Related
With the launch ofHigh Level # 1 , DC / Vertigo is send readers on an adventure into the future of humanity that lays beyond the apocalypse . Beyond thepost - apocalypse , as a affair of fact . And after take one look at that worldly concern , even casual readers will see how the graphics is to thank forHigh Levelmaking one of the most ambitious comical debuts in late memory .
Whether it ’s the storey ’s hero , Thirteen , the colorful character that live in this brave young world free from the rules of the old , or the cybernetic mutant cultists that fester beyond the fringes , High Levelhas to be seen to be believed . Ourinterview with high-pitched Level writer Rob Sheridandelved into the dada polish inspirations ranging fromStar WarstoThe Twilight Zone , and give mickle of citation to the artist creating this strange universe along with him . Now , we ’re diving in withHigh Levelartists Barnaby Bagenda and Romula Fajardo , Jr. ( Pencils and Colors , respectively ) to learn how this unbelievable world come to life , one pus - filled mutant at a clock time .
The premise ofHigh Levelis one that Rob Sheridan , your composition partner seems to have been put together together for years . So I ’m curious to know how he initially pitched the world itself , or what adhere most from that pitch in your memory . Because it sound like the account book has a WIDE variety of designs , technologies , and characters you ’re bringing to life from issue to issue .
What caught my interest was that High Level is what happens post - post - apocalypse . mellow Level still has that junkyard salvage technology look , but in more vivacious and expressive way .
Romulo : I was really astonished . They demonstrate me the initial designs and conception and I was a bit overwhelmed and frighten that I might not bring justice to this story and world . But the keen matter about Rob is that he really wants you to be part of Thirteen ’s earth so you’re able to decent visualize his concept .
Rob is very subject about the picture show and video game influence that he was inspired by in creatingHigh Level ’s setting , and the townspeople of Onida to get down with - things like Mad Max , Borderlands , Star Wars . Are there influences that you ’ve both turned to in developing the look and feel of the series ? Are they the same ones ?
Barnaby : I tend to go the diametric direction for my influence and test to merge those with Rob ’s ideas to create a new look in terminus of overall themes . Most of my influences come from video game such as Jet Set Radio , Sunset Overdrive and a little bit of Japanese manga here and there .
Romulo : I was inspire with the Japanese invigoration Tekkonkinkreet , especially the visual style of Treasure Town . I like the idea of bright palette and explosions of unlike crinkle and object that add together a nice contrast to the root word of the book . I also drew inspiration from the horrid and imaginative imagery of Jodorowsky ’s Holy Mountain , especially the splendid manipulation of brilliant colors .
I ’ve discover a little bit about the attack to pencils and colors that you both are applying withHigh layer , and how the decision to skip the inking physical process may not be what a lot of superhero comic readers will be used to . Can you describe that a bit , and how and why you chose to take that approach for this Holy Writ ?
Barnaby : I ’m unresolved to all kinds of different methods in creating a amusing book of account , but I always love the face of pencil to colour . I like the soft looks of it . In my earlier years as an creative person I grew up copying my favourite artists for stuff discipline . Artists like Joe Mad and Michael Turner to name a few . Most of their work are based on this method acting . I intend it was a vulgar thing back in the 90 ’s .
fortuitously , my editor know what works best for my product line body of work and resolve to go with this method acting .
Romulo : Barnaby and I have done this before on the Omega Men book , though I go for I did n’t overdo it on High Level . I got so mad really , especially when they show me some of the conception in the book and I thought " I need this to seem like a TV game or at least close to it . "
The world ofHigh Levelis really erupt with colour and life on each page , but the early marketing has put the ledger ’s Italian sandwich , Thirteen , front and center as the cheek of the series . She has a unique smell – more than one , in reality , in just the first payoff . Can you spill the beans about the operation , or challenge of getting her design down ?
Barnaby : Unlike most laughable book characters , Thirteen does n’t have a prepare purpose costume / clothes or haircut for each egress . Thirteen is an expressive and stylish character that keep open changing her look every issuance . I am a niggling interested about her still being recognizable in each issue , so I determine to add a trigon tattoo on her frontal bone as an lynchpin item . That fashion you may still recognise her despite changing the costume or haircut .
Romulo : Rob and Andy channelise me through the process . We lead back and forth on pick out the colors for Thirteen . It ’s a long operation but unquestionably worth it .
Rob Sheridan also admitted that his playscript are incredibly elaborate , and probably a lot lengthier in descriptions than a lot of comic book author . You all have distinctly developed a rhythm and understanding by now , but is it more of a challenge when you cognize the writer is also an creative person , and has maybe a open image in mind ? Or is it a event of welcoming that layer of point to try on to prosecute the same end result ?
Barnaby : I cerebrate it can be challenging at time , but Rob is also an creative person which helps . Rob has given me a lot of originative freedom , but I also have to verify that I am on the same creative track with him in terms of create the world of High level .
Romulo : With my experience I really screw cultivate with elaborate writers . I always search forward to learning more and applying this knowledge towards succeeding projects .
Rob did tease that this series will be give the desert and wasteland behind for a bit more cyberpunk / hard scientific discipline fable , as the level takes Thirteen on her quest to eminent Level . Without spoiling anything , can you give readers a tease of what they ’re in for , or some of the inspiration you used to make the human race of " the top one percent " of High Level ’s dweller ?
Barnaby : Hover bikes , Mutated animal , Cyberpunk tribes . All aside I call back the most significant thing is readers will see Thirteen acquire and defeat all the baffling decision she has to look .
Romulo : To be honorable , I really do n’t know what will find yet and I am really excited about what Rob and Barnaby will come up with . All I make love is xiii will emphatically have a one infernal region of an escapade .
Bonus Question : Was the mutate cybernetic mafia rage leader in Issue # 1 the most yucky character to design , or the most fun ?
Barnaby : Both . The idea of an infected prosthetic augmentation is disgusting and yet so much playfulness run all that pus and bloated skin .
Romulo : It ’s disgusting ! He reminds me of the guy in the Robocop flick that crashed into toxic dissipation and dissolve his whole body .
High degree # 1will be useable February 20th , 2019 in your local comic shop , and digitally fromDC / Vertigo .
