Genma Visage FAQ

Short answer Genma Visage is a action horror comic, one that mixes the Occult with Cosmic mysticism. It also has a Demonic Psychic-Ninja Warmachine that runs around kicking evils ass with a gory vengeance.

Genma Visage weaves a tale about Monsters are created from Psychic powers of various means ranging from the supernatural, black magic, to bioenginnering. The story actually starts off world on the planet Shuromij, home to the humanoid race the Shurokiu, a species as Darwinism would have it that evolved from humans to multiheaded Hydras that existed millions of years before. It was this unique genetic makeup that bestowed the Shurokiu with strengths and weaknesses, including a Therianthropy that transformed. under stress or injury, the host into bloody thirsty monsters referred to as Drago Visages. Feared because of their destructive nature, the form was soon cured within millenia of the Shurokiu's existence, but a rare disease called Dragohaemophilia still reminds the race to this day that the Drago Visage has not been entirely extinguished.
To combat this fear along with the other threats to Shuromij, the now defunct order called Nishin Genma was eager to help the populance with its Militant arm of Psychic soldiers to maintain peace. Sadly in time, the Orders noble origins eroded to corruption, as through research into Drago Visage the order sought the psychic ritual called Genma Visage, at the cost of many lives.

The story focuses on the character Ryuken, one of the Nishin Genma's psychic assassins from the planet Shuromij. He participated in the Genma Visage in hopes of a cure for his own Dragohaemophilia, little suspecting at the time the level of treachery at foot that had doomed him at birth. With the Genma Visage, the unique fusion of psychic powers, the light of creation and the flow of energy from the Nether realms, Ryuken was transformed into something more and less than human. His powers increased to omnipetent degrees, he cursed and condemned to the grave the snakes who took so much from him, as he bore the titles of Youkai and Demigod with grudging reluctance.
Now Ryuken works as a Vigilante Mercenary, travelling worlds to hunt down all those that wronged him, whilst coming to terms with not just the loss of his past, but the brooding monstrosties that he now encounters. Armed with Arcane skills and Psychic Firepower, Ryuken remains a wildcard, standing up for the good and the innocent, with anarchic ultraviolence.

About the artist and writer: Thomas Tuke is an artist, cartoonist and animator who has done a fair few commissions in the past, and works mainly with traditional mediums. You can view more of his work on http://mrtuke.deviantart.com and www.youtube.com/tstuke

Frequently Asked Questions.

Q: What Age rating is Genma Visage?
A: With strong themes of violence, sex, horror and vulgarities amongst other things, this is not meant for anyone under the age of 18.

Q: When does Genma Visage update and how much?
A: I aim for about 3 updates a week. There is no set update day for the comic at the moment. However, for now I've decided to add a weekly rota mentioning which days the comic will be updated.

Q: What's a relatable influence for this comic, and what's the target audience?
A: Think Ninja Turtles meets Resident Evil with some Middle Eastern Mythology plus lots of Heavy Metal, and that's Genma Visage in nutshell.
Target audience wise, we're looking at metal heads, horror fans, British comic readers thanks to its black humour, and at a stretch of the imagination, Americans who like super heroes. It isn't quite intended for the Indie and Webcomic crowd per say, but I have been yielding to that kind of genre and humour as of late. Of course I meant to say this comic is for everyone besides kids. :P

Q: What's the history? How did this comic come about?
A: Back in 1999 when i was 13 I did a comic called Bloodfeud that went on for 17 books of 14 pages each, with a never-finished spinoff called "Maxila". It was about a colony of Fairies in the near future who summon a noble Demon to fight evil vampires and the monstrous undead. It was a blend of horror, superheroics, and comedy with the ingestion of manga \ Image comic styles at the time.
Fast forward to 2003 and i started work on a new story that drew small inspiration from Bloodfeud right down to some of the names. The "Psyomaster Ryuken" period actually started as a written story called Kouryu Sukuinushi with a plot that was mostly ripping off the cartoon Fist of the North Star. Artwise it went through numourous phases based on what fads were hip at the time, from 1980s martial arts anime to Abstract \ Surrealist Fine art. In 2007 in which i attempted the scenario in comic book form again, complete with the look and backdrop close to what's shown today. In the "Overkill" period i was mainly just mucking about and seeing what i could come up with. It was 2009 in which the story i wanted to tell and Universe i wanted to create was born, just in time for the 10th year anniversary of Blood Feud.
Despite the heavy delays imposed by University studies at the time, the comic has been ongoing since.

Q: Will you ever continue Kouryu Sukunuishi?
A: It basically won't continue. No one's interested and I'm having way too much fun with Genma Visage. It's Worth noting though that although Overkill was originally intended as a prequel \ sequel, Genma Visage is a different story altogether of which the Kouryu story has no place in the successors history or canon.
Apart from that, elements of both Kouryu and Bloodfeud are occasionally referenced in the comic, to the point in which i might "remake" certain situations in the story. We'll see.

Q: Can i read Kouryu Sukuinushi or Bloodfeud somewhere?
A: You can chase up Kouryu Sukuinushi on my old DA account http://bluesonnet.deviantart.com or on www.fictionpress.com . As for Bloodfeud, some of the issues were uploaded in zip format on a download page on one of the old website looks (roundabout 2005). I took them down eventually because i wanted more content about the present available than stuff i did 10 years ago. I have no intention of uploading the original comics at this moment. With Genma Visage returning to its roots with a touch of wisdom there seems little point in showing Bloodfeud again.

Q: What is Psyomaster Ryuken / Overkill?
A: These are working names for Genma Visage, although Psyomaster Ryuken is a title still used by myself and some of my friends.

Q: Who are your influences as an arty person?
A: More than i can shake a stick at.

Q: What are your favourite web comics?
A: MakeTeanotWar and Cosmic hero for starters since they were the two that got me into webcomics in particular. Other honourable mentions include Dr Mcninja, Edible dirt, anything by Tony Day, and the usual stuff. But not Penny Arcade. Fuck those whiney teenagers.
I also have good interest in Scottish Underground comics, such as Ganjaman and Total Fear. As a general note, i associate more with the "Underground" crowd than i do with Indie or Webcomics.

Q: What are you mediums?
A: For the writing, a good keyboard, a computer with word and decent performance. For art I use pencils, acrylic\gouache paints, marker pens, inks, Adobe Photoshop with scanner. I used to integrate photography into my work using a digital camera but that technique went underwater with the arrival of fully painted art and comic techniques.

Originally the comic would jump from pure black and white western comic art to fully painted panels, similar to what they do in Hong Kong comics. It's been described as somewhat "expressive" and often reflects the circumstances it was done in. The first book was done on a 1 page a week basis, whilst the first half of book 3 was done in quite ghettorized circumstances in which i was working a fulltime job 30-40 hours a week and commission or two all at the same time. Thus i had to look into shortcuts and experiments to increase output for the comic, which was sometimes more plentiful than normal.

These days it takes me 5 to 7 hours to complete a page.

Q: Can I give you giftart of your works?
A: Sure. Send it to my email address stated above. It generally gos up on the Facebook of the website along with the image \ sketch gallery.

Q: I've been reading Frederic Wertham lately. Do you ever wonder or fear that your pictures and story will come off as (homo)erotic?
Adult Comic.

Q: My browser won't load your site. Eeep!
A: My site opens fine with Internet explorer, Mozilla, Firefox, Msn Explorer and even Applemac's Safari. For any other browser that i haven't tried it on, i just don't know so i can't guarantee. But frankly this website was done in something as basic as Frontpage express for goodness sake, so whatever faulty browser you're using must be one sick puppy.

Q: Have you considered getting your work published?
A: Check the store page or the myspace at the top for any little goodies available.

I otherwise sell the comic at local comic conventions and underground markets. Keep an eye on the news to see which ones i'm going to.

Q: What's the best resolution to view this site in?
A: 1024 by 768. My current settings are 1280 by 800.

Q: Do you worship Satan?
A: I like reading up on Crowley and Polytheistic religions if that counts.

Any more Questions send here tstuke@hotmail.com.