VCU graduate will celebrate first major comics publication

Maya Earls
Spectrum Editor

VCU alumnus Chris Visions will hold a signing party at Velocity Comics on April 5 to celebrate the publication of his artwork in the comic series “Dead Letters.”

Written by Christopher Sebela, the crime-noir series centers around a character named Sam. The story begins with Sam waking up in a motel without having any memory of who he is or how he got there. Armed men wait at his door, and it is up to Sam to figure out the answers to all of his questions.

Visions said readers will be able to connect to the comic’s wide range of characters.

“We are creating a world that’s full of characters from different backgrounds,” Visions said. “We have references to the ‘X-Files’ … I even threw in a ‘Mrs. Doubtfire’ reference.”

Visions said the first publication took a few months of work to complete. Most of the time was spent in the planning stages, but once the story and setting were decided everyone kept to a rigid schedule.

“We pretty much hit the ground running,” Visions said. “It’s been on a four-week, 22-page schedule.”

Visions graduated from VCU in 2007 with a degree in Communication Arts and Design. After graduating, he did most of his work as a freelance artist. His work has been featured on Cartoon Network, NBC and RVA Magazine, according to his website. Visions said he had a passion for comic art since he was a young child. Even though his hometown of Lexington, Va. did not have any comic book stores, Visions was able to read “hand-me-downs.”

“I read comic books as much as I could,” Visions said. “My mom would always put Norman Rockwell books in front of me or I would study Michelangelo.”

Visions said his influences changed with his own personal style of drawing. Sterling Hundley, a highly respected artist and 1998 VCU graduate, encouraged Visions to embrace his flaws.

“Sterling was a big influence on me,” Visions said. “He was about embracing your flaws and not being afraid to use abstraction in your style.”

Another strong influence in his life was former VCU professor Kerry Talbott who died in October 2013.

“I shy away from the subject of him sometimes because he passed away recently,” Visions said. “He helped keep me true to what I loved in art, and guided my way towards comics, even when I didn’t see one.

Visions carries his sketchbook around at all times in case inspiration hits. He said he feels comics are his way to share personal stories with the outside world. Stories can come from past memories, or moments experienced while walking around Richmond. Visions said he uses his artwork to help with whatever he is going through in life.

“I try to look for answers to what I’m going through and express it through my artwork by hiding it in metaphors, monsters and superheroes,” Visions said.

“Dead Letters” will be released on April 2. The comic will be available online at boom-studios.com or at Velocity Comics at 819 W. Broad St. Visions will hold a comic signing party Saturday, April 5 from 3 to 5 p.m. at Velocity Comics.