RISING STARS OF MANGA X: WES ABBOT

[MattBrady]

by Benjamin Ong Pang Kean

Another day, another manga-ka. Another contest, another Rising Stars of Manga winner.

Wes Abbott is a runner-up in TOKYOPOP’s Rising Stars of Manga 2 in which his entry, “Dogby Walks Alone” earned him $500 and an honorary plaque. As with all other winners, he’s given a chance to pitch a story or two to the leading North American publisher of manga, in the hope that he could sign a book deal with the publisher and see his work published.

We spoke with Abbott about his Original English Language (OEL) manga creation and more.

Newsarama: What made you decide to enter the Rising Stars of Manga contest?

Wes Abbott: I saw the first book, and thought it was a great opportunity to do a short story for myself. I think a lot of people felt the same way, because it seems like the overall quality makes a jump with each new Rising Stars volume.

NRAMA: What was your winning entry about?

WA: My entry was titled "Dogby Walks Alone". It's the story of a theme park mascot in a dog suit who solves mysteries.

NRAMA: Like the others, winning the RSoM contest has changed their lives entirely. How has yours been since RsoM2?

WA: The biggest change is that for the first time in my life, I have the opportunity to write and draw an entire 180-page story featuring my own characters, and have it presented to an extremely wide audience. I mean, in addition to comic shops nationwide, people will be able to buy it at Barnes & Noble, Borders, and Amazon.com, for crying out loud. This is really the fulfillment of a dream for any creator.

NRAMA: And it’ll be an extension of your winning RSoM entry, right?

WA: Yes, Dogby Walks Alone follows the events of my Rising Stars entry, although it stands completely on its own. Actually, this is the story I originally wanted to tell... the story that popped into my head when I first conceived the characters. But it only took about 40 seconds to realize there was absolutely no way I'd be able to tell an entire murder mystery in the 20-page limit for the Rising Stars of Manga competition. So I came up with a sort of prequel -- a very much scaled-down mystery involving stolen food -- that introduced the characters and could be told in 17 pages.

NRAMA: So, what’s the upcoming Dogby Walks Alone manga about then?

WA: The new story is about the murder of another park employee, the Princess, who Dogby was secretly in love with. While park security must deal with a brazen armed heist of Happyplace Theme Park and Resort's ticket sales, Dogby, along with trusty sidekick, Snack Girl, must bring Princess' killer to justice.

So, running down the cast of characters, we have:
Dogby: one of the world-renowned and beloved mascots of Happyplace. A man in a giant, brown dog suit. He never speaks.

Snack Girl: She works at a lemonade and churro kiosk near the international food court, and is Dogby's faithful companion.

Katty-Kit: Man in a cat suit, and Dogby's most heated rival.

Birdie: Man in a bird suit... a real old-timer at the park. Over the years, he's shown many newcomers the ropes, and is a longtime friend of Dogby. He drives a water taxi through the canals that connect the different areas of the park. He drinks a bit on the job.

NRAMA: What was the inspiration for Dogby Walks Alone?

WA: One of the things that inspires me is that I have always loved the surreally of mascots, from theme parks, sports, tv commercials, wherever. Anything a human can do, from dunking a basketball, to breakdancing, to punching some jerk out... is 100 times cooler when done by a costumed mascot. Test it -- you'll see I speak the truth here.

Another inspiration for the story is my girlfriend, who used to work at a major theme park in Florida at a food concession. In most people, working at a park kills the urge to ever return by choice, but somehow, she is still very much in love with theme park life. She is filled with stories from that time, and is completely convinced she is the basis for the character of Snack Girl. I try to tell her she isn't, but what can you do...? [sighs]

NRAMA: What have you learned from your editor and the guys at TOKYOPOP?

WA: My editor, Luis Reyes, has taught me the meaning of the word "enthusiasm". I thought I knew what it meant, but I was only familiar with a shadow-version of the word. Luis has a boundless excitement for creating comics, and I feel extremely lucky to be paired up with him to present Dogby to the world.

NRAMA: When is the first volume of Dogby Walks Alone scheduled for?

WA: Volume 1 is scheduled for July '06 -- pushing hard to make the San Diego con next year -- don't miss it!!

NRAMA: What’s your background like? Are you the Wes Abbott who’s worked with Comicraft’s Richard Starkings?

WA: Yep, that’s me.

I was born and raised in Los Angeles, and have wanted to draw comics since about age 4 or 5. In high school, I was lucky to take part in an exchange student program to Japan, which really opened my horizons, as far as what comics could be. I will always love (and still read) American comics also, but that experience introduced me to a whole new set of available tools and possible subject matter.

In the mid '90s, I drew one of the Robotech comics when Academy Comics got the license. I also began storyboarding around that time. In '97, I began my lettering career with Richard Starkings and Comicraft. Since then, I've done lettering for pretty much all major characters from just about every publisher, at some time or other.

My latest artistic project, prior to Dogby Walks Alone, is penciling, inking and coloring a comic book with Claudio Sanchez, vocalist of the band Coheed and Cambria. The series adapts the lyrics of the band's first album, The Second Stage Turbine Blade, and the second issue is due out July '05.

NRAMA: As a reader, what're some of your favorite manga/comics creators? How have you been influenced by their work?

WA: My favorite manga artist is a guy named Shinichi Sugimura. He has drawn a number of stories since he debuted in '87, including Samurider, Hotel Califorinia (purposely misspelled), and Tokyo Pu-. At first glance, he seems to have kind of a rough or messy style, but he really draws things the way they feel. I honestly believe he is one of the greatest living cartoonists from any country. He has been a huge influence on me, in the way I approach comics, characterization and storytelling in general.

Other huge influences are Harold Sakuishi (author of TOKYOPOP's upcoming comic, Beck), who has a deadpan humor that really speaks to me... Hirohiko Araki, author of the long-running Jojo's Bizarre Adventure... and Atsushi Kamijo, author of To-y and Sex.

Related articles:
TOKYOPOP’S RISING STARS I: JESS STONCIUS ON WORK BITES

TOKYOPOP’S RISING STARS II: FELIPE SMITH ON MBQ

TOKYOPOP’S RISING STARS III: M. ALICE LeGROW ON BIZENGHAST

TOKYOPOP'S RISING STARS IV: AMY KIM GANTER ON SORCERERS & SECRETARIES

RISING STARS OF MANGA V: LINDSAY CIBOS ON PEACH FUZZ

RISING STARS of MANGA VI: CHRISTY LIJEWSKI ON RE:PLAY

RISING STARS of MANGA VII: IRENE FLORES ON MARK OF THE SUCCUBUS

RISING STARS OF MANGA VIII: RON KAULFERSCH & MIKE SCHWARK ON VAN VON HUNTER

TOKYOPOP’S RISING STARS IX: SHANE GRANGER (WITH JASON HENDERSON & TONY SALVAGGIO) ON PSY-COMM

ON FIVE SETS OF RISING STARS: JEREMY ROSS ON TOKYOPOP'S RISING STARS OF MANGA

[BradyKiller]

Such a crazy idea that it might just work.

I know that TP publishes manga and they want to find ameri-manga artists, but at the heart of every comic no matter what country they are from is the concept and story not the way the eyes are drawn.

[Tentopet]

Let me just say that I absolutely ENVY your vision. This is amazing, and I'm so incredibly excited that you're making a full-length series on this story. Seriously, and I think that's so cool that you've been so many places and done so many things! Wow. I worried that maybe you wouldn't end up doing a series, and I'm glad to be wrong. Your RSOM entry was outstanding--I can't think of anything that could've made it better.

[Supreme Convoy]

I love his work from the Coheed & Cambria book. I'm happy that he's got an even bigger gig!

[Tentopet]

Originally posted by Supreme Convoy
I love his work from the Coheed & Cambria book.

How do you get a hold of that??

[Tavisha]

Congratulations Wes~! Its been a long & crazy road since the days of creating Robotech comics. I have to say, I really enjoyed your RSoM entry "Dogby Walks Alone". It has that unique offbeat sense of humor and style that sets it apart from all the rest~~in a very good way! I'm looking forward in finding Dogby's continuous adventures in stores. ^___^ Best of luck to you and all your creative endeavors.

[aylw]

Originally posted by BradyKiller
Such a crazy idea that it might just work.

I know that TP publishes manga and they want to find ameri-manga artists, but at the heart of every comic no matter what country they are from is the concept and story not the way the eyes are drawn.

I dunno, I think the 90's would beg to differ.

Seriously, though, I think that "the heart" of a comic can be one of many things, and it's not necissarily "the story", or "the concept", in it's traditional, story-related manner. Sometimes it's the stellar breath-taking art (Stuff by Travis Charest), sometimes it's the witty dialogue and cool characters (Gen 13), sometimes it's the shameless T&A (too many to mention).

Just trying to pick a fight.

-Aylw

[SouthtownKid]

Hi, all, this is Wes, creator of Dogby Walks Alone... You may know me from such-- well, you probably don't know me. But hopefully that will change when the book hits stores next year.

I just wanted to say thanks to all the people who have supported me and Dogby, and gave positive feedback to Tokyopop for the original short story. You guys made the new book possible, and I will always be extremely grateful for that. Sorry I didn't have any new pages to post here, but we're still early on in the process of creating the new book...

@Supreme Convoy: Glad you liked the Coheed comic...second issue is due out in a couple weeks...just in time for San Diego!

@Tentopet: I'm not sure where you can get a copy now... we sold through of the first run of 20,000. We did a smaller second printing, but I'm not sure how many are left. I think if you catch the band on the road, they'll have some at the merch booth. Or if you can make it down to San Diego, there will be a booth at the Con. Claudio will be signing, and the band will have shows on the 14th & 15th...

@aylw: Don't worry about it; I've been told I like to argue, too (I say no).

Well, that did it. I reckon that's a new low for me...I managed to derail a thread about myself.

But thanks to everyone for the Dogby support, and I hope you all enjoy the book! I think there will be some things people aren't expecting (er-- unless you're expecting to see a guy in a giant cat suit getting beaten up by a guy in a giant dog suit...but even then, there will be a few other surprises...).