You might not think digital coloring brushes screams excitement—but hear me out. The Last Band On Earth is hands-down one of my surprise sleeper hits of 2025, and I’m psyched to welcome first-time guest Elaine M. Will onto the show. We’re diving into her process, geeking out over digital brushes, and pulling back the curtain on her eerie, hilarious, and heartfelt new graphic novel chock full of demons and tentacles.
Elaine, creator of the Xeric Award–winning Look Straight Ahead, has a knack for highlighting the struggles of mental health using a unique combination of horror and humor storytelling in her work and this was no exception. Having spent over fifteen years in the trenches with bands, I know the depressive shadow that can follow musicians around and I'm delighted to get a chance to expose more people to it through highlighting this book.
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The Last Band On Earth
Synopsis
The Last Band On Earth, my third graphic novel, tells the story of The Dead Layaways, a noise rock band trapped in a semi-post-apocalyptic city ruled by demons. The band wishes to leave the city so they can tour whatever might be left of the world, but the demon overlords insist there are miles of untraversable wasteland surrounding the city in all directions, and anyone attempting to leave will die. Better to stay put, where it’s safe.
Except...it’s not safe at all. There are strange demonic creatures roaming the streets, empty grocery shelves, and a general feeling of malaise and existential dread hanging in the air at all times. This anhedonia only seems to intensify the longer one remains in the city. After an unexpected personal tragedy/setback, the band decides they have nothing left to lose, and they must strike out into the unknown.
From here, we begin a liminal horror road movie about fighting both literal and metaphorical demons...
In addition to the mental health themes, Last Band On Earth is also a book about trying to survive as a creative person in a world that is actively hostile towards you.
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