INTERVIEW: Beware the rideshare in ‘Afterlift’
Image courtesy of comiXology / Provided by Superfan Promotions with permission.
Ridehsares have taken a particular hit during the coronavirus pandemic. With many people quarantining indoors, some would-be travelers are staying away from hailing a car and hitching a ride. All is not lost with the temporary grounding — perhaps one can pass the time with the new rideshare-inspired collection of comics called Afterlift, now available from comiXology, the top digital comic publisher.
Afterlift, which compiles five issues of the comic book series, comes courtesy of writer-artist Chip Zdarsky, best known for Sex Criminals and Daredevil, and artist Jason Loo, best known for The Pitiful Human-Lizard.
The story focuses on Janice Chan, who is having a terrible day thanks to passengers in her rideshare who won’t shut up and parents who won’t stop annoying her, according to press notes. Her whole world is upturned when she picks up two mysterious passengers who are pursued by ghostly, otherworldly forces, and now it’s time for her to snap to attention and fight off some demon bounty hunters.
Recently Hollywood Soapbox exchanged emails with Zdarsky and Loo about Afterlift, which is a play on “afterlife.” Questions and answers have been slightly edited for style.
What a cool idea for a comic. How did this premise come to you?
Chip Zdarsky: It started like most of my ideas, where I was lying around thinking about Charon the Ferryman who took souls across the River Styx for a single coin. I started to wonder what a modern version would look like, and that led to Afterlift. Though really that was just the framework to tell a story about guilt and redemption and our personal concepts of the afterlife.
ComiXology has been super supportive of the book, right from my initial email pitching the idea. They’ve really been a dream to work with.
How would you describe your protagonist, Janice Chen?
Zdarsky: At a crossroads. Trying to figure out her purpose in life after she abandoned the easiest path. It was fun pairing her up with Suzanna, seeing the contrasts and deeper similarities. Suzanna succumbs to her guilt while Janice pushes hers down, but both need to absolve themselves before they can move on with life and death. I swear there’s funny moments in there as well.
What was it like to work with Jason Loo?
Zdarsky: Oh man, just a dream. Jason’s got an amazing sense of pacing and page design, and he’s incredibly diligent! It’s hard keeping up with him!
Are you yourself a fan of digital comics?
Zdarsky: Definitely. I appreciate physical collections, but these days I read single issues digitally. It also makes my job much easier when I’m working for Marvel, having access to the books online for research.
What’s the future for you beyond Afterlift?
Zdarsky: Well, Jason and I are for sure going to work together again. He’s a massive talent, and writing for him is too much of a joy to stop now.
Currently I’m writing Daredevil for Marvel, but I have a few creator-owned books in the pipeline for later in the year. Sex Criminals, the book I illustrate, is almost done! I have two more issues to draw, and then I’m just going to throw out all my drawing tools because there’s no point in trying to follow that up.
How did you settle on the artistic look of Afterlift?
Jason Loo: I sketched out a lineup of concepts for each character and had Chip and our editor, Allison O’Toole, pick out the ones that would fit in our story. When it came to the afterlife elements, we wanted to go for something unique from what was already depicted in Christianity renderings. After all, the afterlife in our series was an amalgam of a lot of beliefs, so it required research and finding which elements blended well harmoniously, like the scene to the golden gate.
Is it easy or difficult to draw cars, especially cars in motion?
Loo: It was definitely a challenge of mine. When Chip told me the idea of his new comic project and warned me I’ll be drawing lots of cars, I gave myself a month to practice. I was watching clips of Fast & Furious and pages from Initial D until I found a comfortable style for the series. Pro-tip for non-technical artists: treat the car as a character in action.
Are you a fan of rideshares?
Loo: I’m more of a fan of bikeshares as I like to explore all parts of the city and get my exercise. I probably find myself in rideshares only when it’s late at night, I’m tired and/or drunk, I’m at the opposite end of the city, and I want to be in bed in within the hour.
What was it like working with Chip Zdarsky?
Loo: Positively fantastic! Very supportive and has the highest confidence in my work, even more confidence than what I have. But it gets me more motivated with all that encouragement.
What’s the future of you beyond Afterlift?
Loo: I’ll just say Chip and I are brewing another tale. ‘Nuff said!
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Afterlife, written by Chip Zdarsky and with art by Jason Loo, is now available from comiXology. Click here for more information.
