When you look through artist Marco Finnegan Magallanes works, you notice one thing pretty quickly. Marco is willing to do just about any genre or title and put his stamp on it. Whether it be Garfield, James Bond or a horror-based story, Marco makes that story his. So, it comes as no surprise that given the opportunity, he would put his skills to the test and do his own book. Taking on all the creative chores except the lettering, Marco brings to Oni Press a unique LA Crime Noir. One that uses the Mexican celebration of Dia de los Muertos to good effect in Calavera P.I. as explained in this recent Press synopsis:
In 1925, Juan Calavera died a hero. After a career spent outside the law defending the Chicano barrios where the police refused to operate, he earned a reputation for fearlessness . . . and a gunshot in the stomach. Now, five years later, on Dia de los Muertos, his restless spirit has been summoned from the grave to help a desperate former colleague unravel a kidnapping all too close to home. With only days to solve the case before he is called back to the underworld, can Calavera reveal the identity of the masked human trafficker known as La Fantasma before tragedy strikes again . . . and solve the mystery of his own murder in the process?
With Issue 1 coming in November, we took the opportunity to chat with Marco about his artistic beginnings, his diverse work and his exciting new Oni Press 4-issue limited series. So, let’s welcome talented artist and creator Marco Finnegan to GVN Talking Comics.
Love and Inspiration for Art
GVN: Thank you for spending some time with us Marco. As is my M.O. (Detective talk) let’s
start with a bit of your creative background. When did you take an interest in comic art
and whose work inspired your love of the genre and your ambition to be a part of it?
Marco: Thanks so much for having me. I’ve been drawing forever, and my earliest memories are drawing little stories. Even if it was little stick figure battles in the margins of textbooks, I think drawing and storytelling always went hand-in-hand. I fell in love with comics really young (in elementary school) because my barber was next to a comic shop, and I would use my change from my haircut (a dollar or so) to buy quarter bin comics.
Spider-Ham backup stories hooked me young, then I started reading the main stories written by Conway. I think Jim Mooney was the first artist I noticed. From then I was all in. Teen Titans, Daredevil, etc. The more “human” the drama, the more my little mind craved. Frank Miller was the first artist/writer I fell for, which makes a ton of sense looking back now.
Diversity in Work
GVN: Your work has been as diverse as an artist can be. From Garfield to James Bond. When
selecting a project, are there some parameters you are looking for or is it as simple as
an opportunity to work is an opportunity to work, regardless of the title?
Marco: I just seek out things that interest or challenge me. I really don’t have a “style,” so I approach each thing fresh, which is exciting. Especially if it’s something that I haven’t done before, that’s always my favorite. I also love all different kinds of genres in my own reading/watching habits so it’s fun to pull from all of those different influences.
Mad Cave’s ‘Morning Star’
GVN: You did a book for one of my favorite indie publishers Mad Cave Studios in Morning Star with writers Tim Daniel and David Andry. Kind of an old-school horror story. Do you enjoy working in the horror genre and what challenges are inherent in it art-wise?
Marco: “Morning Star” was a blast. Tim and I have had that one on the burner for 10 years! I was never a huge horror fan but after working on “Morning Star” and “The Keeper” (with Tananarive Due and Steven Barnes for Abrams) I realized that horror is a great genre to talk about other stuff (family, class, childhood, etc.) The challenge to horror in comics is pacing. How do we lull the reader into thinking they’re safe and then getting those jump scares or startles out of them? I also think horror comics are more about the “acting” of the characters, even more so than the creepy stuff that is drawn. The real work is in getting the “acting” to fit the mood. Working with great writers helps!
GVN: Your upcoming series for Oni Press is Calavera P.I. in which you took on almost all
chores except lettering (Jeff Eckleberry). How did this story come about and was it a
challenge to make this one really your own?
Marco: Calavera, P.I. came about as a gag that I sent cartoonist Lalo Alcaraz after seeing a Calavera drawing by José Posada of a skeleton as an alcoholic. I texted Lalo a pic with the caption “Calavera PI” and then I couldn’t shake it. I had just done a deep dive into LA film noir/pulp and it was glaringly obvious that Chicanos/Latinos were omitted from these stories, so I just decided to insert my guy into the genre.
This would be an impossible challenge if I had not met Gabriel Granillo (my editor). Gabriel is one of the best editors I have ever worked with, he has such great insight into story, great instincts about art, and is crazy supportive. He has really done a ton of heavy lifting behind the scenes and helped me bring this book/world to life. Jeff is my favorite letterer and has a great sense of design and he really can do any type of genre. He’s so rad.
Reflections of Eerie and Creepy
GVN: I love the premise and the look of the book. It almost has an old Warren Magazine Creepy or Eerie story vibe. How did you pitch this story to Oni Press and did you consider any other publishers for it?
Marco: Thanks so much! Warren Magazine and Creepy are definite touchstones here. Once I met Gabriel, Oni was my top choice, so I was super lucky there.
Calavera, P.I.’s pitch is that it’s a supernatural noir set in Los Angeles, but not the one we have seen before. Calavera also has the ticking time bomb element of only having two days a year, during Dia de los Muertos, to solve his cases. The world will keep moving and changing so he will need to adapt each time he returns.
Future Calavera P.I. Stories
GVN: If Calavera P.I. is as well received as I believe it will be, do you have any other ideas for
more stories with the character? Just after reading the first book, I would hope so.
Marco: Oh yeah! Gabriel and I have daydreamed about the places we could take Calavera, and we have some really strong ideas. The exciting thing is because of the rules of this world, Los Angeles, two days a year, we can have Calavera show up in the ‘60s the ‘80s or today and that man out of time aspect is really great fodder for storytelling. Coupled with the ever-changing landscape of Los Angeles, we have a huge playground.
“A Love Letter to Noir”
GVN: Thank you again for your kind attention Marco. Before I let you go, I want to give you an opportunity to talk once more about Calavera P.I. as well as any other projects you may be working on.
Marco: Thank you for taking the time for me! “Calavera, P.I.” is my love letter to noir and the dreamlike world of Los Angeles. I hope people come out of this with all the thrills that pulp and noir have given me but with a slightly different lens. Noir at its best is a tour into the dark undiscovered parts of a city, and I think Calavera takes us into a part of LA that we have not seen in the genre before.
Oni Press Calavera P.I. Issue 1 by Marco Finnegan and letterer Jeff Eckleberry hits comic stores 11/13. Look for it where great comics are sold.
Senior Writer at GeekVibesNation – I am a 60 something child of the 70’s who admits to being a Star Trek/Star Wars/Comic Book junkie who once dove headfirst over a cliff (Ok, it was a small hill) to try to rescue his Fantastic Four comic from a watery grave. I am married to a lovely woman who is as crazy as I am and the proud parent of a 21-year-old young man with autism. My wife and son are my real heroes.
