We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Robert Stewart. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Robert below.
Robert, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?
I write, illustrate and publish a science fiction themed graphic novel. That’s a lot of hats to wear and a lot of skill sets to incorporate! Luckily, art and graphic design are skills that come naturally to me. However, I did have to hone those skills through lots of reading and through study at San Francisco Academy of Art. Along the way, I developed a fondness for film noir which greatly assisted me in learning to visualize how to frame a scene and how to craft a sequential narrative. The learning process could have been faster if I had apprenticed with an established graphic design studio or production company but I have no qualms about my path. The skills that I have learned are varied due to the multifaceted nature of my craft. However, I think the most essential skill has been the ability to grasp the fundamental elements of storytelling. The iconic images and emotions that relate across all cultures and languages. Things such as hunger, love or the want of a better life are universal concepts. Building a story or image around on of those elements is a solid foundation for connecting to a reader. The key obstacle to learning more about such nuances of craft is definitely a matter of time management. It takes time to build skills and it also takes time to experience and internalize concepts that will truly connect with your main demographic.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My name is Robert Stewart, I am the artist, writer and publisher of a sci-fi adventure series called Afterburner Tales of The Cool and The Wicked. Depending upon the night, you may also find me on stage playing guitar in a San Francisco Bay Area Blues band. Afterburner is a graphic novel that incorporates my fondness for classic film noir, music, science fiction and mythology. The series is for science fiction fans who have outgrown or wish to branch out from the level of superhero comics. I grew up in a small town just north of New Orleans and the associated elements of Delta Blues music and Voodoo folklore strongly influence the foundations of my graphic novel. I joined the military at 17 and spent nearly a decade traveling to places such as Japan, Singapore, Korea and Australia. That exposure to cultures enhanced my wonderment of storytelling and my empathy for others. All of those experiences gave fuel and reference for the moment when I found time to begin production of Afterburner Comics. Frankly, there was never a time when I did not know that I would publish my own graphic novel series. Comics were always a part of my life and I always knew that I would create my own stories. As such, my current scope of services is focused upon producing the Afterburner series and its associated merchandising. That includes a line of women’s workout gear which features imagery from the graphic novel series. As a totally independent publisher, I am very proud of the longevity of my series and I am very appreciative of my fans and the retailers that support my endeavors.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
The primary goal that drives the production of Afterburner is the task of providing science fiction based entertainment for people who have outgrown the vibe of standard comic book fare. It’s a stylish, sexy and often introspective book that avoids the dystopian tone that is prevalent in most entertainment medium. Afterburner is produced in a deluxe magazine format that more closely emulates the size, style and tone of European graphic novels. Afterburner Tales of The Cool and The Wicked proves the graphic narrative has room to host endless possibilities beyond capes and colorful spandex.
Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?
Perhaps it would be enlightening for folks to know the complexity and sheer number of individuals that would normally produce a series such as Afterburner Tales of The Cool and The Wicked. For example, a similar series would normally require the separate services of a writer to script the series. That script would then go to an artist to illustrate the story in pencil. From there a different artist would use a sable haired brush or software to embellish the penciled artwork. Finally a colorist would color the artwork, a letterer would caption the dialogue and an editor would review the completed process. Production would then proceed to distribution and advertising of the finished book. The order of the process in the example by fluctuate but the multi-layered production flow is fairly standard for the industry.
Subsequently, my journey as an independent creative has necessitated a working familiarity with each stage of the process. Writer, artist, letter, publisher…I do all those task. It’s all one person for Afterburner. One person providing one vision and one goal for my clients.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.afterburnercomics.com
- Instagram: afterburnercomics
- Facebook: afterburnercomics
Image Credits
all images Robert Stewart