Dethkomic (comic)
| Fan Comic | |
|---|---|
| Title: | Dethkomic |
| Artist: | Dethkomic |
| Date(s): | 2021 - ongoing |
| First Published: | |
| Medium: | |
| Genre/Style: | Action/Adventure |
| Fandom: | Metalocalypse |
| External Links: | Dethkomic on Tumblr |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Dethkomic is a series of Metalocalypse fancomics written by author Dethkomic. The series was started in July of 2021 on its own dedicated tumblr blog and the work was mirrored to AO3 in August of the same year. Due to its popularity within the very small community that is the Metalocalypse fandom, the author has continued the first storyline into a second volume, and the script for a third is also in the works.
The storyline is a work of additive fanfiction, with the plot written as a supplement to the canon. Dethkomic takes place at different points in the main timeline. It is primarily gen and has a distinctive action/adventure/drama emphasis to the narrative overall, making it an outlier in a fandom whose body of work is typically geared more towards ship-focused stories.
Also of note is the prevalence of original characters within the series. The universe features "guest appearances" from OCs fans have granted the author permission to work with, as well as her own characters. Most notable of the latter is Baen-Shee, a band comprised entirely of women who share equal focus with Dethklok throughout the series. Celebrating the work of the Metalocalypse fan-community in this way, Dethkomic has inspired several crossovers and adaptations within its own canon. Works labeled as taking place within the Dethkomic universe are often fanfiction, drabbles, or fanart, and not necessarily comics themselves.
Comics
Currently, there are two fancomics comprising the Dethkomic canon with a third in the works:
- Dethkomic Volume I (Issues 1-4) was completed on October 31st, 2022, and focuses on Dethklok acquiring Baen-Shee, a supporting act made up entirely of women. The initial reason for this is given as poor record sales from the band's female demographic, but it is soon revealed that Baen-Shee were selected for talents other than their musical ability. In frontwoman Nita Nirvana's case, they may even be supernatural in origin and connected to a mysterious prophecy. This fact is made all the more apparent as The Tribunal is shown to be keeping watch as the story unfolds.
- Dethkomic Volume II (Issues 5-8) began on February 14th, 2023 and is currently in-progress. The story is told in two timelines which weave together. One story, taking place several years in the past, focuses on Charles Offdensen's covert ops exploits before Dethklok. The other, the main storyline, takes place right after the events in season two of the canon, but before season three, and shows Dethklok dealing with the loss of their CFO and defending their home from outside threats.
- Dethkomic Volume III (Issues TBD) has been teased by the author, but details remain uncertain at this time. This story will almost certainly act as the finale to the Dethkomic series.
- Dethkomic Drabbles are short one-shot stories, often a single page in length, which happen before, after, and during the main storyline.
Characters
One of Dethkomic's defining features is the number of original characters interacting with the main cast. In addition to the author's own original characters being shown in supporting-cast roles, several OCs from the Metalocalypse fan community are also included as background characters. "Casting calls" are held when starting each new volume and fan-character submissions are welcomed for a limited time in the interest of including as many fan-creations as possible.
Baen-Shee
Baen-Shee, described at-length as an "all-girl lady-centric band of women" are original characters created by the author, whose major purpose is acting as foils to the main cast and further exploring fan-theories surrounding the canon prophecy. There are five members of the band in total, but only four of them are active as a band at any given time. They are:
- Nita Nirvana: Vocalist and frontwoman of the band. Nita is a former pop-star, small in stature, and is known for being perky and relentlessly optimistic. In the prophecy, Nita is said to be custodian of the God of Power.
- Caj Stryker: Lead guitarist of the band. Caj maintains a secretive side-life as an assassin and mother and serves as the femme-fatale of the group. Caj is said to be custodian of the God of Life.
- Sparkles the Bass Player: Bassist of the band. Sparkles is a serial murderer whose targets were all animal-testing facility personnel. She is also mute. Sparkles is said to be custodian of the God of Corruption.
- Cherry O'Reilly: Drummer of the band. Cherry is a modern-day pirate, drug-lord and saboteur. She plays a pivotal role in the events of the first Dethkomic. Cherry is said to be custodian of the God of Chaos.
- Eden Nightwish: Rhythm guitarist of the band. Eden's past and indeed her very existence is one initially shrouded in mystery, but she eventually plays a pivotal role in the second Dethkomic. Eden is said to be custodian of the God of Death.
Supporting Cast
- Kris: Original creation of cruisingheightswithdragons, Kris serves as Mordhaus' top Executive Assistant and is right-hand to Charles Foster Offdensen.
- Teja Wartooth: Original creation of curiouslyhigh, Teja is a Klokateer who specializes in melee weapons.
- J.D. Walker: Original creation of vicekings, J.D. is a Klokateer and one of the elite Captains who specializes in firearms and other weapons.
- St. Cecilia Jameson: Original creation of gointothevvater, St. Cecilia is a musician and current frontwoman for the band, Stiletto.
- #022681: Original creation of pirateking42, the "Pirate Klokateer" is exactly as described!
- Bailee Slyfoot: Original creation of dynamesvirtue, Bailee is a news anchor who is seen working for the "And Gossip for All" news network.
- Janet Strickland: Original creation of Holkie, Janet is a Klokateer who is usually found deeply embroiled in research of Prophecy artifacts.
Dethklok and Canon Cast
Since one cannot have a fancomic without the canon cast, Dethkomic and canon characters are also featured heavily in the series. There are very few deviations from canon, but popular fan-theories are sometimes elevated to canonical status within the series. These include things like Charles having a past rife with intrigue and mystery and Toki and Skwisgaar caring about each other on a genuine (and possibly more than friendship-based) level. Most notably, Dethkomic holds onto the theory that the band are in-fact the chosen ones and tied to five very distinct supernatural forces. Whether any of these suppositions will be retconned due to revelations in the (as-of-this-writing) unreleased movie, has yet to be seen.