The Skulls of Paris

John Constantine slumped against the cold, damp stone wall, his back pressed against the macabre display of skulls that seemed to stare back at him with empty, bony eyes. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and decay, and the flickering torches that lined the walls cast eerie shadows on the walls of the Paris Catacombs. The weight of the city's secrets seemed to press down on him, and he couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched by unseen eyes. The whispers of the damned echoed through the tunnels, and Constantine's gut told him that he was getting close to something - but what, he had no idea. This was his kind of place - a place where the living and the dead blurred together, and the line between reality and madness was thin indeed.

[Workflow: JC created with Copilot prompt, then I sourced a catacombs image from the web, masked merged together with other Fx work, laid on some damaged photo distress.]

Zatanna: London, Two Nights Only (Book 1) [TrUzApalOOza cardstock wraparound variant cover]

[my rough proposal for a two-part Zatanna Zatara storyline for DC Comics]

In the city of magic and wonder, where the lights of the West End shine bright, a legendary illusionist is about to take the stage. Zatanna Zatara, the enchanting mistress of magic, has arrived in London for a limited two-night engagement at the historic Garrick Theatre in the heart of Westminster.  As she prepares for her opening night, Zatanna is approached by an old family friend, the enigmatic and mysterious Sargon the Sorcerer. His eyes gleam with an otherworldly intensity as he whispers a cryptic message in her ear. "Zatanna, my dear, I have a favor to ask of you. A dear friend of mine, a collector of rare and ancient artifacts, has gone missing. His name is Silas, and he was last seen in the city, searching for the Orb of St. Edward. It seems that the Cult of Mithras, a secretive and ancient organization, has stolen the Orb from the British Museum, and Silas was tracking them down. I fear he may have gotten himself into trouble, and I need your help to find him and recover the Orb."

Zatanna's eyes narrow, her mind racing with the possibilities. She knows that Sargon's friends are often involved in the darker side of magic, and she senses that this is no ordinary case. "I'll help you, Sargon," she says, her voice firm and resolute. "But I need to know more about the Orb of St. Edward and what kind of danger we're facing."  Sargon's smile is like a crack of thunder on a stormy night. "Ah, Zatanna, you always were one for the thrill of the chase. Very well, I'll tell you what I know. The Orb of St. Edward is a powerful relic, said to grant the power to control the very fabric of reality. It's been passed down through the centuries, and its last known resting place was the British Museum. But now it's gone, and I fear that if it falls into the wrong hands, the consequences will be catastrophic."

Zatanna's eyes flash with excitement. She knows that she's in for the adventure of a lifetime, and she's ready to face whatever dangers lie ahead. "Then let's get started, Sargon," she says, her voice dripping with determination. "I'll find Silas and the Orb of St. Edward, no matter what it takes." And with that, Zatanna Zatara sets off on a journey that will take her to the very limits of her magical abilities, and beyond. The game is afoot, and the stakes are higher than ever before. Will Zatanna emerge victorious, or will the darkness consume her?  The world of magic is full of surprises, and Zatanna is about to find out just how true that is...

I am proposing this would be written by Paul Dini, interior art by Jamal Igle, and exclusive painted covers by TrUz ApalOOza.

[Workflow: A series of image prompts from Bing Co-Pilot and NightCafe to give me a chunk of starter images, which I then composed and merged within Affinity Photo. Lots of layers, overlays for shadows and lighting, texture layers for lens flares, sparkles, fireworks, distorted/warped/twisting all over with a large dash of masking.]

Image list:

1. final TrUzApalOOza cardstock variant wraparound cover of Zatanna London book 1
2. raw version of the painting (reduced resolution), without final book layouts/logos
3. front cover view
4. back cover view
5. The series logo which I worked within both Affinity Photo and Designer
6. Letter Z, applied to her tuxedo lapel
7. and a glance at my Affinity Photo layering panels with Fx filters

Zatanna Zatara with her summoned pets

I fed the black & white image of Zatanna Zatara I created earlier this month into NightCafe, Bing Copilot, and Tengr.AI to make some new variations.  Minor clean-ups and final touches by hand using Affinity Photo.

Lilitha Summons a Demon

Lilitha was once a skilled sorceress who delved too deep into the dark arts, seeking power and knowledge. She made a pact with a powerful demon, trading her soul for unimaginable power. Now, she uses her abilities to fight against evil and protect the innocent.

[Workflow: Bing Co-Pilot images brought into Affinity Photo for final hand edits.]

Zatanna Magic Time

Here are the best of Zatanna Zatara Bing/Copilot-generated AI images I made.

Zatanna Conjures a Mad Rabbit from Her Hat

Zatanna Zatara, a skilled magician and daughter of the renowned magician John Zatara expertly conjured a pentagram-eyed evil rabbit from her top hat. The air was filled with the sweet scent of mysticism and wonder as the demonic rabbit, with its glowing eyes and twisted, gnarled fur, seemed to embody the dark magic that she had summoned. Its presence was both fascinating and unsettling, as if it held secrets and mysteries that only it knew.

[Workflow: Started with some Bing Co-Pilot AI images, and then added additional layers of smoke, particles, paper textures, and warping effects within Affinity Photo.]

Teenage Zatanna with Xaxpyre

As the warm glow of candles illuminated the mystical chamber, Zatanna, now an older teenage magician, kneeled on the floor, her fingers weaving intricate patterns in the air as she attempted to conjure a small flame. In front of her, her loyal demon-imp familiar, Xaxpyre, watched with an air of quiet intensity, his piercing green eyes fixed on the young magician.

[Workflow: Started with some Bing Co-Pilot AI images, and then added additional layers of smoke, particles, and flames within Affinity Photo.]

Hi-rez image link [3840px wide]

The Magic of Zatanna and Xax (a young girl magician and her conjured cat)

Young Zatanna Zatara narrowed her eyes, their cerulean depths glowing with intense concentration. Her lips moved silently, forming the arcane words of an incantation. Her hands, imbued with the power she wielded, danced in the air, tracing intricate patterns. The very air around her seemed to thrum, shimmering and distorting as if reality itself bent to her will. A pinpoint of flame ignited on her index finger, blossoming into a miniature inferno fueled by her magic.

Meanwhile, Xax, the impish demon-cat familiar, reveled in the chaos. With a nonchalant flick of his tail, he sent a fireball arcing through the air, a playful glint in his eyes. His paws, impossibly nimble, juggled the fiery orb with practiced ease. The flames danced around him, a mesmerizing spectacle of swirling gold that cast a warm glow on the scene. Xax punctuated his fiery display with a playful meow, a challenge in his emerald gaze, daring Zatanna to snatch one of the blazing spheres from his midair performance.

As the magical energy escalated, the air crackled with raw power. The acrid tang of smoke and ozone mingled with the sweet, earthy scent of burning wood, filling the air with a heady mix. The very atmosphere vibrated with anticipation, charged with the promise of wonder and the thrill of the unknown. Glowing particles, like miniature stars, swirled and pulsed around them, adding to the spectacle.

[Workflow: Started with some Bing Co-Pilot AI images, and then added additional layers of smoke, particles, and fireballs within Affinity Photo.]

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and then I created a Manga-style version of this image this time with her fire imp Xaxpyre...

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Zatanna and Benny the Imp

Zatanna Zatara kneels down to greet the exquisitely dressed Benny the Imp.

[Workflow: Started with some Bing Co-Pilot AI images and then added smoke and text within Affinity Photo.]

Hi-rez image link [2222px tall]

Zatanna and Her Top Hat

Zatanna practices magic within the confines of her tuxedo top hat.

[Workflow: Started with some Bing Co-Pilot AI images, and then added additional layers of smoke, particles, paper textures, and warping effects within Affinity Photo.]

A Set of Aliens Living in New York (inspired from John Carpenter's THEY LIVE)

I fed Travis Fox's image that I purchased last year featuring a They Live-themed alien into Bing Co-Pilot and had it spit out some AI-generated images. I brought them all into the Affinity Photo, cleaned up glitches, and made a few minor fixes.

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Tusks of the Blood Moon: Red Death Lurks Beneath the Blubber

[Affinity Workflow: Pieced together several images (stock + AI generated) to make the main feature. Then Affinity Photo editor work to adjust and merge with some Filter Forge conversions for look and feel. Hand-tweaked the fonts with text-on-path. Built the poster credits from various internet samples, and matched-font type for my custom edits.]

In the desolate winter of 1888, a chilling legend awakens on the icy shores of Round Island in the District of Alaska. The Arctic winds carry whispers of terror, and the blood moon casts its crimson glow upon the frozen landscape.

Tagline: “Red Death Lurks Beneath the Blubber…”

Synopsis: Amid the unforgiving wilderness, a remote whaling outpost harbors secrets darker than the Arctic night. The townsfolk speak in hushed tones of a murderous walrus, a creature that emerges only during the blood moon—a time when the line between life and death blurs.

Captain Elias Blackwood, a grizzled seafarer haunted by past sins, leads a ragtag crew aboard the Frostfang. Their mission: to hunt the elusive walrus that has left a trail of mutilated bodies in its wake. But this is no ordinary beast. Its tusks are stained with blood, and its eyes hold ancient malevolence.

As the blood moon rises, the crew ventures deeper into madness. Dr. Isadora Hart, a brilliant naturalist, unravels cryptic Inuit legends that foretell doom. She warns of a curse that binds the walrus to vengeance—a curse that transcends time and reason.  First Mate Magnus Bjornsson, a man of few words and hidden scars, battles his own demons. His obsession with the walrus borders on madness, fueled by memories of a fateful encounter years ago.  The Village of Togiak quivers in fear. The walrus strikes under the cover of blizzards, dragging victims into icy depths. Its hunger knows no bounds, and its thirst for revenge drives it relentlessly.

As the Frostfang sails toward Round Island, the crew faces not only the wrath of the elements but also their own guilt and regrets. The blood moon looms large, casting shadows on the frozen sea. The walrus awaits, its tusks honed for slaughter.  But what if the walrus is more than a mere beast? What if it carries the sins of humanity, seeking retribution for crimes long buried in the ice?

Tusks of the Blood Moon is a bone-chilling tale of survival, redemption, and the primal forces that bind us to the abyss. As the crew confronts their darkest fears, they must answer one question: Can they escape the walrus’s wrath, or will they become its next victims?

Prepare for a voyage into madness. The tusks are hungry, and the blood moon calls…

Hi-rez image link [5100px tall]

Nrub'atocto Stirs

Some more artwork to go with the previous Nrub'atocto - She Who Feeds storyline showing the entity still trapped below ground.

Affinity Photo Workflow: A few image prompts using Bing DALL-E to help create the monster and portions of the cave.  Filter forge used to convert to wood carving-type look.  Edits and additional items added within Affinity Photo.

Hi-rez image link [2804px tall]

UFO Spectral Mapping of the Arizona Desert

UFO caught on film actively spectral mapping the Arizona desert floor south of Tucson.

Affinity Photo Workflow: A few image prompts using Bing DALL-E, and Meta AI Imagine to get me part of the flying saucer.  Sky image pulled from an astrophotography search, van with reflection borrowed from a car ad, cactus masked from other images.  Laser beams. ring lights on saucer and spectral mapping grid (mesh warping funtime) were added by hand in Affinity Photo.   A lot of masking to get the desert skyline and road added. Boxes and buildings dropped in for extra features.

Hi-rez image link [3362px tall]

Multidimensional Summoning

At noon, the ancient stones of Stonehenge glowed with the sun's warmth and cast long shadows over the desert landscape. A group of wandering mages had set up a temporary camp nearby, hoping to unlock the hidden power within the stones. After many days of meditation and prayers, they finally triggered a bright beam of light that erupted from the circle's center, piercing the sky and forming a colorful vortex in the distant clouds. The mages gasped in a mix of awe and fear, as a colossal being emerged from the opening in the clouds. Their prayers had been answered, but they did not know if the godlike creature from another world would be their ally or their ultimate doom.

Affinity Photo Workflow: A few image prompts using Bing DALL-E, Meta AI Imagine, and Nightcafe Image AI to help create portions of the monster, a lot of cloud images, and the desert valley. Vapor clouds, the sun, sunburst beams, and the summoning beams were added by hand in Affinity Photo. Eyeballs created using Filter Forge were added to the creature. Stone circles and tribal tents were pulled from images and masked in.

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