Zicky: Wrath of the Rat King – A Collaborative Vision in Comics

The graphic novel Zicky: Wrath of the Rat King, published by SHP Comics, stands out for its unique approach to visual storytelling, employing the talents of two distinct artists to bridge the gap between the real and imagined worlds within the narrative. This all-ages fantasy adventure blends the energy of isekai manga with Western comic traditions, creating a playful and heartfelt experience for readers.

Blending Manga and Western Styles

Zicky: Wrath of the Rat King, written by Darin S. Cape, with illustrations by Zeno Decrux and Hiorsh Gabotto, is a five-issue series launched in September 2025 [1]. The story centers on Zicky, a prankster who finds himself battling the villainous Rat King, with adventures that often spill over into his everyday life. The creative team deliberately chose to utilize two different artistic styles to reflect the story’s shifting perspectives and the interplay between reality and fantasy.

The Artists’ Distinct Approaches

Hiorsh Gabotto’s style focuses on expressive characters and playful energy, capturing Zicky’s humor, emotional openness and family dynamics. His function is described as loose and character-forward, grounding the story in relatable moments [2]. Zeno Decrux, brings a manga style to the book, emphasizing momentum, scale, and dynamic movement, particularly suited for the fantasy elements and action sequences [2]. Decrux’s work adds texture and weight to the imagined realms, enhancing the sense of danger and excitement.

A Collaborative Process

As the narrative progresses, the boundary between the real and fantasy worlds blurs, necessitating a deeper collaboration between Gabotto and Decrux. Instead of simply dividing pages by location, the artists began collaborating on individual panels, with one creating an initial sketch and the other adding details, coloring, or additional visual elements [2]. This back-and-forth process mirrored the story’s themes, creating a dialogue between the two visual languages.

SHP Comics and the Vision Behind Zicky

Founded in 2021 by Shawn Hainsworth, SHP Comics aims to deliver daring and intelligent genre-bending comics and graphic novels [1]. Hainsworth, who also writes under the pseudonym Darin S. Cape, previously worked as an award-winning experimental filmmaker. Zicky: Wrath of the Rat King exemplifies the publisher’s commitment to collaborative storytelling and innovative visual approaches. The graphic novel is available for purchase on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Key Takeaways

• Zicky: Wrath of the Rat King uniquely blends isekai manga and Western comic storytelling.
• The graphic novel utilizes two artists, Hiorsh Gabotto and Zeno Decrux, to visually represent the real and imagined worlds.
• Collaboration between the artists was integral to the storytelling process, mirroring the narrative’s themes of shifting perspectives and colliding realities.
• SHP Comics, founded by Shawn Hainsworth, is dedicated to publishing innovative and genre-bending comics.