If you’re looking for a dark and twisted tale of science and fiction, then you may be interested in the latest project from Flickering Myth staff writer Anghus Houvouras – a graphic novel entitled EXE: Executable File about a mad scientist known as The Artist, who has created a QR code capable of driving the population insane and turning them against society.
“We watch the news and the world is terrible, (but) it isn’t as bad as we all make it out to be. We’re on our computers all the time. We’re watching our TVs,” says Anghus in an interview with StarNewsOnline. “This symbol The Artist comes up with, the QR code, is an idea that will turn you against society. The Artist believes marketing and advertising is the medium (with) which he can end the world. All these things we do, these lies we tell ourselves, at the end of the day, life and death and right and wrong are basically the only truths we know. Everyone suffers at some point in their life, that’s the only real truth.”
“With low-budget films there are limitations,” explains Anghus, whose previous work includes the feature films Fearsome, 20 Funerals and Dead Heist, as well as the post-apocalyptic novel The Fence Mender, on his decision to tell the story of EXE in comic book form. “One of the great things about comics as a medium is that you have no budget. It can be grand in scope and when you team up with an artist who understands the story, it unfolds very much like a film.”
Volume 1 of EXE, which was drawn by Indonesian illustrator Yusuf Sp, introduces us to The Artist’s latest test subject, a police officer named Ewan Chase; exposed to the code, Chase slowly begins to lose his already troubled mind and struggles to maintain control and embarks on a desperate search for answers before indulging in the violent impulses that are taking over.
EXE: Executable File – Volume 1: The Digital Dead is now available in paperback form at Lulu.com, and you can also read online at exe.thecomicseries.com.
Originally published June 27, 2012. Updated November 6, 2019.
