Image Comics revealed a return to the world of Lovesick with a new prequel series, Doll Parts: A Lovesick Tale. The four part miniseries launches in December from writer/artist Luana Vecchio, detailing the twisted coming-of-age story for Lovesick’s lead, Domino. The series will see her go from innocent girl to hardened survivor after a dark revelation, set against the backdrop of the burgeoning digital age in the early 2000s.
In the press release, Vecchio spoke about returning to Domino, stating:
“After finishing Lovesick, I knew I couldn’t stay away from Domino for long,” said Vecchio. “But before going back to the Lovesick Club, I knew I had to take a step back and explore Domino’s heart, dive into those sad eyes and return to her origins, back to Madeleine. I’ve always dreamed of writing a coming-of-age thriller-horror set in the 2000s, the very years I was a teenager myself. Doll Parts: A Lovesick Tale explores what it means to be a young girl in a world where youth is a double-edged sword, both a strength and a vulnerability. I’m incredibly proud of what I’ve created and the themes I’ve tackled, I believe the comic world needs a character like Madeleine.”
Just like the original Lovesick, Vecchio will write, illustrate, and color the book herself, along with providing the main covers. Vecchio also provides a set of connecting variant covers, while artists such as Jessica Cioffi will join for issue one.
Vecchio discussed the differences between Lovesick and the prequel, stating:
“I wanted to create a miniseries that everyone could enjoy, even those new to the world of Lovesick. There won’t be any latex-clad dominatrixes or elegant cannibals here; the horror unfolds within the walls of home, in the online world, and through the journey of adolescence. It won’t be an easy journey, but it’s a necessary one. Doll Parts: A Lovesick Tale is a celebration of the comic medium and how it should remain free to tell even the most uncomfortable stories.”
The first look at the covers and interior art for issue one, along with a detailed synopsis for the miniseries, can be seen below.
Cover A by Luana Vecchio
Cover B by Luana Vecchio
Cover C (connecting) by Luana Vecchio
Cover D by Jessica Cioffi (aka LOPUTYN)
Cover E (1:10 incentive cover) by Luana Vecchio
Cover F (1:25 incentive cover) by Luana Vecchio
Cover G (sketch) by Luana Vecchio
Doll Parts: A Lovesick Tale follows a twelve-year-old girl called Madeleine who dreads the idea of growing up. She fears becoming like the cruel older girls or facing the contempt of her devoutly religious mother. But most of all, she doesn’t want to become a target for the monsters that are out there, hiding in plain sight. However, a stomach-churning discovery forces Madeleine to confront the harsh reality that growing up isn’t a choice—it’s survival. As she is thrust into a world of perverted killers and unsavory websites, she has to come to terms with her own dark obsessions, leading her down the shadowy road to become the infamous Mother Demon: Domino.
Doll Parts: A Lovesick Tale #1 will be available at comic book shops and digital platforms shops on Wednesday, December 11.