More questions with comic book writer Paul Benjamin
Comic book writer Paul Benjamin talked to The Oklahoman about his work on the Soleil properties. In this bonus Q&A, the Putnam City North graduate talks about differences between French and American comics, Austin music, and his favorite thing about working on Soleil properties.
Matt Price: Are you still living in Austin?
Paul Benjamin: I am still in Austin and loving it! I recently enjoyed Reggaefest 2009 here. Not the big, official one held on Auditorium Shores. The small, impromptu one held by my neighbor across the street. It was basically just a bunch of neighbors hanging out, drinking beer, and listening to Bob Marley, but it made for a nice, relaxing evening.
MP: What are the major differences between French and American comics?
PB: French comics have evolved differently than American ones. In America, most people associate comics with super heroes. While there are plenty of American comics that don’t feature beautiful people in spandex hitting each other, many perceive that to be the entire medium. I love super hero comics, but that’s like making every single Hollywood film a romantic comedy. I love those too, but I want horror, drama, sci-fi, and more available when I go to my local multiplex (or the Alamo Drafthouse when I’m here in Austin).
In France, along with most of Europe, the industry never got influenced by McCarthy era self-censorship like in America. French comics aren’t even called comics. They’re called “Art Books” and each “album” is about 25% taller and wider than an American comic. French albums also tend to be around 48-52 pages per volume and feature hardcovers. The French have an overall love and respect for artists that translates into a love of graphic novels. French albums are read by men and women of all ages and all walks of life and the subject matter is just as varied. If it has been a film genre in the US, it has been done as an art book in France. As a result, French graphic novelists even hold a special place in society. In fact, there’s an entire, multi-million dollar Paris subway station that was designed by a graphic novel artist!
MP: What do you like about working on the Soleil properties?
PB: The best thing about working on the Soleil books with Marvel is reading them! When I write a book of my own like Pantheon High or an issue of Marvel Adventures Spider-Man, I’m creating a new story. When I polish a Soleil translation, I’m reading the book for the first time and I get to become part of an adventure that I never would have created myself. When I get a new translation in my inbox, I’m just as excited as future customers will be when they pick up the book in a store. And at the end of every album, I’m left with the same cliffhanger as any other reader, anxiously awaiting the next volume.
City native adapts comics in Marvel/Soleil pact
A former Oklahoman is working on bringing comics from Europe to American shores.
Putnam City North graduate Paul Benjamin is involved with industry leader Marvel Comics as part of a partnership with French publisher Soleil.
Benjamin is adapting “Universal War One” and “Scourge of the Gods” for Marvel/Soleil.
“My work on the Marvel/Soleil books is called ‘localization,’” Benjamin, who now lives in Austin, Texas, said in a recent interview with The Oklahoman. “Imagine typing every word balloon in an oversized French graphic novel into an Internet translation program. The translations I get are a little better than that, but they are far from feeling like they were written by an American. It’s my job to take the translation and massage it into something that not only feels like it was written by a native English speaker, but that keeps all the idioms and emotional range that exist in the original graphic novel.”
“Universal War One” is a sci-fi series about a group of military pilots facing courts-martial. The series was originally written and drawn by Denis Bajram.
These pilots “take on missions no one else would dare,” Benjamin said. “They hold the future of the solar system in their hands as they work to prevent the first universal war.”
“Scourge of the Gods” is a fantastical sci-fi series loosely based on the war between the Roman Empire and Attila the Hun. Writer Valerie Mangin and artist Aleksa Gajic were the French creative team.
“The Huns are space marauders attacking the star-spanning Roman Empire,” Benjamin said. “This story centers on the relationship between Attila and a beautiful young Roman woman who Attila believes to be the reincarnation of the Huns’ goddess of chaos. Both series feature beautiful art and evocative storytelling beyond what you see in most American comics.”
The hardcover collection of the first “Universal War One” series is available now. The first issue of the second series, “Universal War One: Revelations,” is available now, with the second issue set for a May 6 release. “Scourge of the Gods” issues 1-3, which are intended for mature readers, were released in January, February and March.
- by Matthew Price
From Friday’s The Oklahoman
Resident Evil 5′s Chris Redfield discusses motion capture work
THE NEXT LEVEL
When gamers playing “Resident Evil 5″ see character Chris Redfield crouch, run or punch, it’s Reuben Langdon who provided the template for those movements.
Langdon is the co-founder, producer and action director for Just Cause Productions, a motion capture company for video games and films. Recently, Langdon used motion capture in his performance of Chris Redfield in “Resident Evil.” In addition, Langdon is providing motion capture for the anticipated film “Avatar” from director James Cameron.
To be a “mo-cap” performer, Langdon says a good physical command of one’s body is a must.
“Mo-cap is fast paced, there is no need to wait for camera and lighting set ups,” Langdon said in a recent interview with The Oklahoman. “Some days I’ve played five different characters, ranging from a drunk homeless guy to space monsters.”
Since many games involve fighting and martial arts, it helps to have martial arts, weapons, and tactical training.
Langdon said motion-capture has evolved quite a bit since he started 11 years ago.
“Back in the day we used a magnetic capture system that had us attached to wires,” he said. “It was bulky and limited our movement. In the new systems like the one used in ‘Resident Evil 5,’ there were optical motion cameras, which allows us to be free and work with a much larger space.”
These optical motion cameras mean actors don’t have to worry about getting caught in wires. Also, the cameras are able to capture more subtle movements, meaning mo-cap actors don’t have to overact, and can use subtle movements, Langdon said.
Langdon said he heavily researched the Chris Redfield character before performing the role in “Resident Evil 5.” He tried to match his performance to Redfield’s established look.
“Since he is an already established character, there is a lot of info out there on him,” Langdon said. “Because he is built differently than me … I have to remind myself how it would feel to move around with biceps like those or basically 20 pounds heaver than what I am.”
Langdon said non-disclosure agreements prevent him from saying much about the work he’s done on “Avatar,” but notes that he thinks the movie will be “awesome.”
“It will be a ground breaking film,” Langdon said. “James Cameron has poured his life and soul into this project.”
– by Matthew Price
From Friday’s The Oklahoman
DVD review: The Spirit
Comic-book writer-artist Frank Miller, in his first time as a solo film director, adapts “The Spirit.”
“The Spirit” began as a comic-book newspaper insert written and drawn by Will Eisner in the 1940s. It had humor and charm, and moved the medium of graphic fiction forward, despite its flaws.
“The Spirit” motion picture, however, drowns under the weight of its flaws, despite a few interesting visuals from Miller. Miller wrote and drew “300,” “Sin City” and “The Dark Knight Returns” and was the co-director of the “Sin City” film with Robert Rodriguez.
Miller has accomplished more than most in his lifetime and is one of the most revered graphic novelists alive. Unfortunately, his “Spirit” is a mess.
It stars Gabriel Macht as the hero, who faces off against his arch-foe, the Octopus (Samuel L. Jackson), with immortality on the line.
The Spirit is attracted to nearly every woman in the film – but then, who wouldn’t be, with a roster including Eva Mendes, Scarlett Johansson, Sarah Paulson and Jaime King.
The movie is a hardboiled mix of cliche and nonsense that never quite comes together or successfully captures the spirit of the original comics.
- Matthew Price
From Friday’s The Oklahoman
Entertainment Insider: Summer movies, Flaming Lips
Gene Triplett, George Lang, Matt Price and Brandy McDonnell discuss the summer movies and the Flaming Lips Capitol kerfuffle.
More than 150 sellouts for “X-Men Origins: Wolverine”
MovieTickets.com is reporting more than 150 sold out performances for “X-Men Origins: Wolverine,” which kicks off the summer blockbuster season Friday. “Wolverine,” which stars Hugh Jackman and is based on the Marvel comic, accounts for 35 percent of all tickets sold this week at MovieTickets.com.
- Matt Price
Wolverine storms to top of GameFly list
“X-Men Origins: Wolverine” takes down “Godfather 2″ atop the GameFly Top 10 list this week. “UFC 2009 Undisputed” holds down the second spot. The following are the GameFly Top 10 Lists for the week ending April 27, 2009. The GameFly Top 10 List reflects gamers’ choices from more than 6,000 titles for the Wii, PlayStation 2, Xbox, Xbox 360, GameCube, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS and PSP consoles. Source: www.gamefly.com.
Most Popular Games Cross-Platform:
1 X-Men Origins: Wolverine – Uncaged Edtion PS3, Xbox 360Action Adventure Activision
2 UFC 2009 Undisputed PS3, Xbox 360 Fighting THQ
3 Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena PS3, Xbox 360 Shooter Atari
4 Godfather 2 PS3, Xbox 360 Action Adventure Electronic Arts
5 Wheelman PS3, Xbox 360 Racing Ubisoft
6 Resident Evil 5 PS3, Xbox 360 Action Adventure Capcom
7 Ninja Blade Xbox 360 Fighting Microsoft
8 Wanted: Weapons of Fate PS3, Xbox 360 Shooter WB Games
9 Left 4 Dead Xbox 360 Shooter Electronic Arts
10 Prototype PS3, Xbox 360 Action Adventure Activision
More lists after the break.
Monday movie quote challenge #27
“I hope he gets younger as he gets closer.”
Identify who said the above quote in what film in the comments!
- Matt Price
Comics vodcasts: Buck Rogers 0, Thor 601, Supergirl 40 and Detective Comics 853
Kyle Roberts and Matt Price discuss this week’s comics, including Buck Rogers 0, Thor 601, Supergirl 40 and Detective Comics 853. Meanwhile, Kevin Durant dunks on Dr. Doom’s head.
Trek Yourself
Want to make a message starring yourself or a friend as a Vulcan or Romulan? Head over to www.trekyourself.com to upload your photo into a “Star Trek”-style scene.
- Matt Price
