In 2013, Bryan Davis commissioned me to illustrate the characters from his new dystopian novel series, Reapers. The story follows young adults as they go about their duties as Reapers, collecting the souls of the deceased and taking them to the Gateway where they find their eternal rest... or so they are told. What exactly happens to those souls? It's up to Phoenix and his companions to uncover the mystery surrounding the Gateway and the one man who oversees the entire operation.

Phoenix Sketch

The main protagonist is a young male named Phoenix. Each Reaper is named after the city that they were born in. They wear special cloaks made from the very fibers of their hair. When they collect souls, they are temporarily stored in their cloaks until they are taken to the Gateway.

Shanghai Sketch

Shanghai is a very skilled Reaper and very good friend to Phoenix, possibly a love interest. She has more experience as a Reaper than Phoenix, but she respects him because of his compassionate toward the downtrodden.

Singapore Sketch

Singapore goes by the nickname Sing. She is the youngest of the three and the newest recruit. She believes that there is something wrong with the system and suspects that the Gateway is not what it seems. Her goal is to try to bring back the soul of her mother from the beyond.

Reapers Lineart

Every Reaper is equipped with a utility belt that includes a rope, syringes, medicine, daggers, and other items. They are nimble, hide in the shadows, and usually keep to themselves. It's quite rare for Reapers to form such close bonds with others. The job is not an easy one, and most people fear Reapers even though they are simply performing a necessary service.

I painted the background as a dark and grungy alleyway from the inner city. I originally gave the entire thing a green hue because of the paranormal themes involved with the story. Later, however, I would change it to blue. The story takes place in the near future, but because of the dystopian nature of the story the world, the environment that people live in is less than ideal.

The purpose of this commission was to serve as a possible book cover for the first novel. When shared with audiences, it gave people the impression that the book was going to be a graphic novel. Bryan Davis has since finished writing all three books in the series, completing the trilogy. It's definitely worth a read, especially if you enjoy YA.