Crystal Fractals Q&A: Pedro Maia on 'Redorik,' Indiegogo

Two versions of Maia's cover art for the 'Redorik' series.

Where comic books are concerned, it's a two-part medium; defined as equally by its script as it is its art, truly great comics meld the two together to create a fantastic experience for readers. We feel Redorik is one of those stories, where Howard Wong's knack for storytelling marries and bonds perfectly to the artistry of Brazilian artist Pedro Maia. This week we chatted with Pedro about his work on the first issue of the series, his inspirations and influences and his hope to finish what he, Derrek and Howard started.

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Redorik artist Pedro Maia

Andrew Ardizzi: Every artist has their influences, works that inspired them or a specific artist they try and pattern themselves after. Growing up, and even now, who are some of your influences in the comic book industry?

Pedro Maia: To be really honest I draw inspiration from every good artist I've seen, and there are lots of them in the industry! Some of them I can't even name, but I do recognize their work easily. But if I had to pick one, that would be the amazing Adam Hughes.

AA: Where do you think those influences come out, or are clear in your work whether it's on The Oz/Wonderland Chronicles: Prelude to Evil #1, Hollows, Bloodwork or in your work with us on Redorik?  Are you even consciously pencilling, inking or colouring in those styles when you work, or is it more that you've been exposed to all these different styles throughout your life and you've organically evolved your own style as you've grown as an artist?

PM: That's a hard question, because I don't believe I have developed my own style yet. I'm still trying different things and sticking with the ones that work for me. But still, there's a long road to go.

Pedro Maia's inked cover for 'Redorik'

Although we're taking a bit of a day off today from the hard campaigning we've been doing to complete the Redorik graphic novel, we thought still offer up a small little bonus for our fans. Feast your eyes on this alternate cover to Redorik as drawn and inked by Pedro Maia!

Where the full cover obscures that fellow in the background, the inked version reveals his complexion a little more. I wonder who he is?! Secrets, secrets. :)

Take care everyone!

-Andrew

Who is 'Redorik's' Justin Henderson?

Pedro Maia's 'Redorik' cover

For the last few weeks the Crystal Fractals team has been hard at work campaigning to finish Redorik through Indiegogo. It's a book we're really passionate about and we would love to have the opportunity to finish it soon.

But the question you're likely all asking is, what is a Redorik? Who is Justin Henderson? And why is he going crazy on the cover? Well, to answer those questions, here's the little bit we can disclose about Justin Henderson/Redorik and his immediate world.

Justin is a rather normal young man, with rather normal experiences. He's a high school senior at the fictional Laurier High School, and is a member of the school's swim and diving team. His birthday is January 3rd, his best friend's name is Al, and he has a crush on a girl named Jessica Summers. The three of them have been friends since they were kids, almost as long as Justin has been bullied by the school's resident jerk, Mark. His life takes a turn towards the positively weird though once he begins to have a recurring nightmare narrated by a dark, creepy voice that calls out his name as he leaps from a diving board straight into an empty pool. If the nightmares weren't bad enough, he's begun to hear the same voice in his thoughts while he's awake; almost influencing him or goading him to act a certain way like an evil Jiminy Cricket. This is Justin's life in a nutshell, and it takes a dramatic turn in the first issue when he accepts Al's offer to take a job from his uncle. It's at that meeting where, ironically enough, all of Justin's child-like clowning around comes to an end.

'Redorik' Preview!

I know we promised a chat with Redorik artist Pedro Maia this week, but he's run into a busy stretch with one of his other projects. We still wanted to feature his work though, so we've decided to preview the first six pages of Redorik! How cool is that? By now you're familiar with the cover for the series, so let's just jump into the meat and potatoes of the book!