Victor Eliseo Lopez
Snow White and the Black Virtues
Snow White and the Black Virtues is a dark action graphic novel that reimagines the classic Brothers Grimm fairy tale through themes of corruption, power, and identity. The story follows Snow White, a princess who seeks peace for her people in a kingdom ruled by fear, only to be unjustly killed after a prophecy claims she will bring death and destruction to all she loves. Resurrected by a dark power and seen as a monster, she joins the Black Virtues, seven demon outlaws, as they work together to overthrow the Queen and uncover the truth behind her fate.
This project grew out of my early love for graphic novels, which began when I first picked up a worn-out Marvel comic at my local library while I was still in middle school. Long before I understood panels or pacing, I was drawn to how fragmented images and short lines of dialogue could come together to build entire worlds. That curiosity led me to start creating my own comics at a young age, and it has continued to shape my approach to storytelling today.
Created as my Senior Studio capstone for the Animation & Interactive Media program at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, this first issue reflects years of growth in writing, illustration, and visual design. From scripting and paneling to character design and final artwork, every part of the process was an exercise in turning raw ideas into something structured and meaningful. While this project is largely a solo effort, it was strengthened through the critiques and support of my peers and professors, who pushed me to refine both my story and visual approach.
More than just a college project, this work represents my development as both an artist and storyteller. It reflects not only where I began, but the kind of stories I want to continue telling, those that explore darker themes while still grounded in characters, emotion, and meaning.
