Review Fix Exclusive: Gustaffo Vargas Talks ‘PUNO’ And More

Review Fix chats with PUNO creator Gustaffo Vargas, who discusses his newest comic book.

Review Fix: How did you know a career in comics was for you?

Gustaffo Vargas: To be honest, I didn’t!

I went back to making comics after a very long pause, and just kept on making them non stop. Being involved more and more in Comic conventions and specially with other comic creators from the UK independent comic community was a big influence, a very inspiring experience.

Review Fix: Who inspires you creatively?

Vargas: Uff, that changes like the weather, there are so many great old and new creators. If I have to drop a couple of names I would start with Quino, Carlos Trillo, Enrique Breccia, David Rubín, Simon Roy, Lucas Varela, Fabio Moon and Gabriel Ba, Frederik Peeters, Alison Sampson, the list goes on and on!

Review Fix: What inspired PUNO?

Vargas: In a word, Puno. Puno is a province in the Highlands of Peru. Puno is the second part of a 3 part story called Altiplano, the first part was MANU, and the third part is Pilcuyo. They are all named after actual places of Peru.

I’ve been creating my Peruvian Cyberpunk world for a few years now, characters and events connect. 

In a way everything is connected, MANU & PUNO have characters that appeared first in my previous books TRUJILLO & L1MA. 

I start building up characters and cities and the stories start taking place in a very organic way.

Review Fix: How is it different or special?

Vargas: The Peruvian Cyberpunk theme itself. The mixture of low life, creatures and a heavy influence of Pre-columbian ancestors make for a very interesting world to discover. I think there is still plenty to be explored about Peruvian and southamerican themes, it’s so full of potential.

Review Fix: Who do you think will dig it the most?

Vargas: Anybody that likes stories. PUNO has adventure, drama, action, lots of colour and plenty of Peru in it. It’s important to note that it is a book for grown ups.

Review Fix: How do you want it to be remembered?

Vargas: The best way I think of my books is that they are like a visit to the Peru that lies in my head. They are my love letters to Peru, but action packed.

Review Fix: Anything else you’d like to add?

Vargas: I just hope that people enjoy it and feel like they went on a weird visit to Peru.

Review Fix: What’s next?

Vargas: PILCUYO is the last book of this story. It’s all been plotted and I’m already working on the script and character & prop designs. It should be ready late this year. 

Saxon Second Hand Books has just been finished too, written by Ash Deadman published by Matt Hardy from Mad Robot Comics, lettered by Rob Jones and art by myself. SKRAWL Comix Anthology  #2 will be coming also this year, with art by the SkrawlLordz and myself. There are a couple more very cool projects lining up, but I can’t talk about them yet!

Review Fix: Where can people find out more?

Vargas: They just have to type Peruvian Cyberpunk and find my work. Also, I’m always putting new content on my social media, twitter, instagram or they can go directly to my online shop and buy my comics. :) 

My links:

Twitter: @GustaffoVargas

Instagram: @gustaffovargastataje

Facebook: facebook.com/gustaffovargas/

My store: gustaffovargas.bigcartel.com/ 

Mad Robot Comic Twitter: @MadRobotComics

SkrawlLordz Twitter: @skrawllordz