Manu: A Graphic Novel

The urban fantasy webcomic series by Venessa Kelley | Read on Tapas: https://tapas.io/series/Manu | Join Manu's Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/join/manugraphicnovel

[vkelleyart]

*deep breath* 

It has been such a long and winding road to be able to finally make this post. MANU FACES THE MUSIC will soon be my debut graphic novel, published by one of my favorite publishers, Oni Press. There are so many people to thank for this, chief among them Saritza Hernández who believed in this project from the very first panel, Desiree Rodriguez who saw the need for stories like this and threw her support behind it, Andrew Smart who steered me through the artistic direction of the original comic, and my friend and editor extraordinaire Anna Racine whose input was integral to this outcome and without whom I’m sure this book would still be stuck in my head. And endless thanks, as always, to all of you who have supported the comic from the beginning. I cannot wait to show you where Manu’s adventures take her!

[vkelleyart]

Big news on the horizon.

💜🎵🎧

[manu-graphic-novel]

Thank you to everyone who has waited so patiently for news regarding MANU’s future. 💜 I’m pleased to report that big news is on the way, which I hope to share in the new year—but in the meantime, I hope you’ll enjoy some concept art! This teaser poster depicts the world as Manu experiences it when she’s in her full power: as vibrations of light and sound. (Given her music production background, I thought it would be especially fun to convey this with electronic sound levels and oscilloscopes. 🤓)

Hoping to make this poster available for purchase soon. Thanks, as always, for supporting this comic; I’m very excited to spill some beans in 2022 about my gorgeous, queer, “Nuyorican” supergirl, so stay tuned (pun intended)!

[manu-graphic-novel]

Hello! Sorry to bug but I was wondering how the publisher thing was going! I know you posted about it a while ago and said that you might know by October and I was wondering if there was any news. Your story telling is so fantastic, and I'm excited to see where you take this comic. (Not trying to pressure or anything, just want you to know how amazing you are ^-^)

Hello!

So far, so good (albeit I can't share many more details than that)! To give you a vague synopsis of how things are going, Manu made it successfully past the first goal post, and there's basically just one left. Now, if we make it past that one... well. There will be some cause for celebration. 🎉

Thank you so much for asking and for being so supportive of the project! It's because of folks like you that Manu has made it this far, and that's the truth!

[manu-graphic-novel]

MANU News and Happy Hispanic Heritage Month!

Happy September! I hope you're enjoying the end of summer, and given Hispanic Heritage Month begins today, I thought it was a good time to bring you all into the loop about Manu's project status since the story went on hiatus.

Some news: Manu is currently on submission with an interested publisher. This is a very exciting albeit uncertain time while the editorial board deliberates on whether they would like to publish the title under their imprint. While the editor who reached out to express their interest was very enthusiastic about the story, I won't know anything about the outcomes until as late as October.

That said, there’s a high likelihood that, should they decide to pick up my project for publication, they might request changes to the story based on things like pagination, art treatment, audience, etc. In other words, the further I go in producing the current manuscript for the web, the more I may have to revise for the print version.

For this reason, the webcomic is going to continue its hiatus until I have a firmer idea of its future. It's entirely possible that the publisher will decide not to pick up Manu, at which point, we'll be back in business as a webcomic. Whatever the outcome, I’ll try my best to keep you informed.

Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for sticking with Manu. This project would not have gotten this far with you.

[manu-graphic-novel]

Episode 2.1: Back to the Barrio

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Abuelita’ s last words are haunting Manu’s nights, so she’s off to East Harlem to do as she was told—even if she’s got a hunch she might regret it. Of course, when you’re about to step into the unknown, it helps to have reinforcements. Cousins are good like that. Lol

About Manu: At 22, Manuela is just beginning to feel like something in her life is missing when she discovers the reason why: she is a spiritual lightning rod—the last in a line of rare super-mediums. When a sinister threat comes to the New York City barrio where she was raised, she learns she must reclaim her gifts, or lose everything she holds dear.

Thanks again to editor extraordinaire, Anna Racine, for her keen eye and to Mr. VKelleyArt for pinch-hitting as visual continuity editor! Join Manu’s Patreon for monthly inks, early access, and other behind-the-scenes goodies!

If you liked this episode, please help spread the word with a reblog 💜

[manu-graphic-novel]

PRIDE Episode: “Winter Rainbow”

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Taking a bit of a break from our usual monochromatic drama to present a special episode created for the generous subscribers on Tapas who helped me meet my ink goal last month! As I had promised them, here is the comic of Manu and Delia’s first kiss, in color and just in time for Pride 🏳️‍🌈. Hope you are all feeling the love this month, and we’ll be back in July with the beginning of Part 2! (Special thanks to Anna Racine for her expert editorial eye on this!)

About Manu: At 22, Manuela is just beginning to feel like something in her life is missing when she discovers the reason why: she is a spiritual lightning rod—the last in a line of rare super-mediums. When a sinister threat comes to the New York City barrio where she was raised, she learns she must reclaim her gifts, or lose everything she holds dear.

Join Manu’s Patreon for monthly inks, early access, and behind the scenes goodies!

If you liked this episode, please help spread the word with a reblog! 💜

[manu-graphic-novel]

Trigger Warning: Character Death

Episode 12: La Mariposita

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It’s the last episode of Part I, and Manu’s dreams are becoming unsettlingly... accurate. 🥺 Here is the translation of the lullaby Manu and Abuelita sing together:

A little butterfly came down from the sky / With its wings spread out and a flower in its beak. / Who are the flowers for if they’re not for me? / Oh dearest Mama, I’m dying for you. / When Daddy comes, I will say to him / That this little butterfly won’t let me sleep. Sleep!

About MANU: At 22, Manuela is just beginning to feel like something in her life is missing when she discovers the reason why: she is a spiritual lightning rod—the last in a line of rare super-mediums. When a sinister threat comes to the New York City barrio where she was raised, she learns she must reclaim her gifts… or lose everything she holds dear.

Join Manu’s Patreon for monthly inks, early access, and behind the scenes goodies!

If you liked this episode, please help spread the word with a reblog! 💜

[manu-graphic-novel]

Episode 11: Inconvenient Truths

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Abuela has precious little time to help her granddaughter make sense of the past. But now that the secret is out, Manu can’t tell what’s worse: finding out she has hidden superpowers—or being the last one to know?

At 22, Manuela is just beginning to feel like something in her life is missing when she discovers the reason why: she is a spiritual lightning rod—the last in a line of rare super-mediums. When a sinister threat comes to the New York City barrio where she was raised, she learns she must reclaim her gifts… or lose everything she holds dear.

Join Manu’s Patreon for monthly inks, early access, and behind the scenes goodies!

If you liked this episode, please help spread the word with a reblog! 💜

[manu-graphic-novel]

EPISODE 10: “The Message and the Messenger”

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In a mysterious letter addressed to Manu, a voice from the past has urgent things to say about the present. Here’s hoping Manu’s ready to hear them! 👀 So excited to bring 100% new content to the story from here on out! Thanks for sticking with Manu!

At 22, Manuela is just beginning to feel like something in her life is missing when she discovers the reason why: she is a spiritual lightning rod—the last in a line of rare super-mediums. When a sinister threat comes to the New York City barrio where she was raised, she learns she must reclaim her gifts… or lose everything she holds dear.

Join Manu’s Patreon for exclusive monthly inks, early access, and behind the scenes goodies!

If you liked this episode, please help spread the word with a reblog. 🙏💜

[manu-graphic-novel]

EPISODE 9: “Abuelita”

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At 22, Manuela is just beginning to feel like something in her life is missing when she discovers the reason why: she is a spiritual lightning rod—the last in a line of rare super-mediums. When a sinister threat comes to the New York City barrio where she was raised, she learns she must reclaim her gifts... or lose everything she holds dear.

Manu’s reunion with her dying grandmother is bittersweet and underscored by regrets unspoken. She may think she’s there to say goodbye, but revelations await that will change Manu’s future forever.

WE DID IT. This is the last of the rebooted episodes! Next month brings us a brand new bombshell episode, and I AM SO EXCITED. Thank you, as always, to Anna Racine, Andrew Smart, and Arlene Ríos Ramirez for their part in making this reboot possible. Let’s gooooo!

Join the Patreon for exclusive monthly inks, early access, and behind the scenes goodies!

If you liked this episode, please help spread the word with a reblog. 🙏💜

[manu-graphic-novel]

Hi: Are you planning to publish Manu in paper (bound copy)?

Hello! That is an excellent question. 

Right now, I’m working with my agent to pitch Manu as a graphic novel for publication. But regardless of whether or not it’s picked up by a publishing house, my end goal has always been to make Manu available in a bound copy (which is why I have a Patreon for it). No matter what, it will go to print. :)

Thank you so much for the ask!

[manu-graphic-novel]

EPISODE 8: “Iván”

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Manu’s cousin Iván provides a welcome refuge from family drama–that is, until he reveals a rash of arson plaguing the neighborhoods where he and Manu grew up. 👀

One more rebooted episode remains before Manu’s story continues with all new content! Thanks, as always, to Anna Racine, Andrew Smart, and Arlene Ríos Ramirez for their help in rebooting this series, and to you for reading! If you liked this episode, spread the word with a reblog! 💜

Join the Patreon for exclusive monthly inks, early access, and behind the scenes goodies!

[manu-graphic-novel]

[TRIGGER WARNING for familial homophobia.]

EPISODE 7: Homecoming, Pt. 2

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Alas, all is not well at the Villanueva household. Tensions are high, tolerance is low, and Manu’s sister seems to know... something. 👀 We’re getting closer to the reveal! Thanks, as always, to Anna Racine, Andrew Smart, and Arlene Ríos Ramirez for their help in rebooting this series. Thanks for reading, and if you liked this episode, I hope you’ll spread the word with a reblog!💜

Join the Patreon for exclusive monthly inks, early access, and behind the scenes goodies!

[manu-graphic-novel]

EPISODE 6: Homecoming Pt. 1

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Manuela Villanueva has no memory of life before her third eye closed, nor the power it sealed inside her. A rich and successful music producer at only 22, Manu is just beginning to sense something in her life is missing when she learns the reason why. A spiritual lightning rod and the last in a line of rare super-mediums, Manu learns she must reclaim her gifts... or lose everything she holds dear.

Nothing says holiday cheer like family drama, no? The Homecoming Episodes are back with a new treatment and, soon, quite a bit of new content. We’re almost there! Thank you, as always, to @god-is-bready for her editing expertise, to Andrew Smart for art cheerleading, and to you for following along!

Thanks for reading, and if you liked this episode, I hope you’ll spread the word with a reblog!💜

BONUS: Become a $5 patron to see exclusive flashback concept art on Patreon!

[manu-graphic-novel]

EPISODE 5: “THE CHAIN”

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Manuela Villanueva doesn’t remember saving her family home from the hurricane. She doesn’t know the power they sealed inside her when they closed her third eye. Years later, Manu learns a startling truth—that she is a spiritual lightning rod and the last in a line of rare super-mediums. Against all odds, Manu must reawaken her powers to save the New York City barrio that raised her or lose everything she holds dear.

Slowly but surely, we are getting back to the point where we are no longer rebooting, but rather seeing 100% brand new panels. That said, this episode got a helluva revision, and for that, I’d like to thank @god-is-bready for helping to steer this whole story onto the right path for an entirely different intended audience.

Thanks for reading, and if you liked this episode, I hope you’ll spread the word with a reblog!💜

BONUS: Become a $5 patron to see an exclusive flashback ink scene between Manu and Delia on Manu’s Patreon. :)

[manu-graphic-novel]

Monthly Inks!

CLICK: https://www.patreon.com/posts/monthly-inks-for-42676763

Starting today, I’ll be posting a monthly ink piece exclusively for Manu’s patrons!

To access the art linked above and never miss a future ink, join Manu’s Patreon at the $3 or $7 level!

Become a Patron

[manu-graphic-novel]

Do you happen to have a list all of your copic markers (including the array of shades) and liners? I love the look you get without using any color.

Hello! I’m assuming this is probably an ink-a-thon question, since Manu is inked and colored digitally, but I’d be happy to share my marker tools with you!

First, this is what I use for detail work. From left to right: Micron pens of varying thickness, Sakura Pen-Touch white paint pens for highlights, white outlines and corrections, Pitt Pens in grayscale colors, and Prismacolor pencils in 2H (for blocking) and HB for sketching.

Then, we got the Copics. This is a bit easier. I have been gradually collecting all the gray color groups. There’s the warm gray group, which I tend to use for skin:

The cool grays for shadows, jeans and other cooler toned things:

And then the Neutral and Toner grays for basically anything/everything else. 😁

I hope this demystifies things a bit. Thanks so much for asking! 🥰