Get Graphic: Making Comics Stranger with Matteo Illuminati
Jun 26, 2023
Interview by Troy-Jeffrey Allen
Discover the multi-layered process that goes into making high adventure!
In the following interview, artist Matteo Illuminati takes us inside Tales of Asunda! A melanin-hued fantasy from Stranger Comics, and an artistic group effort that sees Matteo providing finishes for artist Darrell May.
Firstly, what is your name and where do you hail from?
Hello everyone! I am Matteo Illuminati - and, yes, it is my real last name, here in Italy it is quite common). I was born in Rome and now live and work near Florence.
How did you get into inking? What sparked your initial interest?
I am a complete comic artist - except for colors. I start from the pencil to the final inking. In this case, [it should be mentioned,] the extraordinary layouts of Darrell May were the real starting point of every page of Tales of Asunda.
What can you tell us about Tales of Asunda? What is it about?
In the two issues that I had the pleasure of drawing we focus mainly on the past of the characters, on the events that made them what they are today, and that marked the relationships between them. However, there is no lack of action, fighting, magic, and extraordinary landscapes. [Just like] the best fantasy stories that Stranger Comics have accustomed us to.
How do you know when the page has…the right “look?”
If it were up to me the page would never be perfect. It is a problem for us artists. In fact, it often happens that you edit a page that you had finished days before to add a detail that you only thought of now. In short, let's say that it is the deadline that decides when a page is really finished. [Laughs]
Tell us about your collaborators on the book. Who else is on the team?
The aforementioned Darrell for the layouts, Arianna Pisani with her extraordinary colours - capable of bringing the pages to life - and of course, none of this would have been possible without Sebastian's script. I couldn't wait to read every new script he sent me!
What tools do you use to ink?
I work digitally. To be precise, the program I use is Clip Studio Paint. I think it is really perfect for comics!
In terms of audience, who is Tales of Asunda for?
Definitely to all fantasy lovers of all ages. Or even simply to those who love good stories.
Tales of Asunda is available to preorder now at your local comic shop from Stranger Comics! You can also reserve your copy with PREVIEWSworld Pullbox.
If you're looking for more from Matteo Illuminati, be sure to follow him on Instagram.
Keep an eye on PREVIEWSworld.com's Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, or Instagram for more artist spotlights!
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Troy-Jeffrey Allen is the producer and co-host of PREVIEWSworld Weekly. His comics work includes MF DOOM: All Caps, Public Enemy's Apocalypse '91, Fight of the Century, the Harvey Award-nominated District Comics, and the Ringo Award-nominated Magic Bullet.
