Saturday 10 September 2011

‘The Interactives’ part II – The Art & Colour.



When ‘Interactives’ was in its infancy, there were two artists testing for the book. There was Jun Joe Monares, with minutely-detailed stylized realism painting a dramatic scene.



Luciano Vecchio’s approach favoured bold lines dancing sharply through the page, focusing our attention on the characters’ expressions and dropping us in the centre of the action.

Both tests were unique and a tantalizing visualization of what had previously only existed as written word.
After lengthy, agonised ponderings, Peter settled on Luciano. Harry Markos of Markosia showed us the green light and more than a year and hundreds of pages followed.

I learned a lot about comic colours not only from the art itself but also from Luciano, who had certain ideas about the characters, Lord Legend especially. When a page first reached me, I opted for reds in Legend’s costume to flag the dangerous and powerful streak to the character. When Luciano’s colour guides arrived, it was clear that he envisioned a blue-grey colour scheme, flecked with silver and bright blue gems. Luciano saw Legend as a ‘big bad wolf’, a subtle character moving with the shadows, directing his armies from the sidelines. Peter and I agreed readily.




The truly collaborative atmosphere, one where there was an openness to new ideas, was the best part for me personally. This creative freedom came to the forefront when we found ourselves on issue two of the novel, as Lord Legend’s armies make their push into the city. Our heroes are at their lowest ebb in the story and it felt natural to reflect this change in atmosphere in the colours. It was at this point that I suggested the setting sun and the approaching night to reflect the mood.




The loss of colour and the cool hues would symbolise a loss of hope. Then, when heroes finally lift their heads in issue three, the emotional impact is increased when the sun dawns on their triumphant return to action.




While the time of day wasn’t mentioned in the script, it was a relief that my suggestions were accepted and I’m grateful to have been able to add my own signature to the work.
By the time the project was finished, I measured the distance we’d travelled in hundreds of pages. Looking back at the cover coloured in 2009, I decided that I owed my best to the project and decided to rework it, it became a rare opportunity to gain a perspective on the gradual progress.



My technique developed and became more structured. Gentler colour choices, no longer garish, played softly in a now focused light. Shadows too, once meek scratches became bold angular shapes working in unison with Luciano’s bold graphic style. The page no longer screams; it guides the eye gently through itself.
Every fresh page still teaches me something new and presents an interesting challenge, one that I always look forward to... all the better if one works with such open, talented and fantastic people like Peter Rogers, Luciano Vecchio and Ian Sharman.

~YZ

Friday 26 August 2011

‘The Interactives’ part I – The Book.

Interactives Chapter One


It is an ordinary world for you and I, but for five geeks (Scallywag, girl7, Deadlynightshade, KingofallIsurvey and James_Lake) there is more than meets the eye. Drawn together online by Scallywag’s gaming blog, their world expands suddenly as London comes under threat from fantastical creatures of lore led by the formidable Lord Legend. With the wise and watchful Myth at their side, the five fantasists become heroes in their own story made real.

‘The Interactives’ has been out in the world for a month and it is slowly beginning to make its mark. The graphic novel received its official launch in early August at the Comic Guru in Cardiff. Our glorious leader, and the comic’s writer Peter Rogers, reports that all fifty limited edition cover copies were sold out in a matter of hours, with some folks even returning for seconds.

Interactives Chapter Two


My introduction to Peter Rogers’ project came in 2009 through Ian Sharman. The two co-founded Orang Utan Comics, where I made my first tentative steps in colouring. David Gray and I were working on issue one of Ian’s ‘Hero: 9 – 5’ at the time, when the invitation came to work on the pitch. Even at a glimpse, the script showed itself to be a little different; it thrust five geeks, imaginative dreamers into the spotlight. These were characters I could identify with, not even mentioning the satisfying potential for geek culture references galore.

Interactives Chapter Three


The graphic novel has already been covered by a number of reviewers, each commenting warmly on the characters, their story as well as the shiny, shiny art. Broken Frontier notes the commentary of the modern geek’s online world; five people, each with unique interests are never the less brought together by Scallywag’s training games battling dragons only to have their memories wiped the morning after.
The additional pleasure for the London-dwelling readers will be the inclusion of familiar landmarks set as the stage for the story; Nelson’s column, Buckingham palace and Big Ben are amongst the famous icons included in its pages.
The graphic novel was also covered by the Geek Syndicate (who cameo within the book) in episode 187 of their podcast, do check out what the dynamic duo have to say about our book.



If you wish to see what all the fuss is about for yourself, you can download a free fifteen-page preview. If you like what you see, you can grab the book at one of our upcoming conventions like the MCM, or you can order directly from Markosia.

~YZ