Jazma Online
Interview with: Juan Salcedo
Job: Illustrator and co-creator
Comic book: Re-Evolution
Website: Zuda Comics
Direct link: www.Chehuahua.com
Company: DC Comics
Allen: Tell me a few things about yourself Juan Salcedo. How old are
you? Where do you live?
Juan: Hi Allen first of all thanks so much for the interview, it's
always a pleasure to talk with you :) I'm 28 years old, a mechanical
engineer and I live in Bucaramanga Colombia.
Allen: How long have you been illustrator? What was your inspiration
work as artist?
Juan: Well like I heard Scottie Young say the other day, I just never
have stopped of drawing. I have been doing comics like professionally
(for a living) for the last 4 years and my inspiration comes from
everywhere, my family, my girlfriend, my friends but specially from
the feeling I get when I read a great comic. That´s my fuel to sit
down and draw a piece of my own history in my comics, hoping that I
find a reader that feels something about my own work.
Allen: Did you have any professional training in artist field?
Juan: Well I was self-taught during my studies as en engineer at the
University but that was more like a club of comic artists who taught
each other how to draw.
Allen: Did you read many comic book stories in your youth?
Juan: Yes, thank God. I have been reading old Turok, The Phantom,
Samurai, Condorito(From Chile), Memin Penguin (latin american comic)
and other syndicated comics from the Newspapers. In the 90's I
traveled to Argentina and that's where I got a lot of DC and Marvel
comics plus a lot of the great Argentinian comics.
Allen: Who were some of writers and artists that inspired you?
Juan: Well that's is hard to answer but I'm going to shoot you some of them:
Writers: Alan Moore, Carlos Trillo, Alan Grant, Hector Oesterheld,
keith Giffen, Ozamu Tezuka, Chris Claremont, Haruhiko Mikimoto, Juan
Bobillo, Satoshi Urushihara, Frank Miller, Quino, Neil Gaiman,Hideo
miyazaki, Grant morrison, Azpiri, Robert kirkman well and a big etc.
Artists: Jim Lee, Joe Quesada, Mc Farlane, Rob Liefeld, Satoshi
urushihara, Haruhiko Mikimoto, Geoff Darrow, Roberto Fontanarrosa,
Quino, Roberto Breccia, Adi Granov, Ariel olivetti, Hugo Pratt, Joe
Bluhm, Carlos Pacheco, Ladronn and a big etc.
Allen: How long have you worked in comic book industry as Illustrator?
Juan: Well I have been making a living professionally doing comics for
about 4 years now. In the early days I worked mostly for free but
after a while I improved my skill and my pay. My first job was for
Modern Life UK, a production company and from there I jumped to Arcana
studios where I then worked to Dakuwaka comics and finally now I'm
full time with my comic Re-Evolution for DC comics.
Here's my resume
1-Gary 1995 Never published.
2- El fantasma 1997 Never published.
3- Apollo 1998 Published by Vanguardia Liberal, Newspaper, between
1998-1999 every thuesday.
4- Fusion Comics 1999 Never published.
5- Sangre de Heroe 1999 Primiparo Nº0 Magazine
6- Episodio -1 2000 Primiparo Nº1 Magazine
7- Antartida 2000 Primiparo Nº3 Magazine
8- Frankenstein 2001 Primiparo Nº3 Magazine
9- Hormiguitas 2001 Primiparo Nº3 Magazine
10- Danza de Media Noche 2001 primiparo Nº3 Magazine
11- Magazine Spiders 2002
12- Magazine Quack Navidad 2002
13- Magazine Guerra y Paz 2002 Never published.
Start of my professional life on comics (living from the comics).
14- Web comic Night Warrior 2003, www.nw-comic.co.uk
15- Khan, Arcana Studios
16- Paradox 2005 Arcana Studios
17- Helios 2006 Dakuwaka Productions
18- Purity 2006 Dakuwaka Productions
19- Lobster Girl 2007 Dakuwaka Productions
20- Hound of Basilisk Elfin Kids India 2008
21- Re-evolution 2008 DC comics, Zudacomics, www.chehuahua.com
22- Subtle Bodies 2009 not publisher yet
Allen: What are your art tools of choice?
Juan: Well I have been working with a lot of different tools, everyone
has their favorite, I like the water color and color pencils but right
now I´m working mostly with printer paper, mechanical pencil and doing
digital colors. :)
Allen: Tell me about your work on Re-Evolution.
Juan: Well in Re-evolution we are developing a fable of a possible
future and through the art my goal is to keep it realistic enough for
the people to value the history and cartoony enough to make the
history flow in the fantasy world of that future. It's a post
apocalyptic but positive world where today's political tensions are
represented by the animals trying to find the harmony and a better
future. I think you will find the characters, designs and colors shows
that feeling.
Allen: Who is writer of Re-Evolutionary?
Juan: Gus Higuera is the writer and creator, we have meet together
trough the facebook and in a casuality of life we are both Colombian,
well he is American but his parents are colombian, he is a web
developer based out of Los Angeles,CA that has been working in the
creative industry for over ten years now. Along with a passion for
creativity and imagination Gus has also always had a fascination with
the mysterious and unknown which has carried on into his love for the
medium of comics with the creation of the New World Order mini-series
published by Image/Shadowline in January 2008. And now is working on
Re-Evolution and playing with his lovely chihuahua dog Pippen.
Allen: How did this story occur?
Juan: It all started with friend request on Facebook that connected us
together. The primal inspiration for the comic comes from cup that has
the picture of Che Guevara that sits Gus' desk and his beloved
chihuahua dog Pippen. From that and combined with the idea of
climactic changes in the future (transhumanoids, genetic development,
new politics, etc) was born Che-huahua, the story’s main character,
and leader of the Re-evolution.
Allen: Tell me about story synopsis.
Juan: The year is 2013; all life on Earth was nearly destroyed by a
series of environmental disasters called the "Great Change." Forced
migration, starvation and disease kill 90% of the earth's population
turning what were once great cities ruled by men, into desolate
wastelands ruled by Mother Nature. Mankind has no choice but seek
refuge - they move into centralized green zones leaving everything
behind, including their beloved animals.
With the humans gone, it's a free-for-all battle of survival amongst
the animals until a group of gorilla forces start a campaign to
enslave all wildlife and establish themselves as the dominant force on
the planet. Out of these troubled times a new leader emerges to
protect the innocent, Che-huahua, the brave and noble dog who along
with the help of his "Guerilla Wild" vow to protect all animals, save
the planet from further danger, find the last human city and hope for
the day to once again live in peace and harmony in a new golden age --
a Re-Evolution.
Allen: Tell me about Re-Evolution characters.
Juan: Well we have a history that is told in different times and in
different levels. Each one of the re-volutionaries represents a
different part of a team (the scientific, the speaker, the thinker,
the fighter, etc) and they also represent different ways of leadership
such as the pacifist, the reactionist , and the proactive and they are
fighting the seductive power of the technology represented by Gorillas
techno Army.
All start with Kid (Labrador Retriever), how represents the audience,
how represents any kid, a young puppy who is our eyes and narrator. In
the leaderships we have:
Chehuahua is the emotional, guilt-ridden.
Dali the lama the joyous wise man.
Fidel the temper-mental, violent.
In some level they represent different ways of leadership like
judaism, cristianism, and Islam.
As part of Che's team, you can find Fossie who represents the
redemption, and the possibility of peace, been herself a Gorilla, and
at the same time she the mother taking care of everyone.
Alexa she is the feminist part of the team, she is French and
represents the European way of thinking in the team.
Sombra he’s the fighter but in one of his first appearances he’s
wounded and from that moment he is trying to recover his strong, he
represents the force of the team and if finding a way to recover from
the great change.
Deadeye he is the mystical side of the team, he has the ninjitzu
style of fighting and he does the investigative and secret missions
for the team.
Marcela she represents the weaponary and resentment side of the
fighters, impulsive and deadly.
Pibe he is the Latin American flavor, the nice guy loyal to Fidel,
who does everything that he asks.
In the bad side we have the Gorillas, they represent the secularism
the technological dependence and Power. They are trying to conquer
every other animals and be the masters of a new world order.
Kong is the young brother of the King, he’s personality comes full of
arrogance and hate, the racism to the other animals.
Fang he is the manipulator, he wants others to do his dirty work and
he is part of an ancient clan called The Sacred, hates the Humans and
want their rule to end..
King is the supreme leader of the Gorillas, represents the
Intelligence and leadership, with the power and technology in his
hand.
And we have a link to the Humans both sides see the humans in a
different way but both want to do the best for the humans, for when
they comeback.
Allen: Are any of Re-Evolution characters based on real life animals or people?
Juan: Yes they are loosely inspired on real people but each one has
different influences.
We have Che-Huahua who is clearly influenced by Pippen and the Che
Guevara mithos, he is a medic animal with touches of a popular leader,
he has take the path of wisdom from the hate to the compression of
every one possition in the world.
Dali the Lama is inspired by the Dali Lama, with a touch of Mahatma
Gandhi, he represents the search for peace and at the same time he
represents a collaboration betwen ancient traditions and science.
Fidel - Well his inspiration is the cuban leader and represents the
extreme right with good intentions but who is always looking after
himself first.
Allen: Tell me about how Gustavo and you decided to submit
Re-Evolutionary story to Zuda Comics? I think it’s best to remember
that Zuda Comics is part of DC Comics’ web division.
Juan: Well actually both of us have been working in web development,
in college I made a web simulator of engines, and Gus has working on
the web for more that 10 years so then when the Zuda started we where
already thinking in developing something for this line of webcomics
for DC and after a few emails and Re-Evolution was born.
Allen: Tell me a little about Zuda Comics? What is main idea for
putting stories on Zuda Comics website? Is there set amount of pages
for stories or concepts put on Zuda Comics website?
Juan: Zuda is an amazing initiatis and is looking for the development
of the new great stars in the web comic industry and is focused on
creator-owned comics with comics for every kind of tastes. It's
amazing for the readers because it's free and is great for the
authors because the zuda environment let you grow as creator and at
the same time you makes your fan base grow.
Allen: What is the most difficult thing about having stories on
Zuda Comics website?
Juan: Well is Zuda is just great I think that the most complicated is
to keep the quality and keep the readers happy and interested in
your comic.
Allen: Does it cost anything to put stories on Zuda Comics website?
Juan: Nope, its all free for the reader and for the author.
Allen: Will Zuda comic book stories like Re-Evolutionary ever published
to be sold in stores?
Juan: Yeah that’s the plan, you can find “Bayou” the first comic from
Zuda right now on bookstores and Amazon Revolution is in the waiting
list, maybe in one year we can talk about the printed book.
Allen: I noticed Re-Evolutionary won first place at DC Comics
Invitational? How does story get nominated for awards? Also, when did
this award occur?
Juan: Well to part of Zuda you need to send your comic, if is approved
you can be an Instant winner that’s for selection of the editors, if
not your comic enters in a monthly contest with other ten comics, we
have participated in the April contest of 2008 in that contest we
finish second. Them Zuda announces that by acclamation of the public
10 comics non winner going to participate during the July, them by
petition of the public we participate and won that month the great
Zuda comics Invitational.
Allen: How has your life changed since winning award?
Juan: Is amazing absolutely amazing, work for DC is a Dream coming
true I wish that we can keep working and growing as an artist in this
amazing company
Allen: How do you know Mike Penny?
Juan: I have know Mike trough his amazing series Helios, I was one of
the cover artist for him and his projects at Dakuwaka, and from that
time he’s my friend, and I hope we can keep doing projects in the
close future
Allen: Are there any other comic book related projects you are working on?
Juan: Yes, I’m working in 3 projects but I need to do one after other,
so in this moment the other projects are in pause. But I can say that
One is for USA other for France and other for Colombia.
Allen: Do you work in any other fields other than comic books?
Juan: Yep I’m a Mechanical engineer, University teacher and web
developer. I need more that 24 hour every day :P
Allen: What do you like doing with your free time?
Juan: I like the movies, tv series, read books, traveling and going
out with my girlfriend.
Allen: What kinds of movies do you look forward to seeing? What are
some of your favorite types to watch?
Juan: Well I love the realistic historical film with unforeseeable
changes, like Trainspotting, Oldboy and City of God.
Allen: Do you presently read any comic book stories?
Juan: I’m reading, Cat shit one, Blacksad and the Walking Dead.
Allen: Do you have website? What is best way for someone to contact you?
Juan: yeap first of all check the comic at www.chehuahua.com, you can
leave there a message, my personal website is www.mute-ant.com, my
blog is www.jfx-mute-ant.blogspot.com and my deviant is
www.mute-ant.deviantart.com
Allen: What motivates your will to illustrate stories?
Juan: I love to think that in other part of the world some young boy
is reading my work and feel not just a nice moment but an experience
that can help him in his life.
Allen: I think this is great place to end interview. I would hate not
to have anything to ask next time we do interview. I hope I was not to
hard on you Juan. Would you like to conclude with any closing
thoughts?
Juan: Well a big, big thanks for everything, this has been a pleasure
for me show to your audience Re-evolution and his insides.
I invite everyone to go to the comic and if you like it let us know,
you can write a comment or send a feedback asking for more
re-evolution :), Thanks again, byee.
--
Juan Felipe Salcedo
www.mute-ant.com
www.zudacomics.com/re-evolution