Comic Book Review: Angels of the Seven Lights: Black Angel

Bill Alvarez

Through his comic books and the no-

vel Violet Descends, Puerto Rico-born 

author Angel Fuentes has introduced 

readers to the Saga of The Seven Li-

ghts, the story of a group of superna-

tural beings -- angels, literally -- who 

carry out God's wishes in the physical 

world. In Violet Descends, the angels

work together to try to stop the forces 

of Hell from taking control of the rea-

lm of the living. While the novel focu-

ses on the titular character -- the angel

in charge of controlling the world of e-

motions -- the entire heavenly cast plays 

a role. 

Among that cast is the mysterious and silent Angel of  Death, Azrael. It is 

she who is the focus of  the new comic book "Angels of the Seven Lights: 

Black Angel", written by the aforementioned Mr. Fuentes and expertly 

drawn by fellow Puerto Rican, co-creator Ivonne Falcon, with assistance 

from Wilfredo Lopez.

In the first story, the titular Black Angel aids 19th century Texas  Sheriff 

William Murphy, after he is killed by outlaw Henry "Black Cloud" Stevens, 

who also killed the Sheriff's son. Once Murphy ends up in Purgatory, the 

mute angel helps get his soul back, so that he may reach the captured soul 

of his dead son. But first, Murphy has to battle the unknown with his own 

hands. In the second story, much more subdued than the first, the Black An-

gel has visions of what may come for her and her angelic cohorts, seeming 

to offer a glimpse into horrific events yet to come. 

The writing in both tales provides what 

is needed to move the story forward wi-

thout falling into minimalism. Generally, 

little prose is wasted here, and the focus 

on a small core of players provides for a 

coherent story that new readers can find 

easy to jump into (although reading the 

Violet Descends novel would provide 

useful background). The language can 

border on the lyrical without falling into 

unnecessarily purple prose. But not eve-

rything is given away; a few things are 

kept behind the curtain, making the rea-

der crave more. And it certainly seems 

that Mr. Fuentes is more than willing

and able to ladle out much more of this 

type of thoughtful and well-paced story-

telling in the near future. That being said, 

there is no shortage of more traditional 

comic-book action in Black Angel, as superpowered action and violent con-

flicts with monstrous creatures are part and parcel of the story.

Ivonne Falcon's shadow-filled black and white art is a perfect fit for
this type of  story. It is clear and precise without overindulging in de-
tail, with an excellent sense of pacing which is essential for good gra-
phic storytelling. It is polished, but also has an organic, almost fleshy
feel that adds an eerie sense of reality to the supernatural proceedings.
This is no amateur or fan artist, but recognizable as a professional in
her field. Those who say there aren't enough truly good female artists
in the world of graphic fiction have not seen Ms. Falcon's work, but
it's hard to imagine that they will be able to avoid it for much longer.
Wilfredo Lopez's addition of greytones adds depth to a story that de-
mands to be enveloped in shadows and half light, and magnificently
wraps up the artistic  package.

A short text story is included in the middle of the book, which delves 

into the Black Angel's origins in Old Testament Egypt. For those of 

you unfamiliar with Angel Fuentes' non-comic writing, the story ser-

ves not just as character background but as a deeper sample of what he

is capable of on the written page, unaided by sequential art.

Angels of the Seven Lights: Black Angel is out now and is published 

by RBA Comics. It is available for free at Panicopress.com. The An-
gels of the Seven Lights Saga can also be found on Twitter and Face
book.

Bill Alvarez is a staff writer for The Puerto Rico Monitor and can be reached at 
embillpublishing@gmail.com.

Comic Book Review: Angels of the Seven Lights: Black Angel

Bill Alvarez

Through his comic books and the no-

vel Violet Descends, Puerto Rico-born 

author Angel Fuentes has introduced 

readers to the Saga of The Seven Li-

ghts, the story of a group of superna-

tural beings -- angels, literally -- who 

carry out God's wishes in the physical 

world. In Violet Descends, the angels

work together to try to stop the forces 

of Hell from taking control of the rea-

lm of the living. While the novel focu-

ses on the titular character -- the angel

in charge of controlling the world of e-

motions -- the entire heavenly cast plays 

a role. 

Among that cast is the mysterious and silent Angel of  Death, Azrael. It is 

she who is the focus of  the new comic book "Angels of the Seven Lights: 

Black Angel", written by the aforementioned Mr. Fuentes and expertly 

drawn by fellow Puerto Rican, co-creator Ivonne Falcon, with assistance 

from Wilfredo Lopez.

In the first story, the titular Black Angel aids 19th century Texas  Sheriff 

William Murphy, after he is killed by outlaw Henry "Black Cloud" Stevens, 

who also killed the Sheriff's son. Once Murphy ends up in Purgatory, the 

mute angel helps get his soul back, so that he may reach the captured soul 

of his dead son. But first, Murphy has to battle the unknown with his own 

hands. In the second story, much more subdued than the first, the Black An-

gel has visions of what may come for her and her angelic cohorts, seeming 

to offer a glimpse into horrific events yet to come. 

The writing in both tales provides what 

is needed to move the story forward wi-

thout falling into minimalism. Generally, 

little prose is wasted here, and the focus 

on a small core of players provides for a 

coherent story that new readers can find 

easy to jump into (although reading the 

Violet Descends novel would provide 

useful background). The language can 

border on the lyrical without falling into 

unnecessarily purple prose. But not eve-

rything is given away; a few things are 

kept behind the curtain, making the rea-

der crave more. And it certainly seems 

that Mr. Fuentes is more than willing

and able to ladle out much more of this 

type of thoughtful and well-paced story-

telling in the near future. That being said, 

there is no shortage of more traditional 

comic-book action in Black Angel, as superpowered action and violent con-

flicts with monstrous creatures are part and parcel of the story.

Ivonne Falcon's shadow-filled black and white art is a perfect fit for
this type of  story. It is clear and precise without overindulging in de-
tail, with an excellent sense of pacing which is essential for good gra-
phic storytelling. It is polished, but also has an organic, almost fleshy
feel that adds an eerie sense of reality to the supernatural proceedings.
This is no amateur or fan artist, but recognizable as a professional in
her field. Those who say there aren't enough truly good female artists
in the world of graphic fiction have not seen Ms. Falcon's work, but
it's hard to imagine that they will be able to avoid it for much longer.
Wilfredo Lopez's addition of greytones adds depth to a story that de-
mands to be enveloped in shadows and half light, and magnificently
wraps up the artistic  package.

A short text story is included in the middle of the book, which delves 

into the Black Angel's origins in Old Testament Egypt. For those of 

you unfamiliar with Angel Fuentes' non-comic writing, the story ser-

ves not just as character background but as a deeper sample of what he

is capable of on the written page, unaided by sequential art.

Angels of the Seven Lights: Black Angel is out now and is published 

by RBA Comics. It is available for free at Panicopress.com. The An-
gels of the Seven Lights Saga can also be found on Twitter and Face
book.

Bill Alvarez is a staff writer for The Puerto Rico Monitor and can be reached at 
embillpublishing@gmail.com.

We Follow-Up With 'Violet Descends' Author Angel Fuentes

Several months ago, we talked to Puerto Rico-born author Angel Fuentes about his
sci-fi/fantasy novel, Violet Descends. Never one to rest on his laurels, Mr. Fuentes
has been busy at work ever since on a variety of projects. We sat down again with
him this week to catch up on what it is that he has been slaving over since the suc-
ccesful release of his first novel...

What have you been up to since the publication 
of Violet Descends? 

I spent about eight months promoting the book
online and at conventions. I'm also trying to find
better venues to get the book in people's hands.
Still working on it.  On the creative side, in addi-
tion to writing the next book of the Seven Lights
saga,  I've returned to writing comics.


What can we expect as you continue to tell the 
story of the Seven Lights Saga?

The next book is called Transient of the Stars. It's
about angels and space and aliens (Whaaat?!) It
will be a shorter novel than Violet Descends. Ho-
pefully, it should come out by the end of this year
or early 2017.


You've been very involved in comic writing, editing and publishing through 
the years, mostly with your own RBA Studios, but have concentrated more 
on prose the last few years. Are you getting back into comics now?

Yessir! I love comics. It's a collaborative medium and obviously it's visuals make
the story more immediate. Right now, my artist friends Ivonne Falcon and Wilfre-
do Lopez and I are giving the final touches to a Black Angel one shot special co-
ming out on August 1st  It will contain two comic stories and one prose in addition
to a preview of something else we'll be promoting soon. All of this will be FREE
for download through my site www.panicopress.com and ireadbooks.com.


Where do you see the Seven Lights Saga going in the long  term?

I see the Seven Lights as a multimedia franchise that will make me and Ivonne
rich beyond our wildest dreams! Lol!

Actually, I want to explore this creationist based world Ivonne and I created in
terms of themes and genres and maybe ask some questions about the role of God
and religion in modern society. On my next book, for example, I mix up my ange-
lic mythology with the possible existence of aliens, and how religious belief can
be undone by the discovery of the unknown.  Genre speaking, this new book will
play more as an alien invasion story rather than the apocalyptic fantasy that was
Violet Descends.


Which character, or characters, are you intending to focus more on in your 
future work?

The prose book, Transient of the Stars, will focus more on Zadkiel, also known as
Blue. He is the angel of progress and invention, and a space nut. However, his an-
gelic beliefs are question when he discovers there's something out there other than
angels, demons and humans.

On the comic side, the Black Angel comic will focus on Azrael, the angel of death,
her origins, and a vision with a small taste of things to come.

You've been in New York for a few years 
now, but surely you've kept up with the 
troubling situation in Puerto Rico. What is 
your take on the current economic and social 
crisis on the island?

Polititians in congress may be hiding behind
the excuse that PR's Government has been ne-
gligent to avoid helping out, but PR is a part of
the United States and it is inevitable that anyth-
ing that disrupts Puerto Rico's economy will aff-
ect US economy too. The time to take action is
now.


If you could work with one author or artist, 
dead or alive, who would it be and why?

Oh, that's easy. Grant Morrison.  He's an author that goes way beyond convention
and takes imagination on a whole new level. To some people his work may seem a
bit too out there, but there is always a logic to his madness. The way he influences
my work is by showing me I can go anywhere with these concepts I've come up
with. I would love to see what he would do with my angels, specially Goldie.


Where can people learn more about your work and what to expect next?

Angels of the Seven Lights on Facebook @emoangelviolet on Twitter and
www.panicopress.com.

An Interview With Violet Descends Author Angel Fuentes

Feature

Like many an artist who has had to pull up stakes in order to better realize their creative dreams, Puerto Rican author Angel Fuentes left his native island in 2010 for New York City in order to better pursue a writing career. Which is not to say he hadn't already done plenty in Puerto Rico. Fuentes had been writing for years before his move. Not only did he write numerous stories for the Puerto Rico- based indie comic book publisher Razor Blade Apple, he was also the imprint's founder and publisher, as well as the creator of several of its characters. Besides this, Fuentes wrote for local television, contributed stories to alocal anthology and even wrote and co-produced the Spanish-language black comedy film "Santa Cristal".

Angel Fuentes' work often deals with the superhuman, the supernatural, and the macabre. And yet, his work is unfailingly streaked with a sly humor that belies the often dark and unorthodox subject matter. His willingness to explore religious and metaphysical themes, and his equally present insistence on refusing to take those same subjects completely seriously, makes for some compelling and engaging reading. His latest (and first) novel, Violet Descends, was published in 2014 by Panico Press, after its unveiling at an event in midtown Manhattan. We recently caught up with the author to chat about his roots
and his work.

Why did you decide to go into writing, and when did you start writing professionally?

Since I was a kid I've always enjoyed telling stories, either by writing comic strips or writing school plays. But I never actually considered myself to be a writer until college, when I began self publishing comics and writing short stories and screenplays. After more than a decade doing that, I decided to also try writing novels.

Your first novel, which came out very recently, is titled Violet Descends. What is it about?

Violet Descends is the story of an angel that decided to quit her duties. The consequences of her actions will affect the world as she accidentally triggers the apocalypse.

Where and how did the character of Violet originate?

Violet was inspired by a girl I met through a friend at a party. Her immaturity, insecurity and gothic look greatly influenced my angel character. The idea of having the fate of the world at the hands of someone like that seemed very interesting to me. I developed Violet and her epic story as a comic book series with artist Ivonne Falcon, but life got in the way and we couldn't complete the story. With Violet Descends, A Seven Lights Novel, readers will finally get the entire tale of Violet's adventures.

Depiction of the character Violet, by artist Ivonne Falcon.

You seem to be aiming for a young adult audience. Any particular reason for that?

Supernatural fantasies are the order of the day for young adult readers. In my interest to have as many people as possible read my fantasy story, adjusting the narrative to attract an entire market of young adult readers was the way to go.

How has the novel been received so far?

So far, not only young readers seem to enjoy it, but adult readers, too! So, anyone reading this who is interested in reading a fantasy adventure involving angels and demons are welcome to give it a try!

Has your "Puerto Ricaness" influenced the style or topics of your writing?

As a writer, it's hard not to let personal experiences or opinions influence my works. However, I can say that the story that has been mostly influenced by my "Puerto Ricaness" is Santa Cristal. This was a movie I produced back in 2003 that satirized my life experiences in Puerto Rico.

Why did you leave PR?

After living in Puerto Rico for more than thirty years, I needed a change in scenery and artistic influences. It couldn't get more different than life in the big city! New York has greatly influenced my latest projects, as people will be able to see in Violet Descends. I do like visiting my folks back in the island as much as I can.

What projects do you have in mind for the future?

I want to expand on the world I created in Violet Descends. It's a supernatural place with great potential that I have just barely begun to tap. I plan on recruiting other writers that will help me with this by spinning off novels and short story anthologies.

Where can people find Violet Descends?

Violet Descends, A Seven Lights Novel, can be purchased in print or kindle e-book throughwww.panicopress.com.

Any last words? Plugs? Pleas?

Big thank you to everyone who has supported the novel. I really hope you enjoy the story. Please don't forget to post your review on Amazon.Com, and stay tuned to panicopress.com for future projects!

The Green House (An Essay About Hotel Work)

Feature

Bill Alvarez



















For about a year near the end of my four years of college, I worked at a
cheap hotel near San Juan, Puerto Rico which I shall refer to as the The
Green House Hotel. It wasn't quite a flophouse, but it definitely had that
air of seediness and hidden dirt so common to cheap hotels. While wor-
king there I came across a very interesting cross-section of people:
bargain-hunting American tourists, prostitutes, drug addicts, drug dealers,
clueless European and Asian tourists, Puerto Rican families on long
weekends, drifters, con-men, sexual deviants, criminals, undercover
cops, adventurers and laborers. And New Yorkers. Dozens of them.

The Green House was in the Isla Verde tourist district, with a high-
way and some highrises separating it from the beach and the fancy
hotels and casinos. It was actually two small hotels, one on each end
of a residential block...[CONTINUE READING]

An Interview With Puerto Rican Author Angel Fuentes

An Interview With Puerto Rican Author Angel Fuentes

Like many an artist who has had to pull up stakes in order to better
realize their creative dreams, Puerto Rican author Angel Fuentes left
his native island in 2010 for New York City in order to better pursue
a writing career. Which is not to say he hadn't already done plenty
in Puerto Rico. Fuentes had been writing for years before his move.
Not only did he write numerous stories for the Puerto Rico- based
indie comic book publisher Razor Blade Apple, he was also the
imprint's founder and publisher, as well as the creator of several of
its characters. Besides this, Fuentes wrote for local television,
contributed stories to a local anthology and even wrote and co-
produced the Spanish-language black comedy film Santa Cristal.

His latest (and first) novel, Violet Descends, was published last
November by Panico Press, after its unveiling at an event in midtown
Manhattan. We recently caught up with the author to chat about his
roots and his work.

Why did you decide to go into 
writing, and when did you start 
writing professionally?

Since I was a kid I've always enjoyed
telling stories, either by writing comic
strips or writing school plays. But I
never actually considered myself to be
 a writer until college, when I began
self publishing comics and writing
short stories and screenplays. After
more than a decade doing that, I
decided to also try writing novels.


Your first novel, which came out 
very recently, is titled Violet 
Descends.  What is it about?


Violet Descends is the story of an angel that decided to quit her duties.
The consequences of her actions will affect the world as she accidentally
triggers the apocalypse.


Where and how did the character of Violet originate?

Violet was inspired by a girl I met through a friend at a party. Her
immaturity, insecurity and gothic look greatly influenced my angel
character...[CONTINUE READING]

An Interview With Puerto Rican Author Angel Fuentes

Like many an artist who has had to pull up stakes in order to better
realize their creative dreams, Puerto Rican author Angel Fuentes left
his native island in 2010 for New York City in order to better pursue
a writing career. Which is not to say he hadn't already done plenty
in Puerto Rico. Fuentes had been writing for years before his move.
Not only did he write numerous stories for the Puerto Rico- based
indie comic book publisher Razor Blade Apple, he was also the
imprint's founder and publisher, as well as the creator of several of
its characters. Besides this, Fuentes wrote for local television,
contributed stories to a local anthology and even wrote and co-
produced the Spanish-language black comedy film Santa Cristal.

His latest (and first) novel, Violet Descends, was published earlier
this month by Panico Press, after its unveiling at an event in midtown
Manhattan. We recently caught up with the author to chat about his
roots and his work.

Why did you decide to go into 
writing, and when did you start 
writing professionally?

Since I was a kid I've always enjoyed
telling stories, either by writing comic
strips or writing school plays. But I
never actually considered myself to be
 a writer until college, when I began
self publishing comics and writing
short stories and screenplays. After
more than a decade doing that, I
decided to also try writing novels.


Your first novel, which came out 
very recently, is titled Violet 
Descends.  What is it about?


Violet Descends is the story of an angel that decided to quit her duties.
The consequences of her actions will affect the world as she accidentally
triggers the apocalypse.


Where and how did the character of Violet originate?

Violet was inspired by a girl I met through a friend at a party. Her
immaturity, insecurity and gothic look greatly influenced my angel
character...[CONTINUE READING]