ABOUT LOCUST HILL
Locust Hill is a 232-page graphic novel written and illustrated by Tiller DeCato. Locust Hill follows the exploits of rebellious teenager, Sirius, and Oonray, a Draconian from a far away galaxy. As Oonray attempts to fix his damaged spaceship, he triggers several bizarre events that stir the curiosity of meddling police officer Donny O’Donnell. The plot reaches a boiling point as teenage angst, alien technology, and old grudges collide in a harrowing and humorous tale of betrayal and revenge.
LOCUST HILL COVER
SAMPLE PAGES
MEET THE CHARACTERS
SIRIUS
Sirius is Uncle Randus’s nephew and a main protagonist on Locust Hill. He is a rebellious high school student whose mother abandoned him at a young age. This betrayal plays a large role in defining his character. He combats his trust issues and fear of abandonment with cockiness, anger, and risk taking. He channels his angst into an obsession with social and environmental change. Sirius is a straight ahead thinker. He’s impulsive, decisive, and stubborn. He sees things in terms of wrong and right and is never afraid of taking a stand.
UNCLE RANDUS
Uncle Randus is a bachelor, alcoholic, and wheeler dealer of odd items. Randus and his many siblings were raised on Locust Hill. His life story is dark and complicated. It includes an orthodox and abusive father, a tour in Vietnam, a series of bartending jobs, and a stint as a guitarist in a rock band that never quite made it. Randus is a cynic. He’s seen too much of the unseemly side of humanity to have a sunny disposition.
OONRAY
Oonray is the heart of Locust Hill. He’s a Draconian from the Zeeoid Galaxy. (That’s really far away; on the opposite edge of The Known Universe) He’s silly, wise, and utterly baffled by the exploits of humanity. He’s strong, ferocious, and ethical. A kindhearted monster, he’s the friend we all wish we could have; loyal, protective, and interesting. His spaceship is the intergalactic equivalent of an old motor home. It has carried him on countless adventures across the universe and it will carry him on many more.
THE WIDDIPIDDER
Oonray saved the Widdipidder from savage fur traders who were intent on skinning her for her luxurious pelt. She is really a wild animal and resents her role as a pet. She constantly dreams of escaping into the wild, but always ends up sticking around. She’s a crafty hunter and smarter than anyone realizes.
O’DONNELL SENIOR
Donny’s father is the truest form of evil in this story. He is old and feeble; embodying a paradigm that stubbornly refuses to die. His hatred and viciousness are the only things that make him feel alive so he clings desperately to that dark energy. He is a manipulator who perpetuates his own sad legacy of racism and, in doing so, robs his own son of the ability to love for the right reasons.
DONNY O’DONNELL
Donny illustrates how racism is a mental disease passed down from one generation to another; how it victimizes the racist as well as those they discriminate against. Donny is really an innocent person who could be a funny and likable character, but his life is destroyed by the meaningless hatred bestowed upon him by his despicable and overbearing father.
DOUGLAS
Douglas was hired by Chief Bean to replace Donny’s old partner. She is a tough and unrelenting character who refuses to be a victim. Her plight is meant to establish the reader’s sympathy and unite them against the O’Donnells. Her relationship with Oonray adds some much needed sex appeal and lighthearted humor to this story.
CHIEF BEAN
Chief Bean is the prototypical American hero with the requisite jawline. His actions are determined by a fearless sense of purpose and morality. He is accepting of all people, despite race or creed, and is fiercely protective of the integrity of his police force. He is everything a modern police officer should be, but often isn’t.
UNCLE TED (AKA RAVEN)
Uncle Ted is a peyote mystic artist. He is my alter ego. I wish I was him and not sitting here at this desk.
THE PLANT
I was doodling one day and this fun little character showed up. I’m glad he/she did! There’s all kinds of things that can go wrong if you have two heads attached to one stalk! I really like the comic value of this character. It is shallow, dumb, and mean, and nobody really cares because it’s just a plant.