Faust is the lead

superhero A superhero or superheroine is a fictional character who typically possesses ''superpowers'' or abilities beyond those of ordinary people, is frequently costumed concealing their identity, and fits the role of the hero, typically using their ...

character and title of a collective series of

comic book A comic book, comic-magazine, or simply comic is a publication that consists of comics art in the form of sequential juxtaposed panel (comics), panels that represent individual scenes. Panels are often accompanied by descriptive prose and wri ...

s by

Tim Vigil Timothy B. Vigil () is an American Comic book creator, comic book artist known for horror comics, horror works, including the series ''Faust (comics), Faust'', which Vigil co-created with writer David Quinn (writer), David Quinn. The book's main ...

(art) and playwright David Quinn (stories), released by American publishers Northstar Publishing,

Avatar Press Avatar Press is an independent American comic book publisher founded in 1996 by William A. Christensen, and based in Rantoul, Illinois. It was originally known for publishing bad girl comics, such as ''Pandora'', ''Hellina'', ''Lookers'', ''The ...

, and principally by Vigil and Quinn's own Rebel Studios. Alongside contemporaries ''

Watchmen ''Watchmen'' is a comic book Limited series (comics), limited series by the British creative team of writer Alan Moore, artist Dave Gibbons, and colorist John Higgins (comics), John Higgins. It was published monthly by DC Comics in 1986 and 19 ...

'', ''

The Crow ''The Crow'' is a supernatural superhero comic book series created by James O'Barr revolving around the titular character of the same name. The series, which was originally created by O'Barr as a means of dealing with the death of his fianc� ...

'', and ''

The Dark Knight Returns ''The Dark Knight Returns'' (alternatively titled ''Batman: The Dark Knight Returns'' but originally titled ''Batman: The Dark Knight'') is a 1986 four-issue comic book miniseries starring Batman, written by Frank Miller, illustrated by Miller ...

'', Faust was credited with popularizing the "deconstructed superheroes" genre and the notion that "comics aren't just for kids." One of the bestselling independent comics of the era, ''Faust'' issue 1 sold over 100,000 copies with later issues averaging 50,000 sales per issue, most of which sold through several printings and editions. The series features strong graphic violence and sexual situations. The main series is known as ''Faust: Love of The Damned'' and debuted in 1988, with new issues published irregularly, roughly once a year, or sometimes every two years. David Quinn completed a script in 1996 (when writing the proposal to sell the film). The gap between issues grew wider with time. Issue 13 was published in 2005. It then took seven years for the authors to deliver the two last issues, 14 and 15, which concluded the story 25 years after the first episode. In 2000,

Lionsgate Films Lionsgate Films (spelled as Lions Gate until 2005, and formerly Cinépix Film Properties until 1998) is a Canadian-American film production and distribution company founded in Montreal, Quebec, Canada on June 15, 1962. It was owned by Lionsga ...

released the

Brian Yuzna Brian Yuzna is an American film producer, director, and writer. He is best known for his work in the science fiction and horror film genres. Yuzna began his career as a producer for several films by director Stuart Gordon, such as ''Re-Animator ...

produced feature film adaptation '' Faust: Love of the Damned'' and in July 2021, it was announced

Sony Pictures Television Sony Pictures Television Inc. (abbreviated as SPT) is an American television production company, production and broadcast syndication, distribution studio. Based at the Sony Pictures Studios complex in Culver City, California, it is a division o ...

would adapt the comic as an animated series.

Plot

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

, Beef and Hapi, two hitmen who work for a mysterious

Mephistophelian Mephistopheles ( , ), also known as Mephostophilis or Mephisto, is a demon featured in German folklore, originating as the chief devil in the Faust legend. He has since become a stock character appearing in other works of arts and popular cultur ...

crime boss known as "M", kill a drug dealer and his girlfriend. This violence is detailed in the newspaper articles of Ron Balfour, a journalist who meets Doctor Jade DeCamp in a cafe. Jade has been fired from

Bellevue Hospital Bellevue Hospital (officially NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue and formerly known as Bellevue Hospital Center) is a hospital in New York City and the oldest public hospital in the United States. One of the largest hospitals in the United States ...

and is furious over the accidental death of her patient and secret lover, John Jaspers. After Jade leaves the cafe, she and Balfour are assaulted by a gang of street punks. A horn-masked figure, Faust, then appears, laughing and singing while he slaughters the street punks with a pair of retractable forearm

talons A claw is a curved, pointed appendage found at the end of a toe or finger in most amniotes (mammals, reptiles, birds). Some invertebrates such as beetles and spiders have somewhat similar fine, hooked structures at the end of the leg or tars ...

. Jade realizes in horror that Faust is John Jaspers. Jaspers later wonders if he has spilled too much blood, or not enough. He, apparently hallucinating, sees demons everywhere. One night from his

Brooklyn Heights Brooklyn Heights is a residential neighborhood within the New York City borough of Brooklyn. The neighborhood is bounded by Old Fulton Street near the Brooklyn Bridge on the north, Cadman Plaza West on the east, Atlantic Avenue on the south ...

mansion, M calls a radio station and requests to play the song "

Are You Lonesome Tonight? "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" (sometimes stylized as Are You Lonesome To-night?) is a song written by Roy Turk and Lou Handman in 1926. It was recorded several times in 1927, first by Charles Hart, but also with successful versions by Vaughn De ...

" repeatedly, saying it should be dedicated "From M to the new kid in town", Faust. Later, it is shown that M played a role in Jaspers' Bellevue treatment. M's criminal colleagues want him to unleash his secret "Project Assassin", to eliminate Faust, unaware that Faust is M's prized killer. Jaspers then regains his lost memories of being an assassin for M, as well as the rebellion that led to his supposed "death".

Publications

*'' Faust: Love of the Damned'' (#1–6 published by Northstar Publishing/Productions in 1989–1990, then reprinted by Rebel Studios; #7–15 published by Rebel Studios in 1991–2012; collected in volumes titled ''Faust: Communion'') *'' Faust/777: The Wrath'' (aka ''Darkness in Collision'') (#0, 1–4 published by

in 1998–1999,

crossover Crossover may refer to: Entertainment Music Albums * ''Cross Over'' (album), a 1987 album by Dan Peek, or the title song * ''Crossover'' (Dirty Rotten Imbeciles album), 1987 * ''Crossover'', an album by Intrigue * ''Crossover'', an album by ...

with Quinn & Vigil's '' 777: The Wrath'') *'' Faust: Book of M'' (#1–3 published by Avatar Press in 1999) *'' Faust: Singha's Talons'' (#½, 1–4 published by Avatar Press in 2000) *''Faust: Claire's Lust'' (

one-shot One shot may refer to: Film and television * One-shot film, a feature film shot in one long take with no edits, or manufactured to look like so * ''One Shot'' (2005 film), a Sri Lankan action film directed by Ranjan Ramanayake * ''One Shot'', a ...

published by Avatar Press in 2000)

Anthology appearances

*''

Raw Media Mags Raw is an adjective usually describing: * Raw materials, basic materials from which products are manufactured or made * Raw food, uncooked food Raw or RAW may also refer to: Computing and electronics * .RAW, a proprietary mass spectrometry data ...

'' #1 (published by Rebel Studios in 1991; includes "2020: Giant Step", a then-futuristic Faust tale) *''

Threshold Threshold may refer to: Science Biology * Threshold (reference value) * Absolute threshold * Absolute threshold of hearing * Action potential * Aerobic threshold * Anaerobic threshold * Dark adaptation threshold * Epidemic threshold * Flicke ...

'' #7 (published by Avatar Press in 1998; includes ''Faust/777: The Wrath'' prelude) *''Threshold'' #24 (published by Avatar Press ; includes ''Faust: Singha's Talons'' prelude)

References

Bibliography

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * {{Faust navbox American comics adapted into films American superheroes Avatar Press titles Comics characters introduced in 1988 Comics characters with superhuman strength Comics set in New York City Demon characters in comics Fictional blade fighters Fictional demons Fictional artists Fictional assassins in comics Fictional characters who have made pacts with devils Fictional characters with mental disorders Fictional mass murderers Male characters in comics Vigilante characters in comics Works based on the Faust legend