Here at ComicalOpinions.com, we receive regular submissions from creators who have been in the Comics Industry for years and some who’re just getting started. Today, we have a treat for you. Industry vet, Toben Racicot, is returning to crowdfunding with his latest project, and he was kind enough to take our ‘7 Questions’ challenge for new readers to get familiar with his work.
Without further delay, please welcome Toben Racicot to talk about his new project, EMULATOR.
1. For anyone who’s not familiar with you, what are the works you most want to be known for?
I imagine people who read indie comics would most likely see my name listed as a letterer for many books like Beastlands, Slightly Exaggerated, Sidequest, Leaders of the Free World, Sidekick for Hire, and many others. My wife, Alaire, and I create Crown & Anchor, a sci-fi fantasy pirate adventure comic. The first volume is available, and we upload pages to various webcomic sites to keep readers up to date.
2. What was your original elevator pitch/idea behind the concept of EMULATOR?
The original elevator pitch for Emulator is Stranger Things but with a Super Nintendo, not D&D.
3. There are several points of dialog throughout the issue that will be very familiar to gamers. Are you a gamer yourself and found it easy to bring that jargon in, or did you have some gamer experts on hand to help out?
Video games are a staple in my life. I grew up in the 90’s so the Super Nintendo and Game Boy are big parts of my childhood. My siblings and I would collect bottles at the local baseball flats, after football games, and even walk highway ditches, trade them in, and use the money to rent a Super Nintendo and seven games on a week loan; it was called a Seven for Seven. Great deal. I would mow lawns and do yard work for older ladies and used the money to buy a Game Boy Advance SP and Fire Emblem. That was a massive achievement in my life. In high school I’d stay up until two or three in the morning playing Diablo 2. What I really want to capture in Emulator is the nostalgia for old games, Nintendo Power, and that era before the internet and just being online really caused a shift in video games and fandom in general.
4. What was the inspiration behind the concept of EMULATOR? Was there a particular trigger or was it an idea that grew over time?
As mentioned before, Stranger Things. I wanted to write a “monster in the house” story and after watching Stranger Things I kept thinking about the adventures my friends and I would get up to, biking around our small town, bored out of our minds. Video games were the main activity, much like D&D in Stranger Things. So I combined the two ideas and the result is a video game villain coming into the real world. Imagine how scary it would be for Dr. Nefarious or someone from Borderlands–anyone, every character is messed up in Borderlands–to just appear in your living room.
And as I was outlining Emulator, I was reading Black Science by Rick Remender, and Jonathan Hickman’s Fantastic Four / FF omnibus. In an interview Remender talked about Black Science basically being his Fantastic Four, except if all four were…not fantastic. So that really influenced the family drama aspect of Emulator.
5. Where do you want to take EMULATOR in the next issue (or DLC 😉 )?
Issue one readers meet Calvin, Russ, Dan, and Becca–they are the main party of the story. Issue two gives us more understanding of Victor, Calvin’s dad. The first issue hints at the trauma that divides Cal and Vic, but issue two dives into what that is and from there it’s just more suffering.
I really want readers to understand why Calvin and Vic haven’t just sat down and talked. That really is the solution for any drama in media, but what prevents them from talking, I hope, readers find interesting and relatable.
6. What are you most excited for readers to know about EMULATOR?
I’m excited for readers to find out more about Lionheart and Doctor Maelstrom, the video game hero and bad guy. I also really like Dan. He’s my favourite character in the whole thing. His arc was really fun to write. And ultimately, I hope readers enjoy the story that is Emulator, hopefully they take a chance on it and something clicks with their interests and they see it through. It is five issues; all will be coming through Kickstarter.
7. What’s next for Toben Racicot after EMULATOR?
In the summer I’m launching another series called Pilgrim’s Dirge which is a science fiction adventure. It’s also pretty influenced by video games: Mass Effect, Destiny, and Borderlands. Not in the same way that Emulator is, more so the locales and feel of those games. I don’t do much science fiction, but Pilgrim’s Dirge will be really fun. Stay tuned for that in July. And then Alaire is working away on Crown & Anchor Volume 2. And of course, more comics with my lettering will be out there. Lots of fun things coming this year and next!
We’d like to thank Toben for taking the time to answer our ‘7 Questions’ challenge, and keep an eye out for our review of EMULATOR #1 later this week.
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