Bantam Magenta and the Twilight Forest: The History - The original storyline was created back in 1995, during my re-immersion into anime. I thought it would be cool to have 'Little Red Riding Hood' set in an anime-style, post apocalyptic world ruled by Vampires. - After realizing my original ideas for it could actually work, I (then using the moniker ‘Judge’) placed a free ad in The Maxx#17 looking for an artist to collaborate with. I playfully listed myself as 'The Future Master of Horror and Fantasy', which was a gimmick to get people to send in their submissions. Officially though, only a small amount of fan boys and serious artists replied. - After a young girl from North Carolina named Lauren Martin sent in some art that he liked, I decided she would be a good choice to draw Bantam Magenta. Lauren absolutely loved the concept, and was the first to draw many of the characters. - For over a year and a half we corresponded by mail and by phone. Outside of Bantam Magenta, we talked about our love for The Maxx comic and Sailor Moon. Lauren eventually drew a minicomic based on the original beginning of the storyline. My copy of the comic was later unfortunately lost in a Big Apple Convention a few years later... - The height of the partnership came as I got the opportunity to get a theatrical version of The Twilight Forest produced by The Metropolitan Playhouse. Providing some nice artwork that was used in the advertisement fliers, the play had two script-in-hand performances, both successful. The second performance was taped and sent to Lauren (which at this time may be the only copy that exists). - Sadly, Lauren and I lost contact with each other when she moved away. Her father (whom was a lawyer) was on the fast track to become a judge, causing the entire Martin family to move to where he could be one. During the same time, my family was also in the process of moving to another part of The Bronx. I had sent a letter before the move, but there was never a response to it. To this day, I wish I could find out what happened to Lauren and where she is living today... - After the original failed attempts to write The Twilight Forest as a novel, I decided to write it as a full-fledged comic. Collaborating with Haze Studios, I came into contact with an excellent artist by the name of Alana Roberts (also known as A.Ro. A.Ro (like Lauren before her) loved the concept and decided to work on Twilight forest. Over the course of three years, A.Ro would illustrate a 13pg mini comic, various character designs she herself created and an unfinished 32pg 1st issue. - Due to personal and professional differences that arose in 2000, A.Ro had decided to end her involvement with me. The abrupt split was so disastrous to my work that I decided to postpone any plans concerning the Twilight Forest storyline. Up until recently, I focused instead on writing comic scripts based on my many other ideas. This road lead to nowheresville. - After suffering through years of depression and loneliness, I kicked my own ass and decided to crawl out of the mucky gutter I created for myself. I again started up plans for The Twilight Forest in late 2004. Wishing to break out of the confines of comic scripts, I decided to go back to my old ideas of making the story into a novel...