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Artist Ivan Aguilar Discusses His Work On Upcoming Comic Series “Samurai Shin”
Being an artist, is like being a superhero. You have these powers where you can create something that can be totally goofy and stupid to something truly powerful and can reach out to people.
–Ivan Aguilar
Samurai Shin is the brain child of writer Mikel M. and the art work of Illustrator Ivan Aguilar. A native of the Phillipines, Aguliar has been passionate about art and illustration for a long time, but has turned his focus to comics for the past five years. With Ninja Girls by Tanaka Hosana being among his favorite reads, he is ready to take on take on the comic world by storm with his work on Samurai Shin. Anime Complexium had a chance to sit down with Aguilar to discuss his passion for art and his inspiration.
When did you decide that illustrating is your passion?
I was always fascinated about those worlds you see in your dreams and the surreal infinite possibilities that comes from it. So when I create a story, I always take my inspiration from points outside of this reality.The truth is, creating is an escape for me from the limitations of the mundane.
What was the inspiration for your Comic Samurai Shin?
I take my inspiration from Samurai Shin writer Mikel. He is a passionate guy and he’s the one spearheading this project. He is a very creative guy and I like how he is open-minded and collaborative he is. The creation of Samurai Shin was very organic and raw, so that’s why I enjoyed working with him.
What was the inspiration for your main characters?
Some of the inspiration for these characters are from fan favorite shows like Afro Samurai and Samurai Champloo. We are still in the process of evolving not only the stories but the whole feel of the comic book as well.
What It like Working With Mikel.M?
I like his style. He is different from the various writers/creators I have worked in the past. He didn’t put me in a box. The first time we talked, he mentioned right away that he wanted to create a I want to do a comic book, and asked me if I had any input. The creation process was very unorthodox and organic. I definitely think Mikel a cool guy to work with.
How did you and writer Mikel decide on the particulars of the artwork? How did it help shape the vision of the manga?
With the inspiration of shows I mentioned previously I tried to get some of my inspiration aesthetically from those. But again, the project is still evolving and growing as we go along.
What were some of the difficulties, or, challenges you experienced while creating this Comic?
The difficult part, (not stating on the technical aspects of the comic) is the promotion of the project.We want to reach as much people with tas possible and hopefully they get to feel that same excitement and as Mikel and I do.
Where do you hope to see the success of, Samuari Shin a year from now?
Samurai Shin is something that both Mikel and I feel very passionately about. From a creative and story standpoint, Samurai Shin is still in a fetal stage of its life, but we want to get the word out and create a buzz. The story and art is still evolving and growing. I feel that if we nurture this well, and with the support of manga, anime, and comic fans, we could have something very special. An animated series would be great, If one is allowed to dream.
Can you provide any advice for those looking to write for independent comic book companies?
Write, and draw something your passionate about. Always be open-minded to ideas and never force the creative process. Oh, and read a lot to get some inspiration.
