Syndrome

When a rogue neuropathologist makes a startling breakthrough - literally isolating the root of all evil in the recesses of the human brain - he'll stop at nothing to advance his theory. With the help of a naive Hollywood actress, a tormented motion picture director, and a condemned serial killer, Dr. Wolfe Brunswick launches a bold experiment in the Nevada desert, the outcome of which could transform humanity forever. The Truman Show meets Se7en in Syndrome, an inventive, original graphic novel hardcover that serves as one of the first titles to be featured under Archaia's new Black Label line, published in association with Fantasy Prone.

From Publishers Weekly

What if science one day discovered that all evil behavior has a biological cause? What if thieves and murderers were "fixable" with a few minor adjustments to their brain chemistry? Author Quantz asks these big questions and more in a daring if too brief graphic novel. Dr. Wolfe is an obsessed neuroscientist seeking to discover the root of evil in the human brain. With the help of a genius movie set designer and a voluptuous actress, he concocts an elaborate false reality to experiment on a convicted serial killer. Think of it as The Truman Show meets Natural Born Killers. The explicit discussion of morality gives the story a Greek tragedy feel, and the intriguing cast makes for a surprisingly character-driven story. But when the author is still introducing these people in the story's second act, the book feels about 50 pages too short. It's a shame, too, since Marquez's artwork is so enjoyable. The illustrations have a visceral and sensual quality that becomes most apparent in the depiction of women and violence, bolstering the weighty themes of self-control, animal instinct, and human nature without being exploitative. The rushed ending doesn't do justice to what is otherwise a beautifully drawn and fearlessly written work of fiction. (Sept.) (c) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

About the Author

Blake Leibel is a director and writer who specializes in creating new worlds. He directs and writes for film and television in cartoon (“Spaceballs: The Animated Series”) and live action. He also created and writes the comic book series United Free Worlds. Before founding Fantasy Prone, Blake was a fund manager and the World Champion in the online video game Half-Life.

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