Contact J. M. DeSantis through the CONTACT PAGE.
For a list of upcoming events and appearances, visit the Events Page.
J. M. DeSantis (born Jeffrey Michael DeSantis) is a writer and artist (Write-ist™) and the creator of the dark fantasy comic series, Chadhiyana™. He is the author of a number of short stories, books, comics, and artworks, mostly in the fantasy, horror, and humour genres. His work has been both traditionally and self-published in places as diverse as print and digital publications and even film (Night of the Living Dead: Reanimated).
Among his published works are his horror novella, Robert Phillips, The Tainted Ones (comic), his children’s book, Ghosts Are People Too, six issues of Chadhiyana™, and his memoir, writing and art collection: J. M. DeSantis: The First Ten Years (2019). He is also the writer and artist of the humorous horror web-comic, Gentleman Cthulhu: Emeritus Moribus Monstrum, which has seen three collections published through Dark Fire Press.
Aside from his original works, DeSantis is also known for his depictions of Lovecraftian horror, his unsettling illustrations of Wonderland, and his deep obsession with Count Orlok (Nosferatu, 1922). He works traditionally as an artist, mixing watercolours, inks, acrylics, and coloured pencils. Both his writing and art are marked by their dark themes (even in his humourous work), deep psychology, and intricately developed worlds and designs.
He currently lives in his native New Jersey with his cat, Cyrilla, where, when he’s not balancing the numerous projects his mind is constantly conjuring up, he enjoys escaping into books and video games, going on hikes (with and without four-legged companions), and enjoying the real-life company of his family, friends, and students. He also teaches Studio Art and Graphic Design.
For contact information, visit the Contact Page.
[J. M. DeSantis is neither related to nor associated with the politician with the same last name.]
Clients & Publishers
Dark Fire Press, Heavy Metal Magazine, Philbo Entertainment, Inbeon Studios, Guild Works Publications, Rosarium Publishing, Neoflux Productions, Arcana Comics, Atlas Unleashed, Alterna Comics, Innsmouth Free Press, Norgus Press, WILDsound, Book of Lies (web-comic), Static Movement, Planet Lovecraft Magazine, the Comicbook Artists Guild, Little York Books, Flush Entertainment, and a number of independent commissioners and creators.
INFLUENCES
Writers
J.R.R. Tolkien, H. P. Lovecraft, Robert E. Howard, Edgar Allan Poe, Carl Jacobi, Mike Mignola, Hideyuki Kikuchi, and William Shakespeare
Artists
Ayami Kojima, Alan Lee, Akihiko Yoshida, Mike Mignola, John Howe, Hiroaki Samura, Drew Struzan, George Kamatani, Gary Gianni, Adam Hughes, Frank Frazetta, Norman Rockwell, and generally, the art movements of Post-Impressionism and Expressionism
Video Game Creators
Hidetaka Miyazaki, Koji Igarashi, and Yasumi Matsuno (especially translated by Alexander O. Smith & Joseph Reeder).
Filmmakers
Christopher Nolan, Tim Burton, and Ridley Scott–and I want to see more of what Robert Eggers is going to do.
Books
The Lord of the Rings, Frankenstein, The Silmarillion, Paradise Lost, and The Way of the Peaceful Warrior
Short Fiction
Pigeons from Hell, Revelations in Black, The Horror at Chilton Castle, Rats in the Walls, The Thing on the Doorstep, The Horror from the Mound, The Shadow Over Innsmouth, and the entire Solomon Kane series by REH.
Poetry
The Return of Sir Richard Grenville, The Ghost Kings, The One Black Stain, and The Raven (yeah, I’m basic.)
Video Games
Soulsborne games (Dark Souls series, Bloodborne & Demons’ Souls), Vagrant Story, Castlevania (series), and Final Fantasy Tactics.
Films
Se7en, Nosferatu (1922), The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Gladiator (Ridley Scott), Schindler’s List, and The Dark Knight trilogy, The Thing (John Carpenter)
Professional Organizations
Comicbook Artists Guild (comicartguild.org), 2007 – 2016; Creative Director of CAG (2013-2016)
The Fictioneers (thefictioneers.com), 2014 – current
Teaching Experience
Art Teacher. Ridgefield Park Public Schools; Ridgefield Park, New Jersey. September 2013 – current.
High school and middle school studio art and graphic design teacher. Also run a comic book club which teaches the comic-creation process.
Guest Art Teacher. Englewood Public School District; Englewood, New Jersey.
Taught two comic book creation workshops during two separate school years: one two-week class; one single-day workshop (multiple times).
Education
Pratt Institute. Brooklyn, NY. Sept 2001 – May 2005
Bachelor of Fine Arts – Computer Animation.