceived.
In the mid 90s amongst the glut of over-published titles on comic shop stands, one would be hard pressed to find an issue that addressed the needs of urban youth. Hip-hop was only at the beginning of its official permeation of everything hip and trendy. The urban esthetic was yet relegated to the underground. Kulprit was a first, a compilation of sincere urban grit. Today there are a number of graphitti styled graphic novels available but I believe that Kulprit stands apart. There are no super heroes to cloud the milieu, no magical happenings or impossible abilities to soften the book’s integrity. Kulprit will continue to express itself starkly, and while I have grown quite a bit since I first created it and many of my opinions have changed, this book will boldly explore the dark side of man’s will and the outcome that ultimately lies ahead.
Darrell Goza
Kulprit arose darkly and unapologetic into a world of black and white, independent publishing when grim and gritty was on the upswing. The sad truth of it is that no-one considered the consequences of such a move to the ‘dark side’ of being a ‘hero’. Even now, in this new millenia, we try to make our heroes tough and brutal without a clue as to what that truly means. We hold fast to the notion that a killer can have a heart of gold and would only kill if it’s justified. Here’s the rub: when is it ever justified? Even better, why doesn’t the comic culture explore what it really means to be a killer?
When Kevin first asked me to help with Kulprit, I was working full tilt in the comic industry helping many a name professional keep their deadlines. I wore many hats and did whatever it took to get the books out on time. Into this Kevin drops the most unlikely of stories on my desk. It was initially jaring to my senses. I was still steeped in the traditions of regular comic storytelling where the heroes were taken to be ‘good’ underneath whatever actions they deemed necessary to win against ‘evil’. Kevin shattered that myth and got me to look at the underside of, if you will, the conversation about heroism. This wasn’t the fluff found in most books. The story had action, intrigue, and characters that weighed the extremes and many of the shades inbetween. This story isn’t for lightweight reading. It won’t give you the warm and fuzzies. It doesn’t package a hero you can like or one that talks tough but is inherently good (whatever that means). Whether Kulprit will ever find redemption is beyond me. The better question would be, does he need it? Keep in mind, all ‘grim and gritty’ heroes in popular fiction are really Kulprit, once you take away the ‘fake’ justifications for why they do what they do.
Kulprit arose darkly and unapologetic into a world of black and white, independent publishing when grim and gritty was on the upswing. The sad truth of it is that no-one considered the consequences of such a move to the ‘dark side’ of being a ‘hero’. Even now, in this new millenia, we try to make our heroes tough and brutal without a clue as to what that truly means. We hold fast to the notion that a killer can have a heart of gold and would only kill if it’s justified. Here’s the rub: when is it ever justified? Even better, why doesn’t the comic culture explore what it really means to be a killer?
When Kevin first asked me to help with Kulprit, I was working full tilt in the comic industry helping many a name professional keep their deadlines. I wore many hats and did whatever it took to get the books out on time. Into this Kevin drops the most unlikely of stories on my desk. It was initially jaring to my senses. I was still steeped in the traditions of regular comic storytelling where the heroes were taken to be ‘good’ underneath whatever actions they deemed necessary to win against ‘evil’. Kevin shattered that myth and got me to look at the underside of, if you will, the conversation about heroism. This wasn’t the fluff found in most books. The story had action, intrigue, and characters that weighed the extremes and many of the shades inbetween. This story isn’t for lightweight reading. It won’t give you the warm and fuzzies. It doesn’t package a hero you can like or one that talks tough but is inherently good (whatever that means). Whether Kulprit will ever find redemption is beyond me. The better question would be, does he need it? Keep in mind, all ‘grim and gritty’ heroes in popular fiction are really Kulprit, once you take away the ‘fake’ justifications for why they do what they do.