STUART IMMONEN ILLUSTRATES SEBASTIAN X FOR HUMANOIDS

[MattBrady]

Along with Kurt Busiek and a handful of other American creators, Stuart Immonen is currently working on a project for Humanoids - Sebastian X, written by Michelangelo La Neve. Presented in graphic album form, the story follows a surfer turned freedom fighter in the near future.

As Immonen explained it, landing the gig was as simple as following a chain. ”Ever since I was introduced to the people at Semic, who published Shockrockets and Superman: End of the Century for the French market, I'd been keen on trying to angle for some work in Europe. I ended up doing a few covers for Semic, but they were not publishing original albums at that time, so there wasn't anything more for me,” Immonen said. “I was in Paris doing a convention and a store appearance and was told by Jim Lainé, one of the Semic team that Nicolas Forsans, an editor for Les Humanoïdes Associés, wanted to meet me. We chatted for a bit after the signing, and we agreed to keep in touch in case something should come up that would seem right for me. He and Paul Benjamin pitched a few ideas to me over the next year, but I was too busy with Hulk and Superman: Secret Identity to even consider anything more. But Sebastian X had an intriguing concept and they were willing to wait until I had finished my other commitments. A rather straightforward chain of events, I guess, but a chain nonetheless...”

Immonen has not yet begun work on the book in earnest, having just received a script in English. He has illustrated one page, to show La Neve his approach. Having just signed an exclusive contract with Marvel, Immonen clarified that Sebastian X was permitted under the terms of his agreement.

The artist also added that he was already familiar with La Neve’s other work which has seen publication from Humanoids. “I'd only seen a few pages from his other album for Les Humanoïdes, Le Jour Des Magiciens, which looked quite cool,” Immonen said. “Since then, I've gotten a copy of the book, and it's a brisk read, full of energy and original ideas and characters, much like Sebastian X.”

As for that…surfing aspect, it is somewhat minimal – don’t worry, this ins’t point Break 2: Electric Boogaloo

“It's much more a slightly satirical action flick kind of story,” Immonen said. “There are passing resemblances to The Fifth Element and Face/Off, even Miller and Gibbons' Martha Washington franchise, but it's really cut from whole cloth.
Michelangelo has taken the trappings of the American action hero and turned it on its ear. I don't know if I can tell you much more about the story specifically-- it's really dense, not a casual read.”

Immonen was quick to acknowledge that drawing the project will be quite different from monthly American comics, or even from his own graphic novel, such as Superman: End of the Century.

“Most of the challenges I foresee are in acclimating to the European album format, with 8 or 9 panels to a page on average instead of 5 or 6,” Immonen said. “I think in the long run, it will make for a quick draw, but there's always a transition period when you take on something new. It was the same with the Pirates of the Caribbean story I did with Wade Von Grawbadger for Disney Adventures, but I only had six pages in which to get used to that one!

”Also, Sebastian X is a story set in the near future, much like Shockrockets, so there is the daunting task of the Production Designer on
any science fiction movie-- make it look unusual, but familiar; advanced, but not spacey. It's a fine line to tread, but I've been drawing SF stuff since Legion, ten years or so. I'm sure this was a consideration when I was asked to be on board.”

Sebastian X editor Paul Benjamin concurred – and added a few more reasons why he’s happy to have Immonen on board the book. “Stuart’s visually dynamic storytelling and naturalistic figurework are a perfect match for Sebastian X,” Benjamin said. “Part of the reason we were able to land Stuart for this project even as he signed an exclusive deal with Marvel is the fact that, at Humanoids, we have editors on two continents working to team up a writer and an artist on the right project regardless of language or cultural barriers.

“Stuart and Michelangelo are really creating a super cool and multi-layered character with Sebastian. Here’s a guy whose whole life was about athletic achievement until a shift in politics forced him to stand up and fight for freedom. The opening scene features a chase between a helicopter and a surfboard that you have to see to believe! The scene is incredibly cinematic, and with Stuart handling the artwork, this book will blow Hollywood blockbusters out of the water.”

In approaching the “cinematic” feel of Sebastian X, Immonen said that while he’ll have to work within a fairly tight framework, he’s still got his bag of tricks.

“There's no chance of adding panels to these pages; they already approach the limit of what I consider comfortable,” Immonen said. “And this is a full-script story, so I respect the work that has gone into developing the ‘shot list,’ or individual panel descriptions. Most of that work is done for me in this case, and done well, so I don't feel the need to re-work it.

The trappings of effective storytelling are well-worn, and I mostly consider things like panoramas, close-ups, and dramatic lighting instinctual. I'm not trying to reinvent the wheel. You show action with an off-balance composition, and reaction with character expression, for instance.... it's not set in stone, but there is an unspoken agreement with the creator and the audience that certain approaches mean certain things. Don't get me started on the cross-cultural differences, though... what we in North America consider an effective way of showing desire, or pain, or happiness might not be the way it's traditionally done elsewhere-- luckily, the cultural ties to European tradition are strong here, so I don't think I'll be causing any grave international incidents.”

That said, aside from the upped panel count per page, Immonen doesn’t plan on any real differences in production compared to, say, a straight American comic – although don’t plan on picking up the original art from Sebastian X. “I'm not sure who's going to color it yet, so I'm not doing anything as unusual as Superman: Secret Identity's approach; I don't think I could have comfortably handed that over to just anyone to color-- there are just too many vague or implied lines which I knew I could complete in color myself, but I've found coloring to be exhausting work.

”I suppose that I'm doing something unusual in that the inks at least will be 100% digital. This is for practical as well as conceptual reasons; the vagaries of international courier service, and the ability to correct and re-draft almost infinitely makes it a smart move, in my opinion. Besides, my originals have never sold that well, so I don't feel that there's mush lost in the aftermarket.”

Ideally, Sebastian X won’t be the only Humanoids work from Immonen, in the short or long term. “The Marvel contract allows as many as I can fit in, and they like to do the albums in series, one a year or so. I'd like that-- and if they want to see my stories as well, there are a few I'd be happy to share. We'll see what the future brings!”

[SpyGuy]

Can't wait for the inevitable crossover with Grant Morrison and Steve Yeowell's character, Sebastian O...

SEBASTIAN X/SEBASTIAN O: TIC-TAC-TOE

[Jeremy Williams]

What happened to the other comics that were supposed to be done by Humanoid with American creators? I seem to recall that Frank Quietly, Terry Dodson, John Cassaday and a few others were attached to the progect...? These books were fascinating high concepts science-fiction and I would probably have bought a few.

[J.C. Bakken]

Originally posted by MattBrady
Having just signed an exclusive contract with Marvel, Immonen clarified that Sebastian X was permitted under the terms of his agreement

How does that work? Just curious.

[nenad]

Originally posted by Jeremy Williams
What happened to the other comics that were supposed to be done by Humanoid with American creators? I seem to recall that Frank Quietly, Terry Dodson, John Cassaday and a few others were attached to the progect...? These books were fascinating high concepts science-fiction and I would probably have bought a few.

Nothing happened. All those projects are in-works. Most of those will come out next year. I think a lot of American readers are used to monthly comics, whereas these graphic albums take a year or so to create.
When they get here, I am sure the wait will be worth it.

nenad

[Johnny Soko]

What were/are those "other projects"?

[kalorama]

I seem to recall some noise about Travis Charest doing a Metabarons album.

[Nobody]

I look forward to each of aforementioned albums coming out. I just hope someone mentions a release date when they do finally get published.

[Royd]

For a moment, I got a bit worried when Stuart mentioned that there would be no originals but relaxed somewhat when I saw him state that the inks would be 100% digital *whew* At least, the pencils will still exist in original form *crossed fingers*!

I'm a huge fan of Stuart's work and I was very excited to read earlier of his Marvel exclusive contract and now of his involvement with Humanoids. As a collector of Stuart's artwork, I sincerely hope there are a few originals which might be available for purchase. Hmmmm....... I'd better check with Stuart

If anyone's interested in checking out my collection of Stuart's art including a number of unpublished and promotional pieces, please visit here -
http://www.comicartfans.com/GalleryRoom.asp?GSub=159

Best,

Royd

[amaraswen]

Originally posted by Johnny Soko
What were/are those "other projects"?

JOHN CASSADAY's I am Legion
KURT BUSIEK's Redhand
CHUCK AUSTEN'S Flywires
JAMAL IGLE's Army of Angels
TRAVIS CHAREST's Dreamshifters
STUART IMMONEN's Sebastian X