PlanetEternia | Allgemein | Im Gespräch mit Emiliano Santalucia

Emiliano Santalucia - der italienische Senkrechtstarter im Comic-Business aus Palermo beantwortet in einem Interview mit Benjamin O. Pang Kean von der Internetseite www.comixtreme.com einige interessante Fragen. Das Interview wurde in englisch geführt.

Tell us about yourself. Who is Emiliano Santalucia?

Santalucia: I m an Italian born, Italian based, 27 years old artist. Basically I m one of the biggest He-Man fans (I hope ), I was into Masters of the Universe since 1982 the year the original toy line were launched. I ve been collecting those toys for all my life and almost since the very beginning I dreamed to take part in the creation of their stories. I attended an Art School in Palermo and a School for Cartoonist in Milan where I developed my first MOTU comic. Right now I still live in Palermo with my girlfriend and assistant Enza Fontana.

How did you become an artist? Was it ever your first choice in terms of profession?

Santalucia: That would be a long story... and we don t want to be boring, do we? Working specifically in the comic industry wasn t my first choice, but I always wanted to do something connected to arts... and eventually I discovered that writing and drawing comics is what I like most. In some way I should say that this profession has chosen me!

Who has had an influence on your art style? How have you studied those styles and evolved into the artist that you are this day? What makes your art so special, in your own words?

Santalucia: Well, comics have been around in my house since before I was born. My grandfather had a huge collection of syndicated adventure strips, while my father had lot of other strips, from Popeye to Wizard of Id to Dick Tracy. I was educated to read comics when I was very young with stuff like Asterix and Tin Tin, and then lots and lots of Disney material (Disney comics are still very strong seller on this side of the ocean). The first MOTU mini-comics and the artwork on the toy boxes had a huge impact on me and forged my vision of MOTU. Later, I ve been exposed more to superheroes and at the same time I discovered comics as a profession, started studying the technical aspects of the medium. So I can t say I ve had a particular influence on my art style, actually I believe it s more a big mix of all my experiences. Of course I had my "Adam Huges years" and then I started looking more at Joe Madureira when I saw the new MOTU toys, looking for a style that could fit the Horsemen Sculpts. From then on the style evolved naturally, with a great help from (President of MVCreations and Masters of the Universe writer) Val (Staples) that in a year taught me much more than what I had learned in the past years. I don t know if my style is so special in any way, but I think that probably the mix of European and American styles makes it a bit different. The quantity of details is a strong point to me, but sometimes it is also a curse!

What is it like to have completed the first relaunched/revamped Masters of the Universe mini-series? Who has been your favourite character to draw and why do you find him/her/them so appealing? And who have been the toughest to draw?

Santalucia: It was a great experience! It was my first professional job in the U.S. market and I felt it as a big test for me. I loved drawing the mini and I learned a lot from it: besides the stress of such a big test (for me) it was a lot of fun working with the rest of the art team, Enza (Fontana) and Marco (Failla). And of course Val that has been a great support to all of us. I loved drawing every Orko shot. Orko is cute and easy to draw! The toughest? Thanks to the Four Horsemen, everyone is the toughest now! Just joking -- the 4H know how I love their designs!

How did you become involved in the project in the first place? Were you a fan of the animated series and the toy line while growing up?

Santalucia: The short story is: when I got an internet connection me and my friend Alessio Di Marco created an Italian MOTU fan site (Masters of the Universe Unbound). I put on line the story I wrote and drew at the School in Milan and I got in contact with Val in the first place just for that story! Later on, when Val was looking for an artist for the new comic, he (remembered) me and asked if I wanted to take part in the project... and the rest is history.

Did you put your creative juices into the designs of any of the revamped Masters characters, re-making them in your image?

Santalucia: Well, I try to stay loyal as much as possible to what the 4H envisioned, that was my choice since the beginning. Of course drawing them means also to give an interpretation of the various shapes and features, but it s very subtle and my focus is always to get to the essence of the characters. I put more personal touches on the backgrounds, where I have more freedom.

What are the challenges that you faced as an artist on MOTU? What have you learnt from this experience to best prepare you for the next phase of the series?

Santalucia: Since I m a newcomer, everything has been a challenge in some way. It was all a big learning experience. I started to develop better dynamics and better storytelling, while improving anatomy (at least I hope!) I didn t really had time to stop and think what I learnt before starting on the regular series. I m working on a monthly schedule so it was just like starting on "issue #5"! I hope the improvements will show up by themselves as long as the series proceeds.

Speaking of the next volume, will we see a different Emiliano Santalucia on pencils? Artistically, how is this series different from the first mini-series?

Santalucia: I don t think there is much difference, I just hope it will look better! The mini was sort of a warm-up. Actually you re going to see something different in the series. But you got an example on some of the pages of last issue: what there will be on the page is going to be the actual pencils without any inks (just some Photoshop cheating here and there )

How do you cope with the rigours of drawing a comic series? Do you keep yourself motivated by playing the new line of action figures and/or watch old and new episodes of MOTU?

Santalucia: Unfortunately I don t have time to do any of these! I get the figures out of the package and watch the new episodes when friends send them to Italy, but that s all! When I get to the rigours, I just grin and bear {with} it and I keep telling myself: Hey! I m doing He-Man!

Did you create any new characters and/or redesign any of the existing characters?

Santalucia: None so far. But this doesn t call anything out. I don t think I ll ever get to redesign characters, but maybe I ll give a try on the vehicles and sets.

With the much-awaited release of the first issue of Volume 2 (out Wednesday, 26 March 2003), who can readers expect to see?

Santalucia: First of all, more actions than in the {first} mini. But as long as the series proceeds, we ll get into the MOTU history and explore the saga from every aspect. And we ll work on developing every character very well.

Why should comic fans check out volume two?

Santalucia: Because it could be a good and fun book to read, regardless it s MOTU. Many readers have prejudices about the book because the so-called 80 s nostalgia trend or just because it s He-Man. It s a fantasy book, it has some great stories to tell and it s a work of love. We put our hearts into it. We love the property and we want the book to be no less than very good . That s worth a look!

He-Man vs Skeletor. How would you come up with your own battle between the two? Would He-Man lose, for once?

Santalucia: The He-Man/Skeletor relationship is always in development. With time, these battles could become different, maybe more personal for both the characters... He-Man might lose sometimes... but I when I wrote my old story I came up with having them as allies (sort of)... Well, that s too much "for MOTU fans only" so I won t get into that.

Given the chance to draw a crossover ala the upcoming Battle of the Planets/Thundercats and G.I. Joe/Transformers, who do you want to see He-Man and the Masters take on, and why? How would you pit the characters together?

Santalucia: Well, I don t think most of them would have much sense, not G.I. Joe or Gatchaman for sure, maybe Transformers, but not from earth, or more likely Thundercats, that share that sci-fi-fantasy feel. With magic and dimensional portal (and Skeletor seeking new powers and devices to enter Grayskull), it wouldn t be a problem {to} make up an encounter!

What would be your dream project as an artist and a creator?

Santalucia: Mmmm... I d really like to write and paint a Skeletor graphic novel! Besides comic, I d like to take part in designing toys or doing conceptual designs for movies. But, artistically speaking, I m probably too young for all of them!

Thank you for your time, Emiliano. May you continue to have the Power!

Santalucia: Thank you for your interest in our work and for all the kind words you said about our product! And... Good Journey!

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