Michela Cacciatore – Fumettista

Oggi ospite: Michela Cacciatore – fumettista

Ciao Chi sei? Presentarsi con le tue parole, per favore.

Ciao. Mi chiamo Michela Cacciatore e disegno fumetti. Chi davvero sono potete scoprirlo un po’ leggendo i miei fumetti!

Aficionarte Come hai iniziato a fumetti?

Ho iniziato a partecipare alle fiere di fumetti da bambina. Vendevo le fotocopie dei miei disegni. Non pensavo che sarei riuscita a farne una professione ma ho sempre continuato a disegnare perché adoro farlo. Poi col tempo le porte hanno cominciato ad aprirsi e sono arrivate le prime occasioni.

Quali materie ti piace nei libri e fumetti?

Amo tantissimo tutto ciò che è in costume, sia storico che fantasy. Amo tantissimo leggere libri ( ed infatti ringrazio la biblioteca comunale che mi ha salvato dalla bancarotta! ), leggo di tutto ma amo molto i saggi storici e l’urban- fantasy. Impazzisco poi per Shakespeare ( tanto che ho chiamato mio figlio William ). Nei fumetti sono interessata molto più ai disegni che alle storie, deformazione professionale credo! Comunque in questo momento i miei autori preferiti sono Y. Swolfs, S. Andreucci e la coppia Wood – Gomez.

Qual è la tua aspirazione? ¿Fame?

Professionalmente spero di poter continuare a far questo lavoro per tutta la vita.

  Cosa ti fa giudicare se un fumetto è buono o cattivo?

Tecnicamente la prima cosa che guardo sono i disegni, difficilmente riesco a leggere un fumetto se non mi piace com’è disegnato. Passato questo ostacolo ho un solo termine di giudizio, se mi emoziona in qualche modo è per me un buon fumetto.

C'è qualche autore contemporaneo che seguite?

Cerco di seguire un po’ tutto quello che mi sembra interessante, sia da un punto di vista di moda ( e quindi cosa piace al pubblico ) sia tecnicamente.

Qual è il tuo autore preferito?

Come già detto amo molto Yves Swlfs, Stefano Andreucci e la coppia Wood – Gomez.

Secondo il vostro look, autori comici lavorare insieme o individui isolati?

Mi piace il fumetto comico e vorrei nella vita cimentarmi.

Che dire illustratori?

Adoro l’illustrazione, mi capita a volte per lavoro di farne, ma mi piacerebbe poterne fare di più. In più ci sono molto illustratoti che mi piacciono.

Quanto è importante la diffusione di notizie sui fumetti?

Essenziale direi. La pubblicità è l’anima del commercio.

Cosa ne pensi di desktop publishing?

Mi piacciono molto.

Vedete TV?

Amo moltissimo le serie americane. Le guardo soprattutto in lingua originale. Adoro Games of Thrones, Once upon a Time e Vampire’s diaries. Lo soi, guardo programmi da teenager, ah ah, non sono molto cresciuta!

Cosa ne pensi progressi tecnologici nella vita quotidiana?

Credo che la tecnologia sia molto interessante… solo che io e lei non abbiamo un buon rapporto! Diaciamo che ci provo ad utilizzarla… ma sempre con scarsi risultati…

Cosa pensi delle nuove forme di comunicazione? Che i social network?

Mi piacciono molto. Danno la possibilità di una comunicazione immediata ed ampia. Hanno anche permesso di portare almeno in parte una maggiore libertà di comunicazione anche nei paesi con forti regimi e dittature.

Ora i ragazzi sono avventure attraverso i videogiochi o le storie del cinema condizionati dal merchandising Pensi che andrà a sostituire la letteratura tradizionale?

Spero proprio di no! I libri sono un’esperienza unica ed insostituibile. Molto probabilmente diventeranno sempre più e- book e meno cartacei. Comunque sta a noi ad insegnare alle nuove generazioni la bellezza di sfogliare un libro o un fumetto!

Perché pensi che il parere generale, il cartone animato è così sottovalutato?

Non so proprio rispondere, ma mi dispiace molto, anche perché è secondo me comunque una forma d’arte.

Riuscite a immaginare che un giorno conquistare lo spazio e in Star Trek?

Se non distruggiamo il pianeta Terra prima di riuscire a conquistare lo spazio, è sicuro.

Se c'è un clima o di olocausto ecologico Cosa faresti?

Imparerei a coltivare patate. Di carattere non sono una che abbatte davanti ai problemi.

Pensi che gli autori dei cartoni animati sono nerds o topi di biblioteca staccati dalla realtà?

Io sono un nerd… e ne sono orgogliosa! Comunque sì, ci sono persone come me che vivono staccate dalla reltà ma non vedo nulla di sbagliato in questo. Io ho mio marito che è la mia ancora alla reltà, ma quando lavoro vivo in un mondo solo mio.

Qual è stato il fumetto che hai letto l'ultima?

Un numero di Dago di Wood e Gomez.

Pensi che qualcuno leggerà questo dialogo?

Spero proprio di sì!

Denny O'Neil - Comics writer. Author of The Saga of Ras Ghul - Green Lantern and Question.

Today's Guest: Denny O'Neil - Comics writer. Author of The Saga of Ras Ghul - Green Lantern and Question.

Hi, who are you? Introduce yourself in your own words, please.

I’m Denny O’Neil, retired writer and editor.

How did your liking of comics start?

I began reading ghem when I was very young and somehow never lost interest in gthem, though sometimes I didn’t see comics for years at a time.

And when did you feel the impulse to write comic scripts?

I was offered the job. Who wouldn’t accept it?

What subjects do you like to deal with in your stories?

Almost anything but war and so-called “romance.”

How do you judge whether a script is good or bad?

I don’t. Editors and readers do.


What are Comics to you?

The best job I could have hoped for.

I love Batman style detective in Ras Al Ghul Saga ¿Ras al Ghul is a character of your invention?

Yes.


What do you think of Liam Neeson playing Ras al Ghul in Batman Begins?

Great.

I kept wanting to see Talia Al Ghul and Batman bare-chested in the film, but at least there's an animated version. Did you like this animation version?

No.

Which of your scripts is the one you cherish the most? Why?

I like Bow from the Grave because I managed a genuine detective story in comics format, Slaughter of Innocents because it may have done some good in the real world, Green Lantern #76, ditto, and any of the Question stories except one because ghey were fun to do,

Do you think there are readers for what you write?

Apparently.

In Batman Venom narrates a struggle against addiction. Was I really liked an editors idea or happened to you?

My idea, and a topic I’m painfully familiar with.

Do you have any favorite e-zine?

Well, I write for ComicMix…

Is there any contemporary scriptwriter you are the follower of?

None in particular, though there are a lot of good ones

Who is your favorite scriptwriter?

See above answer.

In your opinion, do comic scriptwriters cooperate with each other or are isolated individuals?

We’re pretty much loners. It’s not a job that accommodates much collaboration.

What do you think of artists ?

Bless ‘em all.

You've worked with great masters artists. Can you tell something about Neal Adams? Or Mike Kaluta?

I’m on very good terms with them both and they’re still doing prime work.

Is it important the diffusion of new developments in comics?

I don’t know about important, but inevitable? Yes.

What do you think of self publishing?

I know verylittle about it.

Would you dare to give an opinion on an editor who had published you? Or had not published you?

I’d rather not.


What can you tell us about your job as an editor?

I can’t begin to do the subject justice in this limited format.

You have worked on many Marvel characters both DC Is there any character you like, but you have not written any stories yet?

No.

It was hard for you to write “The DC Comics Guide to Writing Comics”?

No. But it took longer than I anticipated.

Do you watch television?

Yes.

What do you think of daily-life technological developments?

I’m not good at technology, but that’s my fault, not technology’s.

What do you think of the new forms of communication? And of social networks?

I’m on a couple of them, but I don’t participate in them much.

Nowadays youngsters follow adventures via videogames or movie stories conditioned by merchandising: do you feel this is going to replace traditional literature?

I imagine that it already has,

Do you imagine that some day we shall conquer space, as Star Trek depicts?

I hope so.

If there was a climate or ecology holocaust, what would you do?

Die along with everyone else.

Which is your favorite comic-based movie?

I’ve liked Nolan’s Batman movies, he first Iron Man and Captain America. And Watchmen.

Do you think that comic writers are nerds or bookworms detached from reality?

I can’t generalize.

Which was the last comic you read?

Justice League #1.


Will you come one day to visit your fans in Argentina?

Sure. We loved Argentina when we visited there a few years ago.

Do you think somebody is going to read this dialog?

Do you?

Judit Tondora - Hungarian Comic Artist

Today's Guest: Judit Tondora - Hungarian Comic Artist


Hi, who are you? Introduce yourself in your own words, please.

Hi! My name is Judit Tondora. I’m a freelancer comic book and graphic artist from Hungary. I usually illustrate comic books and graphic novels and I work with small publishers like Outlaw Entertainment, Bluewater, Zenescope etc.
You can see my works here: http://judittondora.deviantart.com/
and here:
http://tondorajudit.blogspot.com/

How did your liking of comics start?

When I was child I was fond of graphic novels, illustrated tale books and comics so I started to draw characters and illustrations and I won my first drawing competition when I was 3. Actually it was unequivocal that I’m gonna be an artist so I attended art schools and did artist jobs. This was not a question because this is in my blood or dunno in my DNA. Haha.

I did my first comic job in 2008.
A small studio asked me to draw their first book, it's title was Dead Contract but this was a typical ‘nomen est omen’ situation cuz the studio couldn’t publish their books. So our agreement ended... actually died.

Luckily I got a job from the Outlaw Entertainment a few months later and I did a series: We the People. It was a great story about three students who wanted to act like superheros. The writer was Jason M. Burns who did an amazing job to create these characters and interesting actions and hilarious everyday situations. Later it turned out I wasn’t so lucky because this publisher was not really stable.
They had financial problems or some similar thingy and they also couldn’t publish this series.
So I had to find new works and I did it and I’m doing pretty good comics now.

What subjects do you like in books and comics?

I like fiction, poems, fantasy, novels and my favourite theme is the personality’s changes. I read horror and superhero comics sometimes but I prefer to draw it not to read it. I like the IDW’s horror books and the Top Cow and the Aspen Comics' series. I often read Vertigo, Dark Horse and Image comics but I especially enjoy the French comics and graphic novels.

What is your aspiration, fame?

Absolutely not. I’d like to work as an illustrator as long as I can. And if I could do comics until I can that would be awesome.

How do you judge whether a comic is good or bad?

I’m an artist and I bring the art into my focus.
If I want to be honest that’s not easy to me to like a comic if it’s not well- drawn. But there are exceptions of course.
The story itself it the main thing naturally and if I can read a good comic and a well- drawn adaptation of the script that’s the best thing in comics.

What are comics to you?

My work and the most interesting genre what I’ve ever done.

Do you feel there are readers for what you do?

I draw superhero and fantasy comics usually and those are fairly popular. So yes. There are.
But I’d like to draw more fantasy and horror stuff and I hope I’ll do once.

Do you have any favorite e-zine?

Not really but I often visit the comicbookresources, the projectfanboy and a few similar sites.

Is there any contemporary writer you are the follower of?

I like the work of Neil Gaiman, Steve Niles, and a few Hungarian contemporary writers and poets.

Who is your favorite writer?

I can’t say only one cuz I love a lot of writers but my all time favourites are Marquez, Babits Mihály, Kafka, Örkény, Vonnegut, Frank Herbert, Oscar Wilde, Byron and Poe.

In your opinion, do comic writers help each other or are isolated individuals?

I think this depends on the work. If they have to write a series like Batman they have to stick to the original storyline and characters but a new and independent work is an other thing. That has more freedom. I know a lot of writers and I have to say I don’t know a single person who doesn’t ask for reviews or help if they can’t get on with their story. The comic is the best example of the teamwork. You can’t draw without the writer and without your drawings the writer can’t express him- or herself.

What do you think of illustrators ?


I love them. They’re my people. Haha.

Is it important the diffusion of new developments in comics?

Of course. Think of the digital comics. Easy to use, practical and cheap. If there is a new technique to spread your stuff or there is a new idea or a new hype everybody wants that.

What do you think of self publishing?

It works and works well so if you can’t find a publisher you can choose this option. But the copy’s number depends on your purse and actually that’s not a cheap thing to publish a comic. Especially the self- publishing.

Would you dare to give an opinion on a publisher?

To share the ideas about the work can help to make the books better. And I think this is the most important: to create good books.

Do you watch television?

Not really. I don’t like to watch TV and actually I have no TV. Haha. I like only a few series like the Big Bang Theory, How I Met Your Mother, Game of Thrones, Borgias and The Walking Dead.
And the documentary channels like National Geographic or Discovery Channel.

What do you think of daily- life technological improvements?

This is the part of our world and if these improvements are useful they’ll spread all around the world. A lot of people can’t live without computer, telephone, TV and so on but I think to be moderate in using these things is very important. The people shouldn’t be so addict of these because our life is much more than to sit and watch the TV or browse the net.

What do you think of the new forms of communication? And of social networks?

These sites are very useful in the sense that you can find personal and business relationships easier and useful informations about your acquaintance as well.
These things make the life easier and better sometimes.

Nowadays youngsters follow adventures via videogames or movie stories conditioned by merchandising: do you feel this is going to replace traditional literature?

This depends on the person itself. If they tend to accept the basic knowledges and they follow with attention the higher culture there won’t be problem. But I know that is far easier to play a game or watch the TV or read magazines than to improve the abilities and learn new and useful things. But the laziness of the young years strikes back. There are no employers who like the lazy and scrappy qualified workers.

Why do you think that, for the general public, Comics are so undervalued?

Because there are a lot of comics, which are simply bad. This is not a complicated situation. There are a lot of publishers who want to make only money or they have a series, which is popular but they can’t write new things and adventures and improve the character. And they make a not so bad but not really outstanding book. And this is the reason why is so hard to find a good comic book or two.

Do you imagine that some day we shall conquer space, as Star Trek depicts?

If I want to be optimistic I should say: yes. Totally! We’ll rule the galaxy! But if I want to be honest I think one day we could have the technology but the human kind won’t survive it’s own greed.

If there was a climate or ecology holocaust, what would you do?

We’re in the middle of that and if we’re lucky enough we won’t see a dark end of it.

Which is your favorite comic book or strip -based movie?

The Watchmen. That was a first class comic book based movie.

Do you think that comic writers are nerds or bookworms detached from reality?

If you’re a professional writer and this is your job this means this is your JOB. This is what you do for living. This won’t allow you to push off the real world.
If you’re a ‘wannabe’ well… everybody was a wannabe once.

Which was the last comic you read?

Marvel’s Super Special Dune adaptation of Lynch’s movie. But I didn’t like the artwork. It was too chaotic.

Do you think somebody is going to read this dialog?

Perhaps. Who has lots of time. Haha.




Portfolio: http://judittondora.deviantart.com/

Blog: http://tondorajudit.blogspot.com/