The world of horror thrives on the macabre, the unsettling, and the chilling unknown. But what happens when the lines between fiction and reality blur, leaving readers questioning the very fabric of their fear?
Enter Jasper Bark, an author who dared to play a game of literary hide-and-seek with his latest trilogy, “Draw You In,” and a fictional horror comic artist named R.L. Carver.
Bark’s audacious plan involved creating a series of faux horror comics supposedly penned by the non-existent R.L. Carver. These meticulously crafted pages, reminiscent of the 50s and 70s horror styles, were then presented to prominent comics news sites. The story? Unearthed relics discovered in a dusty collector’s attic, begging the question: who was R.L. Carver?
News sites like Downthetubes, Tripwire, and Diversions of the Groovy Kind unwittingly became part of Bark’s elaborate scheme, running the “discovered” comics and sparking a frenzy amongst comic fans eager to unearth the mysterious creator.
The internet, naturally, became a hunting ground for R.L. Carver’s history, with some readers even accepting the narrative as genuine.
But the fun didn’t stop there. Jasper went a step further, incorporating real-life comic legends Walt and Louise Simonson into his novels, blurring the lines even more.
The Simonsons not only appeared as characters, but also wrote their own dialogue and actions, creating a unique meta-narrative within the trilogy.
Two months into the charade, with the first book, “Draw You In, Vol 1 – Collector’s Item,” already released, Bark finally confessed. The internet, abuzz with the revelation, was left with a question: was this a shameless publicity stunt, or a bold artistic statement?
Art or Artifice?
Bark argues the latter. “Draw You In” explores not only the history of horror comics but also the ever-shifting boundaries between reality and fiction. By creating R.L. Carver and weaving him into the real world of comics news sites, Bark sought to demonstrate that very theme.
Whether this was a clever marketing ploy or a genuine artistic experiment is left to interpretation.
But one thing’s for sure: Jasper Bark has successfully created a buzz around his trilogy, leaving horror fans eager to delve into “Draw You In” and see for themselves how far the lines between fiction and reality can truly be stretched.
About Jasper Bark
Award winning author, Jasper Bark is infectious – and there’s no known cure. If you’re reading this you’re already contaminated. The symptoms will manifest any time soon. There’s nothing you can do about it. There’s no itching or unfortunate rashes, but you’ll become obsessed with his mind-bending books.
www.jasperbark.com
E: jasper@jasperbark.net
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