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In an ambitious move to redefine how modern audiences interact with multi-platform storytelling, AWA Studios has officially launched Lesser Evils, a sprawling shared universe that blends the gritty, hyper-caffeinated reality of Brooklyn life with the surreal, supernatural, and often hilarious consequences of modern existence. Conceived by writer Ian Grody and director Justin Fair, and brought to life through the kinetic illustrations of Yishan Li, Lesser Evils represents a bold, cross-media experiment that spans comics, webtoons, and live-action short films.
The Premise: Brooklyn Through the Looking Glass
At its core, Lesser Evils is a project born from the zeitgeist. It is a series of interconnected narratives exploring the "lesser evils"—the small, often self-inflicted, and deeply human pitfalls that complicate our personal growth. The universe introduces readers to a version of Brooklyn where the mundane is constantly colliding with the mystical. In this reality, a potter might accidentally summon a golem during a post-breakup haze, a genie might struggle with an existential crisis after being set free, and an antique shop might house a malevolent wooden artifact that feeds on the petty grievances of its owners.
The creators describe the setting as "Brooklyn Through the Looking Glass." It is not merely a geographic backdrop; it is a character in its own right—a place of transformation, hope, desperation, and magic. By grounding high-concept supernatural scenarios in the specific, relatable textures of New York’s most storied borough, Lesser Evils aims to offer a "guided tour" through the exotic microcosms of Brooklyn and the equally complex, often frightening, interior lives of its inhabitants.
A Chronology of the Project’s Evolution
The path to the launch of Lesser Evils is a testament to the power of industry networking and the evolving nature of comic publishing.
- June 2021: The seeds of the collaboration were sown at the Tribeca Festival 2021, during an AWA-hosted session exploring the convergence of graphic fiction with film and television. It was here that Ian Grody and Justin Fair first connected with the team at AWA Studios.
- May 2022: AWA Studios officially announced the launch of the Lesser Evils franchise, signaling a pivot toward a "digital-first" distribution strategy.
- May 25, 2022: The digital rollout began with the release of EMMETT #1 on GlobalComix, available in six languages—English, French, Spanish, Italian, Brazilian Portuguese, and Hindi—marking an aggressive push for international accessibility.
- May–July 2022: A serialized webtoon release schedule was implemented, providing readers with three episodes per week over a nine-week period.
- August 24, 2022: The physical retail launch occurred, with the debut of Emmett #1 in comic shops, followed by the rollout of the remaining titles in the series.
The Pillars of the Universe: A Four-Part Slate
The Lesser Evils universe is built upon four primary narratives, each exploring a unique facet of human experience through a supernatural lens:
1. Emmett: The Golem with Benefits
The flagship title, Emmett, follows Lydia Loew, an artisan potter whose heartbreak leads her to conjure a golem in her Bushwick studio. Unlike the traditional, lumbering golems of folklore, Emmett is a functional, cocktail-mixing, domestic-minded entity. He is the ultimate "revenge" companion, helping Lydia navigate the emotional fallout of a toxic breakup with a unique blend of supernatural power and dark humor.
2. Ginn: The Quarter-Eon Crisis
Ginn offers a satirical look at the "quarter-life crisis." After centuries of servitude, a foul-mouthed, hard-drinking genie is set free, only to realize he has no idea how to exist as a free agent. His search for meaning leads him to a human working at the Make-A-Wish Foundation, forcing him to choose between a newfound moral purpose and his former master’s threats.
3. Thriftr: The Entrepreneurial Trap
Exploring the cutthroat world of start-ups and retail, Thriftr focuses on two NYU graduates opening a curated boutique in Greenpoint. The store’s success is threatened when a mysterious, un-ordered antique sculpture arrives, feeding on the growing animosity between the two co-owners. It serves as an allegory for the toxic potential of professional competition.
4. Tails: Reclaiming Power
Tails introduces Maude, a line cook facing harassment from a predatory, celebrity-chef-style boss. When she discovers a mermaid living in a local canal, she is presented with a binary choice: disappear into a life of underwater freedom or confront the "lesser evil" of her abuser.
A Convergence of Media: Film and Digital Innovation
A key differentiator for Lesser Evils is its integrated approach to film and digital distribution. AWA Studios produced a live-action promotional short film titled Emmett, which serves as a proof-of-concept for the broader franchise. Directed by Justin Fair, the film stars Meredith Alloway as Lydia, Jake Cannavale as Stephen, and features the voice of Isiah Whitlock Jr. as the titular golem.
The choice to launch on GlobalComix with a simultaneous six-language release highlights AWA’s strategy to bypass traditional geographical barriers, effectively treating the comic industry as a global, real-time digital marketplace. As Christopher Carter, CEO of GlobalComix, noted, this approach positions AWA as a "new breed of publisher" that understands how to cultivate worldwide fandom from the moment of inception.
Official Responses and Creative Vision
The creative team behind Lesser Evils emphasizes that the project is an attempt to reflect modern culture back to the reader.
"My aspiration from the jump has been to create a comic through the lens of contemporary culture," said Ian Grody. "Brooklyn was the perfect backdrop because it’s a place of becoming, where people go to transform. Any place with that much hope and desperation is already full of magic."
Justin Fair echoed this sentiment, drawing inspiration from unlikely sources. Referencing a quote by Gavin Rossdale—"It’s the little things that kill"—Fair explains that the title Lesser Evils refers to the internal obstacles and subtle social poisons that individuals must navigate daily.
Will Graves, Managing Editor at AWA Studios, noted that the project represents a "full-circle moment." The team’s meeting at Tribeca 2021 proved that their sensibilities were perfectly aligned. "We knew they had a creative style that synced perfectly with modern storytelling," Graves stated. "The fact that a year later this connection has led to the collaboration and creation of four new series and a short film is a wonderful full-circle moment."
Implications for the Future of Comics
The launch of Lesser Evils carries significant implications for the comic book industry:
- The Rise of Transmedia Franchising: AWA Studios is moving away from the "comic-first, adaptation-later" model. By launching with film, webtoons, and print simultaneously, they are treating the property as a holistic franchise, a strategy that could become the standard for independent publishers.
- Digital-First Globalization: The day-and-date release in six languages is a bold attempt to capture a global audience immediately. It suggests that the future of niche publishing relies on immediate, multi-lingual accessibility.
- Refining the "Modern" Voice: By focusing on memes, contemporary music, and the specific culture of Brooklyn, the creative team is explicitly targeting a younger demographic that values relatability over traditional superhero tropes.
As Lesser Evils continues to grow, it serves as a litmus test for whether comic publishers can successfully pivot to a model that balances traditional print prestige with the high-speed, multi-platform demands of 21st-century digital consumption. For now, the story of Lydia, her golem, and the rest of the Brooklyn cast stands as an intriguing, if occasionally eerie, reflection of our own reality.
Suro Senen
Nila Kartika Wati
