ComicSpace - Read Bulletin

Home / aztecaproductions / Bulletins / Read Bulletin

Befriend aztecaproductions

« Back

Posted by:

aztecaproductions

Date:

February 26th, 2007 12:07 AM

Header:

Richard Dominguez Interview by Pop Thought's Joe Hilliard

Bulletin:

Interview with El Gato Negro Creator Richard Dominguez
By Joe Hilliard

The Media Arts Center San Diego will be presenting The 14th Annual San Diego Latino Film Festival from March 8-18 of this year. Besides the slew of films that will be shown, it will include a special centerpiece showcase of international animation and U.S. Latino graphic artists. This showcase will continue through the entire eleven-day festival but the major focus of this sidebar will be presented mid-week during the festival's centerpiece programming on March 13th and 14th, 2007. During this timeframe, they will hold an art exhibition, film screenings, press conference, workshop with panel of animators and graphic artists, and a special student presentation. Screenings will be separated into family and adult animation.

Confirmed Arte Latino Participating Artists: Chango Ernesto Garcia Cabral- Mexican movie posters from the 40's & 50's from one of Mexico's greatest political cartoonists and illustrators. Hector Cantu & Carlos Castellanos- Creators of Baldo, which is now in its seventh year in syndication and currently in over 200 newspapers. Javier Hernandez- Comic Book illustrator and teacher whose cult hit El Muerto is now a major motion picture with Wilmer Valderrama. Rafael Navarro- Creator of the noir comic book featuring the famous luchador, Sonambulo. Winner of the Xeric Foundation Award, the foundation that recognizes excellence in independently produced comics. Jorge Gutierrez & Sandra Equihua- Creators of the new Nickelodeon show, El Tigre premiering in March. Richard Dominguez- Creator of the comic book superhero, El Gato Negro: Nocturnal Warrior. Richard's character will soon take part in the mega mini-series, War of the Independents crossover event coming in July 2008.

Both Javier Hernandez and Rafael Navarro are old friends of this column, but at this time, I'd like to take the time for a brief interview of graphic artist and creator of el Gato Negro, Mr. Richard Dominguez.

Let's start with a softball. What were your favorite comic books, comic strips,regular books as a kid?

Growing up, my favorites were all the mid and late sixties DC and Marvel, some Charlton. Marvel: Spiderman, Captain America, Hulk, X-Men, Avengers, anything that Kirby could crank out. DC: Batman Superman, Hawkman, Flash, Wonder Woman ...which led me to the Golden Age of Comics, done by Will Eisner, Bob Kane, Jack Kirby, Jack Cole and other greats...Comic Strips: The classics of course, Peanuts, Beetle Bailey, Blondie, The Phantom, early Flash Gordon by Alex Raymond. Prince Valiant by Hal Foster, Calvin and Hobbes, and then Baldo by my friend, Hector Cantu and Carlos Castellanos. Books: I would say anything done by illustrators of the early 20th century.

Where did the original concept of El Gato Negro come from? What were the major influences on his creations?

El Gato Negro was created or "born" when I was sketching on my notebook paper and in binders during (when I was suppose to be taking notes) classes in a community college in the early to mid-80's. He was originally suppose to been a member of an all-Hispanic superhero group which I called "Team Tejas". I later became partial this particular character and put my emphasis on him and put the rest of the team in the "backburner". Team Tejas later had their own book in 1997.

Can you tell us about the hiatus, and then return of El Gato Negro?

There are a couple reasons why I was in hiatus...both personal and professional, first was because during the time when I release EGN # 2, our daughter, came into our lives and wanted to concentrate on being a dad. Later, we found out that she was diagnosed having autism. We took it hard, and wanted to she with her as much as possible. She's 12 now, and is doing well and learning to communicate well. The other, I introduce EGN at the time the Comic Book Industry was in turmoil, and most retailers were just catering to the "Big Two" and a lot of "Indys" dropped like flies, some went "belly-up" before their 1st issue ever reached the newsstands and comic book shops. I saw all this and decided to step back, folded my arms and waited for the 'dust to settle'. Most people will say that I was afraid to take a chance and "for what?"... to die like the rest!!?? If you do not know the monopoly of the business, you have no business being in it. The 'return' was this: The superhero movies saved the industry (Spider-Man), and everybody was making comic books again! It's a weird industry, like 'Dracula'... it refuses to die! Will Eisner (The Spirit) said it best: "I saw this industry die three times!" It keeps coming back from the dead. So, I came back with El Gato Negro, Nocturnal Warrior: Legacy #1 in 2005, and now, EGN in involved in Dave Ryan's War of the Independents coming out in the summer of 2008.

I was checking out your website (http://www.dominguezillustrations.com), I love the Winter Texans hockey logo. How did you get into doing team logos? And can you do anything about that Dallas Stars logo?

I got started as a freelance illustrator drawing storyboards for ad agencies and ended up running into people in the 'semi-pro' sports industry, saw my site and contacted me. Some of them became defunct by still got paid for them (whew!). As far as the Dallas Stars ... I agree with you! But the Stars have their own PR firm that deals with that (pity!).

I know you have children, what advice would you give to parents in encouraging the creativity in a child?

Let them use their minds. Let them create on their own, but DO encourage them as much as possible. ALWAYS supplied them with pads, paper and crayons and let them go wild. My kids watched me in my studio drawing EGN, and they thought that was the coolest thing!

I know that you're involved in the upcoming War of the Independents. What else can you tell us about that and your other upcoming projects?

Well, in WOIT... Ryan set me up with other creators who are involved in the Texas area. We're joining forces to become the 'Texas Connection'; EGN will be with other indy characters in a "tie-in" to the War coming out about the same time as War of the Independents. As far as Azteca Productions, my writer, Michael Moore and I are brewing up other 'projects' that will be announced real soon.

And last, since we know you are a big "Lucha Libre" fan, who is your favorite enmascarado?

The pioneers who paved the way for others: El Santo, Blue Demon, Mil Mascaras, all the way to El Rey Mysterio in the WWE.

I'd like to thank Richard for taking the time to answer a few questions for us. His company, Azteca Productions, the publishers of El Gato Negro, can be found at P.O. Box 360493, Dallas, Texas 75336 or at any of the following websites: http://www.dominguezillustrations.com , http://www.myspace.com/richard_dominguez , http://www.comicspace.com/aztecaproductions or shortly http://www.azteca-productions.com . See more about the San Diego Latino Film Festival at http://www.sdlatinofilm.com/ . And if you're a local, go check it out!

« Back

Befriend aztecaproductions