Von Allan's art, comics and graphic novels

A couple of years ago, I was lucky enough (and surprised enough!) to receive a $4,000.00 grant from the City of Ottawa’s Arts Funding Program. Well, lo and behold, I was again lucky enough to receive a second one from the City of Ottawa’s Arts Funding Program (the PDF announcement from the City is here). Both grants are in support of my ongoing comics project WOLF’S HEAD.

This grant along with the previous one are both incredibly important; they really do give some much needed financial support for my comics endeavours. As I’ve noted, being an artist is not an easy path and every little bit of financial support helps. As I noted when I received the first grant back in 2020, "When a jury of my peers determined that my application was worthy of financial support, my jaw dropped. And it’s taken a bit of time for me to really get my head around it. I’m both honoured and pleased as punch to receive it." The same is doubly true now!

So yes, Von Allan Studio (that’s me, folks!) gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the City of Ottawa!
So what is WOLF’S HEAD about? Well, the best way to explain it is to share the synopsis. Here goes:

Lauren Greene is a young woman who has quit her job as a police officer in Metro Detroit after becoming frustrated with growing police violence. At the same time, and unbeknownst to Lauren, a secretive corporation has created an artificial intelligence (AI) designed for war. An AI that might actually change the world…but not for the better.

Struggling to find work in a tough economy and unsure of what to do with her life, Lauren suddenly has a new problem: her mom, Patty, has found and connected with the newly born AI. And, partially due to that connection, the AI has become empathic and humane, much to the frustration of the corporate executives and scientists who created it. After Patty helps the young AI escape under the cover of a huge research factory fire, she turns to her daughter for help keeping it safe.

Giddy with excitement, Patty doesn't recognize the danger she has put herself in…but Lauren does and she is terrified. Her fear is realized when the two women are confronted by corporate forces who want to stifle knowledge of the AI and keep it for themselves. As Lauren does her best to keep her mom safe, the tensions over the AI erupt between them, leaving Lauren on her own.

Broke, down on her luck, and needing a job very badly, Lauren turns to her friends for help, all the while keeping her mom's discovery a secret.

Last thing: There is a dedicated website for the series at https://wolfs-head.vonallan.com/ with a great deal of extra content. Working on the series has been an incredibly rewarding experience. And the reviews have been very strong (for example, Frank Plowright did a lovely one and Professor David Beard did a fantastic one.