Eric J. Moreels
Feb 17, 2003, 09:54 am
<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/0403/X_MEN_Ronin_3t.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/0403/X_MEN_Ronin_3t.jpg" align=left alt="X-Men: Ronin #3 preview"></a>by Benjamin Ong Pang Kean, X-Fan Correspondent
Japanese Manga newcomer Makoto Nakatsuka is set to make his mark on Marvel Comics' mighty mutants in the upcoming X-Men: Ronin Mangaverse mini-series. Makoto, 31, lives in Tokyo and first discovered comics when he was about ten years old. Back then, he already had a vague idea that he wanted to be an artist, though he only got serious about this a decade later.
Makoto was one of the winners of the 2000 Best New Artist Award bestowed by popular Japanese manga anthology magazine Kodansha. His American work to date includes Star Wars Tales #12 for Dark Horse and Vampi #16 for Harris.
X-FAN: How did you come to work on the X-Men: Ronin Mangaverse mini-series?
MAKOTO: I met the editor, C.B. {Cebulski}, through a friend, and he invited me to take part in this project.
X-FAN: Had you read any X-Men comics prior to your work on Ronin?
MAKOTO: Of course! I have bought every X-Men comic (translated into) Japanese. I liked Jim Lee's X-Men and right now my favorite series is Ultimate X-Men. Because I am an artist I am fascinated by great art, and I love the artwork of Adam Kubert and Leinil Francis Yu.
<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/XMANGA001004.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/XMANGA001004t.jpg" align=right alt="X-Men: Ronin #1 Page 4 preview"></a>X-FAN: Did you have any input regarding the creation of any of the new Mangaverse characters featured in Ronin?
MAKOTO: I didn't have any ideas when I was first asked to work on the project because I didn't think I could draw the characters by myself without the story. However, the design I used for Pyro was an idea I had in my mind for a long time. I don't have anything to base the designs on exactly, but basically I try to make the characters either cuter or cooler and just do my best with this project.
X-FAN: Who was your favourite Ronin character to draw?
MAKOTO: My favorite to draw is Wolverine. I've always thought he was cool and I spent a lot of time and made an effort to re-design him with a more Japanese look when I was asked to. I love the design and I tried to show some originality.
X-FAN: Are you adapting your style and approach to the work to suit an American audience?
MAKOTO: Basically, my art style doesn't change very much at all. Maybe a little bit compared to previous work. However, I hope I am not changing my style but rather getting better as an artist and improving my skills. I try to do something original in all my work, even if it's just little things in the scenery, or odds and ends in the backgrounds. I especially obsess about drawing action scenes with powerful, vivid and alive characters. I can't wait for everyone to see my work in this series because I worked hard to put all these things in it.
X-FAN: What was it like working with writer J. Torres and editor C.B. Cebulski?
MAKOTO: I work in Japan so I have never met J., the writer, and C.B, the editor, but I feel we have gotten very close. I always look forward to receiving the next script from J., which always has something unexpected in the storyline. I look up to him very much as a writer. C.B was the first to critique my artwork at first and give me a chance to work on other projects. I wouldn't be working as an artist now if he didn't give me the chance! For that I truly appreciate him. I really thank C.B and Marvel Comics for giving me this great opportunity.
<table border=0 align=center><tr><td align=middle><a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/XMANGA001010.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/XMANGA001010t.jpg" alt="X-Men: Ronin #1 Page 10 preview"></a></td><td align=middle><a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/XMANGA001013_400.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/XMANGA001013_400t.jpg" alt="X-Men: Ronin #1 Page 13 preview"></a></td><td align=middle><a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/XMANGA001015_400.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/XMANGA001015_400t.jpg" alt="X-Men: Ronin #1 Page 15 preview"></a></td></tr></table>
X-Men: Ronin #1 is due to go on sale in March, with issue #2 following later that month. The series will conclude with issue #5 in May.
Pre-order X-Men: Ronin online now from X-World Comics and help support X-Fan! (http://x-worldcomics.com/yourvirtualstore/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=539&cat=X%2DMEN+RONIN)
REMINDER: You can also pre-order X-Men: Ronin #1 signed by writer J. Torres online now from X-World Comics! (http://www.x-worldcomics.com/yourvirtualstore/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=346&cat=X%2DCLUSIVE+CREATOR+EDITIONS)
X-Fan would like to thank J. Torres for arranging this interview, C.B. Cebulski for providing preview artwork, Akemi Ishizuka for translating the questions and answers, and, most of all, Makoto for taking the time to make this interview possible!
Japanese Manga newcomer Makoto Nakatsuka is set to make his mark on Marvel Comics' mighty mutants in the upcoming X-Men: Ronin Mangaverse mini-series. Makoto, 31, lives in Tokyo and first discovered comics when he was about ten years old. Back then, he already had a vague idea that he wanted to be an artist, though he only got serious about this a decade later.
Makoto was one of the winners of the 2000 Best New Artist Award bestowed by popular Japanese manga anthology magazine Kodansha. His American work to date includes Star Wars Tales #12 for Dark Horse and Vampi #16 for Harris.
X-FAN: How did you come to work on the X-Men: Ronin Mangaverse mini-series?
MAKOTO: I met the editor, C.B. {Cebulski}, through a friend, and he invited me to take part in this project.
X-FAN: Had you read any X-Men comics prior to your work on Ronin?
MAKOTO: Of course! I have bought every X-Men comic (translated into) Japanese. I liked Jim Lee's X-Men and right now my favorite series is Ultimate X-Men. Because I am an artist I am fascinated by great art, and I love the artwork of Adam Kubert and Leinil Francis Yu.
<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/XMANGA001004.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/XMANGA001004t.jpg" align=right alt="X-Men: Ronin #1 Page 4 preview"></a>X-FAN: Did you have any input regarding the creation of any of the new Mangaverse characters featured in Ronin?
MAKOTO: I didn't have any ideas when I was first asked to work on the project because I didn't think I could draw the characters by myself without the story. However, the design I used for Pyro was an idea I had in my mind for a long time. I don't have anything to base the designs on exactly, but basically I try to make the characters either cuter or cooler and just do my best with this project.
X-FAN: Who was your favourite Ronin character to draw?
MAKOTO: My favorite to draw is Wolverine. I've always thought he was cool and I spent a lot of time and made an effort to re-design him with a more Japanese look when I was asked to. I love the design and I tried to show some originality.
X-FAN: Are you adapting your style and approach to the work to suit an American audience?
MAKOTO: Basically, my art style doesn't change very much at all. Maybe a little bit compared to previous work. However, I hope I am not changing my style but rather getting better as an artist and improving my skills. I try to do something original in all my work, even if it's just little things in the scenery, or odds and ends in the backgrounds. I especially obsess about drawing action scenes with powerful, vivid and alive characters. I can't wait for everyone to see my work in this series because I worked hard to put all these things in it.
X-FAN: What was it like working with writer J. Torres and editor C.B. Cebulski?
MAKOTO: I work in Japan so I have never met J., the writer, and C.B, the editor, but I feel we have gotten very close. I always look forward to receiving the next script from J., which always has something unexpected in the storyline. I look up to him very much as a writer. C.B was the first to critique my artwork at first and give me a chance to work on other projects. I wouldn't be working as an artist now if he didn't give me the chance! For that I truly appreciate him. I really thank C.B and Marvel Comics for giving me this great opportunity.
<table border=0 align=center><tr><td align=middle><a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/XMANGA001010.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/XMANGA001010t.jpg" alt="X-Men: Ronin #1 Page 10 preview"></a></td><td align=middle><a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/XMANGA001013_400.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/XMANGA001013_400t.jpg" alt="X-Men: Ronin #1 Page 13 preview"></a></td><td align=middle><a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/XMANGA001015_400.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/XMANGA001015_400t.jpg" alt="X-Men: Ronin #1 Page 15 preview"></a></td></tr></table>
X-Men: Ronin #1 is due to go on sale in March, with issue #2 following later that month. The series will conclude with issue #5 in May.
Pre-order X-Men: Ronin online now from X-World Comics and help support X-Fan! (http://x-worldcomics.com/yourvirtualstore/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=539&cat=X%2DMEN+RONIN)
REMINDER: You can also pre-order X-Men: Ronin #1 signed by writer J. Torres online now from X-World Comics! (http://www.x-worldcomics.com/yourvirtualstore/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=346&cat=X%2DCLUSIVE+CREATOR+EDITIONS)
X-Fan would like to thank J. Torres for arranging this interview, C.B. Cebulski for providing preview artwork, Akemi Ishizuka for translating the questions and answers, and, most of all, Makoto for taking the time to make this interview possible!