I want to say a big thanks to Paizo Publishing for allowing me the opportunity to talk to Jim Zubkavich about the upcoming Pathfinder Comic series.
Read below to see what information I managed to get from him about the series and his own style as a writer and RPG gamer.
Hi Jim, thanks for giving us this opportunity to find out a little more about the Pathfinder comic book series coming this August initially to Gen Con Indy, then in shops later that month.
You'd had some previous experience with Eric Mona (head of Paizo) for him to know you were the right man for the job hadn't you? Tell us how you met him.
Your approach to Golarion and the characters of the world obviously won them over (Paizo Publishing and Dynamite Entertainment) in your pitch - but what was that angle? What defines your approach, your take on this? A theme? Something else?
As a writer yet tabletop RPG gamer yourself, how often do you find you're able to get round the table with others and play a session of something these days?
Also as a writer you're used to having directive control over plot. Do you tend towards Games Mastering RPG sessions? Or does it work the other way, a sort of relief factor of time off from creative design letting others GM it?
Have you ever considered using real tabletop gaming events or characters as inspiration for stories? I say that, because I've done the same in writing and had exciting dynamics of unexpected character death that doesn't feel "written".
I think RPGing is important as a storytelling exercise but that just writing sessions as fiction isn’t necessarily a good approach. It has to be refined and adapted, using the strength of each medium properly.
The characters in the story will already be familiar to pathfinder fans won't they, why?
Could you introduce us to the party as if you were a friend of theirs summing them up?
Seoni is a mysterious sorcerer whose tattooed body and mystical dreams make those who first meet her wary of her power. Strangers may call her a barbarian based on appearance, but her keen strategic mind gives her a distinctive edge in battle.
Merisiel is an elven rogue whose glib banter and flashing smile lead people to assume that she's unintelligent and shallow. Her fears and long-lived life drive her in ways few will ever understand.
Ezren is a middle-aged man who came to wizardry quite late in life. The march of time mixed with his desire for knowledge keeps him pushing himself to new limits.
Harsk is a quiet and contemplative dwarven ranger with deeply-sown seeds of vengeance and anger buried under the surface.
Kyra is a battle-hardened cleric of Sarenrae who will stop at nothing to destroy evil, constantly testing her faith and will against those around her.
Pathfinder already has a particular artistic style in its visual renderings. It's very vibrant and almost looks like a comic book already. I suppose you knew your artist was going to have to remain consistent to that vision?
You found Andrew Huerta (artist for this comic) via his deviantart gallery. Why did you end up using him in particular?
Which way round do Dynamite handle the comic creation process? Do you submit a rough outline which is then drawn with dialogue being entered in last (the Marvel method)? Or do you submit the whole script through to Andrew?
Are there any places where you feel Andrew has brought his own take to the series, any ideas submitted by him - tweaks to lines or perhaps the look of certain characters? Or elements that when drawn have a perspective to them that you hadn't previously considered? Or is it kept very close to your initial vision?
Andrew’s attention to detail is great. He puts in all kinds of extra background elements and big expressions into his pages.
Is this comic run intended as a limited story arc or will it be ongoing?
The first issue will be bumper sized won't it? What does that help you accomplish as a writer concerned with pacing and character introduction?
If somebody isn't a current player of the Pathfinder game, will they still find accessibility within the comic?
What about the veterans out there who will have the title pre-ordered and on standing order? How much implementation and exploration of their game world can they expect?
What other projects can we find you in currently?
http://skullkickers.keenspot.c
I’m also doing a surreal-mystery graphic novel with UDON called The Makeshift Miracle, also available online:
http://makeshiftmiracle.keensp
In addition to those two projects, I’m writing some original content for Bandai-Namco, the video game company. It’s a busy time right now!
Do you think you'd ever consider writing module adventure books for the system of Pathfinder if they asked, given your gaming roots?
Finally, any last comments or words you would like to add about the series that you want us to know in the run up to its release?
Thanks for joining us Jim, good luck with the Pathfinder comic! I'll look forward to reading it soon.
Follow the man at these places:
Twitter @jimzub
UDON http://www.udoncomics.com
Now kick back and enjoy some preview art pages for the comic:
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