Neverwhere

Comic artist Richard Corben started making this animated short as a solo project while working at a studio in Kansas. His employers and co-workers found out about it and assisted Mr.Corben in completing and releasing it. As I understand, it played primarily at film festivals and science fiction conventions, gathering some awards along the way. It was at a sci-fi convention in the early eighties that I saw it. I thought it was pretty inventive and was interesting in that it showed the beginnings of the unique style he would develop over the decades that followed. It was also in NEVERWHERE that Corben introduced Den, his most famous character. For another look at Den,see HEAVY METAL.

Basically, a pilot version of the cult "Den" comic, directed by Corben himself.

While the animation feels a little bit simplistic and dated (Specially in comparison with the excellent artwork of the comics), and despite the cheesy acting, it still has a certain charm.

"Den" is one of those comics that would never work in live-action, unless it is adapted in a completely sanitized manner that simply won't make it any justice and will remove most of its appeal.

In other words, what happened with the film adaptation of John Carter of Mars, the main inspiration Corben had for Den.