Space Exploration Or Space Exploitation: An Interview With ‘Frontier’ Creator Guillaume Singelin
by Rachel Bellwoar
When a child says they want want to become an astronaut when they grow up, it’s probably not with the thought of a space where workers are being exploited to mine for resources. This is, however, the space of Guillaume Singelin‘s graphic novel Frontier, which is being translated into English and will be available soon from Magnetic Press. Can a scientist, a mercenary, and a miner band together and help pushback against the profit-minded companies that are trying to spoil everything? For more on Frontier, check out this interview with Singelin below:
Rachel Bellwoar: While Frontier is set in the future, why did you decide to avoid naming a specific year for when these events are supposed to be taking place?
Guillaume Singelin: The universe of Frontier is of course based on a world close to ours, however it is a fictional solar system and therefore an imaginary era. I wanted the story to have freedom in the writing and not be stuck in real and concrete facts (such as justifying terraformed planets). So in this imaginary context, the idea of a precise date was not necessary, especially since the plot takes place over a relatively short period of time.
Bellwoar: If when is unknown, where is always very specific. Why did you want to emphasize place with this story and give each location its own visual identity?
Singelin: The idea was really to have a feeling of travel, almost tourism. And in a long story, I wanted each scene or part to be truly unique and therefore give a strong identity to these environments. It’s also an opportunity for me to pay homage to lots of SF stories and these iconic places, like the interior of a ship, the surface of a planet or even small confined habitats. It was science fiction travel and tourism that left its mark on me.
Bellwoar: Which do you prefer, drawing cramped space ship interiors or outdoor planet scenes?
Singelin: Both of course hehe, but I wanted to have an alternation between the 2 so as not to get bored. The two work very well in contrast, from the straight lines and lots of detail of the interiors, to the curves and horizon of the exterior. Every time I tackled a new scene, I enjoyed the change.
Bellwoar: With so many of the characters wearing space suits, helmets, and/or masks, was it difficult coming up with tricks to make sure the main cast were always identifiable?
Singelin: It’s been a challenge, I even wonder if sometimes readers don’t get lost. Especially since the characters’ faces are very synthetic. I chose some striking details, the white hair and orange glasses for Ji-soo for example and making sure that he was the only character with this combination. But in a sense having a sort of uniformity overall suited me, there is an anthill side to Frontier, almost anonymous characters, and these 3 heroes must stand out.
Bellwoar: It would be easy just to focus on the core cast but the reason your panels feel so alive and busy is there filled with people. How do you approach drawing all of the background characters?
Singelin: I want the reader to feel immersed in the universe, and for that we have to give it life. Of course, it’s the story of this trio, but they are not exceptional, they are people among others, and so to show it, I have to show life around them and almost imagine a mini story for each extra. It has to be buzzing, it’s a feeling that I’ve experienced especially in big cities, you feel a little alone and yet life is very present.
Bellwoar: Little could Alex and Ji-Soo have known when they first met in the smoking section of the Rock Breaker that their lives would never be the same. Alex doesn’t even smoke! How did you come up with the idea for their unlikely meet-cute, and did you always want to focus on platonic friendship over romance?
Singelin: It’s almost the first scene that I had in mind concretely. The idea of paying homage to the dead with this cigarette for incense is an image that I really like. There is a down to earth and at the same time mystical side. The fact that nothing brought them together, that they met because of a contradiction, made their friendship all the stronger. Indeed I always wanted o focus it on friendship, romance would have been another subject, and would have changed the story a lot. Here these are 2 lost people who will help each other to get better personally, that was the main axis.
Bellwoar: It’s a sad day when not even space can offer an escape from guns and corporate greed. Is Ji-Soo right to be cynical or is there so still reason to hope for a better future like Isaac does?
Singelin: Ji-soo and Isaac represent exactly what I think of the future. I’m a more pessimistic person, but I don’t want to let myself get carried away, that’s why I want to believe in a better future too, even if it’s sometimes difficult.
Bellwoar: Thanks for agreeing to this interview, Guillaume!
Frontier recently completed a successful Kickstarter campaign and is available for preorder on Backerkit from Magnetic Press.
