Supernatural Horror Comic Artwork Needed (MORTIS)
Budget / Salary$250–750
TypeFreelance project
LocationRemote
Posted1 hour ago
MORTIS: DEAD INSIDE
Visual Direction & Artwork Guide
Genre: Supernatural Horror • Psychological Thriller • Vigilante Crime
Overall Feel: Dark, cinematic, unsettling, urban, supernatural, and grounded in reality.
MORTIS — CHARACTER DESIGN
* Mortis is the supernatural alter ego of Heather Delaney, a once-kind elementary school teacher whose life was destroyed after a horrific attack.
* Female, strong and intimidating without looking like a traditional superhero.
* Beautiful but haunting appearance.
* Pale complexion with realistic skin texture.
* Long dark hair—slightly messy, windblown, or hanging across portions of her face.
* Heavy, smoky black eye makeup.
* Dark lipstick or nearly black lips.
* Her eyes glow an unnatural electric purple whenever her powers emerge.
* Expression should usually be emotionless, exhausted, angry, or disturbingly calm.
* Avoid exaggerated superhero poses. Mortis should feel like a real woman who has become something unnatural.
* Black gothic/punk clothing with subtle purple details.
* Leather, distressed fabrics, boots, belts, buckles, chains, and worn textures can be incorporated.
* Her appearance should become slightly darker and more supernatural as the story progresses.
HEATHER DELANEY
Heather should visually contrast Mortis.
* Warm, approachable and compassionate.
* Natural makeup.
* Softer hairstyles and clothing.
* Teacher/professional wardrobe.
* Warm lighting surrounding her early in the story.
* Friendly facial expressions.
* She should initially look like someone who could exist in the real world.
As Heather transforms psychologically, gradually remove the warmth from the artwork.
Her clothes become darker.
Her expressions become colder.
Her surroundings become increasingly shadowed.
Eventually, the audience should have difficulty determining where Heather ends and Mortis begins.
SUPERNATURAL VISUAL LANGUAGE
Purple is Mortis’ signature supernatural color.
Use it sparingly so it remains powerful.
Purple may appear as:
* Glowing eyes
* Reflections in mirrors
* Electrical disturbances
* Smoke or mist
* Energy beneath the skin
* Strange lighting
* Shadows edged with purple
* Flickering lights
* Purple reflections appearing where no purple light source exists
When Mortis becomes emotionally overwhelmed, nearby lights may flicker or completely shut off.
Darkness itself should sometimes appear attracted to her.
THE WORLD
The world of MORTIS: DEAD INSIDE should feel real.
Think:
Crime thriller photography colliding with supernatural horror.
Locations include:
* Rain-soaked city streets
* Parking garages
* Hospital corridors
* Apartment interiors
* Abandoned buildings
* Alleys
* Rooftops
* Subway platforms
* Industrial areas
* Police stations
* Classrooms
* Concert venues
* Empty nighttime streets
Use realistic architecture, vehicles, clothing and environments.
The supernatural elements become more disturbing because everything surrounding them feels believable.
COLOR PALETTE
Primary colors:
BLACK • CHARCOAL • WHITE • DEEP PURPLE
Secondary colors:
STEEL GRAY • MUTED BLUE • DIRTY YELLOW • DEEP RED
Purple should almost exclusively represent Mortis and the supernatural force connected to her.
Bright colors should be rare.
LIGHTING
Lighting is extremely important.
Use:
* Heavy shadows
* Streetlights
* Neon signs
* Fluorescent hospital lighting
* Headlights
* Moonlight
* Police lights
* Concert lighting
* Light coming through blinds
* Silhouettes
* Strong backlighting
Characters should occasionally disappear partially into darkness.
Mortis’ glowing purple eyes may sometimes be the only clearly visible feature in a panel.
PANEL STYLE
Keep layouts cinematic.
Mix traditional comic panels with occasional dramatic full-page artwork.
Use:
* Extreme close-ups of eyes
* Hands
* Reflections
* Silhouettes
* Wide establishing shots
* Security-camera perspectives
* Mirror shots
* Low-angle shots
* Over-the-shoulder views
* Dutch angles during supernatural moments
During Heather scenes, panels can remain orderly.
As Mortis takes control, panel borders can become increasingly irregular, fractured or consumed by darkness.
RECURRING VISUAL MOTIFS
Throughout the comic, repeatedly incorporate:
MIRRORS
Heather occasionally sees Mortis reflected even when she still looks normal.
PURPLE EYES
The clearest indication that something supernatural is awakening.
FLICKERING LIGHTS
Electrical systems malfunction when Mortis becomes emotionally unstable.
SHADOWS
Mortis’ shadow may occasionally move differently from her body.
BROKEN GLASS
Represents Heather’s fractured identity.
RAIN
Major nighttime sequences can use wet streets and reflections to create cinematic imagery.
EMPTY SPACES
Long hallways, abandoned streets and empty rooms should create isolation.
MORTIS TRANSFORMATION
Do not make the transformation immediate.
Stage One — Heather
Completely human.
Stage Two — The Survivor
Tired eyes, emotional trauma, darker environments.
Stage Three — Something Is Wrong
Lights flicker. Purple briefly appears in her eyes. Strange shadows emerge.
Stage Four — Mortis Emerging
Darker clothing, heavier makeup, colder expressions and increasingly unnatural eyes.
Stage Five — MORTIS
Heather’s new identity is fully realized.
Black clothing.
Purple glowing eyes.
Emotionless expression.
Darkness surrounding her.
She should look terrifying without becoming a monster.
The horror is that Mortis still looks human.
ACTION
Mortis should fight differently from a conventional superhero.
She is controlled.
Efficient.
Quiet.
Almost unnervingly calm.
Avoid excessive superhero acrobatics.
She should often simply walk toward danger while everyone else is running away from it.
Her supernatural abilities should initially remain mysterious.
Readers should question:
Is Mortis controlling the darkness—or is the darkness controlling Mortis?
COMIC COVER DIRECTION
A strong MORTIS: DEAD INSIDE cover could feature Mortis standing alone on a rain-soaked city street at night.
Her body is mostly silhouetted.
Her black clothing blends into the darkness.
Her purple eyes glow intensely.
Behind her, city lights flicker and disappear into fog.
Wet pavement reflects purple light beneath her.
Her shadow stretches unnaturally far behind her.
Large title:
MORTIS
Smaller subtitle:
DEAD INSIDE
The image should feel like the poster for a serious supernatural horror movie rather than a traditional superhero comic.
MOST IMPORTANT ART DIRECTION
REALISTIC. CINEMATIC. DARK. BEAUTIFUL. DISTURBING.
Mortis should never feel like a colorful superhero.
She should feel like an urban legend caught on camera.
The reader should constantly wonder whether they are watching Heather become a vigilante…
…or watching something supernatural slowly take possession of her.
Visual Direction & Artwork Guide
Genre: Supernatural Horror • Psychological Thriller • Vigilante Crime
Overall Feel: Dark, cinematic, unsettling, urban, supernatural, and grounded in reality.
MORTIS — CHARACTER DESIGN
* Mortis is the supernatural alter ego of Heather Delaney, a once-kind elementary school teacher whose life was destroyed after a horrific attack.
* Female, strong and intimidating without looking like a traditional superhero.
* Beautiful but haunting appearance.
* Pale complexion with realistic skin texture.
* Long dark hair—slightly messy, windblown, or hanging across portions of her face.
* Heavy, smoky black eye makeup.
* Dark lipstick or nearly black lips.
* Her eyes glow an unnatural electric purple whenever her powers emerge.
* Expression should usually be emotionless, exhausted, angry, or disturbingly calm.
* Avoid exaggerated superhero poses. Mortis should feel like a real woman who has become something unnatural.
* Black gothic/punk clothing with subtle purple details.
* Leather, distressed fabrics, boots, belts, buckles, chains, and worn textures can be incorporated.
* Her appearance should become slightly darker and more supernatural as the story progresses.
HEATHER DELANEY
Heather should visually contrast Mortis.
* Warm, approachable and compassionate.
* Natural makeup.
* Softer hairstyles and clothing.
* Teacher/professional wardrobe.
* Warm lighting surrounding her early in the story.
* Friendly facial expressions.
* She should initially look like someone who could exist in the real world.
As Heather transforms psychologically, gradually remove the warmth from the artwork.
Her clothes become darker.
Her expressions become colder.
Her surroundings become increasingly shadowed.
Eventually, the audience should have difficulty determining where Heather ends and Mortis begins.
SUPERNATURAL VISUAL LANGUAGE
Purple is Mortis’ signature supernatural color.
Use it sparingly so it remains powerful.
Purple may appear as:
* Glowing eyes
* Reflections in mirrors
* Electrical disturbances
* Smoke or mist
* Energy beneath the skin
* Strange lighting
* Shadows edged with purple
* Flickering lights
* Purple reflections appearing where no purple light source exists
When Mortis becomes emotionally overwhelmed, nearby lights may flicker or completely shut off.
Darkness itself should sometimes appear attracted to her.
THE WORLD
The world of MORTIS: DEAD INSIDE should feel real.
Think:
Crime thriller photography colliding with supernatural horror.
Locations include:
* Rain-soaked city streets
* Parking garages
* Hospital corridors
* Apartment interiors
* Abandoned buildings
* Alleys
* Rooftops
* Subway platforms
* Industrial areas
* Police stations
* Classrooms
* Concert venues
* Empty nighttime streets
Use realistic architecture, vehicles, clothing and environments.
The supernatural elements become more disturbing because everything surrounding them feels believable.
COLOR PALETTE
Primary colors:
BLACK • CHARCOAL • WHITE • DEEP PURPLE
Secondary colors:
STEEL GRAY • MUTED BLUE • DIRTY YELLOW • DEEP RED
Purple should almost exclusively represent Mortis and the supernatural force connected to her.
Bright colors should be rare.
LIGHTING
Lighting is extremely important.
Use:
* Heavy shadows
* Streetlights
* Neon signs
* Fluorescent hospital lighting
* Headlights
* Moonlight
* Police lights
* Concert lighting
* Light coming through blinds
* Silhouettes
* Strong backlighting
Characters should occasionally disappear partially into darkness.
Mortis’ glowing purple eyes may sometimes be the only clearly visible feature in a panel.
PANEL STYLE
Keep layouts cinematic.
Mix traditional comic panels with occasional dramatic full-page artwork.
Use:
* Extreme close-ups of eyes
* Hands
* Reflections
* Silhouettes
* Wide establishing shots
* Security-camera perspectives
* Mirror shots
* Low-angle shots
* Over-the-shoulder views
* Dutch angles during supernatural moments
During Heather scenes, panels can remain orderly.
As Mortis takes control, panel borders can become increasingly irregular, fractured or consumed by darkness.
RECURRING VISUAL MOTIFS
Throughout the comic, repeatedly incorporate:
MIRRORS
Heather occasionally sees Mortis reflected even when she still looks normal.
PURPLE EYES
The clearest indication that something supernatural is awakening.
FLICKERING LIGHTS
Electrical systems malfunction when Mortis becomes emotionally unstable.
SHADOWS
Mortis’ shadow may occasionally move differently from her body.
BROKEN GLASS
Represents Heather’s fractured identity.
RAIN
Major nighttime sequences can use wet streets and reflections to create cinematic imagery.
EMPTY SPACES
Long hallways, abandoned streets and empty rooms should create isolation.
MORTIS TRANSFORMATION
Do not make the transformation immediate.
Stage One — Heather
Completely human.
Stage Two — The Survivor
Tired eyes, emotional trauma, darker environments.
Stage Three — Something Is Wrong
Lights flicker. Purple briefly appears in her eyes. Strange shadows emerge.
Stage Four — Mortis Emerging
Darker clothing, heavier makeup, colder expressions and increasingly unnatural eyes.
Stage Five — MORTIS
Heather’s new identity is fully realized.
Black clothing.
Purple glowing eyes.
Emotionless expression.
Darkness surrounding her.
She should look terrifying without becoming a monster.
The horror is that Mortis still looks human.
ACTION
Mortis should fight differently from a conventional superhero.
She is controlled.
Efficient.
Quiet.
Almost unnervingly calm.
Avoid excessive superhero acrobatics.
She should often simply walk toward danger while everyone else is running away from it.
Her supernatural abilities should initially remain mysterious.
Readers should question:
Is Mortis controlling the darkness—or is the darkness controlling Mortis?
COMIC COVER DIRECTION
A strong MORTIS: DEAD INSIDE cover could feature Mortis standing alone on a rain-soaked city street at night.
Her body is mostly silhouetted.
Her black clothing blends into the darkness.
Her purple eyes glow intensely.
Behind her, city lights flicker and disappear into fog.
Wet pavement reflects purple light beneath her.
Her shadow stretches unnaturally far behind her.
Large title:
MORTIS
Smaller subtitle:
DEAD INSIDE
The image should feel like the poster for a serious supernatural horror movie rather than a traditional superhero comic.
MOST IMPORTANT ART DIRECTION
REALISTIC. CINEMATIC. DARK. BEAUTIFUL. DISTURBING.
Mortis should never feel like a colorful superhero.
She should feel like an urban legend caught on camera.
The reader should constantly wonder whether they are watching Heather become a vigilante…
…or watching something supernatural slowly take possession of her.
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