We had the honor of chatting with Ryan X. Messcher about his Kickstarter project, The Muse. During our conversation, we learned more about the inspiration behind the project, its development, and how you can support this indie comic.
Before you go on be sure to read more about the project on the official Kickstarter page and watch the trailer below! Happy reading!
Tell us about The Muse.
The Muse is a 32-page body horror/sci-fi one-shot comic book rendered in stark grayscale with minimal dialogue.
What is the inspiration behind the story?
As a creative myself (writing, voice acting, composing, etc.), I’m endlessly fascinated by the relationship between an artist and their art. Additionally, I’m always a fan of short stories that challenge their audiences to grapple with haunting questions, works like The Twilight Zone and Black Mirror.
How would you pitch your comic to those who are not familiar with your work?
I’d hit them with a logline! Ahem… “A failed painter in an AI-dominated future falls for a mysterious biomechanical woman who restores his creative genius. As his masterpieces captivate the world, he realizes too late that his greatest work will be fashioned from his own flesh.”
Since this is a collaborative project, what advice would you give to creators who want to work alongside others to create a project?
Be available for communication and be willing to work around your collaborators’ schedules! For comic writers specifically, Instagram and Reddit are two great places to connect with artists.
Tell us about your main characters in the story?
Sure thing! Here’s a little bio on the two main characters:
SOLOMON BOONE: A once-promising painter who has fallen into a creative slump following a particularly nasty divorce. When offered a chance at renewed glory and companionship, he is all too eager to accept.
MUSE: While this being’s true nature is mysterious, “Muse” has one clear objective: to create something beautiful. Her robotic body appears to been manufactured to be the perfect housewife.
What inspired the art style?
The black-and-white American graphic novels reminiscent of manga, such as Mark Crilley’s wonderful Brody’s Ghost series.
Where can folks support your work?
They can nab a copy on the project’s Kickstarter page, running from Sept. 15th to Oct. 11th! There are digital and physical editions, three different covers, and even an exclusive keychain offered to backers.
Geek out with us!
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