Cork writer and artist tap into hell and AI for graphic novel

A CORK creative duo have just published their second graphic novel.

Called Cerberus’ New Trick, it combines the award-winning talents of writer Brendan O’Connell and artist Fiona Boniwell.

They were the creative team behind Death’s New Lease On Life, which was published in 2014 and went on to win the inaugyral Carousel Aware Prize in the Young Adult category.

Laced with dark humour, paired with beautiful black-and-white drawings, Cerberus’ New Trick makes for an engaging and engrossing read for young adults, older children and grown-ups alike.

In Greek mythology, Cerberus, often referred to as the hound of Hades, is a multi-headed dog that guards the gates of the Underworld to prevent the dead from .

In this novel, the titular dog falls prey to the relentless onward march of ‘progress’.

Having spent their entire life, since time immemorial, guarding the gates of Death’s Netherworld, the last thing the mythological three-headed hellhound expected was to be replaced by a new hi-tech security system. But replaced they are.

Surrendered to an animal shelter, a despondent Cerberus struggles to adapt. They are an old dog and they don’t easily learn new tricks.

Then, Amy, a young girl with Down Syndrome volunteering at the shelter, takes a shine to them.

But can she get through to Cerberus before progress once again overtakes them and a merciless threat to humanity, in the form of a constantly growing sea-monster called the Wealthivore, is unleashed?

Artist Fiona explains: “The story touches on the deeply personal themes of loneliness, and that feeling like you’re being left behind, but also on grander existential ones, like the rise of AI technology and the threat of growing economic inequality.

It deftly weaves these into a story about a young girl who is underestimated at every turn, even by those who know and love her best.

“At its heart, you see, it’s a warm story about a little girl with Down syndrome who just wants a dog, and a very big dog (with three heads) who needs a new home.”

From the north side of Cork city, Brendan O’Connell has written across a wide variety of mediums. His work has been published in Where’s Me Culture magazine, Zoinks, Village Magazine and The Shiznit. He also wrote weekly editorial comic strips for IrishElection.com.

Brendan has written three Screen Ireland funded short films and was a finalist in the Filmmarket Hub TV Pilot contest. He is currently in the early stages of developing a TV series with Wide Eye Films.

After sending Death’s New Lease On Life out into the world a decade ago, Brendan was faced with a question for this second novel. How do you follow up a story where you’ve made Death personified your protagonist?

“Wanting the stories to be linked, but not a sequel, I was looking at characters in the Grim Reaper’s orbit and was struck immediately by the possibilities around Cerberus,” said Brendan. 

“A three-headed dog trained to drive away the living.

So I came up with a simple story you might place a dog in, abandoned by their owner, and applied it to Cerberus. 

"A three-headed hellhound abandoned by their owner and stuck into an animal shelter.

“Then, thinking over the how and the why of that idea, I stumbled into the worlds of automation, AI and income inequality. Subjects which have only become more timely as the project has developed.”

Fiona is an artist and workshop facilitator based in Kinsale,. She studied art in London and was involved in music after art school before circling back to visual art.

Drawing is the primary focus of her art practice. As well as large-scale drawings, her work includes illustrations, comics, and zines; the idea dictating the format used.

Teaching drawing and comic process is also an important part of Fiona’s practice.

"Working on a graphic novel such as this is a labour-intensive process and could seem daunting, particularly given that the story requires drawing robots, Greek Gods, an evolving monster and battles at sea, in addition to a believable real world scenario,” said Fiona.

The key to successfully completing such a project is to develop a solid process that begins and ends with thoroughly reading the script and doing a lot of research and sketching upfront.

“I spent a lot of time thinking about Amy and how to represent her well so that a child with Down syndrome would identify with her.

“I also wrestled with Cerberus, but in the end decided on a fairly recognisable render based on ancient representations of them.

“I chose to work in black and white to give the book a timeless quality. I am heavily influenced by the film noir movies I watched growing up.

“Moreover, I feel that the absence of colour helps focus the mind on the story. And I just love rich velvety black!”

Cerberus’ New Trick was printed and published in Cork through Lettertec, based in Carrigtohill. It was important to Brendan and Fiona that they work with a print firm who they could deal with in person, who were supportive and understood what kind of book they wanted to produce.

Cerberus’ New Trick is available in Waterstones Cork, Vibes and Scribes, Bookstóre Kinsale, and Big Bang Comics in Dublin. Other outlets will follow.