"The Salem Academy" is a result of the collaboration of American writer Raven Blakk and Australian artist Violet LeBeaux. It's an inside look of what happens at a girls' college in Salem, Massachusetts as a girl called Sunny Blake changes everything with her arrival. She feels out of place at first, but she makes friends quickly enough. However, Sunny still has a bad feeling about the place, especially as she begins to hear voices...
This new title will surely capture your interest with the unusual personalities of Sunny and the other Salem Academy characters. Violet LeBeaux has created an atmospheric ambiance with the artwork. This interview will cover aspects of the production behind The Salem Academy as well as giving you an idea of the kind of dedication Raven and Violet have. It's a dramatic mixture of magic and mystery as the story unfolds to reveal Sunny's disturbing role in the events to come.
How did you both meet?
RAVEN: A little over a year ago, Violet contacted me through ComicSpace.com with some nice comments about my work. She said if I was ever interested in a collaboration to let her know. Well, I'm always interested in working with different artistic talents -- your own talent can always grow from working with different people --, so I got back to her right away and the process started.
The Internet is an amazing communication tool. Without it, an artist from Australia and a writer from the United States would never have bumped into each other, started a dialogue, and been able to collaborate in the way that we have. Even our letterer, Jaymes Reed, is across the country from me in South Carolina. It's great how much smaller the world is becoming, allowing different peoples from different cultures to interact and create some really interesting works.
How was the concept for The Salem Academy created?
RAVEN: First, Violet and I started to talk about what kind of a project we each wanted to do, sending almost daily messages back and forth. Violet said she wanted to do something darker and more adult, which, naturally, was perfect for me. She suggested something with hot girls and magic. That sounded like a good starting point, but I needed a few days to think and come up with some concepts around that basic theme.
A short time later, I presented Violet with five summarized ideas. They were just one-paragraph, bare-bones concepts. Of the five, The Salem Academy wasn't even my favorite. In fact, it came in roughly third. But Violet liked the basic idea of TSA and suggested we combine it with elements of another of the five concepts, which did strengthen the story line. So from the very beginning it has been a true collaboration. Violet's input has been important to the story, and I've had input on the character designs and sequential art.
The funny thing is that it wasn't until I started to really sink my teeth into TSA, fleshing out the concept and developing the characters, that I started to really like the idea. But it was when Violet sent me the first character designs and concept sketches that I started to love the project. That was when I said to myself, "Yes, this is definitely going to be a lot of fun. This has some serious potential."
VIOLET: Basically I was looking for a new project to work on. I had just finished "Frills" and I was looking to do something a little less cutesy with a fun feel to it. I had been searching around comicspace for a while when I happened upon Raven's profile. I left a message and it all went from there. We threw around some ideas and fleshed out the concept until we had something viable.
For the benefit of our readers, how would you describe "The Salem Academy"?
RAVEN: The Salem Academy is the story of sweet, Southern California girl, Sunny Blake, who, upon arriving at the elite, East Coast, all-women's college, feels that something is somehow wrong. She can't place her finger on it, but she feels it. From Miss Tibbs, the head administrator, who is just as creepy and mysterious as the old college itself, to Martha Kennedy, the school's social bully, and her clique that everyone calls The Debs, to being thousands of miles from her warm, beachfront home, there is plenty for Sunny to dislike about the school. But Sunny begins to settle in and make new friends, like her athletically gifted roommate Kelly Taylor and the brilliant (and bisexual) India Pickler. But, almost instantly, she finds herself on the wrong side of Martha and The Debs, as well as the school's resident malcontented Goth, Ebony. And then she hears the voice.
TSA is an adult-oriented story with mature themes and potential nudity.
VIOLET: In a nut shell it's an all girl boarding school horror comic. We've tried to keep a sense of humour about it because it's a bit of a cliche genre. It's a bit sexy, a bit funny, a bit scary and a bit of all girl fun.
How many issues are planned for this series?
RAVEN: For the moment, just one graphic novel is planned. But that could change, depending on the publisher. They might want to split up the proposed GN into a miniseries. We'll have to see what happens there. Initially, we had talked about just doing a Web comic, but as things developed, we decided to look for a publisher. So we're currently in the submission process.
VIOLET: Originally we were thinking of one graphic novel with a couple of part but now we're going to re-assess depending on the publisher.
Can you tell us if it will be online, self-published or are you seeking a publisher?
VIOLET: We have changed our minds about this a couple of times actually. To begin with we were really wanting something casual like a webcomic as Raven and I were both crazy busy but as the story began to unfold we decided that it wouldn't really be doing it justice so we're currently looking for a publisher.
Personally I'm much happier with this decision, I like to hold my comics. I'm into physical collections, I think that part of the magic is be able to go to the store and buy it and smell it and put it into your book shelf. That's just me though and I can totally understand why a lot of the industry has moved to digital media.
I have to say that creating a sepia look for the artwork is an unique approach. What led to this colouring decision?
RAVEN: That was entirely Violet's doing. She gets all the credit. Initially, I proposed a grayscale coloring because we both agreed we wanted a dark look to match the tone of the project, something relatively simple, and at the same time more dramatic. Violet came up with the sepia tone, and it really adds an important dimension to the overall look of the artwork.
VIOLET: We had spoken about doing the comic in black and white but when I drew the characters they just didn't seem to have enough life to them. In my head the script read as an old horror movie and I started day dreaming about it in Sepia like an old photo. I gave it a try and the characters came to life.
I'm guessing since the story is based in Salem, there will be some witchcraft in it?
RAVEN: For good or bad, Salem, Massachusetts will always be fundamentally linked to the paranormal and supernatural, so, yes, most definitely. The great thing about a place like Salem is that its history becomes more than merely background. It almost becomes a character in its own right. The 1692 witch trials are frought with interesting tidbits, stories, and legends. And having visited Salem, I can honestly say that it's a fantastic setting.
VIOLET: Well you can't visit Paris without seeing the Eiffel Tower!
Can you shed some light on why Sunny chose The Salem Academy to study at?
RAVEN: It's not really explored much in the book, but TSA is a prestigious Northeastern U.S. college providing a top education. Sunny is accepted into the school, and her father influences her to go, telling her it's "a tremendous opportunity." Sunny would have preferred to go to UCLA.
VIOLET: I get the feeling that it wasn't so much of a choice as a parental decision! Poor Sunny!
What was the last movie you watched, and did you enjoy it?
RAVEN: You probably don't want to get me started on movies. [Laughing] I don't see many movies because there are so many really, really bad movies coming out of Hollywood these days. But the last movie that I saw that I really enjoyed was Iron Man. John Favreau did a tremendous job with a character that I didn't think would translate well to the big screen, and what can one say about Robert Downey, Jr. that hasn't already been said? The guy is an amazing actor in whatever role he assumes.
But I'm looking forward to seeing the new Wolverine movie, as well as Star Trek, The Soloist, and especially Angels & Demons. I wasn't thrilled with The DaVinci Code movie, but I think Dan Brown packs so much into his books that there's probably not enough time in an hour and a half or two hours of film to properly get all the detail in. And it's the details that really make Dan Brown's writing the sensation that it has become. He could do a seminar on research alone.
VIOLET: My partner James and I had a trashy movie night last week, the highlight of which was re-watching the Norweigian mock-umentary "Get Ready to be... Boyzvoiced". Oh man that is an awesome movie! It is for boy bands what Spinal Tap is for rock. To fantastic to pass up, seriously youtube some of their music videos!
What are your favourite all-time comics/graphic novels?
RAVEN: You can't be a comic book reader and not list The Uncanny X-Men. Other books would include Michael Turner's Fathom, old Tales from the Crypt, and The Vault of Horror. On the graphic novel side, I'd add Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter: Guilty Pleasures, Y: The Last Man, Art Spiegelman's Maus, and Sin City.
VIOLET: Well like every other reader in the universe I love X-Men. Particularly I love Gambit. I am a bit of a fangirl in that area! I'm trying to collect all of the old Gambit comics and I can't wait to see Wolverine so I can finally see Gambit in a movie... Woo!
When did you decide that you wanted to create comics?
RAVEN: I have always wanted to. I used to create my own comics as a kid. My artwork was passable, but not anywhere near professional. My writing was the strength. It has only been in the last few years that I've gotten serious and really began to learn about the industry and what is necessary to succeed.
VIOLET: I always wanted to be an artist though I wasn't sure in which vein I wanted to work. At 13 after trying to animate an entire feature film myself I decided comics might be more my thing! When I graduated high school I had 1 issue of "Sin Bin" and an issue of "When Pirates Attack" under my belt. I flitted on and off between comics and other work for a couple of years and eventually went into it full time again. Even now when I'm running a graphic design company I still can't seem to get away!
What are your creative influences?
RAVEN: As a writer, I take creative influence from many different sources. From the music world, it's Nine Inch Nails, Three Days' Grace, Pink Floyd, Stabbing Westward, Depeche Mode, The Doors, Disturbed, Drowning Pool, and too many others. For writing, Dan Brown, Tom Clancy, and Stephen King are my gurus, along with Steinbeck, Twain, Dickens, Stoker, Joss Whedon, Laurell K. Hamilton, F. Paul Wilson, William Gibson, and Neal Stephenson. In the comic world specifically, Chris Claremont, Neil Gaiman, Brian K. Vaughn, and Dwayne McDuffie.
Claremont, especially, was one of my earliest comic influences. John Byrne, Terry Austin, and Claremont's run on The Uncanny X-Men was the start of a new era in the industry, in my opinion. I believe it was Byrne and Claremont that really launched Wolverine as the franchise character we know today.
VIOLET: I was into anime a lot as a kid so I think all my drawings are influenced by that. I also read a lot of Phantom comics as a child and eventually Xmen so all of that bundled together into my current style. I try to be as versatile as possible so I can adapt for the project.
If you could work on any comic, which would you choose and why?
RAVEN: Wow... you saved the toughest question for last. I would probably stay away from any title upon which great writers have put their indelible stamp. That eliminates such comics as Batman, Daredevil, Wonder Woman, Birds of Prey, X-Men, Fantastic Four, and others. I'd also stay away from certain projects that are intrinsically linked to their creator, like Mike Mignola's Hell Boy or Whedon's Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I guess I'd go with a less appreciated title like DC's The Warlord or Marvel's Warlock, because I think their worlds still have more potential and characters like Travis Morgan and Adam Warlock, as well as their supporting characters, have the kind of uniqueness and depth I like. Fathom might be fun to write, if only as a personal tribute to the late Michael Turner.
VIOLET: I have no idea. Maybe something sugary again. I suppose it's every girl interested in Lolita fashion's dream to work on a Kamikaze Girl's sequel! Or as the artist for Angelic Pretty. Ah I can dream!
Thank you very much Raven and Violet for your time with this interview. It's been fantastic getting a glimpse into the making of a sensational new series. I'm sure our readers are by now looking forward to Sunny and what the girls in the college are going to be stirring up. It's great to see the results of a new collaborative venture, and I'm feeling very enthusiastic about the rest of "The Salem Academy". More information on writer Raven Blakk can be found at his Comicspace profile and artist Violet LeBeaux can also be found at her Comicspace profile.
This new title will surely capture your interest with the unusual personalities of Sunny and the other Salem Academy characters. Violet LeBeaux has created an atmospheric ambiance with the artwork. This interview will cover aspects of the production behind The Salem Academy as well as giving you an idea of the kind of dedication Raven and Violet have. It's a dramatic mixture of magic and mystery as the story unfolds to reveal Sunny's disturbing role in the events to come.
How did you both meet?
RAVEN: A little over a year ago, Violet contacted me through ComicSpace.com with some nice comments about my work. She said if I was ever interested in a collaboration to let her know. Well, I'm always interested in working with different artistic talents -- your own talent can always grow from working with different people --, so I got back to her right away and the process started.
The Internet is an amazing communication tool. Without it, an artist from Australia and a writer from the United States would never have bumped into each other, started a dialogue, and been able to collaborate in the way that we have. Even our letterer, Jaymes Reed, is across the country from me in South Carolina. It's great how much smaller the world is becoming, allowing different peoples from different cultures to interact and create some really interesting works.
How was the concept for The Salem Academy created?
RAVEN: First, Violet and I started to talk about what kind of a project we each wanted to do, sending almost daily messages back and forth. Violet said she wanted to do something darker and more adult, which, naturally, was perfect for me. She suggested something with hot girls and magic. That sounded like a good starting point, but I needed a few days to think and come up with some concepts around that basic theme.
A short time later, I presented Violet with five summarized ideas. They were just one-paragraph, bare-bones concepts. Of the five, The Salem Academy wasn't even my favorite. In fact, it came in roughly third. But Violet liked the basic idea of TSA and suggested we combine it with elements of another of the five concepts, which did strengthen the story line. So from the very beginning it has been a true collaboration. Violet's input has been important to the story, and I've had input on the character designs and sequential art.
The funny thing is that it wasn't until I started to really sink my teeth into TSA, fleshing out the concept and developing the characters, that I started to really like the idea. But it was when Violet sent me the first character designs and concept sketches that I started to love the project. That was when I said to myself, "Yes, this is definitely going to be a lot of fun. This has some serious potential."
VIOLET: Basically I was looking for a new project to work on. I had just finished "Frills" and I was looking to do something a little less cutesy with a fun feel to it. I had been searching around comicspace for a while when I happened upon Raven's profile. I left a message and it all went from there. We threw around some ideas and fleshed out the concept until we had something viable.
For the benefit of our readers, how would you describe "The Salem Academy"?
RAVEN: The Salem Academy is the story of sweet, Southern California girl, Sunny Blake, who, upon arriving at the elite, East Coast, all-women's college, feels that something is somehow wrong. She can't place her finger on it, but she feels it. From Miss Tibbs, the head administrator, who is just as creepy and mysterious as the old college itself, to Martha Kennedy, the school's social bully, and her clique that everyone calls The Debs, to being thousands of miles from her warm, beachfront home, there is plenty for Sunny to dislike about the school. But Sunny begins to settle in and make new friends, like her athletically gifted roommate Kelly Taylor and the brilliant (and bisexual) India Pickler. But, almost instantly, she finds herself on the wrong side of Martha and The Debs, as well as the school's resident malcontented Goth, Ebony. And then she hears the voice.
TSA is an adult-oriented story with mature themes and potential nudity.
VIOLET: In a nut shell it's an all girl boarding school horror comic. We've tried to keep a sense of humour about it because it's a bit of a cliche genre. It's a bit sexy, a bit funny, a bit scary and a bit of all girl fun.
How many issues are planned for this series?
RAVEN: For the moment, just one graphic novel is planned. But that could change, depending on the publisher. They might want to split up the proposed GN into a miniseries. We'll have to see what happens there. Initially, we had talked about just doing a Web comic, but as things developed, we decided to look for a publisher. So we're currently in the submission process.
VIOLET: Originally we were thinking of one graphic novel with a couple of part but now we're going to re-assess depending on the publisher.
Can you tell us if it will be online, self-published or are you seeking a publisher?
VIOLET: We have changed our minds about this a couple of times actually. To begin with we were really wanting something casual like a webcomic as Raven and I were both crazy busy but as the story began to unfold we decided that it wouldn't really be doing it justice so we're currently looking for a publisher.
Personally I'm much happier with this decision, I like to hold my comics. I'm into physical collections, I think that part of the magic is be able to go to the store and buy it and smell it and put it into your book shelf. That's just me though and I can totally understand why a lot of the industry has moved to digital media.
I have to say that creating a sepia look for the artwork is an unique approach. What led to this colouring decision?
RAVEN: That was entirely Violet's doing. She gets all the credit. Initially, I proposed a grayscale coloring because we both agreed we wanted a dark look to match the tone of the project, something relatively simple, and at the same time more dramatic. Violet came up with the sepia tone, and it really adds an important dimension to the overall look of the artwork.
VIOLET: We had spoken about doing the comic in black and white but when I drew the characters they just didn't seem to have enough life to them. In my head the script read as an old horror movie and I started day dreaming about it in Sepia like an old photo. I gave it a try and the characters came to life.
I'm guessing since the story is based in Salem, there will be some witchcraft in it?
RAVEN: For good or bad, Salem, Massachusetts will always be fundamentally linked to the paranormal and supernatural, so, yes, most definitely. The great thing about a place like Salem is that its history becomes more than merely background. It almost becomes a character in its own right. The 1692 witch trials are frought with interesting tidbits, stories, and legends. And having visited Salem, I can honestly say that it's a fantastic setting.
VIOLET: Well you can't visit Paris without seeing the Eiffel Tower!
Can you shed some light on why Sunny chose The Salem Academy to study at?
RAVEN: It's not really explored much in the book, but TSA is a prestigious Northeastern U.S. college providing a top education. Sunny is accepted into the school, and her father influences her to go, telling her it's "a tremendous opportunity." Sunny would have preferred to go to UCLA.
VIOLET: I get the feeling that it wasn't so much of a choice as a parental decision! Poor Sunny!
What was the last movie you watched, and did you enjoy it?
RAVEN: You probably don't want to get me started on movies. [Laughing] I don't see many movies because there are so many really, really bad movies coming out of Hollywood these days. But the last movie that I saw that I really enjoyed was Iron Man. John Favreau did a tremendous job with a character that I didn't think would translate well to the big screen, and what can one say about Robert Downey, Jr. that hasn't already been said? The guy is an amazing actor in whatever role he assumes.
But I'm looking forward to seeing the new Wolverine movie, as well as Star Trek, The Soloist, and especially Angels & Demons. I wasn't thrilled with The DaVinci Code movie, but I think Dan Brown packs so much into his books that there's probably not enough time in an hour and a half or two hours of film to properly get all the detail in. And it's the details that really make Dan Brown's writing the sensation that it has become. He could do a seminar on research alone.
VIOLET: My partner James and I had a trashy movie night last week, the highlight of which was re-watching the Norweigian mock-umentary "Get Ready to be... Boyzvoiced". Oh man that is an awesome movie! It is for boy bands what Spinal Tap is for rock. To fantastic to pass up, seriously youtube some of their music videos!
What are your favourite all-time comics/graphic novels?
RAVEN: You can't be a comic book reader and not list The Uncanny X-Men. Other books would include Michael Turner's Fathom, old Tales from the Crypt, and The Vault of Horror. On the graphic novel side, I'd add Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter: Guilty Pleasures, Y: The Last Man, Art Spiegelman's Maus, and Sin City.
VIOLET: Well like every other reader in the universe I love X-Men. Particularly I love Gambit. I am a bit of a fangirl in that area! I'm trying to collect all of the old Gambit comics and I can't wait to see Wolverine so I can finally see Gambit in a movie... Woo!
When did you decide that you wanted to create comics?
RAVEN: I have always wanted to. I used to create my own comics as a kid. My artwork was passable, but not anywhere near professional. My writing was the strength. It has only been in the last few years that I've gotten serious and really began to learn about the industry and what is necessary to succeed.
VIOLET: I always wanted to be an artist though I wasn't sure in which vein I wanted to work. At 13 after trying to animate an entire feature film myself I decided comics might be more my thing! When I graduated high school I had 1 issue of "Sin Bin" and an issue of "When Pirates Attack" under my belt. I flitted on and off between comics and other work for a couple of years and eventually went into it full time again. Even now when I'm running a graphic design company I still can't seem to get away!
What are your creative influences?
RAVEN: As a writer, I take creative influence from many different sources. From the music world, it's Nine Inch Nails, Three Days' Grace, Pink Floyd, Stabbing Westward, Depeche Mode, The Doors, Disturbed, Drowning Pool, and too many others. For writing, Dan Brown, Tom Clancy, and Stephen King are my gurus, along with Steinbeck, Twain, Dickens, Stoker, Joss Whedon, Laurell K. Hamilton, F. Paul Wilson, William Gibson, and Neal Stephenson. In the comic world specifically, Chris Claremont, Neil Gaiman, Brian K. Vaughn, and Dwayne McDuffie.
Claremont, especially, was one of my earliest comic influences. John Byrne, Terry Austin, and Claremont's run on The Uncanny X-Men was the start of a new era in the industry, in my opinion. I believe it was Byrne and Claremont that really launched Wolverine as the franchise character we know today.
VIOLET: I was into anime a lot as a kid so I think all my drawings are influenced by that. I also read a lot of Phantom comics as a child and eventually Xmen so all of that bundled together into my current style. I try to be as versatile as possible so I can adapt for the project.
If you could work on any comic, which would you choose and why?
RAVEN: Wow... you saved the toughest question for last. I would probably stay away from any title upon which great writers have put their indelible stamp. That eliminates such comics as Batman, Daredevil, Wonder Woman, Birds of Prey, X-Men, Fantastic Four, and others. I'd also stay away from certain projects that are intrinsically linked to their creator, like Mike Mignola's Hell Boy or Whedon's Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I guess I'd go with a less appreciated title like DC's The Warlord or Marvel's Warlock, because I think their worlds still have more potential and characters like Travis Morgan and Adam Warlock, as well as their supporting characters, have the kind of uniqueness and depth I like. Fathom might be fun to write, if only as a personal tribute to the late Michael Turner.
VIOLET: I have no idea. Maybe something sugary again. I suppose it's every girl interested in Lolita fashion's dream to work on a Kamikaze Girl's sequel! Or as the artist for Angelic Pretty. Ah I can dream!
Thank you very much Raven and Violet for your time with this interview. It's been fantastic getting a glimpse into the making of a sensational new series. I'm sure our readers are by now looking forward to Sunny and what the girls in the college are going to be stirring up. It's great to see the results of a new collaborative venture, and I'm feeling very enthusiastic about the rest of "The Salem Academy". More information on writer Raven Blakk can be found at his Comicspace profile and artist Violet LeBeaux can also be found at her Comicspace profile.
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