*BONUS EPISODE* INTERVIEW: Rachta Lin
Joining us for a bonus conversation is the superstar singaporean comic book artist who has worked for Blizzard Entertainment, Magic the Gat…
Nov. 29, 2024
*BONUS EPISODE* INTERVIEW: Rachta Lin
Joining us for a bonus conversation is the superstar singaporean comic book artist who has worked for Blizzard Entertainment, Magic the Gathering, Dynamite Comics, and DC Comics.
She is also the creator of the upcoming manga The Wonderverse Saga, which tells the dark tale of Phynnix, a 'subhuman' born in an oppressive world where 'superhumans' are born with the powers rule over them.
It is our pleasure to welcome Rachta Lin onto The Oblivion Bar Podcast!
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Transcript
WEBVTT
00:00:00.226 --> 00:00:10.362
Hey, this is Rach Dalin, comic book artist and the creator of the Wonderworld Saga manga series and you're listening to the Oblivion Barre podcast.
00:00:14.573 --> 00:00:21.824
Welcome to the Oblivion Bar podcast with your host, Chris Hacker and Aaron Knowles.
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Joining me today is the superstar Singaporean comic book artist who has worked for Blizzard Entertainment, Magic the Gathering, Dynamite Comics, and DC Comics.
00:00:48.612 --> 00:01:02.597
She is also the creator of the upcoming manga series, The Wanderverse Saga, which tells the dark tale of Phoenix, a subhuman born into an oppressive world where superhumans are born with the powers to rule them all.
00:01:02.597 --> 00:01:08.078
It is my pleasure to welcome Rach Delin onto the Oblivion Bar podcast.
00:01:08.292 --> 00:01:08.762
my God.
00:01:08.762 --> 00:01:11.132
Hey, hi everybody.
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Hello, Chris.
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Thanks for having me here.
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I'm very excited to be here.
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God.
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It's also cool.
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We are, we're just, we're basically like good friends at this point.
00:01:21.957 --> 00:01:33.052
It seems like at every convention that we've been at, know, in the, these last, I'd say over the last year or so, we always will have a moment, whether it be on a whatnot show or just at the booth.
00:01:33.052 --> 00:01:34.862
And it's always, it's, it's the best.
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I love it so much.
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yeah.
00:01:36.563 --> 00:01:37.493
Me too.
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Thank you so much.
00:01:39.902 --> 00:01:44.701
It's been great knowing you and yeah, thanks for having me on your podcast.
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Of course.
00:01:45.322 --> 00:01:48.141
And we've got a ton of really fun things to talk about here.
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And I think it only makes sense to start at the beginning, right?
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know, my research here over here on the oblivion bar, the first cover that you had drawn here in America, I guess I should say was a van Perel number 16 back in May of 2020.
00:02:02.292 --> 00:02:03.481
Is that correct?
00:02:03.481 --> 00:02:04.352
yeah, that's the one.
00:02:04.352 --> 00:02:04.662
Yeah.
00:02:04.662 --> 00:02:05.432
That's the one.
00:02:05.432 --> 00:02:05.682
Okay.
00:02:05.682 --> 00:02:11.875
I was wondering if it was between It was between that one and I think there was like a Batman 108 that had like Miracle Molly.
00:02:11.875 --> 00:02:14.205
Is that one Ring a Bell as well?
00:02:14.727 --> 00:02:19.122
yeah, I think that's the first DC comic cover they have drawn.
00:02:19.122 --> 00:02:21.062
So that was really fun.
00:02:21.062 --> 00:02:27.496
It was for this new character that they were building at the point in time, Miracle Molly.
00:02:27.896 --> 00:02:30.548
but Vampirrilla is my first one.
00:02:30.548 --> 00:02:31.318
Yeah.
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Nice.
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All right.
00:02:32.088 --> 00:02:39.669
Well, the reason why I kind of bring all that up is that, you know, since then you've been I mean, in my opinion, have been setting the world on fire with some of these covers.
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I mean that, you literally, but also your style is very spicy, you know, very sexual.
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And, you know, I'm thinking specifically of the recent Catwoman and Harley Quinn covers.
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And you even had a 2024 New York Comic-Con exclusive cover for Absolute Batman Number One, which was, in my opinion, one of the hottest books there that weekend.
00:03:00.530 --> 00:03:04.397
So, you know, I can say again, as we just said a moment ago, you and I are friends at this point, but...
00:03:04.397 --> 00:03:11.277
you being at these conventions together, I think it's been so much fun seeing you get all this overwhelming success.
00:03:11.277 --> 00:03:17.078
But I want to ask you, how has that felt for you kind of getting this extreme surge of success here recently?
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my God.
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my God.
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see.
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I guess overall it's been a great journey.
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This has always been my passion.
00:03:25.858 --> 00:03:33.918
It was since I was young, like when I was like, I think around four five years old, I already know that I want to become like a manga artist.
00:03:34.298 --> 00:03:48.038
So I think like seven years ago I quit my job to pursue this full-time So I was just keep doing it, you know, and I never really thought about being Becoming popular or something like that.
00:03:48.038 --> 00:04:10.397
I just feel that I just keep doing what I have always wanted to do and I'm very happy that people has responded to me this way I still feel that I'm in a learning process Whenever people tell me what they like about my eye what I try to kind of like taking their opinions about my work, feedback and everything.
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I try to make it better.
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I still feel like I'm still learning a lot.
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So it's been a great journey so far.
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I hope we continue to become better for everybody.
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Yeah.
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I love it.
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And again, us meeting for the first time at San Diego during this last summer here in 2024, it was almost immediate.
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And I don't mean to butter you up so much here early on in the show, but as soon as I saw sort of your setup there, in Artist Alley, I was like, this is already one of the most talented creators that we have on the roster.
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And to see not only that, but then the growth to New York just a couple months later, from San Diego Comic-Con to New York Comic-Con, your booth was rocking the entire weekend at New York.
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And it was really cool to see.
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That's why I was asking that.
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Thank you so much.
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I mean, I feel that part of them.
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success at the comic is because of you guys as well.
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I love the energy and everything.
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So thank you so much.
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I feel that I cannot really do this without everyone's support.
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So I always appreciate you guys.
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So yay, thank you.
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It's so much fun to do.
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I love it.
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And you you kind of talked about this just a moment ago.
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You said you quit your job about seven years ago.
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What were you doing before comics?
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before comics, I was kind of doing like how she said, I have always I said I have always wanted to become a manga artist, right?
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But when I kind of like joined my university, I took a design course because at the point I was the only available art related subject that can take.
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People around me keep telling me that comic or manga is not a viable career option.
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know, how are you going to make money and everything, right?
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It's not practical.
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So in the end, I decided I kind of gave in to that kind of thought.
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I decided to go to a graphic design field instead.
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So I was kind of doing user interface design and interactive media and stuff.
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I had become an art director at the end and at that point in time I was like, okay.
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I came to a crossroad.
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If this is going to be what I'm doing for the rest of my life or should I just go back to continue with my passion again?
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Then at that moment I decided to quit.
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to become an artist full time.
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Yeah.
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So that's how we meet each other today, know, but initially it was a quite a struggle, but I'm glad that I took that, took that leap to do this.
00:06:38.442 --> 00:06:38.983
Yeah.
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Me too.
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I'm so excited that you did that.
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You know, it's, sounds like regardless, you were going to be able to be creative in some way, but, you know, following your passion, the way that you have making that transition over from, you know, a creative director.
00:06:55.379 --> 00:06:57.932
over to just a full on comic artist.
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then now a manga artist, which we'll talk about here in just a moment, is it's really cool to see, you know, if you talk to a lot of comic creators, they'll tell you that there's always that fork in the road where they have to sort of decide whether they want to make that jump into, you know, telling stories sequentially.
00:07:17.785 --> 00:07:18.925
And it's always cool.
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And I will say, you know, to kind of build off what I just said a moment ago, a moment ago there with your manga.
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career, let's talk about the wonder of her saga, which is your original manga series that you've been working on for the last five years.
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So the majority of time that you've been working on comics and doing all this, you've been working on the wonder of her saga.
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again, as I refer back to that intro, I'll say it again here, the story sort of centers around the oppression of the subhumans by the super powered folks that have them.
00:07:50.545 --> 00:07:53.995
and I also think it's important to note that this first volume.
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which will be a hardcover edition and will consist of over just around a hundred pages will be live on Kickstarter as you're listening to this conversation, everybody.
00:08:01.490 --> 00:08:09.567
So if you're listening to this conversation right now with Rachda, you can check out the show notes and that link to the Wonderverse Saga, Rachda's very first manga will be in there.
00:08:09.567 --> 00:08:18.242
So, Rachda, my question for you is, tell me a little bit about the inception of this story and what compelled you to tell it in the manga format.
00:08:18.242 --> 00:08:18.812
Okay.
00:08:18.812 --> 00:08:23.206
Actually, even before one, the words have always been kind of drawing.
00:08:23.915 --> 00:08:33.711
Yeah, so when I was young, I would keep a notebook with me and I just kind of write everything or any character that comes to my head in that notebook, right?
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So I have a lot of these notebooks and Wonderverse is kind of like a story that has matured over time.
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It's kind of like the core of the story is the same, but it's just the details, the character is because, know, have gained life experience, have become a...
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How should I say it?
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A different person throughout my life, right?
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I have different worldview and everything.
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So this story is kind of mature with me.
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So I have many kind of different version of this and this is kind of like my latest version.
00:09:06.057 --> 00:09:08.859
So that's how it's become, I guess.
00:09:09.778 --> 00:09:15.793
So the Waterworld Saga, right, was the creation that I made after a few tries.
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I actually brought my manga to Japan and asked the editor there to take a look at it.
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And they have been very kind to me, but also very strict and educational.
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They actually taught me, okay, this part is not good.
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Overall, overall, we like your idea.
00:09:32.629 --> 00:09:33.928
We'd love to see more.
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So I keep bringing them works, you know.
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So this is kind of like my latest version of my manga story.
00:09:41.020 --> 00:09:47.633
And this is the one that received the most positive feedback from the editor.
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So I kind of trying to make something out of it.
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Yeah, so that's how you see it on Kickstarter.
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It is like kind of like final finished version of it.
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I have been working for like the past two years with my assistant team that I managed to form in Thailand.
00:10:06.042 --> 00:10:10.283
So yeah, it's been a, I'm quite excited to review it to you.
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So yay.
00:10:12.573 --> 00:10:15.259
Now I know I'm going to be signing up for it, but I want to go back a little bit.
00:10:15.259 --> 00:10:18.817
You mentioned a moment ago about the core of the story.
00:10:18.817 --> 00:10:21.677
Like this, this manga has evolved over time.
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You said the core has sort of stayed the same.
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What is that core that you're sort of talking about?
00:10:27.378 --> 00:10:28.317
my God.
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I'm going to make you, I'm going to make you peel back the layers.
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Okay.
00:10:33.898 --> 00:10:47.957
I guess the kind of story that I like is always a part about a person doing the best of their ability to kind of triumph over challenges.
00:10:47.957 --> 00:10:50.798
I don't kind of think, you know, it's a very basic idea.
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I really like it when, especially when the main character face really some kind of unbelievable odds.
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and I guess it's a belief that I have.
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I have no idea what, how to explain it in words, but it's basically a character struggling against all odds, know, and triumph in the end.
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I guess that's a spoilers, but whatever.
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I was going to ask you how far you wanted to go into spoilers here, but I will say, just to sort of set the table a little bit here.
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Our main character, Phoenix, is that, I saying that correctly?
00:11:26.590 --> 00:11:27.360
Phoenix?
00:11:27.360 --> 00:11:29.302
Yeah, I guess you can.
00:11:29.302 --> 00:11:32.192
I didn't think about the pronunciation.
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here's how it's everyone that's listening to it.
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Here's how it's spelled.
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It's P H Y N N I X.
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I think that sounds like Phoenix, but I could be wrong.
00:11:41.687 --> 00:11:42.057
Yeah.
00:11:42.057 --> 00:11:43.888
mean, that's that sounds about right.
00:11:43.888 --> 00:11:44.597
Yeah.
00:11:44.597 --> 00:11:45.307
Okay.
00:11:45.307 --> 00:11:49.870
And then Phoenix, Phoenix has a, a super powered friend.
00:11:49.922 --> 00:11:51.413
who has the power over plants.
00:11:51.413 --> 00:11:57.001
name is Catherine and that's spelled C-A-T-H-R-I-N.
00:11:57.001 --> 00:11:57.985
Does that sound correct?
00:11:57.985 --> 00:11:58.586
yes.
00:11:58.586 --> 00:11:58.846
Yeah.
00:11:58.846 --> 00:11:59.725
Okay.
00:11:59.946 --> 00:12:01.356
I love Catherine's design by the way.
00:12:01.356 --> 00:12:05.148
I love that she's got like the poison ivy powers too.
00:12:05.581 --> 00:12:06.969
I guess so.
00:12:06.969 --> 00:12:07.849
Yeah.
00:12:07.849 --> 00:12:13.072
I guess as a character, as a person, she has different vibe and personality.
00:12:13.072 --> 00:12:13.991
So yeah.
00:12:13.991 --> 00:12:17.663
And Catherine seems very eager to help Phoenix.
00:12:17.663 --> 00:12:29.750
Cause again, as we said a moment ago, the subhumans or I guess you could just, know, for sort of simplest terms like just humans, you know, you and I, they are sort of a lower class of people in this story compared to the super powered.
00:12:29.750 --> 00:12:32.419
And we get to meet one in this story.
00:12:32.419 --> 00:12:43.470
I don't want to spoil anything, but basically he sort of rules this, what would you say, like a prison kind of like that's kind of where Phoenix ends up in the beginning of this story.
00:12:43.470 --> 00:12:44.690
Does that sound correct?
00:12:44.690 --> 00:12:45.009
yeah.
00:12:45.009 --> 00:12:45.340
Yeah.
00:12:45.340 --> 00:12:45.769
So yeah.
00:12:45.769 --> 00:12:46.450
Yes.
00:12:46.450 --> 00:12:51.943
So that's kind of the one of the main villain of this particular arc.
00:12:53.566 --> 00:12:57.514
it's kind of like alternate timeline from the World War II.
00:12:57.514 --> 00:13:00.110
Kind of like original World War II.
00:13:00.110 --> 00:13:00.801
Yeah.
00:13:00.801 --> 00:13:01.115
my God.
00:13:01.115 --> 00:13:03.392
I read so much about World War II.
00:13:04.153 --> 00:13:04.486
Sure.
00:13:04.486 --> 00:13:05.548
For this one guy.
00:13:05.548 --> 00:13:05.764
Yeah.
00:13:05.764 --> 00:13:06.183
my God.
00:13:06.183 --> 00:13:07.816
was crazy.
00:13:07.816 --> 00:13:08.775
Yeah.
00:13:09.076 --> 00:13:10.226
I can see the influence.
00:13:10.226 --> 00:13:11.107
I definitely can.
00:13:11.107 --> 00:13:17.293
And Baron, he even sort of resembles like, you know, and I mean this respectfully, so almost like a Nazi in a way.
00:13:17.293 --> 00:13:26.014
you know, with the way that he's like sort of ruling over the school with an iron fist and is basically making folks who are below him since then death essentially.
00:13:26.014 --> 00:13:30.974
And I was curious, one question I had for you though was the Baron has these like two little dogs.
00:13:30.974 --> 00:13:32.653
That's sort of like his super power.
00:13:32.653 --> 00:13:33.734
What are these dogs?
00:13:33.734 --> 00:13:37.874
Does he have like power over shadow or what are these entities?
00:13:38.573 --> 00:13:39.274
okay.
00:13:39.274 --> 00:13:44.577
Technically it's still not really that, it's still not revealed in the story.
00:13:44.577 --> 00:13:50.681
But I'm sure people know that he can summon these dogs and they are like really bad for you.
00:13:51.101 --> 00:13:52.168
They're not good for you.
00:13:52.168 --> 00:13:56.043
They're just like really big and scary and they can kill you.
00:13:56.043 --> 00:13:59.285
So that's pretty much what people know about it.
00:13:59.285 --> 00:14:01.636
But aside from that, it's still a mystery.
00:14:01.636 --> 00:14:03.028
Yeah.
00:14:03.028 --> 00:14:04.399
No spoilers on the puppies.
00:14:04.399 --> 00:14:06.509
We don't get to know who they are quite yet.
00:14:06.509 --> 00:14:06.860
Okay.
00:14:06.860 --> 00:14:07.770
can respect that.
00:14:07.770 --> 00:14:09.150
scary dog.
00:14:11.371 --> 00:14:12.798
I love it.
00:14:12.798 --> 00:14:27.267
And you know, what's funny is that So we may have talked about this before at one of our convention cycles, but you know, and listeners of the show here on the oblivion bar probably already know this, but I'm not like a giant anime slash manga fan.
00:14:27.267 --> 00:14:28.138
do dabble.
00:14:28.138 --> 00:14:34.082
Like I'm actually a huge, I'm a huge fan of a free in the beyond journeys end.
00:14:34.082 --> 00:14:35.433
don't know if you're familiar with this story.
00:14:35.433 --> 00:14:37.125
Have you seen this one?
00:14:37.125 --> 00:14:39.668
I'm crazy about talking about freedom.
00:14:39.668 --> 00:14:42.638
I actually happened to have.
00:14:42.638 --> 00:14:47.158
this collectible cards right here.
00:14:47.158 --> 00:14:51.717
I got it from Japan and it's just right in front of the computer.
00:14:51.717 --> 00:14:54.437
hey, so such a coincidence.
00:14:54.437 --> 00:14:57.988
yeah, I'm up to volume three and I love it so much.
00:14:57.988 --> 00:14:59.238
I see.
00:14:59.238 --> 00:14:59.977
my God.
00:14:59.977 --> 00:15:00.278
Yeah.
00:15:00.278 --> 00:15:01.738
I love the story.
00:15:01.738 --> 00:15:03.538
It's the, it's very nice.
00:15:03.538 --> 00:15:06.057
It's, I really cried in the first episode.
00:15:06.057 --> 00:15:08.577
was pretty touching for me.
00:15:08.577 --> 00:15:09.451
Yeah.
00:15:09.451 --> 00:15:09.731
Yeah.
00:15:09.731 --> 00:15:19.205
Talk about the hero's journey, you know, and also I think it's kind of a staple, you know, as a sequential art, you know, fan is you got to read a little Akira as well.
00:15:19.205 --> 00:15:21.445
got, have my Akira here.
00:15:21.445 --> 00:15:21.785
Yeah.
00:15:21.785 --> 00:15:23.461
I'm sure you've read Akira, right?
00:15:23.461 --> 00:15:25.066
I actually haven't read Akira.
00:15:25.066 --> 00:15:26.927
I watched the anime.
00:15:27.027 --> 00:15:35.068
I watched the anime, when I was really young, like four or five years old and it was scared out of my mind, but I still watch it.
00:15:35.068 --> 00:15:37.422
I remember watching it from behind my sofa.
00:15:37.422 --> 00:15:45.022
I just imagine like four year old Rajta hiding behind the couch watching Ketsua It really scary but I cannot.
00:15:45.881 --> 00:15:49.542
Super scary but yes, that's exactly the scene.
00:15:49.542 --> 00:15:54.601
was like this guy keep like expanding his flesh.
00:15:54.601 --> 00:15:58.481
Then I was like, my God, so scary, but it cannot stop watching.
00:15:58.981 --> 00:15:59.861
Listen, I'm 30.
00:15:59.861 --> 00:16:01.091
I'm 33 years old.
00:16:01.091 --> 00:16:02.402
It still scares me.
00:16:02.402 --> 00:16:03.961
So no shame there.
00:16:04.121 --> 00:16:04.822
Yeah.
00:16:04.822 --> 00:16:06.177
So I'm like, crap.
00:16:06.177 --> 00:16:12.840
Then I rewatch this again, it's still a little scary, but I didn't hide behind a sofa anymore, thankfully.
00:16:14.380 --> 00:16:20.443
Well, know, those two, those two manga right there, and also, you know, parts of Dragon Ball Z as well.
00:16:20.764 --> 00:16:25.385
Those are really my only stints with manga, but I've really been enjoying it.
00:16:25.385 --> 00:16:31.788
And my question for you, Rach, is do you remember that manga that sort of got you into manga?
00:16:33.568 --> 00:16:36.214
a manga that got me into manga?
00:16:36.214 --> 00:16:37.154
Okay.
00:16:37.154 --> 00:16:43.178
I remember the first manga that I read, but the one that got into manga is actually an anime.
00:16:43.820 --> 00:16:44.149
okay.
00:16:44.149 --> 00:16:44.581
Yeah.
00:16:44.581 --> 00:16:46.261
So which one do want to know?
00:16:46.302 --> 00:16:46.822
Both.
00:16:46.822 --> 00:16:47.962
I want both.
00:16:47.994 --> 00:16:48.964
okay.
00:16:49.365 --> 00:16:59.111
So the very first, I think I remember last time I was watching some TV, you know, as a very young kid, like four or five years old, was eating.
00:17:00.514 --> 00:17:02.575
Eating my lunch or whatever.
00:17:02.855 --> 00:17:06.077
Then there's this anime on the TV.
00:17:06.176 --> 00:17:10.327
I remember something just clicked in me when I watched it.
00:17:10.327 --> 00:17:13.060
It was a very prominent moment in my life.
00:17:13.260 --> 00:17:15.622
I was like, yeah, that looks so cool.
00:17:15.622 --> 00:17:18.703
I want to be able to draw like that.
00:17:18.884 --> 00:17:32.273
And at that moment, I just kind of spontaneously grabbed my school notebook and then I just start drawing the, you know, I think the main character, she has this item that allow her to transform into whatever she wants.
00:17:32.273 --> 00:17:36.950
So I just drew that item on school.
00:17:36.990 --> 00:17:44.109
So that is the start of my obsession with manga and anime.
00:17:44.430 --> 00:17:46.829
The anime was called Himetsu no Akko-chan.
00:17:46.829 --> 00:17:48.470
It was super old.
00:17:48.470 --> 00:17:52.470
I was gonna say, I'm trying to see if I can think of what that is.
00:17:52.470 --> 00:17:58.869
I'm actually gonna, I'm trying to Google it here because the first thing that came to mind was actually Sailor Moon.
00:17:58.890 --> 00:18:00.009
you first said something.
00:18:00.009 --> 00:18:03.230
I was super obsessed with that too.
00:18:03.289 --> 00:18:05.710
I can see that.
00:18:06.476 --> 00:18:10.061
What was the, so you said there was, so you had that one and then what was the manga?
00:18:10.061 --> 00:18:14.051
Did you said, did you have a manga in mind as well that sort of sparked that interest?
00:18:14.492 --> 00:18:15.492
yeah.
00:18:16.734 --> 00:18:27.563
well, I guess all the manga in general sparked my interest, the very first one I remember reading was this Cho-Jo or Jose manga.
00:18:29.005 --> 00:18:31.227
that belongs to my babysitter.
00:18:31.227 --> 00:18:32.837
She's kind of taking care of me.
00:18:32.837 --> 00:18:33.709
was reading manga.
00:18:33.709 --> 00:18:35.589
was reading her stuff.
00:18:35.758 --> 00:18:37.647
Technically, I don't think it's for me.
00:18:37.647 --> 00:18:39.798
He's probably too mature.
00:18:40.178 --> 00:18:42.538
I was super young, you know.
00:18:42.538 --> 00:18:45.938
And then there's a romance, romance manga.
00:18:45.938 --> 00:18:47.778
And then it's about a guy.
00:18:47.778 --> 00:18:53.057
The main character is actually a guy, even though it's for a shojo genre, which means for girls, right?
00:18:53.057 --> 00:18:57.278
Then he kind of like time travel back to the ancient Japan.
00:18:57.278 --> 00:19:00.298
He met this princess that is super hot.
00:19:00.298 --> 00:19:03.488
And then he was like, and then he has all this more.
00:19:03.488 --> 00:19:04.440
She was sick.
00:19:04.440 --> 00:19:06.672
But he has all these modern medicine with him.
00:19:06.672 --> 00:19:08.753
So I was like, yeah, I'm going to save you.
00:19:08.753 --> 00:19:12.636
And she was in a relationship with this super abusive prince or whatever.
00:19:12.636 --> 00:19:14.969
And then it was like that kind of story.
00:19:14.969 --> 00:19:17.259
It was a little mature, but I it anyway.
00:19:17.259 --> 00:19:23.744
It was so young and that thing, must have been like rated or whatever, but yeah.
00:19:23.885 --> 00:19:31.731
Isn't that the difference though between like Western animation and Eastern animation is that Eastern animation is so okay.
00:19:31.731 --> 00:19:33.973
Just being more mature.
00:19:33.973 --> 00:19:38.616
almost like they respect, you know, the younger audiences a little bit more.
00:19:38.616 --> 00:19:46.702
And I've always appreciated that about like, even like, I would say like studio Ghibli for instance, like you could show a young kid, studio Ghibli.
00:19:46.702 --> 00:19:54.867
And of course there are like mature themes, but I feel like that's what makes it so impressive and, you know, beautiful in a way.
00:19:54.917 --> 00:19:55.098
yeah.
00:19:55.098 --> 00:19:58.760
That's, one thing I appreciate about the buy as well.
00:19:58.760 --> 00:20:01.573
actually do like mature theme as a given.
00:20:01.573 --> 00:20:03.167
think anybody who's looked at your art.
00:20:03.167 --> 00:20:06.128
already knows that.
00:20:06.128 --> 00:20:08.038
Yes, that's how I like it.
00:20:08.439 --> 00:20:15.780
Well, I guess, but I feel that, know, John Redder have always been really attracted to dark fantasy.
00:20:15.901 --> 00:20:18.721
So I kind of more into a darker stuff.
00:20:18.721 --> 00:20:20.843
have always been attracted to it.
00:20:20.843 --> 00:20:24.624
I guess present to me at least, I'm not sure if anybody thinks the same way.
00:20:24.624 --> 00:20:31.144
It present a more rounded, more complete picture of a whole human experience.
00:20:31.705 --> 00:20:41.182
You know, it feels like When you're trying to make it more suitable for everybody, you have to omit certain parts out.
00:20:41.182 --> 00:20:42.913
You cannot talk about certain things.
00:20:42.913 --> 00:20:47.676
I personally don't really like it.
00:20:47.676 --> 00:20:59.766
I don't mind that kind of story, but I prefer for us to be able to talk about everything that represents a human experience.
00:20:59.905 --> 00:21:01.196
That's really well said actually.
00:21:01.196 --> 00:21:03.346
think, and I totally agree with you 100%.
00:21:03.346 --> 00:21:07.958
Like life is not all rosy and round, right?
00:21:07.958 --> 00:21:17.252
Like there are parts of our lives that are kind of, they're sad or angry or disgusting or what have you.
00:21:17.252 --> 00:21:25.766
And to omit parts of that, you know, parts of that in your life is sort of, like you said, sort of a damnation to the better story.
00:21:25.766 --> 00:21:29.877
understand why some people choose to.
00:21:30.329 --> 00:22:06.651
do it that way but for me the story that touches me the most are the one that is delve a little bit deeper and darker into the human experience like you said you know human, we are capable of many great things but we are also capable of many know unsavoury things as well so I prefer to and I always like it when the story actually talk about it and you know like it's like Instead of like just a party conversation, it's more like, okay, it's a heart to heart real talk between, it's a private conversation between two people.
00:22:06.651 --> 00:22:17.028
Okay, you know what, the writer just sit down with me and decide to tell me about his thoughts that it's actually what I think about this situation, about this world.
00:22:17.028 --> 00:22:18.541
I'm not going to just censor it.
00:22:18.541 --> 00:22:20.730
I'm just going to tell you how it is.
00:22:20.730 --> 00:22:23.583
So to me, I love that kind of story.
00:22:23.583 --> 00:22:23.973
Yeah.
00:22:23.973 --> 00:22:24.894
Same.
00:22:25.021 --> 00:22:27.564
I've always been obsessed with this sort of relationship.
00:22:27.564 --> 00:22:30.065
It's part of the reason why I love comics so much.
00:22:30.065 --> 00:22:42.211
And what I would say even storytelling in general is that when a fan picks up a book, if they pick up the wonderverse saga, for instance, and they're reading through this and they've actually never had a chance to meet you, Rachda.
00:22:42.372 --> 00:22:50.257
I will say like, sometimes as a reader, I feel like I know the writer in like a very intimate way because I've read their work.
00:22:50.257 --> 00:22:50.586
Right.
00:22:50.586 --> 00:22:51.827
And that's interesting.
00:22:51.827 --> 00:22:52.028
Right.
00:22:52.028 --> 00:23:00.574
Because then then as a fan, I go up and I try to meet you at like say a convention and you don't know me at all, but I feel like I know you so well.
00:23:00.574 --> 00:23:01.795
Isn't that interesting?
00:23:01.795 --> 00:23:03.675
Yeah, I guess so.
00:23:03.675 --> 00:23:11.901
It happens to me sometimes, I guess when you read some artists' works, sometimes they don't hold themselves back.
00:23:11.901 --> 00:23:15.042
just write their thought process.
00:23:15.042 --> 00:23:16.732
so I'm like, okay, this is a...
00:23:16.732 --> 00:23:21.496
I'm usually very touched by it, know, for them to actually come out and...
00:23:21.496 --> 00:23:26.247
write something like that, like, you know, they don't hold anything back.
00:23:26.247 --> 00:23:32.888
I always appreciate that, effort and also the sincerity in their work.
00:23:32.888 --> 00:23:33.528
Yeah.
00:23:33.528 --> 00:23:45.863
So really quickly to stay on the manga topic, if you were to recommend someone a manga that is similar to the wonderverse saga, just to sort of like a prepper, just sort of catch the tone.
00:23:45.863 --> 00:23:49.393
How, how, would you describe here or what would you recommend?
00:23:49.393 --> 00:23:51.490
I guess you would say for a manga.
00:23:51.490 --> 00:23:54.411
that is sort of similar to the Wanderverse saga.
00:23:54.411 --> 00:23:55.392
Okay.
00:23:55.392 --> 00:23:56.872
Wow.
00:23:56.892 --> 00:23:59.373
That is tough.
00:23:59.373 --> 00:24:08.297
guess, okay, there's no real direct copy, but I have, I think there's a few that has similar theme, although it might not be exactly the same.
00:24:09.076 --> 00:24:14.578
promised Neverland is about a story about, how should I say it?
00:24:14.578 --> 00:24:16.619
I really love that story by the way.
00:24:16.619 --> 00:24:21.521
It's a story about a group of children being kept in captivity.
00:24:22.009 --> 00:24:29.746
But it's a kind of a different theme than this one because in that story it was like, should I spoil you?
00:24:29.746 --> 00:24:31.778
Yeah, go ahead.
00:24:31.778 --> 00:24:32.534
Spoil away.
00:24:32.534 --> 00:24:33.680
That's okay.
00:24:33.680 --> 00:24:34.730
I don't to spoil anybody.
00:24:34.730 --> 00:24:37.743
I don't mind spoilers myself.
00:24:37.743 --> 00:24:48.192
My editor has told me that, you know, this is one of the inspiration that I can go take a look at and read it as a part of my learning experience.
00:24:48.192 --> 00:24:50.284
So he gave me a few.
00:24:50.574 --> 00:24:53.443
This is one of the stories that people brought up.
00:24:53.443 --> 00:24:55.773
From Miss Neverland, Attack on Titans.
00:24:55.773 --> 00:24:56.554
sure.
00:24:56.554 --> 00:24:59.933
Attack on Titans, I think that one is famous, most people know about it.
00:24:59.933 --> 00:25:03.203
It's about the human versus titan.
00:25:03.203 --> 00:25:07.084
It also has dark theme and pretty gory as well.
00:25:07.084 --> 00:25:12.433
So I guess that one is a good example.
00:25:12.433 --> 00:25:20.614
I think there are more, but I these two were probably the one that a few of my editors mentioned for me.
00:25:33.125 --> 00:25:39.246
I'm showing my ignorance when it comes to the manga subgenre.
00:25:39.246 --> 00:25:47.758
And actually it kind of reminds me of the first time that we met at San Diego where we had a what not show together.
00:25:47.758 --> 00:25:53.518
And you found it hilarious that I didn't know who the Demon Slayer character, Nezuko was.
00:25:53.518 --> 00:25:58.397
Like you, guess you had a Nezuko commission or maybe like a print or something.
00:25:58.397 --> 00:26:00.897
And I held it up and I was trying to describe who it was.
00:26:00.897 --> 00:26:03.617
And I think I maybe said like girl with thing in her mouth.
00:26:03.617 --> 00:26:06.667
But you were like, no, that's, that's the girl from Demon Slayer.
00:26:06.667 --> 00:26:07.817
Do you not know who that is?
00:26:07.817 --> 00:26:10.458
I'm like, no, I don't know who that is.
00:26:10.458 --> 00:26:11.577
my God.
00:26:12.678 --> 00:26:17.837
Because for a while she just exploded in the, in the artist alley.
00:26:17.837 --> 00:26:24.258
And then keep, there is this one convention and Drew and myself drawn like 10 commissions of Nezuko or something.
00:26:24.258 --> 00:26:26.278
Like really, she is so popular.
00:26:26.278 --> 00:26:27.137
I'm wow.
00:26:27.137 --> 00:26:28.617
I mean, I the anime.
00:26:28.617 --> 00:26:29.678
I love the anime.
00:26:29.678 --> 00:26:30.627
I really love it.
00:26:30.627 --> 00:26:32.498
And Nezuko is one of my favorite characters.
00:26:32.498 --> 00:26:36.367
So was very happy to, to, that people seem to love her a lot.
00:26:36.367 --> 00:26:38.518
But it was like, wow, she's really hot.
00:26:38.518 --> 00:26:39.057
Yeah.
00:26:39.057 --> 00:26:40.238
Like very popular.
00:26:40.238 --> 00:26:47.731
Now, again, as we said a moment ago, the, you know, the wonderverse saga is going to be.
00:26:47.731 --> 00:26:54.425
a kickstarted manga, a hundred page hardcover, all the first volume all collected into one.
00:26:54.666 --> 00:27:00.931
My final question for you on the Wanderverse Saga is what has it been like kind of behind the scenes?
00:27:00.931 --> 00:27:06.714
Is this your first time kickstarting something or have you done this before and you're just sort of used to the process now?
00:27:07.105 --> 00:27:07.786
wow.
00:27:07.786 --> 00:27:08.576
Okay.
00:27:08.576 --> 00:27:16.971
To be honest, I have done quite a few, quite many kickstarters for my other projects, but usually it's like smaller ones.
00:27:17.473 --> 00:27:22.114
This is first ever comic manga Kickstarter.
00:27:22.114 --> 00:27:26.770
I usually kickstart my drawing illustration project.
00:27:26.770 --> 00:27:29.623
But this is first one that I did for my manga.
00:27:29.623 --> 00:27:35.287
To be honest, I'm a little nervous because this is my first time doing this.
00:27:35.287 --> 00:27:43.412
And it's subject that is very close to my heart because this has always been my passion since I was young.
00:27:45.432 --> 00:27:46.051
How should I say?
00:27:46.051 --> 00:27:48.163
The feeling is different this time.
00:27:49.242 --> 00:27:52.804
It's just an illustration, it's something that the...
00:27:52.804 --> 00:27:59.766
I wouldn't be overstating it if I say that manga has shaped me to become who I am today.
00:27:59.766 --> 00:28:04.067
So it's something that is really big for me emotionally.
00:28:04.067 --> 00:28:08.078
So I'm like, like I said, I'm a little nervous.
00:28:08.078 --> 00:28:13.589
I try to do my best, but you know, mean, it's my first time so I might...
00:28:13.599 --> 00:28:15.211
I might miss something out too.
00:28:15.211 --> 00:28:17.621
Let's see guys help me out to a KLB.
00:28:17.621 --> 00:28:20.875
there's anything I can do better, please, please always let me know.
00:28:20.875 --> 00:28:23.440
I always appreciate your opinion and feedbacks.
00:28:23.440 --> 00:28:23.836
Yeah.
00:28:23.836 --> 00:28:27.969
I'm very confident in the team that you have over there between you and Darren and everybody else.
00:28:27.969 --> 00:28:30.411
It's going to be a very successful campaign.
00:28:30.411 --> 00:28:31.340
I'm sure.
00:28:31.340 --> 00:28:35.874
And I know speaking, you know, from my end, I cannot wait to back it.
00:28:35.874 --> 00:28:39.115
I'm excited again, everybody who's listening right now.
00:28:39.238 --> 00:28:47.741
It'll already be live by the time that you're listening to this conversation So make sure you guys check out the link in the in the show notes to back the wonderverse saga How long is it running by the way?
00:28:47.741 --> 00:28:50.242
How long is the wonderverse saga running on Kickstarter?
00:28:54.464 --> 00:29:04.298
Stumped everybody Okay, okay I'm not saying shaggy was like I believe it's 18 days.
00:29:04.298 --> 00:29:16.834
It would be running for 18 days from Okay, what I remember is from the start of Alpha, Anime Festival in Singapore to the end of Tokyo Comic Con.
00:29:16.834 --> 00:29:21.009
Yeah, so Tokyo Comic Con ended on around, 10.
00:29:21.115 --> 00:29:25.616
So I think it will be a few days after Tokyo Comic Con if I'm not wrong.
00:29:25.616 --> 00:29:34.121
But because this part is handling, I mean, I have a team that helped me out to do the kickstart.
00:29:34.121 --> 00:29:37.203
I'm not sure what their final decision is, but...
00:29:37.203 --> 00:29:43.776
Last I checked, was after Tokyo Comic Con.
00:29:43.776 --> 00:29:46.076
Like I said, everybody, if you're listening to this right now, it is live.
00:29:46.076 --> 00:29:47.346
So go check that out.
00:29:47.346 --> 00:29:52.298
you know, Rasha, I have one more question for you before I let you go.
00:29:52.298 --> 00:29:58.160
So we like to end every conversation here on the show by asking our guests what they've been enjoying recently.
00:29:58.160 --> 00:30:06.670
So if you could pick one thing, it could be any form of media, could be a comic, could be a movie, a video game, podcast, manga, anime, whatever you want.
00:30:06.670 --> 00:30:10.670
something that you've been loving here recently, what would you like to highlight for listeners?
00:30:10.950 --> 00:30:11.569
wow.
00:30:11.569 --> 00:30:12.079
Okay.
00:30:12.079 --> 00:30:17.569
If it's just recently, it's a little boring because I have been obsessed with work.
00:30:17.569 --> 00:30:28.670
There's a lot of work to do, but I have been watching a lot of documentaries about octopuses and squids.
00:30:31.509 --> 00:30:32.869
So, okay.
00:30:32.869 --> 00:30:36.526
It's very weird and boring because okay, it's actually part of my upcoming.
00:30:36.526 --> 00:30:38.705
I haven't really announced.
00:30:39.185 --> 00:30:44.605
It's also a manga project, but yeah, it's part of my research.
00:30:44.605 --> 00:30:51.205
Actually, I love watching documentaries, so it was kind of fun to look at the animals.
00:30:51.266 --> 00:30:53.086
yeah.
00:30:53.185 --> 00:30:54.945
Everyone really had time.
00:30:55.086 --> 00:30:56.105
What's name of the documentary?
00:30:56.105 --> 00:30:58.486
Just a lot of them.
00:30:58.486 --> 00:31:00.546
Just a lot of them.
00:31:00.546 --> 00:31:03.326
Some went to YouTube.
00:31:03.685 --> 00:31:05.384
Then it's just a whole...
00:31:05.384 --> 00:31:07.154
whole library of it.
00:31:07.174 --> 00:31:12.094
I even watched some people who kept octopuses and they're like talking about their pets.
00:31:12.094 --> 00:31:15.540
I'm like, so it was very interesting.
00:31:15.540 --> 00:31:15.881
Yes.
00:31:15.881 --> 00:31:18.682
So Racha is doing a ton of research on octopuses.
00:31:18.682 --> 00:31:19.364
Yeah.
00:31:19.364 --> 00:31:21.105
So I, actually I love them.
00:31:21.105 --> 00:31:21.384
Yeah.
00:31:21.384 --> 00:31:21.785
I love them.
00:31:21.785 --> 00:31:23.807
They are very smart creatures.
00:31:23.807 --> 00:31:25.086
Sorry.
00:31:25.887 --> 00:31:26.377
I love it.
00:31:26.377 --> 00:31:27.778
Sorry about being a weirdo.
00:31:27.778 --> 00:31:29.851
No, that's not weird at all.
00:31:29.851 --> 00:31:31.622
I just was not expecting that, but I love it.
00:31:31.622 --> 00:31:32.451
I love it.
00:31:32.451 --> 00:31:34.113
I was listening to the pox.
00:31:36.653 --> 00:31:40.094
Is there anything else more fun than have done recently?
00:31:40.094 --> 00:31:42.153
A lot of octopus.
00:31:43.713 --> 00:31:46.423
Is there any more fun thing that I did?
00:31:46.423 --> 00:31:47.574
it just finished Penguin.
00:31:47.574 --> 00:31:47.753
Yes.
00:31:47.753 --> 00:31:48.574
Penguin.
00:31:48.574 --> 00:31:49.953
the TV show Penguin.
00:31:49.973 --> 00:31:50.344
Yeah.
00:31:50.344 --> 00:31:53.574
The TV show Penguin is actually a pretty good.
00:31:53.574 --> 00:31:54.433
Yeah.
00:31:54.433 --> 00:31:54.894
Really good.
00:31:54.894 --> 00:31:55.814
was surprised.
00:31:55.814 --> 00:31:58.013
was like, Hey, that's not bad.
00:31:58.013 --> 00:32:01.413
I watched until the last episode and it was really good.
00:32:01.413 --> 00:32:01.953
So yeah.
00:32:01.953 --> 00:32:02.193
Yes.
00:32:02.193 --> 00:32:03.501
That's the fun thing that I did.
00:32:03.501 --> 00:32:08.261
Yeah, it's more suitable for your podcast.
00:32:08.261 --> 00:32:08.682
Yes.
00:32:08.682 --> 00:32:09.902
that was quite a while back.
00:32:09.902 --> 00:32:11.721
I forgot about it.
00:32:11.721 --> 00:32:21.082
Well, Rasha, like I said before, it has been an absolute pleasure having you here on the show to discuss not only the wonderverse saga, but everything that we've talked about here in between.
00:32:21.082 --> 00:32:27.122
And again, as I said earlier, I'll reiterate it once again, always a pleasure to get to see each other at these conventions.
00:32:27.122 --> 00:32:31.682
And I cannot wait to see you at the next one sometime in 2025.
00:32:32.750 --> 00:32:35.131
I'm happy to see you next time too.
00:32:35.131 --> 00:32:36.830
Maybe at MegaCon.
00:32:36.830 --> 00:32:39.311
Yes, maybe MegaCon in Orlando.
00:32:39.491 --> 00:32:41.211
That could possibly happen.
00:32:41.211 --> 00:32:45.303
And then also before I let you go, I'm going to hand it off to you one more time.
00:32:45.303 --> 00:32:47.253
Is there anything that you want to plug?
00:32:47.253 --> 00:32:48.823
Any socials you want to highlight?
00:32:48.823 --> 00:32:52.515
Anything that you want to let the listener know about besides the Wanderverse saga?
00:32:52.865 --> 00:32:54.536
okay.
00:32:54.536 --> 00:33:00.877
I guess, my gosh, off the top of my head right now is just Wanderverse saga.
00:33:02.029 --> 00:33:04.690
What are your handles on social media?
00:33:04.769 --> 00:33:05.369
Okay.
00:33:05.369 --> 00:33:06.509
yeah, rush starting.
00:33:06.509 --> 00:33:07.829
My name is a little tricky.
00:33:07.829 --> 00:33:09.849
A lot of people misspell it.
00:33:09.849 --> 00:33:17.000
So I C H T a L I n you can just type my name now on social media.
00:33:17.000 --> 00:33:21.309
can find me on Instagram, Facebook.
00:33:21.670 --> 00:33:23.319
Sometimes they do Twitter.
00:33:23.319 --> 00:33:23.819
Okay.
00:33:23.819 --> 00:33:25.059
I kick started.
00:33:25.059 --> 00:33:25.289
yeah.
00:33:25.289 --> 00:33:31.892
You can actually go on to my Kickstarter rush.com slash Kickstarter.
00:33:32.077 --> 00:33:42.307
then you can, one of the side I currently is like, you know, pending so we can click follow the project and yeah, that would be great.
00:33:42.307 --> 00:33:44.998
I'll be very happy if you do that.
00:33:44.998 --> 00:33:51.057
but yeah, but when the, when this thing is like the Kickstarter would be like already what I'm talking about.
00:33:51.178 --> 00:33:52.198
That's all right.
00:33:52.198 --> 00:33:57.897
They know everyone listening right now knows that they want to support the wonderverse saga, it is in the show notes right now.
00:33:57.897 --> 00:34:00.750
So, Rasha it again, it has been a pleasure.
00:34:00.750 --> 00:34:04.468
I appreciate you, I cannot wait to see you at a con and we'll talk to you soon.
00:34:05.998 --> 00:34:07.153
Thanks for today.
00:00:00.226 --> 00:00:10.362
Hey, this is Rach Dalin, comic book artist and the creator of the Wonderworld Saga manga series and you're listening to the Oblivion Barre podcast.
00:00:14.573 --> 00:00:21.824
Welcome to the Oblivion Bar podcast with your host, Chris Hacker and Aaron Knowles.
00:00:38.189 --> 00:00:48.612
Joining me today is the superstar Singaporean comic book artist who has worked for Blizzard Entertainment, Magic the Gathering, Dynamite Comics, and DC Comics.
00:00:48.612 --> 00:01:02.597
She is also the creator of the upcoming manga series, The Wanderverse Saga, which tells the dark tale of Phoenix, a subhuman born into an oppressive world where superhumans are born with the powers to rule them all.
00:01:02.597 --> 00:01:08.078
It is my pleasure to welcome Rach Delin onto the Oblivion Bar podcast.
00:01:08.292 --> 00:01:08.762
my God.
00:01:08.762 --> 00:01:11.132
Hey, hi everybody.
00:01:11.132 --> 00:01:11.802
Hello, Chris.
00:01:11.802 --> 00:01:13.087
Thanks for having me here.
00:01:13.087 --> 00:01:15.144
I'm very excited to be here.
00:01:15.584 --> 00:01:16.284
God.
00:01:16.284 --> 00:01:17.665
It's also cool.
00:01:19.007 --> 00:01:21.957
We are, we're just, we're basically like good friends at this point.
00:01:21.957 --> 00:01:33.052
It seems like at every convention that we've been at, know, in the, these last, I'd say over the last year or so, we always will have a moment, whether it be on a whatnot show or just at the booth.
00:01:33.052 --> 00:01:34.862
And it's always, it's, it's the best.
00:01:34.862 --> 00:01:36.132
I love it so much.
00:01:36.153 --> 00:01:36.563
yeah.
00:01:36.563 --> 00:01:37.493
Me too.
00:01:38.061 --> 00:01:39.701
Thank you so much.
00:01:39.902 --> 00:01:44.701
It's been great knowing you and yeah, thanks for having me on your podcast.
00:01:44.701 --> 00:01:45.322
Of course.
00:01:45.322 --> 00:01:48.141
And we've got a ton of really fun things to talk about here.
00:01:48.141 --> 00:01:52.802
And I think it only makes sense to start at the beginning, right?
00:01:52.802 --> 00:02:02.292
know, my research here over here on the oblivion bar, the first cover that you had drawn here in America, I guess I should say was a van Perel number 16 back in May of 2020.
00:02:02.292 --> 00:02:03.481
Is that correct?
00:02:03.481 --> 00:02:04.352
yeah, that's the one.
00:02:04.352 --> 00:02:04.662
Yeah.
00:02:04.662 --> 00:02:05.432
That's the one.
00:02:05.432 --> 00:02:05.682
Okay.
00:02:05.682 --> 00:02:11.875
I was wondering if it was between It was between that one and I think there was like a Batman 108 that had like Miracle Molly.
00:02:11.875 --> 00:02:14.205
Is that one Ring a Bell as well?
00:02:14.727 --> 00:02:19.122
yeah, I think that's the first DC comic cover they have drawn.
00:02:19.122 --> 00:02:21.062
So that was really fun.
00:02:21.062 --> 00:02:27.496
It was for this new character that they were building at the point in time, Miracle Molly.
00:02:27.896 --> 00:02:30.548
but Vampirrilla is my first one.
00:02:30.548 --> 00:02:31.318
Yeah.
00:02:31.318 --> 00:02:31.739
Nice.
00:02:31.739 --> 00:02:32.088
All right.
00:02:32.088 --> 00:02:39.669
Well, the reason why I kind of bring all that up is that, you know, since then you've been I mean, in my opinion, have been setting the world on fire with some of these covers.
00:02:39.669 --> 00:02:45.629
I mean that, you literally, but also your style is very spicy, you know, very sexual.
00:02:45.629 --> 00:02:50.810
And, you know, I'm thinking specifically of the recent Catwoman and Harley Quinn covers.
00:02:50.810 --> 00:03:00.530
And you even had a 2024 New York Comic-Con exclusive cover for Absolute Batman Number One, which was, in my opinion, one of the hottest books there that weekend.
00:03:00.530 --> 00:03:04.397
So, you know, I can say again, as we just said a moment ago, you and I are friends at this point, but...
00:03:04.397 --> 00:03:11.277
you being at these conventions together, I think it's been so much fun seeing you get all this overwhelming success.
00:03:11.277 --> 00:03:17.078
But I want to ask you, how has that felt for you kind of getting this extreme surge of success here recently?
00:03:17.078 --> 00:03:18.217
my God.
00:03:18.918 --> 00:03:19.457
my God.
00:03:19.457 --> 00:03:20.518
see.
00:03:20.918 --> 00:03:24.138
I guess overall it's been a great journey.
00:03:24.138 --> 00:03:25.858
This has always been my passion.
00:03:25.858 --> 00:03:33.918
It was since I was young, like when I was like, I think around four five years old, I already know that I want to become like a manga artist.
00:03:34.298 --> 00:03:48.038
So I think like seven years ago I quit my job to pursue this full-time So I was just keep doing it, you know, and I never really thought about being Becoming popular or something like that.
00:03:48.038 --> 00:04:10.397
I just feel that I just keep doing what I have always wanted to do and I'm very happy that people has responded to me this way I still feel that I'm in a learning process Whenever people tell me what they like about my eye what I try to kind of like taking their opinions about my work, feedback and everything.
00:04:10.397 --> 00:04:11.448
I try to make it better.
00:04:11.448 --> 00:04:13.717
I still feel like I'm still learning a lot.
00:04:13.717 --> 00:04:16.338
So it's been a great journey so far.
00:04:16.338 --> 00:04:18.997
I hope we continue to become better for everybody.
00:04:18.997 --> 00:04:19.478
Yeah.
00:04:19.478 --> 00:04:20.516
I love it.
00:04:20.516 --> 00:04:26.838
And again, us meeting for the first time at San Diego during this last summer here in 2024, it was almost immediate.
00:04:26.838 --> 00:04:40.149
And I don't mean to butter you up so much here early on in the show, but as soon as I saw sort of your setup there, in Artist Alley, I was like, this is already one of the most talented creators that we have on the roster.
00:04:40.411 --> 00:04:53.420
And to see not only that, but then the growth to New York just a couple months later, from San Diego Comic-Con to New York Comic-Con, your booth was rocking the entire weekend at New York.
00:04:53.440 --> 00:04:54.581
And it was really cool to see.
00:04:54.581 --> 00:04:55.982
That's why I was asking that.
00:04:55.982 --> 00:04:58.244
Thank you so much.
00:04:58.403 --> 00:05:01.375
I mean, I feel that part of them.
00:05:01.502 --> 00:05:04.422
success at the comic is because of you guys as well.
00:05:04.422 --> 00:05:06.004
I love the energy and everything.
00:05:06.004 --> 00:05:06.956
So thank you so much.
00:05:06.956 --> 00:05:11.059
I feel that I cannot really do this without everyone's support.
00:05:11.059 --> 00:05:13.160
So I always appreciate you guys.
00:05:13.160 --> 00:05:15.012
So yay, thank you.
00:05:15.012 --> 00:05:16.062
It's so much fun to do.
00:05:16.062 --> 00:05:16.583
I love it.
00:05:16.583 --> 00:05:19.154
And you you kind of talked about this just a moment ago.
00:05:19.154 --> 00:05:21.656
You said you quit your job about seven years ago.
00:05:21.896 --> 00:05:24.117
What were you doing before comics?
00:05:24.658 --> 00:05:33.029
before comics, I was kind of doing like how she said, I have always I said I have always wanted to become a manga artist, right?
00:05:33.029 --> 00:05:43.829
But when I kind of like joined my university, I took a design course because at the point I was the only available art related subject that can take.
00:05:43.829 --> 00:05:48.870
People around me keep telling me that comic or manga is not a viable career option.
00:05:48.870 --> 00:05:51.089
know, how are you going to make money and everything, right?
00:05:51.089 --> 00:05:52.290
It's not practical.
00:05:52.290 --> 00:05:56.569
So in the end, I decided I kind of gave in to that kind of thought.
00:05:57.017 --> 00:06:01.581
I decided to go to a graphic design field instead.
00:06:01.581 --> 00:06:06.964
So I was kind of doing user interface design and interactive media and stuff.
00:06:06.964 --> 00:06:12.709
I had become an art director at the end and at that point in time I was like, okay.
00:06:12.709 --> 00:06:15.430
I came to a crossroad.
00:06:15.430 --> 00:06:22.014
If this is going to be what I'm doing for the rest of my life or should I just go back to continue with my passion again?
00:06:22.156 --> 00:06:24.937
Then at that moment I decided to quit.
00:06:25.783 --> 00:06:27.954
to become an artist full time.
00:06:28.795 --> 00:06:29.175
Yeah.
00:06:29.175 --> 00:06:38.442
So that's how we meet each other today, know, but initially it was a quite a struggle, but I'm glad that I took that, took that leap to do this.
00:06:38.442 --> 00:06:38.983
Yeah.
00:06:38.983 --> 00:06:41.654
Me too.
00:06:41.654 --> 00:06:43.235
I'm so excited that you did that.
00:06:43.235 --> 00:06:55.379
You know, it's, sounds like regardless, you were going to be able to be creative in some way, but, you know, following your passion, the way that you have making that transition over from, you know, a creative director.
00:06:55.379 --> 00:06:57.932
over to just a full on comic artist.
00:06:57.932 --> 00:07:17.704
then now a manga artist, which we'll talk about here in just a moment, is it's really cool to see, you know, if you talk to a lot of comic creators, they'll tell you that there's always that fork in the road where they have to sort of decide whether they want to make that jump into, you know, telling stories sequentially.
00:07:17.785 --> 00:07:18.925
And it's always cool.
00:07:18.925 --> 00:07:25.326
And I will say, you know, to kind of build off what I just said a moment ago, a moment ago there with your manga.
00:07:25.326 --> 00:07:33.735
career, let's talk about the wonder of her saga, which is your original manga series that you've been working on for the last five years.
00:07:33.735 --> 00:07:40.685
So the majority of time that you've been working on comics and doing all this, you've been working on the wonder of her saga.
00:07:40.685 --> 00:07:50.545
again, as I refer back to that intro, I'll say it again here, the story sort of centers around the oppression of the subhumans by the super powered folks that have them.
00:07:50.545 --> 00:07:53.995
and I also think it's important to note that this first volume.
00:07:53.995 --> 00:08:01.490
which will be a hardcover edition and will consist of over just around a hundred pages will be live on Kickstarter as you're listening to this conversation, everybody.
00:08:01.490 --> 00:08:09.567
So if you're listening to this conversation right now with Rachda, you can check out the show notes and that link to the Wonderverse Saga, Rachda's very first manga will be in there.
00:08:09.567 --> 00:08:18.242
So, Rachda, my question for you is, tell me a little bit about the inception of this story and what compelled you to tell it in the manga format.
00:08:18.242 --> 00:08:18.812
Okay.
00:08:18.812 --> 00:08:23.206
Actually, even before one, the words have always been kind of drawing.
00:08:23.915 --> 00:08:33.711
Yeah, so when I was young, I would keep a notebook with me and I just kind of write everything or any character that comes to my head in that notebook, right?
00:08:33.711 --> 00:08:41.416
So I have a lot of these notebooks and Wonderverse is kind of like a story that has matured over time.
00:08:41.436 --> 00:08:51.461
It's kind of like the core of the story is the same, but it's just the details, the character is because, know, have gained life experience, have become a...
00:08:51.864 --> 00:08:52.653
How should I say it?
00:08:52.653 --> 00:08:55.735
A different person throughout my life, right?
00:08:55.735 --> 00:08:57.696
I have different worldview and everything.
00:08:57.696 --> 00:09:00.355
So this story is kind of mature with me.
00:09:00.355 --> 00:09:06.057
So I have many kind of different version of this and this is kind of like my latest version.
00:09:06.057 --> 00:09:08.859
So that's how it's become, I guess.
00:09:09.778 --> 00:09:15.793
So the Waterworld Saga, right, was the creation that I made after a few tries.
00:09:15.793 --> 00:09:21.322
I actually brought my manga to Japan and asked the editor there to take a look at it.
00:09:21.706 --> 00:09:27.128
And they have been very kind to me, but also very strict and educational.
00:09:27.128 --> 00:09:30.028
They actually taught me, okay, this part is not good.
00:09:30.028 --> 00:09:32.489
Overall, overall, we like your idea.
00:09:32.629 --> 00:09:33.928
We'd love to see more.
00:09:33.928 --> 00:09:36.320
So I keep bringing them works, you know.
00:09:36.320 --> 00:09:41.020
So this is kind of like my latest version of my manga story.
00:09:41.020 --> 00:09:47.633
And this is the one that received the most positive feedback from the editor.
00:09:47.633 --> 00:09:51.114
So I kind of trying to make something out of it.
00:09:52.326 --> 00:09:55.366
Yeah, so that's how you see it on Kickstarter.
00:09:55.366 --> 00:09:58.719
It is like kind of like final finished version of it.
00:09:58.719 --> 00:10:06.042
I have been working for like the past two years with my assistant team that I managed to form in Thailand.
00:10:06.042 --> 00:10:10.283
So yeah, it's been a, I'm quite excited to review it to you.
00:10:10.283 --> 00:10:11.494
So yay.
00:10:12.573 --> 00:10:15.259
Now I know I'm going to be signing up for it, but I want to go back a little bit.
00:10:15.259 --> 00:10:18.817
You mentioned a moment ago about the core of the story.
00:10:18.817 --> 00:10:21.677
Like this, this manga has evolved over time.
00:10:21.677 --> 00:10:23.957
You said the core has sort of stayed the same.
00:10:23.957 --> 00:10:26.857
What is that core that you're sort of talking about?
00:10:27.378 --> 00:10:28.317
my God.
00:10:28.317 --> 00:10:31.577
I'm going to make you, I'm going to make you peel back the layers.
00:10:32.577 --> 00:10:33.717
Okay.
00:10:33.898 --> 00:10:47.957
I guess the kind of story that I like is always a part about a person doing the best of their ability to kind of triumph over challenges.
00:10:47.957 --> 00:10:50.798
I don't kind of think, you know, it's a very basic idea.
00:10:50.798 --> 00:10:57.977
I really like it when, especially when the main character face really some kind of unbelievable odds.
00:10:57.977 --> 00:11:01.077
and I guess it's a belief that I have.
00:11:01.077 --> 00:11:12.087
I have no idea what, how to explain it in words, but it's basically a character struggling against all odds, know, and triumph in the end.
00:11:12.087 --> 00:11:15.118
I guess that's a spoilers, but whatever.
00:11:15.477 --> 00:11:23.599
I was going to ask you how far you wanted to go into spoilers here, but I will say, just to sort of set the table a little bit here.
00:11:23.599 --> 00:11:26.590
Our main character, Phoenix, is that, I saying that correctly?
00:11:26.590 --> 00:11:27.360
Phoenix?
00:11:27.360 --> 00:11:29.302
Yeah, I guess you can.
00:11:29.302 --> 00:11:32.192
I didn't think about the pronunciation.
00:11:32.192 --> 00:11:34.344
here's how it's everyone that's listening to it.
00:11:34.344 --> 00:11:35.313
Here's how it's spelled.
00:11:35.313 --> 00:11:38.666
It's P H Y N N I X.
00:11:38.666 --> 00:11:41.605
I think that sounds like Phoenix, but I could be wrong.
00:11:41.687 --> 00:11:42.057
Yeah.
00:11:42.057 --> 00:11:43.888
mean, that's that sounds about right.
00:11:43.888 --> 00:11:44.597
Yeah.
00:11:44.597 --> 00:11:45.307
Okay.
00:11:45.307 --> 00:11:49.870
And then Phoenix, Phoenix has a, a super powered friend.
00:11:49.922 --> 00:11:51.413
who has the power over plants.
00:11:51.413 --> 00:11:57.001
name is Catherine and that's spelled C-A-T-H-R-I-N.
00:11:57.001 --> 00:11:57.985
Does that sound correct?
00:11:57.985 --> 00:11:58.586
yes.
00:11:58.586 --> 00:11:58.846
Yeah.
00:11:58.846 --> 00:11:59.725
Okay.
00:11:59.946 --> 00:12:01.356
I love Catherine's design by the way.
00:12:01.356 --> 00:12:05.148
I love that she's got like the poison ivy powers too.
00:12:05.581 --> 00:12:06.969
I guess so.
00:12:06.969 --> 00:12:07.849
Yeah.
00:12:07.849 --> 00:12:13.072
I guess as a character, as a person, she has different vibe and personality.
00:12:13.072 --> 00:12:13.991
So yeah.
00:12:13.991 --> 00:12:17.663
And Catherine seems very eager to help Phoenix.
00:12:17.663 --> 00:12:29.750
Cause again, as we said a moment ago, the subhumans or I guess you could just, know, for sort of simplest terms like just humans, you know, you and I, they are sort of a lower class of people in this story compared to the super powered.
00:12:29.750 --> 00:12:32.419
And we get to meet one in this story.
00:12:32.419 --> 00:12:43.470
I don't want to spoil anything, but basically he sort of rules this, what would you say, like a prison kind of like that's kind of where Phoenix ends up in the beginning of this story.
00:12:43.470 --> 00:12:44.690
Does that sound correct?
00:12:44.690 --> 00:12:45.009
yeah.
00:12:45.009 --> 00:12:45.340
Yeah.
00:12:45.340 --> 00:12:45.769
So yeah.
00:12:45.769 --> 00:12:46.450
Yes.
00:12:46.450 --> 00:12:51.943
So that's kind of the one of the main villain of this particular arc.
00:12:53.566 --> 00:12:57.514
it's kind of like alternate timeline from the World War II.
00:12:57.514 --> 00:13:00.110
Kind of like original World War II.
00:13:00.110 --> 00:13:00.801
Yeah.
00:13:00.801 --> 00:13:01.115
my God.
00:13:01.115 --> 00:13:03.392
I read so much about World War II.
00:13:04.153 --> 00:13:04.486
Sure.
00:13:04.486 --> 00:13:05.548
For this one guy.
00:13:05.548 --> 00:13:05.764
Yeah.
00:13:05.764 --> 00:13:06.183
my God.
00:13:06.183 --> 00:13:07.816
was crazy.
00:13:07.816 --> 00:13:08.775
Yeah.
00:13:09.076 --> 00:13:10.226
I can see the influence.
00:13:10.226 --> 00:13:11.107
I definitely can.
00:13:11.107 --> 00:13:17.293
And Baron, he even sort of resembles like, you know, and I mean this respectfully, so almost like a Nazi in a way.
00:13:17.293 --> 00:13:26.014
you know, with the way that he's like sort of ruling over the school with an iron fist and is basically making folks who are below him since then death essentially.
00:13:26.014 --> 00:13:30.974
And I was curious, one question I had for you though was the Baron has these like two little dogs.
00:13:30.974 --> 00:13:32.653
That's sort of like his super power.
00:13:32.653 --> 00:13:33.734
What are these dogs?
00:13:33.734 --> 00:13:37.874
Does he have like power over shadow or what are these entities?
00:13:38.573 --> 00:13:39.274
okay.
00:13:39.274 --> 00:13:44.577
Technically it's still not really that, it's still not revealed in the story.
00:13:44.577 --> 00:13:50.681
But I'm sure people know that he can summon these dogs and they are like really bad for you.
00:13:51.101 --> 00:13:52.168
They're not good for you.
00:13:52.168 --> 00:13:56.043
They're just like really big and scary and they can kill you.
00:13:56.043 --> 00:13:59.285
So that's pretty much what people know about it.
00:13:59.285 --> 00:14:01.636
But aside from that, it's still a mystery.
00:14:01.636 --> 00:14:03.028
Yeah.
00:14:03.028 --> 00:14:04.399
No spoilers on the puppies.
00:14:04.399 --> 00:14:06.509
We don't get to know who they are quite yet.
00:14:06.509 --> 00:14:06.860
Okay.
00:14:06.860 --> 00:14:07.770
can respect that.
00:14:07.770 --> 00:14:09.150
scary dog.
00:14:11.371 --> 00:14:12.798
I love it.
00:14:12.798 --> 00:14:27.267
And you know, what's funny is that So we may have talked about this before at one of our convention cycles, but you know, and listeners of the show here on the oblivion bar probably already know this, but I'm not like a giant anime slash manga fan.
00:14:27.267 --> 00:14:28.138
do dabble.
00:14:28.138 --> 00:14:34.082
Like I'm actually a huge, I'm a huge fan of a free in the beyond journeys end.
00:14:34.082 --> 00:14:35.433
don't know if you're familiar with this story.
00:14:35.433 --> 00:14:37.125
Have you seen this one?
00:14:37.125 --> 00:14:39.668
I'm crazy about talking about freedom.
00:14:39.668 --> 00:14:42.638
I actually happened to have.
00:14:42.638 --> 00:14:47.158
this collectible cards right here.
00:14:47.158 --> 00:14:51.717
I got it from Japan and it's just right in front of the computer.
00:14:51.717 --> 00:14:54.437
hey, so such a coincidence.
00:14:54.437 --> 00:14:57.988
yeah, I'm up to volume three and I love it so much.
00:14:57.988 --> 00:14:59.238
I see.
00:14:59.238 --> 00:14:59.977
my God.
00:14:59.977 --> 00:15:00.278
Yeah.
00:15:00.278 --> 00:15:01.738
I love the story.
00:15:01.738 --> 00:15:03.538
It's the, it's very nice.
00:15:03.538 --> 00:15:06.057
It's, I really cried in the first episode.
00:15:06.057 --> 00:15:08.577
was pretty touching for me.
00:15:08.577 --> 00:15:09.451
Yeah.
00:15:09.451 --> 00:15:09.731
Yeah.
00:15:09.731 --> 00:15:19.205
Talk about the hero's journey, you know, and also I think it's kind of a staple, you know, as a sequential art, you know, fan is you got to read a little Akira as well.
00:15:19.205 --> 00:15:21.445
got, have my Akira here.
00:15:21.445 --> 00:15:21.785
Yeah.
00:15:21.785 --> 00:15:23.461
I'm sure you've read Akira, right?
00:15:23.461 --> 00:15:25.066
I actually haven't read Akira.
00:15:25.066 --> 00:15:26.927
I watched the anime.
00:15:27.027 --> 00:15:35.068
I watched the anime, when I was really young, like four or five years old and it was scared out of my mind, but I still watch it.
00:15:35.068 --> 00:15:37.422
I remember watching it from behind my sofa.
00:15:37.422 --> 00:15:45.022
I just imagine like four year old Rajta hiding behind the couch watching Ketsua It really scary but I cannot.
00:15:45.881 --> 00:15:49.542
Super scary but yes, that's exactly the scene.
00:15:49.542 --> 00:15:54.601
was like this guy keep like expanding his flesh.
00:15:54.601 --> 00:15:58.481
Then I was like, my God, so scary, but it cannot stop watching.
00:15:58.981 --> 00:15:59.861
Listen, I'm 30.
00:15:59.861 --> 00:16:01.091
I'm 33 years old.
00:16:01.091 --> 00:16:02.402
It still scares me.
00:16:02.402 --> 00:16:03.961
So no shame there.
00:16:04.121 --> 00:16:04.822
Yeah.
00:16:04.822 --> 00:16:06.177
So I'm like, crap.
00:16:06.177 --> 00:16:12.840
Then I rewatch this again, it's still a little scary, but I didn't hide behind a sofa anymore, thankfully.
00:16:14.380 --> 00:16:20.443
Well, know, those two, those two manga right there, and also, you know, parts of Dragon Ball Z as well.
00:16:20.764 --> 00:16:25.385
Those are really my only stints with manga, but I've really been enjoying it.
00:16:25.385 --> 00:16:31.788
And my question for you, Rach, is do you remember that manga that sort of got you into manga?
00:16:33.568 --> 00:16:36.214
a manga that got me into manga?
00:16:36.214 --> 00:16:37.154
Okay.
00:16:37.154 --> 00:16:43.178
I remember the first manga that I read, but the one that got into manga is actually an anime.
00:16:43.820 --> 00:16:44.149
okay.
00:16:44.149 --> 00:16:44.581
Yeah.
00:16:44.581 --> 00:16:46.261
So which one do want to know?
00:16:46.302 --> 00:16:46.822
Both.
00:16:46.822 --> 00:16:47.962
I want both.
00:16:47.994 --> 00:16:48.964
okay.
00:16:49.365 --> 00:16:59.111
So the very first, I think I remember last time I was watching some TV, you know, as a very young kid, like four or five years old, was eating.
00:17:00.514 --> 00:17:02.575
Eating my lunch or whatever.
00:17:02.855 --> 00:17:06.077
Then there's this anime on the TV.
00:17:06.176 --> 00:17:10.327
I remember something just clicked in me when I watched it.
00:17:10.327 --> 00:17:13.060
It was a very prominent moment in my life.
00:17:13.260 --> 00:17:15.622
I was like, yeah, that looks so cool.
00:17:15.622 --> 00:17:18.703
I want to be able to draw like that.
00:17:18.884 --> 00:17:32.273
And at that moment, I just kind of spontaneously grabbed my school notebook and then I just start drawing the, you know, I think the main character, she has this item that allow her to transform into whatever she wants.
00:17:32.273 --> 00:17:36.950
So I just drew that item on school.
00:17:36.990 --> 00:17:44.109
So that is the start of my obsession with manga and anime.
00:17:44.430 --> 00:17:46.829
The anime was called Himetsu no Akko-chan.
00:17:46.829 --> 00:17:48.470
It was super old.
00:17:48.470 --> 00:17:52.470
I was gonna say, I'm trying to see if I can think of what that is.
00:17:52.470 --> 00:17:58.869
I'm actually gonna, I'm trying to Google it here because the first thing that came to mind was actually Sailor Moon.
00:17:58.890 --> 00:18:00.009
you first said something.
00:18:00.009 --> 00:18:03.230
I was super obsessed with that too.
00:18:03.289 --> 00:18:05.710
I can see that.
00:18:06.476 --> 00:18:10.061
What was the, so you said there was, so you had that one and then what was the manga?
00:18:10.061 --> 00:18:14.051
Did you said, did you have a manga in mind as well that sort of sparked that interest?
00:18:14.492 --> 00:18:15.492
yeah.
00:18:16.734 --> 00:18:27.563
well, I guess all the manga in general sparked my interest, the very first one I remember reading was this Cho-Jo or Jose manga.
00:18:29.005 --> 00:18:31.227
that belongs to my babysitter.
00:18:31.227 --> 00:18:32.837
She's kind of taking care of me.
00:18:32.837 --> 00:18:33.709
was reading manga.
00:18:33.709 --> 00:18:35.589
was reading her stuff.
00:18:35.758 --> 00:18:37.647
Technically, I don't think it's for me.
00:18:37.647 --> 00:18:39.798
He's probably too mature.
00:18:40.178 --> 00:18:42.538
I was super young, you know.
00:18:42.538 --> 00:18:45.938
And then there's a romance, romance manga.
00:18:45.938 --> 00:18:47.778
And then it's about a guy.
00:18:47.778 --> 00:18:53.057
The main character is actually a guy, even though it's for a shojo genre, which means for girls, right?
00:18:53.057 --> 00:18:57.278
Then he kind of like time travel back to the ancient Japan.
00:18:57.278 --> 00:19:00.298
He met this princess that is super hot.
00:19:00.298 --> 00:19:03.488
And then he was like, and then he has all this more.
00:19:03.488 --> 00:19:04.440
She was sick.
00:19:04.440 --> 00:19:06.672
But he has all these modern medicine with him.
00:19:06.672 --> 00:19:08.753
So I was like, yeah, I'm going to save you.
00:19:08.753 --> 00:19:12.636
And she was in a relationship with this super abusive prince or whatever.
00:19:12.636 --> 00:19:14.969
And then it was like that kind of story.
00:19:14.969 --> 00:19:17.259
It was a little mature, but I it anyway.
00:19:17.259 --> 00:19:23.744
It was so young and that thing, must have been like rated or whatever, but yeah.
00:19:23.885 --> 00:19:31.731
Isn't that the difference though between like Western animation and Eastern animation is that Eastern animation is so okay.
00:19:31.731 --> 00:19:33.973
Just being more mature.
00:19:33.973 --> 00:19:38.616
almost like they respect, you know, the younger audiences a little bit more.
00:19:38.616 --> 00:19:46.702
And I've always appreciated that about like, even like, I would say like studio Ghibli for instance, like you could show a young kid, studio Ghibli.
00:19:46.702 --> 00:19:54.867
And of course there are like mature themes, but I feel like that's what makes it so impressive and, you know, beautiful in a way.
00:19:54.917 --> 00:19:55.098
yeah.
00:19:55.098 --> 00:19:58.760
That's, one thing I appreciate about the buy as well.
00:19:58.760 --> 00:20:01.573
actually do like mature theme as a given.
00:20:01.573 --> 00:20:03.167
think anybody who's looked at your art.
00:20:03.167 --> 00:20:06.128
already knows that.
00:20:06.128 --> 00:20:08.038
Yes, that's how I like it.
00:20:08.439 --> 00:20:15.780
Well, I guess, but I feel that, know, John Redder have always been really attracted to dark fantasy.
00:20:15.901 --> 00:20:18.721
So I kind of more into a darker stuff.
00:20:18.721 --> 00:20:20.843
have always been attracted to it.
00:20:20.843 --> 00:20:24.624
I guess present to me at least, I'm not sure if anybody thinks the same way.
00:20:24.624 --> 00:20:31.144
It present a more rounded, more complete picture of a whole human experience.
00:20:31.705 --> 00:20:41.182
You know, it feels like When you're trying to make it more suitable for everybody, you have to omit certain parts out.
00:20:41.182 --> 00:20:42.913
You cannot talk about certain things.
00:20:42.913 --> 00:20:47.676
I personally don't really like it.
00:20:47.676 --> 00:20:59.766
I don't mind that kind of story, but I prefer for us to be able to talk about everything that represents a human experience.
00:20:59.905 --> 00:21:01.196
That's really well said actually.
00:21:01.196 --> 00:21:03.346
think, and I totally agree with you 100%.
00:21:03.346 --> 00:21:07.958
Like life is not all rosy and round, right?
00:21:07.958 --> 00:21:17.252
Like there are parts of our lives that are kind of, they're sad or angry or disgusting or what have you.
00:21:17.252 --> 00:21:25.766
And to omit parts of that, you know, parts of that in your life is sort of, like you said, sort of a damnation to the better story.
00:21:25.766 --> 00:21:29.877
understand why some people choose to.
00:21:30.329 --> 00:22:06.651
do it that way but for me the story that touches me the most are the one that is delve a little bit deeper and darker into the human experience like you said you know human, we are capable of many great things but we are also capable of many know unsavoury things as well so I prefer to and I always like it when the story actually talk about it and you know like it's like Instead of like just a party conversation, it's more like, okay, it's a heart to heart real talk between, it's a private conversation between two people.
00:22:06.651 --> 00:22:17.028
Okay, you know what, the writer just sit down with me and decide to tell me about his thoughts that it's actually what I think about this situation, about this world.
00:22:17.028 --> 00:22:18.541
I'm not going to just censor it.
00:22:18.541 --> 00:22:20.730
I'm just going to tell you how it is.
00:22:20.730 --> 00:22:23.583
So to me, I love that kind of story.
00:22:23.583 --> 00:22:23.973
Yeah.
00:22:23.973 --> 00:22:24.894
Same.
00:22:25.021 --> 00:22:27.564
I've always been obsessed with this sort of relationship.
00:22:27.564 --> 00:22:30.065
It's part of the reason why I love comics so much.
00:22:30.065 --> 00:22:42.211
And what I would say even storytelling in general is that when a fan picks up a book, if they pick up the wonderverse saga, for instance, and they're reading through this and they've actually never had a chance to meet you, Rachda.
00:22:42.372 --> 00:22:50.257
I will say like, sometimes as a reader, I feel like I know the writer in like a very intimate way because I've read their work.
00:22:50.257 --> 00:22:50.586
Right.
00:22:50.586 --> 00:22:51.827
And that's interesting.
00:22:51.827 --> 00:22:52.028
Right.
00:22:52.028 --> 00:23:00.574
Because then then as a fan, I go up and I try to meet you at like say a convention and you don't know me at all, but I feel like I know you so well.
00:23:00.574 --> 00:23:01.795
Isn't that interesting?
00:23:01.795 --> 00:23:03.675
Yeah, I guess so.
00:23:03.675 --> 00:23:11.901
It happens to me sometimes, I guess when you read some artists' works, sometimes they don't hold themselves back.
00:23:11.901 --> 00:23:15.042
just write their thought process.
00:23:15.042 --> 00:23:16.732
so I'm like, okay, this is a...
00:23:16.732 --> 00:23:21.496
I'm usually very touched by it, know, for them to actually come out and...
00:23:21.496 --> 00:23:26.247
write something like that, like, you know, they don't hold anything back.
00:23:26.247 --> 00:23:32.888
I always appreciate that, effort and also the sincerity in their work.
00:23:32.888 --> 00:23:33.528
Yeah.
00:23:33.528 --> 00:23:45.863
So really quickly to stay on the manga topic, if you were to recommend someone a manga that is similar to the wonderverse saga, just to sort of like a prepper, just sort of catch the tone.
00:23:45.863 --> 00:23:49.393
How, how, would you describe here or what would you recommend?
00:23:49.393 --> 00:23:51.490
I guess you would say for a manga.
00:23:51.490 --> 00:23:54.411
that is sort of similar to the Wanderverse saga.
00:23:54.411 --> 00:23:55.392
Okay.
00:23:55.392 --> 00:23:56.872
Wow.
00:23:56.892 --> 00:23:59.373
That is tough.
00:23:59.373 --> 00:24:08.297
guess, okay, there's no real direct copy, but I have, I think there's a few that has similar theme, although it might not be exactly the same.
00:24:09.076 --> 00:24:14.578
promised Neverland is about a story about, how should I say it?
00:24:14.578 --> 00:24:16.619
I really love that story by the way.
00:24:16.619 --> 00:24:21.521
It's a story about a group of children being kept in captivity.
00:24:22.009 --> 00:24:29.746
But it's a kind of a different theme than this one because in that story it was like, should I spoil you?
00:24:29.746 --> 00:24:31.778
Yeah, go ahead.
00:24:31.778 --> 00:24:32.534
Spoil away.
00:24:32.534 --> 00:24:33.680
That's okay.
00:24:33.680 --> 00:24:34.730
I don't to spoil anybody.
00:24:34.730 --> 00:24:37.743
I don't mind spoilers myself.
00:24:37.743 --> 00:24:48.192
My editor has told me that, you know, this is one of the inspiration that I can go take a look at and read it as a part of my learning experience.
00:24:48.192 --> 00:24:50.284
So he gave me a few.
00:24:50.574 --> 00:24:53.443
This is one of the stories that people brought up.
00:24:53.443 --> 00:24:55.773
From Miss Neverland, Attack on Titans.
00:24:55.773 --> 00:24:56.554
sure.
00:24:56.554 --> 00:24:59.933
Attack on Titans, I think that one is famous, most people know about it.
00:24:59.933 --> 00:25:03.203
It's about the human versus titan.
00:25:03.203 --> 00:25:07.084
It also has dark theme and pretty gory as well.
00:25:07.084 --> 00:25:12.433
So I guess that one is a good example.
00:25:12.433 --> 00:25:20.614
I think there are more, but I these two were probably the one that a few of my editors mentioned for me.
00:25:33.125 --> 00:25:39.246
I'm showing my ignorance when it comes to the manga subgenre.
00:25:39.246 --> 00:25:47.758
And actually it kind of reminds me of the first time that we met at San Diego where we had a what not show together.
00:25:47.758 --> 00:25:53.518
And you found it hilarious that I didn't know who the Demon Slayer character, Nezuko was.
00:25:53.518 --> 00:25:58.397
Like you, guess you had a Nezuko commission or maybe like a print or something.
00:25:58.397 --> 00:26:00.897
And I held it up and I was trying to describe who it was.
00:26:00.897 --> 00:26:03.617
And I think I maybe said like girl with thing in her mouth.
00:26:03.617 --> 00:26:06.667
But you were like, no, that's, that's the girl from Demon Slayer.
00:26:06.667 --> 00:26:07.817
Do you not know who that is?
00:26:07.817 --> 00:26:10.458
I'm like, no, I don't know who that is.
00:26:10.458 --> 00:26:11.577
my God.
00:26:12.678 --> 00:26:17.837
Because for a while she just exploded in the, in the artist alley.
00:26:17.837 --> 00:26:24.258
And then keep, there is this one convention and Drew and myself drawn like 10 commissions of Nezuko or something.
00:26:24.258 --> 00:26:26.278
Like really, she is so popular.
00:26:26.278 --> 00:26:27.137
I'm wow.
00:26:27.137 --> 00:26:28.617
I mean, I the anime.
00:26:28.617 --> 00:26:29.678
I love the anime.
00:26:29.678 --> 00:26:30.627
I really love it.
00:26:30.627 --> 00:26:32.498
And Nezuko is one of my favorite characters.
00:26:32.498 --> 00:26:36.367
So was very happy to, to, that people seem to love her a lot.
00:26:36.367 --> 00:26:38.518
But it was like, wow, she's really hot.
00:26:38.518 --> 00:26:39.057
Yeah.
00:26:39.057 --> 00:26:40.238
Like very popular.
00:26:40.238 --> 00:26:47.731
Now, again, as we said a moment ago, the, you know, the wonderverse saga is going to be.
00:26:47.731 --> 00:26:54.425
a kickstarted manga, a hundred page hardcover, all the first volume all collected into one.
00:26:54.666 --> 00:27:00.931
My final question for you on the Wanderverse Saga is what has it been like kind of behind the scenes?
00:27:00.931 --> 00:27:06.714
Is this your first time kickstarting something or have you done this before and you're just sort of used to the process now?
00:27:07.105 --> 00:27:07.786
wow.
00:27:07.786 --> 00:27:08.576
Okay.
00:27:08.576 --> 00:27:16.971
To be honest, I have done quite a few, quite many kickstarters for my other projects, but usually it's like smaller ones.
00:27:17.473 --> 00:27:22.114
This is first ever comic manga Kickstarter.
00:27:22.114 --> 00:27:26.770
I usually kickstart my drawing illustration project.
00:27:26.770 --> 00:27:29.623
But this is first one that I did for my manga.
00:27:29.623 --> 00:27:35.287
To be honest, I'm a little nervous because this is my first time doing this.
00:27:35.287 --> 00:27:43.412
And it's subject that is very close to my heart because this has always been my passion since I was young.
00:27:45.432 --> 00:27:46.051
How should I say?
00:27:46.051 --> 00:27:48.163
The feeling is different this time.
00:27:49.242 --> 00:27:52.804
It's just an illustration, it's something that the...
00:27:52.804 --> 00:27:59.766
I wouldn't be overstating it if I say that manga has shaped me to become who I am today.
00:27:59.766 --> 00:28:04.067
So it's something that is really big for me emotionally.
00:28:04.067 --> 00:28:08.078
So I'm like, like I said, I'm a little nervous.
00:28:08.078 --> 00:28:13.589
I try to do my best, but you know, mean, it's my first time so I might...
00:28:13.599 --> 00:28:15.211
I might miss something out too.
00:28:15.211 --> 00:28:17.621
Let's see guys help me out to a KLB.
00:28:17.621 --> 00:28:20.875
there's anything I can do better, please, please always let me know.
00:28:20.875 --> 00:28:23.440
I always appreciate your opinion and feedbacks.
00:28:23.440 --> 00:28:23.836
Yeah.
00:28:23.836 --> 00:28:27.969
I'm very confident in the team that you have over there between you and Darren and everybody else.
00:28:27.969 --> 00:28:30.411
It's going to be a very successful campaign.
00:28:30.411 --> 00:28:31.340
I'm sure.
00:28:31.340 --> 00:28:35.874
And I know speaking, you know, from my end, I cannot wait to back it.
00:28:35.874 --> 00:28:39.115
I'm excited again, everybody who's listening right now.
00:28:39.238 --> 00:28:47.741
It'll already be live by the time that you're listening to this conversation So make sure you guys check out the link in the in the show notes to back the wonderverse saga How long is it running by the way?
00:28:47.741 --> 00:28:50.242
How long is the wonderverse saga running on Kickstarter?
00:28:54.464 --> 00:29:04.298
Stumped everybody Okay, okay I'm not saying shaggy was like I believe it's 18 days.
00:29:04.298 --> 00:29:16.834
It would be running for 18 days from Okay, what I remember is from the start of Alpha, Anime Festival in Singapore to the end of Tokyo Comic Con.
00:29:16.834 --> 00:29:21.009
Yeah, so Tokyo Comic Con ended on around, 10.
00:29:21.115 --> 00:29:25.616
So I think it will be a few days after Tokyo Comic Con if I'm not wrong.
00:29:25.616 --> 00:29:34.121
But because this part is handling, I mean, I have a team that helped me out to do the kickstart.
00:29:34.121 --> 00:29:37.203
I'm not sure what their final decision is, but...
00:29:37.203 --> 00:29:43.776
Last I checked, was after Tokyo Comic Con.
00:29:43.776 --> 00:29:46.076
Like I said, everybody, if you're listening to this right now, it is live.
00:29:46.076 --> 00:29:47.346
So go check that out.
00:29:47.346 --> 00:29:52.298
you know, Rasha, I have one more question for you before I let you go.
00:29:52.298 --> 00:29:58.160
So we like to end every conversation here on the show by asking our guests what they've been enjoying recently.
00:29:58.160 --> 00:30:06.670
So if you could pick one thing, it could be any form of media, could be a comic, could be a movie, a video game, podcast, manga, anime, whatever you want.
00:30:06.670 --> 00:30:10.670
something that you've been loving here recently, what would you like to highlight for listeners?
00:30:10.950 --> 00:30:11.569
wow.
00:30:11.569 --> 00:30:12.079
Okay.
00:30:12.079 --> 00:30:17.569
If it's just recently, it's a little boring because I have been obsessed with work.
00:30:17.569 --> 00:30:28.670
There's a lot of work to do, but I have been watching a lot of documentaries about octopuses and squids.
00:30:31.509 --> 00:30:32.869
So, okay.
00:30:32.869 --> 00:30:36.526
It's very weird and boring because okay, it's actually part of my upcoming.
00:30:36.526 --> 00:30:38.705
I haven't really announced.
00:30:39.185 --> 00:30:44.605
It's also a manga project, but yeah, it's part of my research.
00:30:44.605 --> 00:30:51.205
Actually, I love watching documentaries, so it was kind of fun to look at the animals.
00:30:51.266 --> 00:30:53.086
yeah.
00:30:53.185 --> 00:30:54.945
Everyone really had time.
00:30:55.086 --> 00:30:56.105
What's name of the documentary?
00:30:56.105 --> 00:30:58.486
Just a lot of them.
00:30:58.486 --> 00:31:00.546
Just a lot of them.
00:31:00.546 --> 00:31:03.326
Some went to YouTube.
00:31:03.685 --> 00:31:05.384
Then it's just a whole...
00:31:05.384 --> 00:31:07.154
whole library of it.
00:31:07.174 --> 00:31:12.094
I even watched some people who kept octopuses and they're like talking about their pets.
00:31:12.094 --> 00:31:15.540
I'm like, so it was very interesting.
00:31:15.540 --> 00:31:15.881
Yes.
00:31:15.881 --> 00:31:18.682
So Racha is doing a ton of research on octopuses.
00:31:18.682 --> 00:31:19.364
Yeah.
00:31:19.364 --> 00:31:21.105
So I, actually I love them.
00:31:21.105 --> 00:31:21.384
Yeah.
00:31:21.384 --> 00:31:21.785
I love them.
00:31:21.785 --> 00:31:23.807
They are very smart creatures.
00:31:23.807 --> 00:31:25.086
Sorry.
00:31:25.887 --> 00:31:26.377
I love it.
00:31:26.377 --> 00:31:27.778
Sorry about being a weirdo.
00:31:27.778 --> 00:31:29.851
No, that's not weird at all.
00:31:29.851 --> 00:31:31.622
I just was not expecting that, but I love it.
00:31:31.622 --> 00:31:32.451
I love it.
00:31:32.451 --> 00:31:34.113
I was listening to the pox.
00:31:36.653 --> 00:31:40.094
Is there anything else more fun than have done recently?
00:31:40.094 --> 00:31:42.153
A lot of octopus.
00:31:43.713 --> 00:31:46.423
Is there any more fun thing that I did?
00:31:46.423 --> 00:31:47.574
it just finished Penguin.
00:31:47.574 --> 00:31:47.753
Yes.
00:31:47.753 --> 00:31:48.574
Penguin.
00:31:48.574 --> 00:31:49.953
the TV show Penguin.
00:31:49.973 --> 00:31:50.344
Yeah.
00:31:50.344 --> 00:31:53.574
The TV show Penguin is actually a pretty good.
00:31:53.574 --> 00:31:54.433
Yeah.
00:31:54.433 --> 00:31:54.894
Really good.
00:31:54.894 --> 00:31:55.814
was surprised.
00:31:55.814 --> 00:31:58.013
was like, Hey, that's not bad.
00:31:58.013 --> 00:32:01.413
I watched until the last episode and it was really good.
00:32:01.413 --> 00:32:01.953
So yeah.
00:32:01.953 --> 00:32:02.193
Yes.
00:32:02.193 --> 00:32:03.501
That's the fun thing that I did.
00:32:03.501 --> 00:32:08.261
Yeah, it's more suitable for your podcast.
00:32:08.261 --> 00:32:08.682
Yes.
00:32:08.682 --> 00:32:09.902
that was quite a while back.
00:32:09.902 --> 00:32:11.721
I forgot about it.
00:32:11.721 --> 00:32:21.082
Well, Rasha, like I said before, it has been an absolute pleasure having you here on the show to discuss not only the wonderverse saga, but everything that we've talked about here in between.
00:32:21.082 --> 00:32:27.122
And again, as I said earlier, I'll reiterate it once again, always a pleasure to get to see each other at these conventions.
00:32:27.122 --> 00:32:31.682
And I cannot wait to see you at the next one sometime in 2025.
00:32:32.750 --> 00:32:35.131
I'm happy to see you next time too.
00:32:35.131 --> 00:32:36.830
Maybe at MegaCon.
00:32:36.830 --> 00:32:39.311
Yes, maybe MegaCon in Orlando.
00:32:39.491 --> 00:32:41.211
That could possibly happen.
00:32:41.211 --> 00:32:45.303
And then also before I let you go, I'm going to hand it off to you one more time.
00:32:45.303 --> 00:32:47.253
Is there anything that you want to plug?
00:32:47.253 --> 00:32:48.823
Any socials you want to highlight?
00:32:48.823 --> 00:32:52.515
Anything that you want to let the listener know about besides the Wanderverse saga?
00:32:52.865 --> 00:32:54.536
okay.
00:32:54.536 --> 00:33:00.877
I guess, my gosh, off the top of my head right now is just Wanderverse saga.
00:33:02.029 --> 00:33:04.690
What are your handles on social media?
00:33:04.769 --> 00:33:05.369
Okay.
00:33:05.369 --> 00:33:06.509
yeah, rush starting.
00:33:06.509 --> 00:33:07.829
My name is a little tricky.
00:33:07.829 --> 00:33:09.849
A lot of people misspell it.
00:33:09.849 --> 00:33:17.000
So I C H T a L I n you can just type my name now on social media.
00:33:17.000 --> 00:33:21.309
can find me on Instagram, Facebook.
00:33:21.670 --> 00:33:23.319
Sometimes they do Twitter.
00:33:23.319 --> 00:33:23.819
Okay.
00:33:23.819 --> 00:33:25.059
I kick started.
00:33:25.059 --> 00:33:25.289
yeah.
00:33:25.289 --> 00:33:31.892
You can actually go on to my Kickstarter rush.com slash Kickstarter.
00:33:32.077 --> 00:33:42.307
then you can, one of the side I currently is like, you know, pending so we can click follow the project and yeah, that would be great.
00:33:42.307 --> 00:33:44.998
I'll be very happy if you do that.
00:33:44.998 --> 00:33:51.057
but yeah, but when the, when this thing is like the Kickstarter would be like already what I'm talking about.
00:33:51.178 --> 00:33:52.198
That's all right.
00:33:52.198 --> 00:33:57.897
They know everyone listening right now knows that they want to support the wonderverse saga, it is in the show notes right now.
00:33:57.897 --> 00:34:00.750
So, Rasha it again, it has been a pleasure.
00:34:00.750 --> 00:34:04.468
I appreciate you, I cannot wait to see you at a con and we'll talk to you soon.
00:34:05.998 --> 00:34:07.153
Thanks for today.
Rachta Lin
Comic Book Cover Artist & Creator of The Wonderverse Saga
Rachta's fascination with manga and animation got her bit by the geek culture bug early. Since leaving her full-time job to pursue her passion for drawing, she has been traveling to share her art with the world, proving that the ability to create is within all of us. Her adventures and experiences influence her creations and are expressed in her original manga which she currently creates.
Rachta has worked for Blizzard Entertainment, Magic the Gathering, Dynamite Comics, and DC Comics.