Richard: How is comic art in the Philippines different than in North America?

Alex: "Comic books have always had a special place in Filipino society, leaving an imprint on Pinoys as they grow up. This cultural significance has resulted in a diverse lot, ranging from Mars Ravelo's innovative komiks stories to the seminal tales in the serial Funny Komiks. But recently, younger artists have tried to merge Filipino sensibility with a Western-style art form: the American comic book/graphic novel." (From the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Feb 2000)

But I’m from Philadelphia. WAY less interesting, I promise.

Richard: What does existential horror mean?

Alex: I think it refers to the kind of fear that runs a little deeper than that stirred up by Dracula’s and boogymen. Like the kind of uneasiness that’s inside all thinking people. I guess we’re hoping that AWAKENING reaches down and grabs something deeper in our readers, something that stays with you even after you close the book and the lights come on. How’s THAT for intriguing (vague)!?

Richard: How do you make a zombie look scary?

Alex: Well, I sort of try to keep the zombies from being too decomposed. I think it’s almost scarier that our zombies, for the most part, just look like crazy strung-out people. They could be anyone on the street. That idea was always scarier to me.

Richard: How did you become the artist on "Awakening"?

Alex: I got incredibly lucky and put my art in the right places on the internet at the right time. Nick stumbled across it and the rest is fate. Basically it happened like an E-Harmony commercial with less romance. A relationship founded on deep artistic compatibility.

Richard: How would you describe your artwork?

Alex: Oh god, that’s a hard one. How about bloodthirsty? Relentless? I’ve actually got a great idea:
A - acrid
L – large
E - exciting
X – xylophone

Alex.

I really like to keep my work looking kind of raw and dirty and intense. I want it to grab people! That’s the hope anyway.

Richard: Have you worked on any other comics?

Alex: AWAKENING was my published comic debut, but I did illustrate a comic in middle school which insinuated that the music teacher was molesting students. It was awful and totally got me suspended. As long as AWAKENING gets me in less trouble, I’ll consider it a success.

Also, I did an 8-page short for a Gestalt Comics compilation that I’ve been plugging for what feels like forever. It should be out really soon so hopefully some of you get to check it out! It’ll be in a book called “Character Sketches: Flinch”.

Richard: What other media do you work in?

Alex: I do some work in oil, but vary rarely these days. It’s sad actually. I’m really hoping to get a chance to do some more traditional stuff for the next half of the series. We’ll see what happens I guess.

Richard: How does to feel to be nominated for an Eagle Award?

Alex: It feels amazing! I’m still kind of in shock about it. I’m up against Captain America, among others! I never in a million years would have guessed it. Seriously, when Captain America throws his mighty shield…all those who oppose that mighty shield must yield.

Richard: What do you find most enjoyable about drawing?

Alex: I love that I have the chance to create something (hopefully) beautiful and important, to me if no one else. It’s like having a baby every day, without all the trouble of labor and unsafe sex. Hear that kids? Art is the new sex.

Richard: What do you think of The Simpson’s?

Alex: Uh-oh, you don’t know what you’ve gotten yourself into! I just today bought season 4, which totally completes my collection. Seasons 2-8 are GOLD in my book. It’s weird and sad to think that there have now been more bad seasons than good. I just hope people remember it as it was instead of the bloated caricature of itself that it’s become. Sort of like Elvis, except he had the good sense to die.

Richard: Do you enjoy horror movies?

Alex: I do, but I’m really not a horror buff or anything. Nick is the horror guy of the two of us. I really like the mystery/noir angle of our book, and I love mystery and noir movies as well. I like Hitchcock horror, more than slasher stuff, though that stuff is totally fun also.

Richard: What comics did you read as a child and do you read now?

Alex: As a child I LOVED the Golden Age stuff. I used to save up and buy the oldest AMAZING SPIDER-MAN books that I could afford. There’s something about the way those books look that new comics just can’t match. I’m not saying it's always better, it’s just got a very DIFFERENT and very cool feel. I miss the benday dots!

Nowadays I like Ashley Wood books, really for his art above all else. That guy is amazing. His drawing is so effortless. I really admire that. I followed BLADE OF THE IMMORTAL for a long while, until a missed a volume or two and had no idea what was going on. But that book is totally engrossing and I love how rough and messy it looks at times, but you can tell that Samara is in complete control. I have to admit I used to follow a few manga titles, but these days I don’t have the time, money or patience for it all. It’s a shame though. I had a stack of RANMA books as a kid that I really loved. Cause I’m a big girl.

What else, I like Mignola’s work a lot. He can do really amazing things with the simplest layout. I love black and a lot of guys these days seem to be afraid to use it.

Paul Pope’s BATMAN: YEAR 100 was really cool. I really dig the way he draws figures. And no one is too cool for batman. Batman is too cool for you.

Richard: How can someone contact you?

Alex: That’s easy, you can e-mail me at Aeckmanlawn@gmail.com or be my internet pal at www.myspace.com/alexelart or www.theabones.deviantart.com

Richard: Any final words of advice?

Alex: Listen to death metal.