As manga enthusiasts will know, a new Star Comics comic is currently underway, which among its ranks involves names that are, to say the least, important in this panorama: Versus, the result of the work of the creative ONE, directed by Bose, and the drawings by Kyoutarou Azuma. The latter was a guest at our microphones, and we asked him some brief questions regarding this new work, the fruit of imagination and an enviable working synergy.
For those who don’t know it, Versus comes to life in a world where humanity has been for hundreds of years under the yoke of Demons, who under the command of the Great Demon King have relegated humans to a world of tyranny. 47 are the Demon Lords, subordinates of the King, and 47 are also the Heroes chosen from all over the world who are now preparing to put an end to all this and fight the demonic army. It is a shonen where science fiction and fantasy come together, in a multiverse capable of keeping readers glued to the manga from the first to the last page.
Interview with Kyoutarou Azuma
GL: Master, thank you very much for your time! Let’s start immediately with the questions: how does the team work?
K. Azuma: Of course! First of all we organize a meeting with the other teachers and the editors. During these meetings, we exchange ideas about the next chapter. This includes how to make it, what to include in the series, and so on. After defining a direction, master ONE writes the text story, another master takes care of the storyboard, and finally I receive the storyboard and start drawing.
GL: It seems like a very collaborative process.
K. Azuma: Yes, it’s a synergistic work. We collaborate very well, and there is a continuous exchange of ideas. For example, during meetings, if we have proposals or elements to add, we try to integrate them into the story. The same goes for the drawings: if one of the masters has an interesting idea, I try to include it in my works. It’s a process that works both ways and makes it all very inspiring.
GL: How do you look for ideas and inspiration for your works?
K. Azuma: We look everywhere for ideas. Each of us collects many materials: I continually look for inspiration, and the other masters do the same. Sometimes we start with a vague idea, like an atmosphere or a setting, and then develop it. Since the worlds of our works must be very distinct, we draw inspiration from many different elements. It’s hard to say exactly where all the influences come from, but we draw a little from everything that strikes us.
GL: Managing multiple works at the same time seems challenging (Versus and Tenkaichi ed.), does this bring difficulties?
K. Azuma: Yes, there are difficulties, especially due to the workload. Both works are published in monthly magazines, so every month we have to deliver a chapter for each. There are many pages to complete. At the beginning, I also had a bit of difficulty switching from one drawing style to the other, because the two series have very different styles. But now I’m used to it and I can manage them better.
GL: Is it still something, that of working on two projects at the same time, that brings advantages?
K. Azuma: Absolutely yes! Sometimes, while working on a scene or technique in one work, I get an idea that I can adapt for the other. This exchange between the two works sometimes brings interesting results and improves the overall work.
GL: What do you see in the future for your works?
K. Azuma: I hope both works do great. Running two series is a great opportunity for me, because it allows me to try new things and grow as an artist. I am confident and will continue to give my best.
GL: Thank you very much for your availability and good luck!
K. Azuma: Thank you! Long live the wolf!
