The saying “war is hell” appears to be a harsh reminder of the social, economic and spiritual prices of armed conflict. But Steve Thompson and Gonzaio Luggieri clearly made that a challenge.
This is the only real way to explain sick leave, and their brand new OGN will be released via comixology next week. Spanning four chapters, the sick leave focuses on Bob and Mary. “Two young soldiers who want to help their country and its war efforts.” But they don’t sell war ties – rather, the pair “are volunteers to take experimental medicines and are left to protect the Pacific island.” Next is a strange journey with floating eyes from the sea and strange creatures as Bob and Mary face “a trauma and nightmare of the past (changed) and become a reality.”
And in that way, as Thompson and Ruggieli show us the depths that humanity is willing to defeat their enemies, sick leave is completely involved in the saying “war is hell” (even if that means using your own citizens as the worst cannon feed). However, this story is a deeper quest for Bob and Mary herself, and through that deep personal lens, sick leave asks even more epic questions about humanity, suffering, and the true scope of our experience.
On June 17th, the vacation fell completely. It includes the “conspiracy” that influenced the story, the author’s relationships and goals with readers, and some standout moments/panels. Then, enjoy the exclusive preview page from Chapter 2 of Ill Vacation right after the interview.
Courtesy of Comixology.
aipt: Where did the idea of a sick leave come from, and how inspired is it by “conspiracy” like MK Ultra? MK feels that he has created a narrative genre about government/leadership relationships and connections.
Steve Thompson: Hello! Yes, when I wrote the manga script, I had it in my heart. I was shocked by the way they led them. In many cases, they were unable to trust the injustice of using the country’s military to test biological weapons, not in the way of safety. Rather than listing a particular drug from a real-world trial, I made it, but the similarities are intentional. Bob and Mary receive these injections and proceed with a completely normal, “know you” conversation before it begins. I felt this was important to make a statement about what these experiments were being done about real people. The ending really shows what I think about it without corrupting!
Courtesy of Comixology.
aipt: Of the main characters of Bob and Mary, do you feel the most connected? Do you feel guilty for causing these people to suffer?
ST: I feel connected to both of them and experience real guilt for all their adventures, but they make it their bold! They don’t panic and fall apart. They try to solve problems and deal with past trauma in a way that makes sense. As a character, I gave them the tools to use their intelligence and skills and try to do the right thing as much as possible. In answering the question, I feel guilty, but I hope people see the strength and resilience that underlies them. However, all dramas need to place characters in tough times. I hope the story will love people to them.
Courtesy of Comixology.
AIPT: How was it like working with Gonzalo? How much of his wonderful, totally Bonker art allows you to do what you do from a story/writing perspective?
ST: Gonzalo is not just a master of lines, but a master of colour. I love the way each chapter emphasizes a different colour from the palette he uses, and how it becomes more vibrant and wild as the story progresses. I do reviews, sometimes I do partial rewrites of the scripts for each chapter, then send them to Gonzalo. Based on the previous chapter, I can change the description of the monster to see whether it suits his style and specifically how he works. They always looked amazing! From a narrative perspective, Gonzalo suggested different panel layouts to me from those found on the script page, and they were always flowing better in his way!
Courtesy of Comixology.
AIPT: How much of the approach here is conflicting with the readers? Are you trying to push them and their understanding/awareness in ways that aren’t always easily promoted directly in the market?
ST: This is a great question. Absolutely, I am at odds with my readers. I’m trying to capture intense, supernatural events fragmented by jumping around in time and space, not saying things, moving things quickly. The choppy nature of things thrown into you before you realize what they are is definitely conflicting, but I hope it puts the reader perfectly in the confused minds of our heroes. My other hope is that it can be reread. You can skip in one read and get everything we’re trying to say, or read a few more times at a measured pace. You can also incorporate several different themes and meanings, or lavish them into or engulf them in the art. Something is happening on every page thanks to Gonzalo!
Courtesy of Comixology.
AIPT: Why is it important to release sick leave as a graphic novel, not just four separate issues/four chapters?
ST: I think you’ll read that well at once. That’s my main idea. The four standalone issues mean a monthly break if you are waiting for it to come out. By design, it is a single piece, and chapter breaks are an excuse to put in a full-page spread of beautiful Gonzalo, rather than a necessary break between events.
aipt: In this book, there are moments that stand out on pages/panels, etc. Does it tell you the very heart of your story and what you are trying to do here?
ST: Yes, that’s the first page! I tried to jump straight into the story. Bob is screaming on the cries of the engine, his superiors screaming loudly, they can’t hear each other properly, but they leave for some unknown reason, you know that’s not good, and he is in charge of Mary despite Bob being a senior officer. As it is intended to be a rush as a chaotic, readers know that something is happening from something that hasn’t been said, and it also sets the tone we were aiming for in everything else. I think it’s fun to put your readers in a situation that’s already developed. It may be confrontational as your previous question asked, but I like the energy of it!
Courtesy of Comixology.
AIPT: Is there anything you need to know about sick leave, comics, horror, war, and more?
ST: Enjoy our War/Horror/Thriller books and tell us what you think. If Gonzalo and I could find time, I would like to make a prequel based on two German investigators, Elvira and Per, who have the past as supernatural investigators. It was a trip to exotic places around the world, again based on some real-world events, but was given a twist of the story. And of course, with beautiful Gonzalo artwork!
All of the following images are courtesy of comixology.
