At this year’s San Diego Comic-Con, AIPT praised her marginalization by sitting with Taki Soma, creator of the Comixology series. During the enthusiastic chat, Soma revealed the inspiration behind the moving themes of the science fiction miniseries, sharing some fun behind the scenes stories. It is a snapshot of why alienated people are out of this world.
Courtesy of Comixology.
About the complexity of adolescence
AIPT: First of all, I really enjoyed reading the latest issue of Alienation. For readers who are not familiar with the series, please tell us a little about the story.
Takisama: Certainly, one day the series is awakening the world to an alien invasion. Lots of aliens appear on Earth, and they are all dead. But of course, one survived. And the story is about a family that is a surviving foreigner, who finds him, raises him, and protects him from other parts of the world.
AIPT: I love that the fourth issue started with an event like Comic-Con and was held with people who received valid convention complaints. Did San-Diego Comic-Con stimulate the scene?
TS: It’s actually based on. Similarly, the UFO practices and things like that we participated in. It’s called contact in the desert, a literal alien convention, and you want to fire stars at night and look for something in the sky. So, I was a bit inspired from that.
AIPT: I remember the kids. It gave me flashbacks of my childhood, not my 18 year olds. Have you drawn it from your own childhood?
TS: No. Not even a little. Yes, these kids aren’t like the way I grew up. My parents were no different to them at all. They had no expectations of me. But I drew inspiration from the kids I know. Similarly, my friends, children, etc.
I also reminded me of being a child, discovering life and trying to figure out who you are. You are supposed to learn how you act in life and ultimately as a child, you don’t have many options. Despite everyone tells you, you have to make a choice and you need to be an adult. But they don’t actually have any choices, so they chose them as part of the story.
I also chose an older man, because he was actually an elderly man, and because he was on the same boat for the same period. They don’t have many options either. Do you all want to go to a house after you retire? Want to go to a nursing home? They are not real choices.
aipt: Yeah, I definitely remember feeling that way. While I was reading the issue, I was thinking, “Did she see my past?”
TS: Actually (laughs). Yes, I interviewed your mom.
aipt: Ah, no! I’m sorry you had to go through it! Is there a reason why a particular alien survived when others didn’t?
TS: It’ll be revealed later. But there are reasons and ways he survived.
From Alienated #4. Courtesy of Comixology.
The creative process behind alienation
aipt: Move to the art of alienation. When it comes to comic book art, are you very involved or do you let the artist do your thing?
TS: Both. I’ve known artist John Bria for 20 years. So I trust him as an artist, so I’ve known him for a long time, so I know he’s a prolific artist and I can rely on him. So even when I was trying to understand it like the design of the character, I didn’t explain it to him as much as possible because I wanted to see what he came up with, rather than trying to manipulate what the character really looked like.
I had a particular vision in mind, such as Lily and Winter and what TJ would look like. But I gave him their age and what they were like. And what he came up with was nothing like I imagined. And that was the most enjoyable thing ever. For example, I am very attached to it and now I can’t imagine any other way. That’s definitely the best surprise.
So, in a way, I have to say, but I usually don’t have any modifications to them. I think I had a revision for him just because I wrote some double spreads, but then I found out that it didn’t work very well in the form. So I have to ask him to split them into pages. And that was the only change I wanted.
aipt: What was your favorite part about alienated writing, and what was the most challenging?
TS: I understand. A very small story. Finished and publication #5 has ended. And I’m very proud. I said, “Man, I landed that cliffhanger. I can’t wait. I’m going to finish this very well. Six will only end very tight. I’ll answer all the questions my readers have made. And I was very proud of myself. But then something told me to look at my contract for some reason. I don’t know what forced me to, but I saw it and it said, it’s the 5th issue series.
aipt: Ah, no!
TS: I’ve never said that Alinated is the 6th issue series. Until now. When we signed and my lawyer saw it, we all talked about how it was a 5th issue series. No one said six issues. I don’t know where the ideas for the six issues came from, but I’ve been writing them all the time. So I said, “What a god, what are you doing?”
Then I’m going to email Jeff, OK, well, and tell him what happened, and you know, I like, maybe I’ll rewrite the rest of what John drew. Or I ask him for extra problems. No matter what happens, I’ve come to understand this. I called John and I said, “Can I put a pencil on it? Because I might have to rewrite everything and all of this.” Luckily, they yeah, six are fine. Yes, it’s okay. It’s not more than that.
aipt: OK, the final question: what kind of message do you want the fans to take away from the entire series?
TS: I hope you will feel warm and ambiguous at the end. Yes, I want this to be like a good experience. Hopefully, I’ll deliver it.
