Comic books spotlighting well-known superheroes such as Superman, Spider-Man, and X-Men fill bookstore shelves. But look a little closer to home and you’ll find local artist, Chuck Davis. Davis is writing and illustrating a new comic book series, Orbitt: Night of the Shadow Lords. The vibrant colors, abstract renderings, and its textured layout makes the featured characters jump off the action-packed page. Readers enter a world of turmoil, distressed by alien life form invasions. Shadow Lords surround an entire metropolis, threatening the lives of its residents. Here to save the day is Orbitt: Men of War, deriving from an unknown universe to save humankind from destruction. With their mad fighting skills and their ability to transport between portals, create electrofields, and manipulate bio forces, Orbitt is one kick-butt team. “I don’t follow what [mainstream] artists do because they’re too ‘pop’.” Davis said.

He addressed how modern comic books are too controversial, creating arguments and even offending people. Davis doesn’t watch much television, so his ideas are not very influenced by it. “I’m old school to the max. I don’t use the computer to draw with, creating my own system.” Not only is Davis hard at work authoring and illustrating his series, but he independently publishes his own work as well. Davis released Vol. 1, No. 1 of his comic book series this past November. “It’s a long process, but I’m planning to keep making comics as long as I can,” he said. “I love comics, it’s a way of expression. I think that if you’re having a good time, someone else will have a good time reading or seeing it!” Within the next few months, Davis will be a featured artist at Acoustic Cafe. There, his mixed media works will feature reality instead of the fantastical world found in Orbitt.