Review Fix chats with “Light Apprentice†creator Igor Noronha about the new digital comic/game series.
A former DC and Image Comics writer, Noronha’s influences span video games, anime and comic book to create an influence base until many developers today.
The first the issue debuts for iPhone, iPad, and Android in March.
Review Fix: The visual look of “Light Apprentice” is impressive. What’s the inspiration behind it?
Igor Noronha: Art from the games from the 16 and 32-bit era RPGs like Chrono Trigger, Secret of Mana, Final Fantasy VI and VII, plus comic book influences, which include Dragon Ball, Bone and Akira.
Review Fix: How do you think your prior work at Image and DC Comics have helped you grow artistically?
Noronha: Working with Image comics at age 21 gave me enough personal confidence that it was possible to work in the comic book field, and working at DC Comics taught me that it is worth pursuing new ways of reinventing the way we read comics in the digital era, even if in the end they had to (or decided to) close down their Zuda Comics imprint. A combination of these lessons made me later on decide to develop the Light Apprentice approach that you will be able to see upon the March release.
Review Fix: Who are your creative idols? Who inspires you? Why?
Noronha: Nowadays, I look a lot at what people like Jenova Chen, Jane McGonigal and Jesse Schell have to say in the terms of where games are going, and in terms of the responsibilities that game designers and developers of the most consumed art form on the planet should face when making games (or entertainment in general) for the next generation.
Review Fix: What are your goals for Light Apprentice?
Noronha: I want to be able to tell Nate’s story to the end and through that raise awareness and create dialog around social and environmental issues found in the real world today.
Review Fix: Who do you think will enjoy it the most?
Noronha: People who want a unique digital experience on their tablets. Also, nostalgic JRPG fans like me, who are struggling to find great content that has not only evolved in graphics, but in mindset as well. Comic book readers who play games and have always felt that both media were somehow connected.
Review Fix: How important a medium do you believe web comics are?
Noronha: I think they are huge (in part because of their easy accessibility) and that they should be more respected. There’s great content out there, and it doesn’t mean it’s bad just because it’s a very narrow niche. Also, it’s such a democratic form of publishing your own content, it just amazes me.
Review Fix: What do you believe their potential is?
Noronha: I think there are very particular personal needs that webcomics can fulfill that are so difficult for other media, which do the very opposite (e.g. large productions for the largest audiences). It was only recently that indie games were able to get there, and personal small projects of any kind are amazing because of that. Because they are personal experiences that can touch you in a very peculiar way.
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