Pray For Death
Detective Abigail Jenkins earned the public's praise when she "solved" one of the most ruthless serial killer crimes in decades. However, numerous inconsistencies in her reports led to an Internal Affairs inquiry. The Mayor ordered Internal Affairs to stop scrutinizing Jenkins in order to give the media what it wanted - a hero. With the adoration of the community and the contempt of her peers, Detective Jenkins continues to investigate the major serial killer crimes that come her way.
Her latest assignment brings her to a brutal crime scene with an ominous message written in blood. The clues at the crime scene start to come together for Detective Jenkins. Not only does this killer use religious imagery in his slayings, but he also has a fetish for nearly getting caught.
After the killer narrowly escapes the scene of a second crime in the same day, Detective Jenkins discovers a young boy in the home of the murdered couple. The boy is of no relation to the victims and is unable to speak a word after the horrors he has seen.
Jenkins' bitter captain would like nothing better than to see her fail horribly. With this in mind, he assigns her to look after the boy, forcing her to contend with a lack of maternal instinct and the constant challenges of a deranged killer simultaneously.
It's a showdown between Detective Jenkins and the "Pray For Death" Killer, but will she figure out what this young boy has to do with the crimes and stop this murderer?

Hey Daniele Serra fans! Head over to our blog to see an amazing piece of artwork he did for us! http://twincomics.blogspot.com/
Detective Jenkins seems a little touchy...
Wowzers. That rocked.
Great update guys! I checked out the blog and am excited to see that writer-drawn material is at a premium ;) Also, nice pic from Bobby T.
The story is moving along at a nice clip now, and the mystery surrounding Jenkins has my curiosity piqued! She's a regular Dirty Harriet.
Awesome interview! Looking forward to the update! Keep rockin' !
Hurry up and update it! Please! NOW!
I want to kick the killer's ass sooo bad!
Update. Update! UPDATE!!!
I need it to be May 12th, and quickly! In wanna see the update!
Ever wonder what Pray For Death would look like if it were drawn by Bobby Timony? Wonder no longer! The answer waits for you at the official Pray For Death Blog!
http://pray4death.blogspot.com/
MORE MORE MORE!!! I agree with Cheddar42. He is smarmy! I must have my weekly Pray for Death intake!
Oops... sorry.
Wow. I know it's late, but that update is brilliant. Also, the news reporter is really smarmy. Keep up the good work.
Wow. I know it's late, but that update is brilliant. Also, the news reporter is really smarmy. Keep up the good work.
Michael Myers is the captain? AND the killer is an elf?
Plot thickens.
Dshide! Maybe it's interesting for you my point of view about last 2 pages.
19. It's a dialogue page, I tried to make the page more interesting using two point of view: in the room and
through a glass. For the glass I used a style a bit confused with noise...I don't know if it's good!
20. OK, just I don't want the TV panels like a normal panel, noise, drafth faces, lines, all things to create a sensation of scoop like:" Hey we have a scoop, start the camera, no tripod! Fast, fast!"
Jernell has a point of view, I'm hopeful the creators understand that, he wasn't trying to be self important, rabid fanbase down please. Nothing in his post was hating either, those posts got redacted some time ago.
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I think it's fine for fans to defend, praise their favs though, real (great) art gets endorsements because it warrants the praise that's true too Jernell. It's just a question as to if you think the praise is warranted.
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TO THE COMIC:
So far you guys have the most improved comic on Zuda (I thought High-Moon and Night Owls were already top notch) i think the writing fits the characters so far very well. I said this before elsewhere, but I'll say it again the killer sounds like a cross between BTK killer, and the una-bomber. It's not hard to find interviews, things they have written, and it's just as weird/creepy as what the P for D killer says, I think that is very realistic and very good on the writers part.
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Art wise i think the last screen with the TV screens was a great thing to use, showed the passage of time well, the layout was very good, really a great screen to end on. The rest of the screens were well done too.
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I am wondering how the reporter got there, and what's going on with that, so I'll tune in next update.
Cutjr, regardless of whether or not you like this comic, your attitude is a *bit* holier-than-thou. You treat everyone's rebuttal like they don't know anything about art or comics, and I have to laugh when your attempts at constructive criticism include phrases like "join a writer's group" and (my personal favorite) "Not saying this to be be mean, but in hopes that the writer will" blah blah blah. You just want to hate on the comic because you think that you're the only one here that knows what "true art" is or some such tomfoolery. This is why you "offend" fans; because you very clearly are not here to do anything but inflate your own self-important view of yourself. You went after the readers with that last post, not the author. You had your say but couldn't risk having your say be rebuked. Smooth.
I'm still a fan but the art on the last two pages seems to devolve back to the original pages.
Sorry if my comments offended some fans of this comic, but then again my comments were not meant for the fans. If you are a fan of this comic that's fine and dandy, you're entitled to your opinions. In my opinion this comic could use some improvements and that's what I was suggesting.
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However, if you think this is the apex of the comics medium, fine, I won't waste my breath with anymore criticism. But for all of you who feels the need to defend this comic, just know real art speaks for itself and doesn't need your endorsement.
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––Jernell
I agree. Modern policing is pretty ignorant. Now, was there anything else to say? Hmmm, yes but I can't write down THAT much praise!
Cujr, are you implying that the killer's monologue was to us? And as for the news reporter, they tend to report the news. I'm not sure how you missed that.
I disagree that the exposition via the killer and the reporter is poorly handled. It serves a specific purpose for advancing the story in each case. For the killer, it reveals a morbid need to accentuate the actual torment of the victim with a cold, clinical explanation of said torment. It shows the forethought and control intrinsic to the killer's method. As for the reporter, the subtext lies in the unspoken reactions of the main protagonists upon hearing the report. As with any reporter, there is a sensationalized account of the actual events that are the subject of the report. It seems to me that this is the actual reason for the way that information is presented.
Just my two-cents, but, putting aside professorial assessments of the writer's chosen method for telling his story, this is an entertaining story with scripting and art that have made impressive strides since the first set of screens.
You've made a fan of me. I look forward to the new screens every other Monday. Great work.
I agree with MROMER, the writing on this comic needs some serious help. Waaayyyy too much exposition. I don't mind dialogue/narration heavy comics, but the information conveyed needs to be something that the visuals aren't showing us. There's an old axiom that every writer's textbook will preach to rookie writers -- Show Don't Tell. I think this goes double for comics.
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Also the writer of PFD needs to learn about Subtext (what's being said between the lines). The serial killer telling us why the crucifixion is going to be so painful and the awkward handling of exposition via the reporter are both horribly condescending to your readers. The strength of this comic is the stylized art, but it's not good enough to carry the piece by itself. Please pick up a book on writing or join a writer's group...
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Not saying this to be mean, but in hopes that it will cause the creators some serious introspection about the craft.
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––Jernell
I can´t express how much I dislike this piece. It´s just overall bad. Filled with clichés, "on the nose" dialogues, poor/shallow bidimensional characters. The design is the best part but it gets boring in its atempt to be "cult". I wish I could give you a more constructive criticism but I just can´t dig the whole plot, sorry. But I wish you luck anyway. At least you got to most people.
Wow. That reporter guy is pure sleaze. They aughta throw that bum in jail for... something. It just don't seem right!
You'll get to see how Detective Jenkins looks in the new art style when the comic updates later today. I know I can't wait!
Well, 1-8 pages are like a prologue, only Det. Jenkins has a character design, the serial killer was confuse 'cause for our were important not the face but his actions. In the new pages the killer is much definited, but always a normal guy, not particular design, not scars in his face...just a normal guy...We think it's much creepy!:)
But let me know your point of view!
Well, 1-8 pages are like a prologue, only Det. Jenkins has a character design, the serial killer was confuse 'cause for our were important not the face but your actions. In the new pages the killer is much definited, but always a normal guy, not particular design, not scars in his face...just a normal guy...We think it's much creepy!:)
But let me know your point of view!
Pages 1 to 8 have a different art style than beyond those pages. In the two different styles, the story follows two different people. Could the styles represent how Jenkins and the killer see the world, or is it just a change in skill?
At long last, the official "Pray For Death" blog has begun! Check it out here: http://pray4death.blogspot.com/
LOL LOL Wait, huh? *glances uncomfortably around the room*
All the serial killers at the panel laughed uncomfortably at that one.
This comic started off strong but it's FANTASTIC now. Both the writing and art have gotten even better.
It was nice meeting you in New York, Nick -- you mentioned at the Zuda panel that the great thing about serial killers is that anyone could be one, "even one of the people on this panel." That's a great way to pitch PFD to people, and got me excited to check it out again.
Wow, Nick. This is strong writing, man. Excellent stuff here. And I do enjoy Dan's new style. Once he got away from the line, the art really started to sing.
Love the new pages. I wasn't expecting the shift in perspective.
Both of them are words now. I'm a Lit Major; I can do that stuff.
I heartfeltingly agree, if thats a word. If not, please substitute for 'egg whiskingly'. Thank you.
speaking of next pages, I can't wait to see them!
ehehehe! In the next pages more informations for all!! :)
I'm guessing 6 of 1 1/2 dozen of the other.
Is the killer doing this for a reason, or is it just murder for the sheer hell of it?
The guy that Jenkins is with on page 2 looks strangely like the crazy on page 1... I doubt that I'm onto something though.
Thnx Bryy and Jomil!!!!
Sick and compelling..I love these words! :)
WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!
Sick and compelling. I don't want to like it, but what else can I do?
Good story-telling, energetic art with the right bit of color. Wild, but skillfully wild.
Heheh... gonna check the locks on my door twice tonight!
WOW, Nick.... you really went there. I... I did not expect this from you. I don't know why, but I just didn't.
I think Kevin Spacey should be cast in them thare movie adaptation. You should have him scream "WRONG!" at some point.
I really, really, really enjoy where this is going. I know that's disturbing, but this is a morbid Mr. Toad's Wild Ride.
Dan, your art is amazing.
Yeah now that's what I like. Violence with a reason. I loves the story before but with the new art wow. What changed to make it that much better. Is it just the color or are you hiding more secrets.....
That...was...fantasticly horrifying. That may give me nightmares!
I thought you were holding the gun, David. =)