Embark on an insightful journey into the creative world of Ram V, a celebrated comic book writer recognized for his unique storytelling prowess and an adept exploration of profound human experiences in his narratives. With notable works such as The Many Deaths of Laila Starr and the captivating sci-fi adventure Dawnrunner, Ram V has captivated a global audience by skillfully intertwining action, emotion, and mystery. Join us as we unravel the origins of his epic storylines, the complexities of character development, and his distinctive approach to seamlessly infusing thematic elements into his compelling tales.
The Dawnrunner series is a thrilling sci-fi adventure that seamlessly blends action, emotion, and mystery. What inspired the creation of this epic storyline, and how did the collaboration between the two of you come about?
Ram V: I’d had the idea that would eventually become Dawnrunner around 2016, chatting away with a friend. I’d recently watched both Pacific Rim and Arrival. And, as if often the case with these things, the unusual amalgam of recent obsessions, these films and a long fascination with giant robots, Stanislaw Lem, Cronenberg & old-school Mecha anime eventually led to Dawnrunner taking shape. As for collaborating with Evan—I’d been a fan of his work since the first time I saw his Evangelion inspired Golgotha print. It was quite serendipitous then that Evan DMed me to say some very kind things about Grafity’s Wall. We got around to talking and realized we wanted to collaborate. Evan’s a phenomenal artist. I’m excited for readers to discover his work more widely.
Anita Marr, the star jockey piloting Dawnrunner, is a compelling protagonist. Can you share insights into the character development process and the challenges faced in crafting a relatable yet extraordinary hero for this series?
Ram V: I don’t know that there are too many insights to share on here, rather than in the story. I like my readers to discover characters in increasingly deeper and meaningful layers. I don’t craft as much as I grow these characters. So I’m ill-equipped to answer questions about how one might “craft” a character. The only basic rule is to be interesting, engaging in some way. Anita’s got that in spades. There’s so much to dig into with her position as the premier Iron king Jockey. The emotional weight of her personal life. The boundaries between being an intensely private person and a celebrity. The tragedy of being an “entertainer” and a soldier all at once.
Ram, your storytelling often delves into deep human experiences. How did you approach weaving together the themes of war, sacrifice, and the unusual connection between Anita and Dawnrunner in this narrative?
Ram V: Yeah, I think this answer shares a lot of its DNA with my previous one. I think of theme and thematic inquiry as a consequence of a well-crafted story/plot. I tend not to define themes until the story has found its way to something that feels meaty, feels ripe for interrogating. Theme, genre, plot—they all serve a single narrative prerogative—delving into fundamentally human experiences.
Dawnrunner explores a unique fusion of war and sport, with gladiatorial combat between Iron Kings and Tetza monsters. What inspired this creative approach, and how did you balance the intense action sequences with the emotional core of the story?
Ram V: It’s not very hard to make the hypothesis that this is how we look at war and human tragedy in the future. We’re certainly already leaning toward it. The near voyeuristic, vicarious obsession with broadcasting war and human tragedy is a mainstay of contemporary news-media. There used to be a modicum of solemnity with which these subjects were covered. Today we use words like “interesting” “fascinating” “exciting” to describe developments in global conflicts. I find it disturbing, fascinating, erasing and depressing all at once. So I use it in the story – but with an intent to question it—is this where we are headed? Is this who we are? As for balancing emotion and action/propulsion—I believe they feed into and drive each other. The key is to syncopate—emotion leading to action. Action reflecting emotional consequence.
Ram, you’ve received praise for your work on The Many Deaths of Laila Starr and Rare Flavors. How does the storytelling in Dawnrunner differ, and what aspects of this series do you believe will resonate strongly with readers?
Ram V: Yeah, it’s been great to have the work followed and appreciated by so many. But honestly, I don’t really think of the story in those terms. It’s a great feeling to have people respond strongly to my work. But when I’m making the thing, the only resonance that matters is my own and to an extent my collaborators. I’ve enjoyed the exploration of narrative parallels in this story. Anita’s inner turmoil and her need to protect those close to her, played out in multiple ways, and trying to tell a story about vulnerability, loss, and survival through it all. I’ve enjoyed that. I hope others will too!
As the Dawnrunner hardcover collection is set to release, what message or experience do you hope readers will take away from this complete volume, and do you have any future collaborations or projects in the pipeline that fans can look forward to?
Ram V: I don’t really write stories to express messages or experiences. I don’t think stories work that way. They’re pieces of expression, of art, of the human experience. I hope people are moved by it, driven to think by it, driven to feel emotions. That’s all I hope for from a story, some sort of unspoken connection between human expression and human experience. As for future collaborations, I think fans can expect to see me and Evan work on projects beyond this one. I love working with Evan, I appreciate his ambitions and desire to produce meaningful, evocative work. I appreciate him as a person. I think we’re hoping to start work on the next project pretty-much right as we finish up this one!
From the profound exploration of human experiences to the seamless fusion of action and emotion in Dawnrunner, Ram V’s narrative prowess leaves a lasting impression. Anticipate more captivating stories and collaborations on the horizon as this visionary writer continues to shape the landscape of graphic literature with his unique storytelling flair.
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