There’s a demon inside Malachi Maloney. It compels him to bend his considerable artistic talents to unnatural, disturbing effect. The dazzling divas he creates are no mere mortal objects of desire; they are imbued with dark, supernatural energies that taint their souls and twist their bodies in glorious, forbidden ways.

Mr. Maloney’s Blackjack Betty project is fine example of the tortured transformation from pop culture pinup queen to armored, weaponed, sexual superwoman — both dangerous and desirable. Wicked, slinky vampires and glowering goth fairies are rarely more vicious, more downright evil than under Malachi’s pen. But darkness has a place, and evil a purpose… in the hands of those with the skill to mold them into such compelling creatures.