I spoke with Jason Moser about his webcomic The Ellium, a combination of action and espionage in a world where magic is used as a means to gain and maintain power.
LT: The Ellium mixes magic with espionage. Can you tell us a little bit about how you came up with the story?
JM: Basically I took everything that fascinates and entertains me and worked those things into a series that I could love devoting all my time and energy to. I wanted Ellium to have all the far out weirdness of Fringe and X-Files, but the political intrigue and action of 24. In the end though, it’s a collection of ideas that I’ve had for years that I just couldn’t let go of and with Matt Krizans help, I believe we’re making a story that hopefully achieves everything we set out to do.
LT: This comic has some great art. Walk us through the process of creating an episode.
JM: Everything starts with the thumbnail - a very basic sketch that looks like indecipherable chicken scratch. After that, I layout the panels in Photoshop then the real fun begins. I use a mixed media approach, utilizing everything from 3D to charcoal. The final coloring process is the longest, with it being more like digital painting than traditional comic book coloring. The final image gets inspected by my wife then it’s off to get lettered.
LT: What do you find as an artistic source of inspiration?
JM: I try to find anything new and different that can help push my self into new areas with my art. I love finding work by other artists doing unique things. I look anywhere from other web comics and print comics, to art and history books. Anything visually interesting is a source of inspiration. If I’m really stuck, oddly enough music can help my visual art by just letting me more thoroughly tap into an emotion I might be going for in an illustration.
LT: I’ve heard that you’re going to feature some contributors to the webcomic. How did this come about?
JM: Actually Ellium will continue on every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday as usual with my self doing the art and Matt Krizan doing the writing, but in addition to this, a new series called Tales of the Ellium will start in January and run every Tuesday and Thursday throughout 2010. Originally when I was publishing Ellium in print, several creators and friends expressed an interest in contributing to Ellium, which got me thinking how interesting it would be to see a number of interpretations of Ellium.
Everything in Tales of The Ellium is in cannon with the main series but is self contained and really showcases some amazing talent! You’ll see Matt’s first Ellium story and I contributed art to several stories as well in a dark and I think pretty different style than I’m working with in Ellium.
LT: Is it difficult coordinating with different artists and creators on a project?
JM: It… had it’s moments! To be honest it was a lot of work but a very rewarding experience! I managed to make a lot of new friends and get to know some very talented people.
LT: What stands out as a singular inspiration in comics?
JM: I really can’t pick just one. I’d have to say my biggest inspiration for art has been a mix of Tim Bradstreet’s’ realism and Ben Templesmith’s coloring/shading. With writing, Robert Kirkman writes with so much creativity, you can’t help but to be inspired.
LT: What’s your favorite movie, and why?
JM: Right now, my absolute favorite is Repo The Genetic Opera. I know, an opera, its sad - but this one has rock music, social commentary on body modification and corporate greed run amok, some great costumes and even comics in it to help tell the story! Pretty much everything I could hope for in a movie!
LT: Can you tell us a little bit about future storylines, without giving too much away?
JM: The next chapter is called Swordplay, a two issue story that cuts to the heart of Ellium and introduces us to the Plato Continuum, the rivals of the Ellium. This one has a lot of action and begins to show just how much is at stake behind this shadow war these two groups are fighting.
Hate it or love it, characters will die and the world of Ellium will begin to get a lot darker as the series progresses, but there’s always hope!
LT: What would your dream project consist of?
JM: I’m not really sure, in many ways this already is it. I’d love to continue working with other talented people and continue to get my work out to new people, but it’s hard to complain about drawing and creating what I already want to create.
LT: Is there any particular character within the series that always surprises you?
JM: There are a couple. One won’t be introduced until issue 6, but for now Samantha Snow and Riel are two favorites that seem to out-do themselves every time their on the stage. Both have a very dark side, but while Snow is at war with who she is and who she’s become, Riel revels in it and wouldn’t change a thing about her self - they’re a lot of fun to work with!
LT: What is the best part of creating this series?
JM: Hearing from fans that found Ellium and enjoyed it. It’s a very rewarding experience and one that until now I only experienced at comic book conventions. Doing work as a web comic offers a much more immediate form of feedback and I think that interaction is just wonderful.
LT: What challenges have you encountered?
JM: I am never satisfied with the work I produce. I actually have had friends and family and my wife tell me to just move on (to another page), because I can work and re-work a page to death. Sometimes you just have to let it go and start something else.
LT: Please tell our readers where they can find Ellium and how often the comic is updated.
JM: Ellium is an ongoing series that updates Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at asylumink.net. I’ve got nearly 9 issues in the bag so there’s no worries about late updates or other issues like that!
Tales Of The Ellium updates Tuesday’s and Thursday’s also at asylumink.net starting in January and running throughout 2010 (also complete so you will get updates when they are promised!).
LT: Is there anything else you’d like to add?
JM: Just that it’s been a pleasure to do this interview and I hope that your readers will give Ellium a chance! I think anyone looking for secret societies, demonology, conspiracy’s and political intrigue with a healthy dose of action will enjoy our book!
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©2010 Lori Titus
To experience the world of Jason Moser’s The Ellium, go to http://www.asylum.net . Updates run every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
Tags: Ellium, Jason Moser, THE SUNDAY SPECIAL
January 11th, 2010 at 1:29 pm
[...] Online (http://forums.jazmaonline.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1435) as well as Flashes In The Dark (http://flashesinthedark.com/2010/01/10/sunday-special-jason-mosers-ellium/). Both interviews cover a variety of topic from how the art is created to the origin of the Ellium [...]