SUNDAY SPECIAL: Blake Chen’s Twilight Lady
Sunday, February 7th, 2010I interviewed artist/writer/musician Blake Chen about his webcomic Twilight Lady.
LT: Tell us about Twilight Lady, and how you came up with the concept.
BC: Twilight Lady is an urban fantasy webcomic series about a troubadour/demonslayer from the astral plane who one day, for reasons unknown to her, finds herself trapped in the physical realm, in a mortal body. It’s about how she deals with her new surroundings, the cult following she inspires, and the enemies she makes… in this realm, as well as the one beyond. How did I come up with this? By taking every subject, in fiction and in life, that’s ever fascinated me and putting all the elements together and basically coming up with a dish I’ve always wanted to consume myself, but have never been able to find.
LT: Twilight Lady is “trapped” in a mortal body. How does this constraint differ from writing about a ghost, who is trapped outside of a body?
BC: Though she is trapped in a mortal body, she has the awareness and memory, and some of the abilities, of her ghost form. She still has to deal with the problems and limitations of being flesh, but with the advantage that comes from an awareness of the realm beyond. I suppose if I was writing about a character who was a hundred percent ghost, her situation would be flipped around… she would be dealing with and exploring the mysteries and dangers of the spirit realm, while still possessing the memory and awareness of a physical existence.
LT: Tell us about your artistic influences and how you first became interested in comics.
BC: I’ve loved comics since as far back as I can recall. I don’t really know who has influenced me most, but here are some of my favorite artists, in no particular order: Bob Dylan, Alan Moore, Leonard Cohen, Sal Buscema, David Lynch, Gary Frank, John Totleben, Alfred Hitchcock, Peter David, Beth Gibbons.
LT: How does your work as a musician affect your work as a writer and artist?
BC: It doesn’t, at least not in any way that I’m aware of. My hope is that my involvement in these different disciplines ultimately enhance, and not reduce, my skill in all of them!
LT: When you read a story or listen to music, what moves you?
BC: Generally speaking, whatever moves the author is likely to move me in some way. I really believe that.
LT: What do you like to read?
BC: Anything by Alan Moore.
LT: If you have any favorite webcomics, which are they?
BC: Anything that’s part of the Spiderforest and Palace in the Sky collectives. I may be biased, though, since I’m in both!
LT: What inspires you to create, regardless of which medium your expression takes?
BC: The desire to connect.
LT: What are some of your plans for Twilight Lady?
BC: Without sacrificing the philosophical/metaphysical tone and themes that I’ve worked hard to establish, this coming year I’d really like to cut loose and play up the horror/suspense elements of the series, and just have a lot of fun. So the Lady will be tackling zombies, vampires, were-creatures… all demons of different types that are manifest in the physical realm, including perhaps the scariest type of demon - a serial killer.
LT: Have you received any feedback that has surprised you?
BC: I continue to be surprised… and amazed, and humbled… by the charming, witty, and thoughtful comments Twilight Lady readers leave on the site after each update.
LT: Where and when can our readers catch up with your serial?
BC: On the web. Anytime. http://www.twilightlady.com/archive/
LT: Is there anything that you’d like to add?
BC: For those who prefer their comics printed on paper, there’s a Twilight Lady one-shot comic book currently available for sale at online store IndyPlanet. It’s called Twilight Lady Sings the Blues, and contains a 10-page standalone tale which serves as a pretty neat introduction to the character and the series. http://www.indyplanet.com/index.php?id=3204
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©2010 Lori Titus
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