Rich Douek
Sit down with NYC-based writer Rich Douek as we discuss what the Lower Your Sights project means to him, his contribution to the anthology, and his thoughts on the unifying power of art.
Q: What does this project mean to you?
Rich: The war in Ukraine, like any war, comes with a horrible humanitarian cost. If there is anything at all I can do to help people affected by it, then that’s what I want to do.
Q: What is your contribution to Lower Your Sights? (Short Story, Pinup, Etc.)
Rich: I’m the writer of The Only Answer, a story I developed with artist Matthew Clark. We wanted to create a piece that spoke to the sort of timeless banality of war – how dictators always use the same excuses for their behavior, and how we address those excuses.
Q: In addition to supplying food and essential supplies, Voices of Children also provides art therapy to help kids cope and overcome the stress, anxiety, and trauma of living in war conditions. Do you believe art has the power to heal?
Rich: I definitely do. Some things are too deep, or too painful for words alone to express, and art is one of the only tools we have to communicate them. I think it’s a powerful way to help work through the trauma of living through a war, and I hope it helps these kids greatly.
About Rich Douek
Rich Douek is the Bram Stoker Award-nominated writer of original series like Sea of Sorrows, Road of Bones, and Wailing Blade, as well as writing for Wastelanders: Star Lord, Superman: Red and Blue, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Universe.
Twitter: @rdouek | Instagram: @rdouek
Rich’s work will be featured in the short story, The Only Answer, from our upcoming Ukrainian benefit anthology, Lower Your Sights
Mad Cave Studios and Voices Of Children are teaming up to publish Lower Your Sights, a graphic novel anthology, to raise awareness and proceeds for children impacted by war. Earnings from the book’s sales are going directly to the Voices of Children foundation.
Lower Your Sights is available for preorder (FOC on August 29th 2022), and officially in stores on September 14th, 2022. You can pre-order your very own copy of this benefit anthology here.
