As youngsters (and for many now as adults) it was easy for us to get wrapped up in a movie, comic book, or any art, and get sucked into the author’s story of a world different from our own.  I recently read a comic book called the Occult Crimes Taskforce (OCT) that captured my imagination, and got a chance to interview one of the writers, David Atchison.  Atchison has teamed up with actress Rosario Dawson, and illustrator Tony Shasteen, to introduce the new exciting story.  OCT starts out about a heroine named Sophia Ortiz (whose likeness is Rosario’s) who is recruited to solve crimes of a supernatural nature.  Atchison describes it as CSI meets Harry Potter.

Atchison and Shasteen originally came up with the concept, and shared it with Dawson’s uncle, comic book artist, Gustavo Vasquez.  They then pitched it to Rosario and she fell in love with the project.  “Rosario grew up on the Lower Eastside of NY, which is a real eclectic area,” Atchison explained, “she’s used to hearing about different philosophies, and thinking outside the box.  Plus she’s huge comic book fan.”  He said that some of his ideas came from when he was in the air force and saw documents that he received no explanation on.  Their combination of experiences and ideas is leading OCT to the unique, magnetic world it is to become.  The first issue came out in July and subsequent issues are to follow, as well as a movie and video game based on the story.  “People are going to be exposed to a whole realm of substories, and plots within OCT.  Eventually Sophia will not be seen as much and other characters will have stories revolve around them.” 

The talent that Atchison, Dawson, and Shasteen bring defiantly satisfies any comic book fan.  Shasteen does all the inking and coloring, and to supplement Atchison’s writing, Dawson’s movie expertise gives the story a cinematic feel.  “Rosario loves being co-creator in this work.  It gives her a more hands on opportunity to contribute to the story as opposed to just being an actress on a set.”

When reading the story one will see a lot of research went into bringing the OCT universe to life.  Philosophers like Hermes Tresmegestus, and Alister Crowley were looked at, as well as a theory called “bisociative thinking.”  Atchison describes it as the idea of taking two unrelated things and finding a common ground between them.  “Many people say they don’t believe in the occult but have their own superstitions – from the baseball player who wears mix-matched socks, to the old man who plays certain lottery numbers.  All I did was take questions and make my own answers to them.”

As far as David’s future projects, next year he will be staring a hip hop comic book project called Clash, as well as another OCT project in the spring explaining more of the story.

-Copyright 2006 Keneteph Entertainment 

 

 

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