Nick Canetti is one of the most exciting creators working on superhero books today. His visual style is reminiscent of the greats of superhero comics, from Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko to modern creators like Mike Allred and Bruce Timm. Still, Canetti reminds readers just how powerful (and highly entertaining) this genre can be with his own distinctive voice. He may be best known for his previous film Pink Lemonade, which featured a bike-riding hero who brings joy to the world around him, satisfying Canetti’s eye for psychedelic visuals. In Oni Press’ long-awaited sequel, Spirit of the Shadows, the creators shift gears with a unique take on gothic horror. Canetti took time to discuss the new series with The Beat.
Art: Nick Canetti
D. Morris: This is my first big project since Pink Lemonade, and this time I have a co-creator in Daniel Ziegler. What are the origins of the Spirit of the Shadows and their relationship to Daniel?
Nick Canetti: Spirit of the Shadows has been with Daniel and I for over 10 years now. It started as an idea for a short film that Daniel wanted to make, and then I got involved and ended up creating it as an indie comic while I was in college. Yes, there was a completely different work that depicted this character as a comic before. After that, we made a short film where I wore the costume and Daniel did the voice. While I was working on Pink Lemonade, he continued to tinker with that world for years afterward, really refining and redefining its core. While finishing Pink Lemonade, we started talking more about what a new Spirit comic would be like and how we could make it feel fresh for ourselves. I quickly found the right approach and was very excited. We always enjoy working with each other.
Art: Nick Canetti
D. Morris: How much did you want to do something completely different from a book like Pink Lemonade? Is there anything you’re trying here that you didn’t do in Pink Lemonade?
Nick Cagnetti: A lot of it was a desire to do something different. Partly, I also want to really show people that I can do more dramatic work. It’s not that Pink Lemonade isn’t dramatic, but I think people just want to avoid putting themselves in a box. It was a really good opportunity for me to be myself, albeit dripping with a bit of the moody, dark side of my art.
DM: Spirit of the Shadows is definitely a gothic horror-influenced comic. What horror movies, comics, or books inspired you when writing this book? Do you have a favorite horror comic?
NC: The whole time we were making this, we carried around a copy of Jack Kirby’s The Demon. That was a real pointer to the type of thing we wanted to aim for. I think that’s part of what should make this work stand out. It’s an amalgamation of horror that indulges in over-the-top paranormal phenomena, but is also very heartfelt and solemn. We’re also big fans of Spawn, of course. I think that’s a big part of our DNA.
Art: Nick Canetti
D. Morris: Do you have a favorite horror-related thing?
Nick Cagnetti: I really enjoyed drawing the creepy, nonsensical looking monsters of the Spirit Realm. Probably not what you necessarily expect. They’re crazy, goofy looking creatures, but with plenty of disturbing qualities. I also have a lot of fun creating atmosphere and tension as much as possible here, setting an overall mood and incorporating appropriate dramatic shadows and expressions to bring the moment home.
D. Morris: What I like about your art is the coloring, which has a psychedelic quality to it, which is particularly visible in this book. Can you tell us more about your thought process when coloring?
Nick Cagnetti: My favorite part of the whole process is adding color to everything. There were a lot of opportunities to push in different directions with different settings, so I tried to take advantage of that. The Spirit World scenes certainly focus on the intense colors and surreal environments that appear right before your eyes. Everywhere else the story takes place, a unique approach to coloring is also taken. Because the story goes back and forth so many times, it felt like a way to make it clear to the reader where we are.
D. Morris: Can you tell us a little bit about what’s going to happen in Spirit of the Shadows?
Nick Cagnetti: It’s a winding, complex story that I think would benefit from rereading. Because while it may seem one-sided at first glance, it will make you question the way you think about the characters, leaving you unsure of who to root for or what to believe. Some of the visible parts are small visuals, and you’ll see them completely differently the second time around. I’m really proud of what we’ve put together here. I think it was a really fun, unique, and really ambitious project.
Spirit of the Shadows #1 will be released by Oni Press on January 28th.
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