this The Bizarre Story of Oscar Zahn It tells the story of a supernatural detective who is more or less a floating skull in a trench coat. Telling the story of a ghost whose sole purpose is to save lost souls and help others move on and find peace by traveling through the ethereal realm, the series follows Oscar’s misadventures at different times in history – as this comics Red KingThe career has evolved into not only a webcomic darling, but in many ways, a dark delight and refreshing title.
This graphic novel collection published by Ten Speed Press covers episodes 1 to 65 of the supernatural horror and fantasy webcomic, which debuted on WEBTOON in June 2016. Vuong, asked about his origins, Oscar Zahn and more in this in-depth interview.
Christian Angel: Oscar Zahn has been a popular LINE webcomic for many years. How does it feel to see your project become such a huge success?
Red King: It’s been a pleasant surprise to see The Bizarre Story of Oscar Zahn find such a loyal following online. When I started creating comics, I was feeling very artistically exhausted after working in the animation and video game industries for many years and was seriously considering doing something else with my life.
This comic was purely a passion project to rejuvenate my withered creative heart, but along the way it unexpectedly became a sustainable way to make a living. I guess that was a real learning lesson for me. Staying true to your creative voice doesn’t guarantee success, but it gives you the best chance and you’ll likely be happier in the long run.
Angeles: Oscar Zahn was heavily influenced by the mystery detective genre. Can you describe what’s unique about your iteration for people who aren’t familiar with it?
king: While there are many great supernatural detectives in the genre, Oscar is a little different in that he solves mysteries on behalf of the dead rather than the living. The situations he encounters are often more subtle and can’t be solved simply by punching or shooting (although I enjoy fighting as much as the next person), and the greatest evils he encounters are the same demons we fight every day.
In many ways, Oscar is the polar opposite of the stereotypical hard-boiled detective. He’s not good at being tough, and his superpower is empathy and compassion. Unfortunately for him, his skull is also home to an octopus, a supernatural predator that wants to eat the very creatures he’s trying to help!
Angeles: Where did the idea for Ectopus come from?
king: The idea of an octopus may have been influenced by a wealth of imagery from Hellraiser, HP Lovecraft, and Studio Ghibli films (especially Spirited Away). I also feel like Oscar can’t just be an optimistic, aspirational character without his own inner demons. Oscar’s positive attitude needs to be a coping mechanism for him to deal with this monster living in his head, wreaking havoc on his body but possibly saving him from total death.
Angelis: This book has both scary moments and funny moments. How do you strike a balance between the two?
king: This is probably my way of keeping things fun and interesting. Making comics takes a lot of time, and it was mentally difficult for me to draw something really dark for months on end. The humor and camp allowed me to touch on darker themes more honestly, which I probably would rather not delve into if I had to tell the story directly.
Angeles: Most people know you from your work on Ninjago and the Skybound project, but you were a bit of a late bloomer in your career. Can you share what that journey was like?
king: It’s certainly not a straight path to get here. After high school, I didn’t even go to art school at first because drawing for a living seemed like an impossible pipe dream. I studied computer science for a few years, but my grades were terrible. It wasn’t until after years of failure that I finally gave up and enrolled myself in animation school. That was a better choice, and I did well, but I had no higher goals other than that
“I hope I can find a job that pays the rent.”
It wasn’t until after ten years working as an artist in various studios in Toronto that I realized I wasn’t satisfied with where my “career” was going. As a kid you don’t really think about things in those terms, you just want to be creative and tell stories and have fun, but I forgot that on my way to adulthood. Once I remembered why I got into art in the first place, I was able to give myself permission to find my voice and figure out what I wanted to do instead of just chasing the next “career move.”
I’m not going to lie, being a freelance artist is not an easy path, and trying to tell good stories is the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but it’s also such a fun and fulfilling job that I really wouldn’t want to do anything else.
Angel: If you had to sum up your style or even your career in one sentence, what would it be?
king: Well, that’s hard. Someone once summed it up as…
“80s comics meets Tin Tin with the ambition of Mike Mignola.”
I can’t deny this…
Angeles: Aside from yourself and Brian Lee O’Malley, I can’t think of many other Asian-Canadian cartoonists who have had as much cultural influence. How has your heritage impacted the trajectory of your career?
king: When I first started making comics, it wasn’t something I consciously explored, but I noticed that over time, my immigrant upbringing began to seep into my work until it became an “everyday hero machine.” A fairly obvious theme in “Boys”.
Honestly, I just want to tell a good story, so I can’t really pinpoint how my heritage specifically impacted my career trajectory. It’s not a conscious direction that I’m pushing, but some of the themes of the immigrant experience can’t help but influence the stories I tell.
Making comics can often be a very lonely and isolating experience, and it’s often not until I meet fans and parents that I realize what it might mean when my last name is front and center on a cover.
Angeles: Finally, any words of wisdom for those who want to pursue their passions later in life?
king: No matter what age you are, it’s important to get started. Don’t worry about the destination, just take it one step at a time and enjoy the process, because in the end, the process is the reward.
The Strange Stories of Oscar Zahn: Volume One is now available. You can buy a copy from Penguin Random House here . The entire collection of runs can also be read on Line WEBTOON.
