Pablo Auladell and Felipe Hernandez Cava collaborated on a project that blends war, memory, and power. The work, born from a long history of shared ideas, emerges from a defunct Alicante publishing house and evolves into a dramatic visual narrative set against a chilling backdrop. An illustrator from Alicante brings a stark, claustrophobic energy to the pages, while the screenwriter from Madrid sharpens the political undercurrents. The strip depicts a world where evil and darkness haunt every room, echoing the purges carried out by totalitarian regimes during the 1930s. This tale, though born in a distant past, speaks directly to questions of morality, authority, and responsibility in the present.
Over the fifteen years since their first collaboration, the pair has earned recognition across the comics community, including National Comics Awards for both artists. The recognition highlights not only their individual talents but also the powerful synergy that emerges when two strong imaginations work in concert. The new project extends their collaboration and invites readers to witness how their voices interweave, a process discussed in depth at a recent bookshop event at Pynchon Co. A cultural manager with deep ties to Alicante speaks about the value of such partnerships, emphasizing how having both creators in the same region creates a rare artistic luxury. The work previously circulated primarily in Madrid and is remembered as among the finest examples of contemporary graphic storytelling. The manager notes that history, politics, and a stern critique of totalitarian excess remain constant threads in Hernandez Cava’s storytelling, with Auladell delivering the atmospheric, psychological depth that makes the drama feel immediate.
Set in a wintery Moscow of the mid-1930s, the headquarters of the NKVD, the feared People’s Commissariat of Internal Affairs, becomes a claustrophobic stage. The building, a hub of coercion, houses voices that clash with the echo of guards and the muffled cries of prisoners. A petty officer named Volodia Gubin navigates a world of physical and mental torment, while the literary impulse of a great poet haunts the corridors and lingers long after the footsteps have faded. The plot paints a stark portrait of power used to crush dissent and to deform culture into a tool of repression. The setting is not simply a backdrop but a living pressure, shaping every decision and every gesture of the characters.
Lubianka emphasizes how the story interprets the idea of a dream or mission, focusing on a protagonist who embodies the tension between idealism and the harmful effects of extremist ideologies. The creators explore how evil can insinuate itself into great ideals, a theme revisited in the context of Stalinist purges of the Soviet police among intellectuals. The narrative makes clear that the purge is not merely a historical event but a living force that continues to shape perceptions of power and conscience in the modern era. The work establishes a framework in which memory, governance, and personal responsibility intersect on the page of the graphic novel.
Collaborating without rushing
Beyond the 60-page feature, the expansion of the project to a longer format adds a layer of intensity. The creators push for a blend of violence and lyricism, preserving a poetic and literary pulse while intensifying the dramatic stakes. The approach mirrors the evolution of the collaboration itself: a slow, deliberate exchange of ideas that culminated in a seven-month drawing period spanning the calm between 2021 and 2022. The result is a narrative that feels both urgent and considered, a balance achieved through patience and mutual trust within the partnership.
The creative dynamic is presented as a model of productive partnership. One of the artists explains that working with a writer of such caliber requires disciplined self-reflection and rigorous documentary research. The process becomes an immersion into a different era, an invitation to inhabit the atmosphere of a distant past in order to faithfully convey its texture and mood. The illustrator notes that this collaboration fills gaps in his own skill set, expanding his range and pushing his craft toward areas of storytelling that hold deep historical resonance. The author, too, emphasizes the value of stepping outside comfort zones to explore ideas that resonate with contemporary concerns while remaining rooted in historical detail.
The visual language is described as lyrical and somber, with a deliberate avoidance of overly bright tones. The creators acknowledge that the atmosphere of Lubyanka demands a certain gravity, one that invites readers to reflect on mortality, memory, and the inexorable passage of time. Preparatory sketches and drafts will be shared during the presentation, offering a behind-the-scenes glimpse into how the story takes shape and how the visuals amplify the emotional impact.
Upcoming comics
The next presentation at the Pynchon Co store will feature the forthcoming work The Abyss of Oblivion, spotlighted by a panel with a renowned critic. This event will kick off a schedule that includes another major release, The Sky Inside Your Head, a collaboration guided by a celebrated author and moving forward with the help of seasoned editors and curators. The landscape of upcoming graphic novels promises a diverse range of voices and styles that continue to push the boundaries of the medium.