GUNNING FOR GLORY: SHANE AMAYA ON GUNNED DOWN

[MattBrady]

by Chris Arrant

Remember the game "Cowboys and Indians"? At one point or another, we've all played that game as children. Whether you're on the side of the pistol carrying cowboys or the Native Americans tribesmen defending their homeland, it all comes from a period in American history known as "The Old West". Easily the most popular time period in American history, stories have been told in every medium available, including movies, books, and even our own beloved comics. Although the western genre has been somewhat lacking in the past few years, the winds of change are coming as several stories set in the Old West are appearing in comic stores.

Publisher Terra Major is releasing its first anthology, called Gunned Down. Comprised of short stories showcasing the American Old West as drawn by 10 of the best artists from Brazil. Premiering at last month's San Diego Comic-Con International, Newsarama caught up with Shane Amaya, the publisher of Terra Major and writer for several of these stories, to get the big picture.

Newsarama: So how did Gunned Down come to be?

Shane Amaya It was thought up by Brian Scot Johnson, an online comics retailer (khepri.com) who has given us a lot of good advice over the years. After last year’s release of Horns of Hattin, our second graphic novel about the Crusades, he suggested to us that for this year we release a historical fiction book set in a period more liked by readers, such as the Old West. We agreed, and set out to produce an anthology that would showcase all of the talent we have discovered here in Brazil.

NRAMA: Gunned Down features 10 stories of the western genre. Can you give us a rundown of each story and who's involved?

SA: I will brief the four longest stories; the others are so short that to brief them would give the farm away.

“Down the River” by Ricardo Giassetti and Fabio Cobiaco is a story about an officer in the US Army involved in an Indian massacre who runs into the sole survivor years later. Giassetti used to own a comics publishing company in Brazil that licensed dozens of popular American titles. Cobiaco is a veteran freelance illustrator, and one of the best comic artists I have ever met.

“Stagecoach Mary” is a story based around an historical figure by the same name, an African American woman from Montana reputed for her formidable personality. It is by Pam Noles and Bruno D’Angelo. We met Noles last year at San DiegoComic-Con; she’s a journalist that seems to know just about everybody in the industry. D’Angelo is Terra Major’s Creative Director, and the artist of all our books except for Roland: Days of Wrath.

“The New Freedom” is a fictional story about another historical figure: Harry Houdini. It is an amusing story and one of my favorites in the anthology. The writer Jeremy Nisen is an old friend of mine: we met in Creative Writing class in high school! The artist is Jefferson Costa, an animator for MTV Brazil, and the most talented young comics artist we have discovered.

The last story, “Indian Face”, is written by me and drawn by Gabriel Ba; it is our first collaboration since the first, Roland, published six years ago. It is the story of a failed interracial relationship and the children it produces; it centers on the son’s search for his Indian father and the consequences of the reunion.

NRAMA: Most of the Gunned Down contributors are from the South American country of Brazil. Can you fill us in on the connection with Terra Major and the burdgeoning comic community in Brazil?

I first met the Brazilians Fabio Moon and Gabriel Ba by chance in Santa Barbara, my hometown, in 1996. Four years later we self-published Roland: Days of Wrath with the help of a Xeric Foundation grant; and I founded Terra Major. Since the publication of Roland I have been to Brazil five times, twice for months. With each trip to Brazil I make, I meet more talented artists. Brazil has a long history of brilliant comic book artists and cartoonists; the latter are especially loved there. Sadly, the market there for comics has been in decline since the ‘80s. There are a few cities, like Curitiba, Belo Horizonte, and Rio de Janeiro, with small but growing scenes. Sao Paulo is a stronghold: it has a comics school; a number of publishers; famous national cartoonists such as Laerte; a regular comics fair; and, as you say, an active and burgeoning community of young talented comic artists, many of whom I had the good fortune to befriend and invite to contribute to the Gunned Down anthology.

NRAMA: The genre of western is an overlooked, but growing area in comics. What is it about westerns that drew you to writing and publishing this anthology?

SA: I’m no comics historian, but I think it’s safe to say that in the hey-day of comics in America Westerns were as popular a genre as any other. My generation of readers had fewer titles to choose from, perhaps, but I frequently had Westerns in my pull, whether Desperadoes, Jonah Hex, or Preacher. To those teens in the 90s lucky enough to find classic European works such as Blueberry and Ken Parker, the Western genre in comics was alive and well. The genre is so beloved that no generation of creators will ever fail to make their mark on it, our Brazilians included: Brazil even has its own Wild West, a desert in the northeast called Caatinga, and its own Wild Bunch there, called “Os Cangaceiros.” As for me, I was named for a Western, and now that I have finally written one, I want to write many more. I was inspired by the film El Topo and the comic Bouncer, both by Alejandro Jodorowsky, a true genius whose works in film and comics I wish were better known by American comics fans.

NRAMA: Gunned Down is the latest release from Terra Major, which you founded in 1999. It's been six years since it all began, so now's a good as time ever to ask... how has the ride been so far?

SA: “What a long strange trip it’s been” comes to mind. We are no larger, as a company, as we were six years ago; but we better understand the business of selling comics and the craft of making them. Learning hasn’t been easy, but our comics improve each year. It has been exciting to see small press comics flourish; the high interest today in comics by the general public, the media, competing entertainment industries, and book publishers was but dreamed of in 1999. Challenges await us, but it’s been worthwhile, so far, to meet them, and fun. It has been most rewarding of all on a personal level. I feel lucky to have met such talented collaborators and luckier still to have made them to me as brothers. I take pride in their laborious transformation into professional artists. It has been a remarkable collaboration from the start and will continue to be.

[Aaron Weisbrod]

This looks great! I love anthologies, and having recently discovered the joy that is DEADWOOD I'm in the mood for some good western comics more than ever...

Working on his flanking and deploying manuvers,
Aaron Weisbrod

[Bakema NL]

Yes, it's about time we got some decent western. A few titles have surfaced already and yet another one here........I'll keep this one in mind.

[Jimmy Palmiotti]

I personally cant wait to get my hands on this...more westerns!!!!

jimmy

[render man]

I'm having trouble opening thier website, can anyone tell me how much this will sell for? the three pages shown look nice, but I hope those arent the only good looking ones...

[william G]

This is great. I think Brazil is going to be the next comic hotspot, because I keep seeing nothing but good stuff coming from out of there.

[Fabio Moon]

here are some more pictures from the anthology:

artwork by Gabriel Bá




artwork by Fábio Moon


Well, actually, the last picture was only a promo image I did, but it's such a nice image.

It's just a great book. Contact the publisher to see how you can get your hands on the book.

[Dildo_Baggins]

Originally posted by william G
This is great. I think Brazil is going to be the next comic hotspot, because I keep seeing nothing but good stuff coming from out of there.

You can't be more right, dude! Brazil is going to be big!

[NightRiver]

The Gorgeous art and interesting stories convinced me to order a copy on the website now. Cant wait to get it in the mail.

[vicvondoom]

Definitely getting this. The art on display here is sweet!. More western comics please...


--- the drunken despot ---

[Kolimar]

Originally posted by Dildo_Baggins
You can't be more right, dude! Brazil is going to be big!

Brazil is already big in the talent area and has been for years. And I don't think their local market will grow much more.

[Kolimar]

Originally posted by Fabio Moon
*

Good luck, Fabio. E obrigado pelas imagens.

[aphterburn]

The first picture looks very Darrow-like.

[MadLoveShogun]

I diddn't know that Alexandro Jodorowsky made a western movie.

I think im gonna buy this book just because i learned that fact from this guy.

[Fabio Moon]

Originally posted by aphterburn
The first picture looks very Darrow-like.

It's Rafael Grampá's artwork. He's a great artist. Do you believe this is his first comic book work EVER? First time he ever did sequential work, and already it looks like that!

[SalCipriano]

This and Dead West were my 2 favorites from San Diego. Every story in this book is amazing. Gorgeous art all around.

I suggest you all pick this book up.

Sal

[wrongrobot]

congratulations Shane and Jeremy... I hope this book picks up steam and continues to expand the perception of marketability for western and historical themed comics. All of the TerraMajor stuff has been top notch, and I'm glad to see the production on this book is the best yet.

Awesome!

[Marc Campos]

Hello to all, I´m Marc Campos, the brazillian inker, currently doing Rann-Thanagar War with Ivan Reis.

I´ve met a few times with Shane Amaya when he was in Brazil. He came to visit our school of comics (Quanta Academia de Artes) a few times.

Some of the artists in Gunned Down were our students like Jefferson Costa and Rafael Coutinho.

Among our teachers are Roger Cruz (X-Men and Arana), Greg Tocchini (Thor Son of Asgard) and Octavio Cariello (Queen of the Damned).

In the past Ivan Reis (of Rann-Thanagar and Action Comics fame) , Gabriel Bá (of Gunned Down and Ursula) also gave classes for our school.

So those interested in Brazillian artists can check our site www.quantaacademia.com.

Best wishes to Shane and all his projects.

Thanks for all (and excuse me for the shameless plug),
Marc Campos

www.quantaacademia.com

[Yello Jello]

I can't belive, Marc "jaw breaker" Fields!!! My hero!