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Faust
Cover of Faust 1 (December 1988), art by Tim Vigil
Character information
First appearanceFaust #1 (1988)
Created byDavid Quinn
Tim Vigil
In-story information
Alter egoJohnny Faust
Jonathan "John" Jaspers
Johnny Jaspers
SpeciesHuman
Abilities
  • Peak human physical condition
  • Expert hand-to-hand combatant
  • Retractable forearm talons
Publication information
PublisherNorthstar Publishing
Rebel Studios
Avatar Press
ScheduleVaried
Title(s)
Faust: Love of the Damned
Faust/777: The Wrath
Faust: Book of M
Faust: Singha's Talons
Faust: Claire's Lust
FormatsOriginal material for the series has been published as a set of ongoing series.
Genre
Publication dateDecember 1988 – 2012
Number of issues15
Creative team
Writer(s)David Quinn
Artist(s)Tim Vigil
Penciller(s)Tim Vigil
Inker(s)Tim Vigil

Faust is the lead superhero character and title of a collective series of comic books by Tim Vigil (art) and playwright David Quinn (stories), released by American publishers Northstar Publishing, Avatar Press, and principally by Vigil and Quinn's own Rebel Studios.[1]

Alongside contemporaries Watchmen, The Crow, and The Dark Knight Returns, Faust was credited with popularizing the "deconstructed superheroes" genre and the notion that "comics aren't just for kids."[2] One of the bestselling independent comics of the era, Faust issue 1 sold over 100,000 copies with later issues averaging 50,000 sales per issue, most of which sold through several printings and editions.[3]

The series features strong graphic violence and sexual situations. The main series is known as Faust: Love of The Damned and debuted in 1988, with new issues published irregularly, roughly once a year, or sometimes every two years. David Quinn completed a script in 1996 (when writing the proposal to sell the film). The gap between issues grew wider with time. Issue 13 was published in 2005. It then took seven years for the authors to deliver the two last issues, 14 and 15, which concluded the story 25 years after the first episode.[4]

In 2000, Lionsgate Films released the Brian Yuzna produced feature film adaptation Faust: Love of the Damned and in July 2021, it was announced Sony Pictures Television would adapt the comic as an animated series.[5]

Plot

[edit]

In New York City, Beef and Hapi, two hitmen who work for a mysterious Mephistophelian crime boss known as "M", kill a drug dealer and his girlfriend. This violence is detailed in the newspaper articles of Ron Balfour, a journalist who meets Doctor Jade DeCamp in a cafe. Jade has been fired from Bellevue Hospital and is furious over the accidental death of her patient and secret lover, John Jaspers. After Jade leaves the cafe, she and Balfour are assaulted by a gang of street punks. A horn-masked figure, Faust, then appears, laughing and singing while he slaughters the street punks with a pair of retractable forearm talons. Jade realizes in horror that Faust is John Jaspers.[6]

Jaspers later wonders if he has spilled too much blood, or not enough. He, apparently hallucinating, sees demons everywhere. One night from his Brooklyn Heights mansion, M calls a radio station and requests to play the song "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" repeatedly, saying it should be dedicated "From M to the new kid in town", Faust. Later, it is shown that M played a role in Jaspers' Bellevue treatment. M's criminal colleagues want him to unleash his secret "Project Assassin", to eliminate Faust, unaware that Faust is M's prized killer. Jaspers then regains his lost memories of being an assassin for M, as well as the rebellion that led to his supposed "death".

Publications

[edit]

Anthology appearances

[edit]
  • Raw Media Mags #1 (published by Rebel Studios in 1991; includes "2020: Giant Step", a then-futuristic Faust tale)[12]
  • Threshold #7 (published by Avatar Press in 1998; includes Faust/777: The Wrath prelude)[13]
  • Threshold #24 (published by Avatar Press c. 2000; includes Faust: Singha's Talons prelude)[14]

References

[edit]

Bibliography

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Faust (comics)

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Faust is an American comic book series written by David Quinn and illustrated by Tim Vigil, first published in 1988 by Northstar Publishing as a black-and-white "outlaw comic" aimed at mature audiences. The story centers on John Jaspers, a sculptor whose fiancée is murdered, leading him to strike a demonic bargain with Mephisto that resurrects him as the vengeful, superhuman Faust—a horned antihero navigating an urban underworld of madness, mysticism, primal hallucinations, graphic violence, explicit sexuality, and themes of tortured love, death, and revenge. Renowned for its transgressive content that shocked readers and pushed boundaries in independent comics, the series deconstructs superhero tropes in a horror framework, earning comparisons to seminal works like Watchmen and The Dark Knight Returns for its influence on adult-oriented storytelling. First published by Northstar Publishing, the series was later reprinted and continued by Rebel Studios—founded by Quinn and —and expanded across multiple publishers, concluding with issues 14 and 15 in 2012 after a run comprising 15 main issues that collectively sold hundreds of thousands of copies. It appeared in anthologies and spin-offs, solidifying its cult status in the underground scene for blending punk aesthetics, psychological depth, and extreme visuals that redefined mature horror. Recent collections, such as the 2023 Faust: Love of the Damned omnibus by Black Mask Studios (via ), have introduced the work to new generations, with the debut issue alone selling over 100,000 copies in its initial printings. The series has inspired adaptations, including the 2000 live-action film Faust: Love of the Damned, directed by and starring , which loosely adapts the core "Love of the Damned" arc with added elements of splatter horror. In 2021, Sony Pictures Television announced an adult-animated series adaptation in development, written by Matteo Pizzolo, aiming to capture the comic's graphic intensity and cult appeal for a modern audience; as of November 2025, it remains in development.

Production

Creators

David Quinn serves as the writer and co-creator of the Faust comic series, bringing a background rooted in playwriting from university, regional, and theater productions. His scripts for are characterized by dense, dialogue-heavy narratives that demand active reader engagement to unpack their multi-layered complexity, blending classical Faustian myths—such as deals with the and themes of damnation—with gritty urban horror inspired by the chaotic rhythm and underbelly of . This fusion reflects Quinn's theatrical roots in "Primal Theater," where raw emotional and visceral storytelling takes precedence, often incorporating explicit elements of violence and sexuality to explore moral descent without relying on mere shock value. Tim Vigil functions as the artist, penciller, and inker for , drawing from influences in and heavy metal aesthetics to craft hyper-detailed, illustrations that emphasize anatomical precision and visceral violence. His style juxtaposes sensual depictions of form with nightmarish distortions, creating a simultaneously beautiful and repulsive visual language that amplifies the series' themes of infernal torment and bodily horror—evident in his earlier works like Grips, where explicit horror visuals prioritize graphic impact over subtlety. Vigil's artwork evolved over the decades of production, maintaining a commitment to intricate linework that underscores the physical and psychological extremes of the narrative. Quinn and Vigil's collaborative partnership originated in the late , when they were introduced by mutual acquaintance Wouk Baez at an , leading to their initial joint —a four-page Faust story in Omega #1 that organically expanded into the full series. Together, they co-founded Rebel Studios as an independent outlet for their horror-centric works, including Faust, allowing creative freedom unbound by mainstream constraints and fostering a shared vision of outlaw that pushed boundaries in storytelling and visuals. This enduring alliance, spanning over three decades, centered on iterative story development where Quinn's script outlines met Vigil's illustrative interpretations, resulting in a cohesive exploration of Faustian through urban infernal landscapes.

Development

The Faust comic series draws its primary inspiration from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's Faust and the broader Faustian bargain myth, reimagining the classic tale of a soul sold for power as a deconstructed superhero narrative set in a gritty urban hellscape. This reinterpretation transforms the protagonist into a tormented anti-hero navigating themes of damnation through explicit depictions of sex and violence, blending horror with psychological depth to challenge traditional superhero conventions. The core premise evolved around a hitman and artist who enters a demonic pact for revenge, incorporating elements of madness, mysticism, and moral ambiguity to explore the consequences of unchecked ambition. Conceptualized by writer David Quinn in the mid-1980s, the series was envisioned as an "outlaw comic" targeted at mature audiences, reflecting the era's push toward more adult-oriented storytelling in the medium. This vision was heavily influenced by seminal works like and ' Watchmen and Frank Miller's , which deconstructed superhero archetypes amid anxieties about nuclear apocalypse and societal decay. Quinn aimed to create a raw, unfiltered narrative that delved into trauma, betrayal, and existential rebellion, positioning Faust as a to sanitized mainstream fare. Development faced significant challenges, including repeated rejections from mainstream publishers wary of the series' explicit content and boundary-pushing themes. This led Quinn and artist to pursue through their Rebel Studios imprint, marking an early catalyst in the creator-owned movement of the late . The pre-publication evolution was iterative, with the initial four-page prototype story emerging from collaborative sessions in a basement, gradually expanding into a sprawling epic that emphasized an and the fluidity of reality.

Publication

Main series

The main series of Faust, subtitled Love of the Damned, debuted with issue #1 in December 1988, published by Northstar Publishing. Issues #1 through #5 followed in quick succession from late 1988 into 1989, establishing the title's early momentum as an independent horror comic, while #6 appeared in 1990. In the early 1990s, the series transitioned to self-publishing under Rebel Studios, founded by creators David Quinn and Tim Vigil, beginning with issue #7 in 1991. This shift allowed continued creative control but introduced an irregular release schedule characteristic of indie productions, with issues #7 through #12 spanning the 1990s amid production gaps. The momentum slowed further after the 1990s, with issue #13 emerging in 2005 following a multi-year hiatus. The core storyline concluded seven years later with issues #14 and #15 in 2012, both published by Rebel Studios and finalizing the 15-issue run that defined the series' enduring, sporadic legacy in underground horror .

Anthology appearances and collected editions

: Love of the Damned has appeared in select independent horror anthologies, primarily through imprints associated with Rebel Studios. One notable inclusion is the short story "2020" in Raw Media Mags #1, published by Rebel Studios in 1991, which expands on the series' dystopian themes within a broader of content. Another appearance is a /777 story in Threshold #7, published by in August 1998. While creator Tim Vigil contributed artwork to ' Caliber Presents anthology in the 1990s, featuring stories from various indie creators, no direct Faust narrative segments appear in those issues; Vigil's involvement focused on other projects like Cuda. The series' collected editions began with trade paperbacks from Rebel Studios in the early 2000s, formatted as the "Communion Collection" series for mature audiences, reprinting the original black-and-white issues with additional materials such as creator notes and sketches. These volumes made the story more accessible, dividing the 15-issue run into arcs: Communion Collection I (2001, collecting Acts 1–3), Communion Collection II (2001, Acts 4–6), Communion Collection III (2002, Acts 7–9), and Communion Collection IV (2012, Acts 10–12). Avatar Press reprinted select individual issues in the late 1990s and early 2000s, such as Act 9 in 1998, often including prelude content like the Faust/777: The Wrath story, but did not produce full trade paperbacks. For completeness, the comprehensive collected edition arrived in 2023 with the Faust: Love of the Damned Omnibus from Black Mask Studios, a 500-page hardcover compiling all 15 issues, including the rare "grail" Acts 14 and 15, plus bonus materials like colorized covers and behind-the-scenes content; it was funded via Kickstarter in 2022 and emphasized the series' adult horror elements. A trade paperback version of this omnibus followed in May 2024, distributed widely through Simon & Schuster for broader accessibility.

Fictional elements

Plot summary

John Jaspers, a sculptor and artist, descends into vengeance after the brutal murder of his lover —who owed money to a criminal syndicate—by the gangsters. In his despair, he makes a Faustian bargain with the demonic entity M—short for —trading his soul for the power to exact revenge, thereby transforming into the horned anti-hero known as . This pact grants him enhanced physical prowess, including retractable talons and peak human conditioning, enabling him to carve a path through his enemies in a world blending urban grit with supernatural horror. The story unfolds across three major arcs in the 15-issue series. Issues #1-5 establish the origin, detailing Jaspers' initial rampage following the deal, his escape from a psychiatric asylum where he was committed after a catatonic breakdown, and his first confrontations with M's underlings in shadowy lairs rife with violence and ritualistic madness. As the narrative progresses in issues #6-12, Faust's descent escalates into unrelenting cycles of tortured romance, betrayal, and hallucinatory battles against mystical adversaries, blurring the lines between reality and infernal delusion while amplifying his internal torment. The climax in issues #13-15 culminates in a cataclysmic confrontation, sealing Faust's damnation amid revelations of M's grander schemes and the irreversible corruption wrought by his unholy power. Thematically, the series explores the inexorable pull of , the corrupting allure of power, and a of tropes through visceral graphic horror, portraying Faust's journey as a blood-soaked of , lost , and existential horror in an urban inferno.

Characters

John Jaspers, known as , is the central anti-hero of the series, a tormented sculptor and who becomes a damned soul after selling his soul to the demon M in exchange for supernatural abilities. He maintains peak physical condition and expert combat skills honed from his criminal past, augmented by retractable forearm talons housed in gauntlets that enable him to slice through flesh and armor with ease. Driven by a profound sense of and inner psychological torment, Faust embodies isolation as a reluctant servant turned rebel against infernal forces. M, an alias for , serves as the primary antagonist, a demonic who buys human through manipulative pacts, granting powers in return while pursuing apocalyptic ambitions. As a entity embodying temptation and infernal authority, M wields vast influence, controlling damned and demonic minions to orchestrate schemes of . His dynamic with highlights classic Faustian themes of betrayal and eternal conflict, positioning him as the manipulative force behind the protagonist's torment. Jade de Camp functions as Faust's and romantic partner, offering a grounding perspective amid his descent into violence and . Lacking any abilities, she relies on therapeutic techniques like to connect with Jaspers emotionally, serving as a foil that underscores his isolation and the fragility of mortal bonds in the face of demonic corruption. Her relationship with Faust illustrates the tension between redemption and inevitable . Supporting characters in the series include Faust's initial lover Blue, a figure whose entanglement with criminal elements draws Jaspers into his fateful pact, and mystical entities like the Homunculus, an artificial being tied to M's schemes with origins and antagonistic role. These figures often share violent fates linked to the underworld, reinforcing Faust's solitary path and the pervasive theme of doomed personal connections manipulated by infernal powers.

Adaptations

Film adaptation

Faust: Love of the Damned is a 2000 Spanish-American live-action adaptation of the comic series, directed by and co-written by David Quinn, one of the original creators. The production was handled by Fantastic in association with and Castelao Prods., with distribution in the United States by Lions Gate Films. It premiered in on February 2, 2001, though occurred in 2000, and has a runtime of 98 minutes. The film received an R rating from the MPAA for strong violence/gore, sexuality, and language. The cast includes in the of John Jaspers and his demonic alter ego Faust, Isabel Brook as Jade de Camp, as the demonic figure , and as Lieutenant Dan Margolies. Filming took place primarily in , , , reflecting the Spanish production elements. The adaptation draws from the first arc of the comic, specifically issues #1-7 of Faust: Love of the Damned, focusing on Jaspers' pact with M following the murder of his fiancée by a satanic . Quinn's adapts the core premise of a soul-selling deal granting superhuman abilities for revenge, but condenses the narrative for film pacing. Key deviations from the source material include a streamlined origin for Jaspers, portraying him as a sculptor grappling with personal loss rather than delving into the comic's more transgressive character backstory, and a greater emphasis on during Faust's transformations into a bladed, horned . The film heightens the hellish descent with visual effects for infernal sequences but tones down the comic's extreme and explicit to suit cinematic standards, resulting in a more conventional horror tone. This prioritizes visceral action and elements over the source's psychological depth and underground excess.

Animated series

In July 2021, announced the development of an adult adaptation of the comic book series by David Quinn and Tim . The project is being written by Matteo Pizzolo, with Quinn and serving as consulting producers to ensure fidelity to the source material's explicit content and themes. Brian Giberson is overseeing the effort through Black Mask Entertainment. The series is intended for streaming platforms, targeting a mature audience with uncensored depictions of , horror, and the of tropes central to the comic's narrative. It plans to cover the core story arcs spanning the comic's 25-year run, including protagonist John Jaspers' infernal quest against to rescue Dr. Jade DeCamp, while potentially expanding on the mystical and supernatural elements. Unlike the 2000 live-action , the animated project aims to preserve the original work's unfiltered intensity and thematic depth. The series was announced in July 2021 and remains in development with no confirmed release date or network attachment as of that time, though it is envisioned as a multi-season endeavor.

Reception and legacy

Critical response

Faust: Love of the Damned has been lauded as a pioneering work in the comics" movement of the late and early , blending deconstruction with extreme horror elements to challenge conventional boundaries. Critics highlight its role in pushing mature themes into mainstream awareness, contemporaneous with titles like and , by portraying a tormented vigilante's descent into supernatural vengeance amid urban decay. This innovative fusion influenced subsequent mature horror series, such as , which echoed Faust's motifs of hellish pacts and necroplasmic transformation in a more commercial vein. While praised for its boundary-breaking style, the series faced criticism for its excessive graphic depictions of sex and violence, which some reviewers argued overshadowed narrative depth and thematic nuance. David Quinn's script, often described as pretentious and stream-of-consciousness, contributed to a chaotic tone that could alienate readers, prioritizing shock over coherent storytelling. In indie press, however, Tim Vigil's artwork received acclaim as revolutionary, with its hyper-detailed, black-and-white illustrations—evoking influences from and —delivering surreal depictions of depravity that elevated the medium's visual horror potential. Thematic analyses emphasize the series' exploration of Faustian , where protagonist John Jaspers' soul-selling pact exemplifies power's corrupting allure, transforming personal revenge into cosmic horror. Discussions also address gender portrayals, particularly the lovers' roles, where female characters like Belle often serve as catalysts for male protagonists' , blending with in New York's criminal underbelly. Reviews of the 2023 Omnibus edition revisit its enduring , crediting the work with redefining ' capacity for trauma, , and ambition while maintaining its transgressive edge. Early acclaim in HorrorFix noted how it "defies superhero conventions, blending and porn" to redefine perspectives on and revenge, while modern takes in position it as essential reading alongside , with creators like Jim Rugg stating it "completely changed what a could be in my imagination."

Commercial performance and influence

The debut issue of Faust: Love of the Damned in achieved notable commercial success for an independent title, selling through multiple printings and contributing to the series' reputation in the indie comics market. Subsequent issues maintained strong sales relative to the era's direct market distribution, with the title's explicit content generating significant among retailers and fans, often requiring reprints to meet demand. The 2023 omnibus edition, published by Black Mask Studios in partnership with Rebel Studios, revived interest in the series after decades out of print, ranking among the top-selling graphic novels for October 2023 and selling out its initial comic shop hardcover print run in one day. This release underscored the enduring demand for the title, prompting calls from retailers and collectors for additional editions. In May 2024, a trade paperback edition was released to further broaden accessibility. Faust played a key role in the "outlaw comics" movement, characterized by hyper-violent and sexually explicit independent titles that challenged mainstream conventions. As one of the foundational works in this wave, it inspired the emergence of specialized publishers focusing on adult-oriented horror, including , which adopted similar boundary-pushing aesthetics in titles like . The series' initial self-publication through Rebel Studios also exemplified and influenced DIY models in the industry, enabling creators to bypass traditional gatekeepers and directly engage niche audiences. In broader terms, contributed to the expansion of mature and horror genres during the late 1980s and 1990s, aligning with deconstructive works like by emphasizing graphic violence, psychological depth, and taboo themes to redefine the medium for adult readers. Its cultural impact persists in the evolution of , influencing subsequent titles that blend supernatural elements with extreme content.

References

  1. https://bleedingcool.com/comics/put-the-faust-omnibus-next-to-watchmen-dark-knight-on-your-shelf/
  2. https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/FAUST-Love-Of-The-Damned/David-Quinn/9781955802185
  3. https://deadline.com/2021/07/faust-animated-series-tim-vigil-david-quinn-comics-sony-pictures-television-matteo-pizzolo-1234787804/
  4. https://rebelstudios.proboards.com/thread/1378/nycc-interview-vigil-david-quinn
  5. https://www.angelfire.com/id/darkutopia/quinnterview1.html
  6. https://www.lambiek.net/artists/v/vigil_tim.htm
  7. https://reactormag.com/just-an-outbreak-of-chaos-faust-love-of-the-damned/
  8. https://inwalkedquinn.com/2022/11/18/the-wait-is-over-complete-faust-omnibus-hardcover/
  9. https://www.comics.org/issue/290714/
  10. https://www.comics.org/series/17702/
  11. https://www.comics.org/issue/290720/
  12. https://www.comics.org/issue/1051387/
  13. https://inwalkedquinn.com/2020/09/30/giant-step-on-faust-2020-raw-media-mags-and-outlaw-comics/
  14. https://www.comics.org/issue/1709507/
  15. https://www.faust.com/books/authors/tim-vigil/
  16. https://comicvine.gamespot.com/tim-vigil/4040-49186/issues-cover/
  17. https://comicbookrealm.com/series/10942/212570/faust-love-of-the-damned
  18. https://www.ebay.com/itm/395883891364
  19. https://comicbookrealm.com/series/10942/212572/faust-love-of-damned-act-tpb-3
  20. https://www.ebay.com/itm/146630946077
  21. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/fausthard/faust-love-of-the-damned-omnibus-hardcover
  22. https://waltscomicshop.com/products/faust-love-of-the-damned-deluxe-collection-hc
  23. https://inwalkedquinn.com/2024/03/01/faust-love-of-the-damned-omnibus-trade-paperback-in-all-book-and-comic-book-stores-may-2024/
  24. https://flightstightsandmovienights.com/2016/10/28/graphic-horror-faust-love-of-the-damned/
  25. https://heykidscomics.fandom.com/wiki/Faust_%28Avatar_Press%29
  26. http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/f/faust.htm
  27. https://horror-fix.com/a-look-back-quinn-and-vigils-faust/
  28. https://variety.com/2001/film/reviews/faust-love-of-the-damned-1200466657/
  29. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0223268/
  30. https://www.moriareviews.com/horror/faust-love-of-the-damned-2000.htm
  31. https://bigcomicpage.com/2016/01/15/comic-book-movie-retrospective-faust-2000/
  32. https://www.animationmagazine.net/2021/07/sony-pictures-tv-adapting-faust-comic-to-series/
  33. https://www.cbr.com/faust-superhero-horror-comic-animated-series/
  34. https://www.comicbookherald.com/how-spawn-changed-comic-books-even-though-it-sucks/
  35. https://www.pricecharting.com/game/comic-books-faust/faust-1-1989
  36. https://icv2.com/articles/markets/view/55469/top-20-graphic-novels-october-2023
  37. https://www.comics.org/publisher/754/
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