10 Questions: Comic Artist Jesús Redondo Román

Jesus Redondo in 2004

Following up on our interview with this week's 2000AD Terror Tales writer David Baillie yesterday, we're delighted to bring you an exclusive quick interview with the legendary artist on the story - Jesús Redondo Román.

Jesus returns to the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic for the first time in more than a decade with his art on this Tale, 'Birth of Mazzikim', which appears in 2000 AD prog 1737 – available now from all good newsagents and comic shops.

Jesus Redondo was born 8th August 1934 in Valladolid, Spain. His father was a teacher in Cubillas de Santa Maria, and he inherited a love of drawing, literature and other arts.

In 1958, after meeting with Miguel Delibes (then editor of the newspaper El Norte de Castilla), Jesus decided to move Madrid and began work at the advertising agency, Cid, and was appointed as Head of Studio within a year. In 1961, he sent samples of his work to Editorial Bruguera and began his career as a comics artist with the story 'Professor Woosly',  dated April 1962.

Down the years, Jesus has worked in various styles and for many very different publications, such as women's magazines, childrens' books and, in comics, on science fiction, heroic fantasy, adventure, thrillers and superhero strips.

In addition to his European work, which includes 'Edward' (for Tina), 'El Capitán Trueno' and 'Un Paseo por la Rioja', he has worked for a variety of British publishers, drawing strips such as 'Suzette of the Silver Sword' for Diana, 'The Mind of Wolfie Smith', first published in Tornado but arriving in 2000 AD with Prog 133 (running until Prog 177), various Future Shocks for 2000AD, 'Mr Black', a series for Creepy magazine, episodes of Motormouth and Killpower for Marvel UK, Star Wars and Kitty Pride Agent of SHIELD for Marvel US in 1998.

downthetubes: We haven't seen your work in British comics for a long time. What have you been working on?

Jesús Redondo Román: I have been working for publishers in France, Spain, Germany, Sweden, Holland and the US - mainly for Marvel, Random House [and] Escolactic - making comics, storybooks and colour illustrations for childrens' books.

downthetubes: Have you been been keeping up with 2000AD and the people you worked with?

Jesus: Unfortunately not. Last year I met with Carlos Ezquerra, which made ​​me remember old times and I got in touch with 2000 AD and Rebellion again.

downthetubes: Do you still create you art in the same way you drew "The Mind of Wolfie Smith"?

Jesus: I think I still draw the same way and sometimes, they tell me, better. Although things do not always go as you want!

downthetubes: Are you working with digital art tools and which ones?

Jesus: I do not work with digital media. It's a strange world to me and I don't think I'll go there, so I keep my pens, brushes, markers etc.

downthetubes: Which artists most influence you?

2000AD Terror Tale 'Birth of
Mazzikim'by David Baillie
and Redondo

Jesus: Without a doubt, when I started the artists who influenced me were Jesus Blasco [who drew strips such as 'Steel Claw' for Valiant - Ed], Alex Raymond [creator of Flash Gordon] and Hal Foster [Prince Valiant].

downthetubes: Will you be drawing more for 2000 AD?

Jesus: I'd love to - it all depends on Rebellion. I've always tried to work with friends and I hope that having worked so many years for 2000 AD, [editor] Matt [Smith] will consider me a friend and give me more work.

downthetubes: Do you have a favourite 2000 AD character you would love to draw?

A page from 'The Mind of Wolfie Smith'
© Rebellion

Jesus: I'm not very familiar with the histories and contemporary artists in the magazine. But I always remember [the strips I worked on]: 'Mind Wars', 'The Mind of Wolfie Smith', 'Monster', 'Armageddon', 'Dan Dare'...

downthetubes: The comic industry has gone through many changes since you drew strips like 'Suzette of the Silver Sword' and 'Edward' (for the Dutch magazine Tina). Do you think comics still have a future?

Jesus: I hope so, although electronic competition is very strong. I think that having a comic book in your hands, turning the pages, smell the ink... it is very pleasant and always will [always have a place in] a corner of our closet where we store our treasures.

downthetubes: What advice do you give young artists wanting to draw comics?

Jesus: Learn to practice every day and not get discouraged. Learn from the artists who admire and study them, copy them, just for practice.

downthetubes: Do you have a web site or gallery where your fans can view your art?

Jesus: Yes, although there isn't much on it yet - a friend made ​​it for me:  http://jesusredondo.carbonmade.com

(Note: this is really a work in progress - we're including the link here for future reference)

'Wolfie Smith' was also drawn by
Vanyo

• Special thanks to Michael Molcher at 2000AD for arranging this interview and Esteve Dalmau at the Dalmau Agency for checking my rubbish Spanish!

Related Links on this site:

• David Baillie's Date with Terror (Tales, that is)

Web Links:

•  Jesus Redondo's Lambiek entry

• Detailed Biography on 'Por El Propio Autor' (In Spanish)

• Profile: The Dreamers (in Spanish, published in 2004)


• 2007 Interview on 'El Capitan Trueno' (in Spanish)

Here's our interview in Spanish, for the benefit of Jesus many Spanish fans (and just in case we have mangled Jesus replies!):

downthetubes: No hemos visto tu trabajo en el cómic británico durante mucho tiempo. ¿ En qué has estado trabajando?

A panel from 'Suzette of the Silver
Sword' a strip Redondo drew
for Diana in the 1960s

Jesus: Durante este tiempo he trabajado para editoriales de Francia, España, Alemania, Suecia, Holanda y principalmente para U.S.A. (Marvel, Random House, Escolactic…) Haciendo cómic, libros de historias ilustrdas y colorin books para niños.

downthetubes: Has estado manteniendo el ritmo con 2000AD y la gente que ha trabajado?

Jesus: Lamentablemente no. El pasado año me encontré con Carlos Ezquerra, lo que hizo que yo recordara antiguos tiempos y me puse en contacto de nuevo con 2000 AD (Rebellion.

downthetubes: Todavía creas el arte de la misma manera que dibujaste "El pensamiento de Wolfie Smith"?

Jesus: Creo que sigo siendo el mismo y según me dicen a veces mejor. Aunque las cosas no siempre salen como uno quiere.

downthetubes: Si no, estás trabajando con herramientas digitales y cuáles son?

Jesus: No trabajo con medios digitales, es para mí un mundo muy desconocido y al que pienso no entrar por ahora, de manera que sigo con mis lapiceros, pinceles, rotuladores, etc.

downthetubes: Cuales son los artistas que mas te han influido ?

Jesus: Sin duda ninguna, cuando yo empezaba, los artistas que más influyeron en mí, fueron, Jesús Blasco, Alex Raimond, Hal Foster...

downthetubes: Dibujaràs màs para 2000 AD?

Jesus: Me encantaría, todo depende de Rebellion. Yo siempre he procurado trabajar con amigos y espero que habiendo colaborado tantos años con 2000 AD. Me consideren un amigo y Matt me encargue muchos trabajos.

downthetubes: Tienes algùn personaje favorito en 2000 AD que te gustaría dibujar?

Jesus: No estoy muy al corriente de las historias y artistas actuales en la revista. Siempre recordaré… 'Mind Wars', 'Wolfie', 'Monster', 'Armagedon', 'Dan Dare' ….


downthetubes: La industria del cómic ha pasado por muchos cambios desde que dibujastes tiras como "Suzette de la Espada de Plata 'y' Edward '(para la revista holandesa Tina). Crees que los cómics tienen todavía futuro?

Jesus: Deseo que sí, aunque la competencia electrónica es muy fuerte. Particularmente pienso que tener un cómic entre las manos, pasar las hojas, oler la tinta….es muy grato y siempre habrá un rinconcito en nuestro armario donde guardar nuestro tesoro,

downthetubes: Qué consejo les das a los jóvenes artistas que quieren dibujar cómics?

Jesus: Que aprendan que aprendan cada día y no se desanimen. Que aprendan de los artistas que admiren y los estudien, que los copien, solo para practicar.

downthetubes: Tienes un sitio web o galería, donde tus fans pueden ver tu arte?

Jesus: Sí, aunque un poco escaso dentro de poco tiempo lo ampliaré. Es decir, un amigo lo hará por mí: http://jesusredondo.carbonmade.com

(Nota: esto es realmente un trabajo en progreso - hemos incluido el enlace aquí para futura referencia)

Art fr Emma's Gedachten  (Tina Issue 42, 2008)

David Baillie's date with Terror (Tales, that is)

Writer/artist David Baillie has been a stalwart of the British small press scene for some time, self-publishing his comics to sell online and at conventions. More recently, though, he’s moved into professional comics writing. 

This week, his new Terror Tale is published in 2000 AD (Prog #1737) so Matt Badham thought it was a good time to sit down and have a chat with him.

This interview is crossposted from Matt's blog with his and David's kind permission...

Matthew Badham: What tips have you got for those trying to write one-offs, Terror Tales or Future Shocks, for 2000 AD?

David Baillie: Well first off – I’m not claiming to be an expert. Also bear in mind: man cannot know the mind of Tharg. But I do have some thoughts on what makes for a good Future Shock/Terror Tale-style story, based on lessons I’ve learned personally and stuff I’ve observed in the work of others. (For starters, don’t begin sentences with ‘But’.)

I’d suggest doing some research – but don’t limit yourself to just reading old Future Shocks, or indeed just comics. Track down Golden Age sci-fi shorts by authors like Ray Bradbury, Isaac Asimov and Robert Heinlein, and in terms of more contemporary stuff I love Ted Chiang and Michael Swanwick.

Also, read outside of the genres – Saki, O. Henry and definitely The Dead by James Joyce. All of these guys wrote (or write) engaging short fiction with great central premises and non-ambiguous resolutions.

I suppose what I’m saying is make sure your story is engaging, has a great central premise and a resolution that isn’t ambiguous. And learn from the best. You only have four pages to tell your story so every panel has to do a job. Avoid repetition where possible. And make sure your character clearly wants something.

What was it like discovering that your new strip has been illustrated by Jesus Redondo?

David: Tharg told me who had drawn Birth of the Mazzikim at the Eagle Awards a couple of weeks ago and I was honestly dumbstruck. My ambitions in comics break down into three categories – things I hope might happen one day, things that are now impossible for some reason (I always wanted to do a signing at Comic Showcase on Charing Cross Road, but it’s now closed) and things that are so improbable that I hadn’t even contemplated them.

Having a legend like Jesus Redondo draw a story I wrote for 2000 AD is a firm #3. The man is a legend – among his many credits, he drew some of Alan Moore’s most well-remembered Time Twisters, The Mind of Wolfie Smith and M.A.C.H. 1. Stories I read again and again when I was growing up (in reprint – I’m not that old!) It’s even more incredible that the artwork for the story is as good as it is.

According to Wikipedia, Mr Redondo is now in his late seventies, but he draws like a hungry young whipper-snapper. It’s amazing. His storytelling is still world-class and, as Henry Flint said on Twitter the other day, if anything his work is tighter now than it was a couple of decades ago. I’ll go back to being dumbstruck now.

You’ve also written Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) for the Russian market. These are two-page strips. What are the challenges there? 

David: That’s been one of the most fun gigs ever. I’m the right age to have been knocked off my feet by the mega-franchise that is the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles the first time around. Then I became obsessed with ninjas and eventually tracked down the original black and white indie comics – so I’m a genuine fan.

The TMNT comic I’m working on is for younger readers and, like you said, the stories are all two-pagers. It’s a really interesting challenge to tell a story in that small a space. Introducing a problem, escalating it and then resolving it in a surprising way in around ten panels is a tall order and I’ve had to find new writing muscles that I didn’t even know existed.

On top of that, I have a bee in my bonnet about how a lot of boys’ fiction resorts to using violent resolutions. ‘Might makes right’ is a terrible lesson to be repeating so often. So yeah – when I remove that option it gets even more difficult, but also much more rewarding when it works.

Matthew: What other comics projects — or other projects — do you have on the go at the moment?

David: I think my next comic from the House of Tharg will be in the Megazine, but I know he has no qualms about decommissioning leaky droids so that’s all I’ll say. Apart from that, I have a few projects that are boiling away in the background. I wrote a radio play for Radio 4′s Afternoon Play slot last year, but the producer was let go in the big BBC reshuffle and I haven’t found a new home for it yet. I’m hoping to start work on something for BBC Scotland in the not too distant future.

I’ve also co-written a film script with fellow comics outcast, Dan Lester, and we’re going to start punting that around soon. My comics work is all on spec at the moment, so I probably shouldn’t mention it before I’ve even pitched.

Matthew: You’ve got quite a history of being involved in small press comics. Where can people get your small press stuff and do you have any plans in the near future in that arena?

David: I’ve been remiss is keeping my small press work in stock, unfortunately. Anything that doesn’t pay the rent has fallen by the way-side a little in the last couple of years.

In saying that, I do have copies of my fantasy graphic novel Tongue of the Dead and the excellent BASTARDS anthologies*. They can both be bought using the paypal buttons on my website or emailing me at [webhello at davidbaillie dot net].

I’d love to get back to doing small press work – it’s really liberating knowing that, as your own editor, everything in your head will be making it on to the page no matter how weird, personal or surreal. I suppose it’s just a matter of squireling away some cash and setting aside some time. I’m really lucky, though, that at the moment my main gigs are all things I’m really passionate about and it all feel like my own work.

Thanks to David for taking time out to talk to me. His website can be found here.

*Note from Matt: Tongue of the Dead and the BASTARDS anthologies are great, with the latter being especial favourites of mine.

Redondo returns to 2000AD for Terror Tale

2000AD Terror Tale 'Birth of Mazzikim'
by David Baillie and Redondo

Veteran 2000 AD artist Jesus Redondo is returning to the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic for the first time in more than a decade.

As announced at the recent Bristol Comics Expo, the Spanish artist – perhaps best known in the UK for his work on Book Two of Nemesis the Warlock for 2000 AD and The Mind of Wolfie Smith from the short-lived  1980s comic Tornado – has drawn a one-part Terror Tale, written by newcomer David Baillie.

The one-off 'Terror Tale', entitled 'Birth of Mazzikim', will appear in 2000 AD prog 1737 – available from Wednesday 8th June from all good stockists (and some evil ones).

After beginning his career in the early 1960s, Redondo entered the British market with work for DC Thomson and IPC, working on strips such as 'Suzette of the Silver Sword' for the girls title, Diana, 'Marmaduke' and many other stories, drawing romance, police, fantasy and war strips with equal accomplishment.

A panel from 'Suzette of the Silver
Sword' a strip Redondo drew
for Diana in the 1960s

Comics encyclopedia Lambiek notes that he cites the comic story 'Edward', which he drew for the Dutch magazine Tina with writer Otto Veenhoven in 1974 as his favourite series. In the same year he drew the Spanish series 'Centauro' and 'SOS Dossier Ecológico' with writers A. Martín and F. P. Navarro.

Redondo's 2000 AD credits also include episodes of M.A.C.H. 1, Tharg's Future Shocks and Missionary Man.

His credits also include 'Dan Dare' (in 1986), 'El Capitán Trueno' (1987) and 'Mr. Black', a horror series for the Spanish Creepy magazine in 1991.