AfterShock Comics have announced “Samurai Doggy,” a new book by Brazilian writer/filmmaker Chris Tex (“BlackOut”) and artist Santtos (“Land of the Living Gods,” “BlackOut”). The sci-fi comic follows Doggy, who was just a small dog until his mother was murdered, and his brothers were kidnapped by a mysterious man during the Fourth War of the Sun. Left for dead, Doggy was saved by “a technological vulture scavenging the region for corpses,” and now seeks his revenge, as well as to save his siblings from “the greatest empire of machines and robots that has ever existed.”
Tex describes the book as a throwback to ’80s and ’90s manga and anime, specifically namedropping Naoki Urasawa (“20th Century Boys”), Akira director Katsuhiro Otomo, “Dragon Ball” creator Akira Toriyama, and Cowboy Bebop director Shinichiro Watanabe. He states “Samurai Doggy” is “a particular universe created by two Brazilians who put not only references of manga and comics but also characteristics of our culture from our country. We are very big consumers of American and Japanese pop culture. So, with a mix of influences like that, I believe that there is nothing like ‘Samurai Doggy’ anywhere else in the world.” Santtos says he “brought in some influence of Brazilian street art and traditional Japanese art. Both create something new to me. In the book there’s a lot of action and I want readers to feel all these movements, the energy. I’m always trying to heighten the visual elements of the reading experience.”
For more from Tex and Santtos, head to the Q&A below. “Samurai Doggy” #1 will be released on August 10, and retail at $4.99 for 48 pages. You can also check out an incentive cover by Juan Doe, and an unlettered preview below in the meantime.
CHRIS TEX ON WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT AND WHY HE IS EXCITED FOR IT TO COME OUT:
“SAMURAI DOGGY takes place in a fantasy world with strong sci-fi elements. It tells a revenge story, where we accompany our protagonist, Doggy, on a journey to find his mother’s murderer and save his eight kidnapped brothers. Along the way, Doggy discovers that not everything he imagines is as expected. As the story progresses, it turns out that Doggy knows only the tip of a huge iceberg.”
CHRIS TEX ON WHAT SOME OF HIS INSPIRATIONS WERE BEHIND CREATING THE BOOK:
“Much of the inspiration came from the 80’s and 90’s anime that I consumed when I was a kid. Also, from games and movies about Samurai. The great mangakas like Naoki Urasawa, Katsuhiro Otomo, Akira Toriyama and Shinichiro Watanabe were huge inspirations, too.”
CHRIS YEX ON (3) REASONS WHY COMIC FANS SHOULD PICKUP THIS BOOK: “I can say that this book has a tangible difference. It’s a particular universe created by two Brazilians who put not only references of manga and comics but also characteristics of our culture from our country. We are very big consumers of American and Japanese pop culture. So, with a mix of influences like that, I believe that there is nothing like SAMURAI DOGGY anywhere else in the world. Everyone who reads it will notice that the world of SAMURAI DOGGY is unique and has elements that are both singular and odd. So, to summarize. The 3 reasons are:
– The book was made by two Brazilian consumers of American and Japanese pop culture who put cultural elements from their own country in the book.
– It’s a sci-fi action comic set in a unique universe with many epic scenes that form a great adventure.
– Anyone who wants to see a new style of art based on manga from the 80’s and 90’s will identify with SAMURAI DOGGY.”
SANTTOS ON HIS APPROACH TO THE ARTWORK:
“Regarding my art, I bring both a little bit of anime and a little bit of cinema. In SAMURAI DOGGY, this is particularly evident. I also brought in some influence of Brazilian street art and traditional Japanese art. Both create something new to me. In the book there’s a lot of action and I want readers to feel all these movements, the energy. I’m always trying to heighten the visual elements of the reading experience.”
SANTTOS ON IF HE HAS A FAVORITE PAGE/PANEL AND WHY?
“Well, I have several favorite pages. I really like one at the beginning of the book, where Doggy is eating a bao and stops behind a giant poster of his brother, who he has spent long years looking for. I like it because of the symbology we put in it, the composition, the colors… it reminds me a lot of animation, but at the same time it has the vertical frames, a unique style on a comic book page.”
SANTTOS ON HOW HIS EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN SO FAR WORKING WITH THE CREATIVE TEAM:
“It’s amazing! Chris and I are almost the same person (hahaha). Though he doesn’t draw the pages and I don’t write the script, one ends up influencing the other’s work a lot. He shows me a lot of cinematic and narrative style and I’m always concerned about the script. Together we create in symbiosis – something very natural for us. Also, as I do the drawing, line and color, I have two wonderful assistants who help me design the scenarios and the colorizations.”
