Dustin Gebel
Image Comics revealed a sneak peek at the upcoming limited series, Doll Parts: A Lovesick Tale by writer/artist Luana Vecchio. Along with this look at the twisted, erotic tale, a new song and music video by the punk band NIIS focuses on the dominatrix Domino.
Vecchio spoke about the excitement of intertextuality in the press release, stating:
“One of the things I love most about art is how creating it inspires others to create more. It’s incredibly beautiful and, in a way, so romantic. That’s exactly what I thought when Mimi sent me the demo of ‘Lovesick.’ I was amazed that someone on the other side of the world could create something that captured the essence of my work so perfectly. NIIS’ ‘Lovesick’ is bold and addictive, just like the world of my comic.
As I listened, I could imagine each scene vividly coming to life. When I wrote Domino, I envisioned her as a natural performer who loves to dance and sing; I had a clear sense of her voice, sweet like a mother’s yet sharp as a demon’s. I’m almost spooked by how perfectly Mimi captured her, as if she read my mind. I was blown away by the quality of NIIS’ music video. Everything is so perfectly done! I love how the visuals echo Lovesick’s style while the band still told their own story. Hats off to everyone involved—I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve watched it!”
The video for Lovesick is directed by Meriel O’Connell and stars NIIS lead singer Mimi Doe as a young dominatrix inspired by Domino’s character from the original comic. That direction ties heavily into the plot of Doll Parts, which offers a dark coming of age story for Domino.
Doe discussed the conversation between the song and the comic, stating:
“When we were writing the song ‘Lovesick,’ my guitarist started kicking around a dark riff. I hadn’t found the words to put on it yet. Actually, I wasn’t really feeling inspired until that night. I was laying in bed with my boyfriend and he asked if I wanted to read together. He pulled out Lovesick and I immediately was awestruck. I couldn’t get enough of Domino. She was so beautiful, strong, scary, and so fragile at the same time. Domino’s character conveyed so much power to her audience, and the fragility and incompleteness spoke to me so much. I kept getting lost in her character amongst everything else going on in the comic. ‘I would never let you shatter me’ continues throughout the song because I truly feel as if no one could shatter Domino, except maybe herself.”
Lovesick explored the dark web and carnal livestreams hosted by Domino and her Lovesick Club. The parasocial lines blurred as pressures increased from all sides of Domino’s life while a lingering desire for cannibalism only grows. In Doll Parts, the story rewinds and looks at how Domino went from young girl afraid of the world to dominatrix.
Vecchio also spoke about developing Doll Parts, stating:
“Since Lovesick was released, both Domino and I have received so much love. This support inspired me to write Doll Parts: A Lovesick Tale, the prequel that tells Domino’s teenage story. I feel that female adolescence isn’t explored enough—at least, not in the way I’d like. Growing up as a girl can truly be a terrifying experience: getting unwanted attention, dealing with a changing body, and discovering love and sexuality. For some of us, these can be real-life horror experiences. That’s why I’m so proud of this prequel; I feel I’ve told this story with the freedom, honesty, and sensitivity it deserves. I love how, with Image Comics, I truly feel free to express both my creativity and my worldview, finally bringing a female experience to comics that is still too rarely explored.”
The music video for NIIS’s “Lovesick” is now live on YouTube and the song is now available to purchase or stream.
The covers for issue #1, #4, and the sneak peek at the first issue can be seen below.
Doll Parts: A Lovesick Tale #1 will be available in comic shops and digital platforms on Wednesday, December 11.
