Hellmann LLC isn’t building a comic in isolation. This independent studio is building a universe designed to hit fans from multiple angles at once. Illustration, music, and creator-led content arrive together on January 31, 2027.

That’s the idea behind “HELL (The Walkthrough),” an illustrated series that serves as both story and gateway into the wider HELL universe. Founder and Creative Director Walid De Sousa reflects, “We’re giving fans an expansive universe seen through the perspective of four friends playing an RPG. Our visuals have to convey both the intimacy of a tabletop board game and the grandeur of a galaxy-spanning quest.”

A comic style with the power to take this multimedia universe beyond the page

“The art that has come to represent the HELL universe is pretty unique,” De Sousa notes. “It blends a lot of different inspirations. I think fans of Alberto Mielgo will see a lot of his ideas in the visual style. It’s a blend of 3D and 2D that is incredibly popular right now.”

That comparison immediately sets expectations. Work associated with Mielgo’s influence is known for its stylized motion and bold compositional choices. It delivers expressive linework paired with dimensional depth. It’s the kind of look that can feel handmade and high-tech at the same time.

It’s a style that can portray both the mundane and the mythic. As the story pivots from jokes at the tabletop to the terror of destiny closing in, the visuals never pull fans out of a single consistent world.

That style is also key because Hellmann LLC isn’t asking the comic to carry the universe alone. The illustrated series needs to sit naturally beside the music. The hybrid 2D/3D look unifies a panel and a playable space without the audience feeling like they’ve stepped into a different franchise.

How the independent comic series ties into the music

Tying comic art into its soundtrack from the start means illustration isn’t just about depicting the story. It’s defining how the story is experienced.

In the HELL universe, art choices become translation tools. A location concept tells comic artists how to stage a scene, and it also tells 3D developers what the space must feel like when fans move through it. A character design communicates personality on the page and shapes the musical identity that clues into that character’s inner life.

With a fully remote, multi-departmental team, De Sousa describes the 2D art department as an anchor. “They are the hand that guides the direction. Because we are dedicated to making everything coordinate with the concept art, our artists have become a central pillar of the project.”

Day to day, that means relentless iteration. Artists refine character sheets to nail lighting and palette rules. They relentlessly review 3D outputs for style accuracy. All of this ensures that the future of the HELL universe will always look like the world fans fall in love with during early previews.

Why the artwork had to be built alongside the soundtrack for a simultaneous multimedia launch

Hellmann LLC’s universe is designed for multiple media at once, and De Sousa believes the effort is worth it. “Fans will find themselves becoming part of a story that stays with them for a long time. We’re building the world the way people experience real life. They’ll find image, sound, and interaction happening together.”

Sneak peeks into the independent comic series before the January 31 launch

There’s good news for fans itching to see the illustrated world before launch. “We hope to have a lot to show on the lead-up to release,” De Sousa says. “We’ll push as much as we can to as many places as we can to give people a peek behind the curtain.”

That openness falls right in line with Team Catabasis, Hellmann LLC’s YouTube division made up of a comedy gaming YouTuber, a competitive gaming YouTuber, a video essayist, and an illustrator. These four also serve as the faces fans will encounter in the webcomic.

Catabasis, meaning a descent into the underworld, is the team’s name. It’s also an invitation offering multiple gateways into the HELL universe. By the time January 31, 2027 arrives, Hellmann LLC doesn’t want fans to feel like they’re discovering a comic. They want fans to feel like they’re stepping into a universe with a visual identity strong enough to cross mediums and personal enough to stick with them long after the last panel.