The Hostage, a brand new graphic novel by Sal Abbinanti has hit it’s Kickstarter goal and has moved on to add new stretch goals.
Loosely inspired by the culture and religions of Brazil like the Umbanda and the Candomblé, Abbinanti has been building the world of THE HOSTAGE in his studio for over 10 years—sketching characters, panels, and scripting pages. Abbinanti’s unique art style and vibrant color choices create a spellbinding effect. THE HOSTAGE tells the story of a group of street kids who are abandoned by society. Dying every day from poverty and gang violence, the kids join together and summon a mystical spirit—THE HOSTAGE—who will protect them and avenge the deaths of their friends.
The graphic novel sounds amazing and a bunch of people agree with me on that. The original goal was 25k and it’s already surpassed that, leading the organizers to offer some fantastic stretch goals such as this gorgeous Alex Ross Collectible Card.
With the passing of their goal, I got invited to ask a few questions of writer Sal Abbinanti.
How do you switch hats from repping comics artists, to writing/illustrating your own?
I’ve always been an artist and got into the business to be an artist. Repping sort of happened out of the need to eat. With my art style mainstream publishers just weren’t looking to hire me, but I’ve kept it up non-stop out of the need to feed my soul. Repping is great and keeps me in the business but doesn’t excite me and feed my addiction to having a creative outlet. Comics are either in your blood or they’re not and they’re definitely in mine. I’m not happy just being close to it, I need to create and contribute.
What was it about the experience that inspired this comic that really made you want to make it into a graphic novel?
When you’re young you think you’ve got all the answers and don’t know what you don’t know.
After spending some time in Brasil I returned to the U.S. There were things that I saw there that I couldn’t unsee. The kids, young kids living in the streets in filth, their suffering spoke to me in a way that I just couldn’t shake. I hadn’t planned on it, but life has a way of kicking you in the ass sometimes that you don’t expect. When I faced the hard truth that Marvel and DC hated my work I knew I needed self-publish and wanted a project that was personal.
Dream artist(s) to rep? Anyone you’ve wanted who’s been unattainable?
I’m kind of like Tom Hayden in “The Godfather” I have just one client. Working with Alex Ross and Bill Sienkiewicz–they are my friends AND I love their work, so it’s easy to talk about it and not have to sell. Their work speaks for itself; great is great. In a perfect world–Jack Kirby would be my dream. I believe he’s one of the greatest artists of the 20th century and had a profound impact not just on my work but on the direction I wanted to go with my life.
*Be sure to keep up to date with the project by following writer Sal Abbinanti on Twitter!
