“Risenfall”: a comic by Liana Recchione

“Risenfall”

A comic by

Liana Recchione

[ITA] or [ENG]

“Risenfall” is a comic by Liana Recchione, first volume of a serie, published by Shockdom.

On the background of a Victorian London, the two young Helwyrs – “hunters” in gaelic – Rein Risenfall and Fray Graymist have to face a case of strange suicides in the little town of Middfay, where the only suspect is a misterious girl with blond hair, Miss Luna Heartly. The young woman is found covered with blood on the scene of the crime, but she affirms that she does not remember anything else but some signs on her hands called “signs of the witch” or even “signs of the queen”, and that she has the feeling somebody has fatally cursed her…

In a world populated by the ghosts of the English folklore, inhabited by disturbing Shakespearean presences, threatened by sinister omens, the main characters have to face their own past which seems to dangerously chase them, breaking the delicate balance they had and forcing them to understand better their identities and their origins.

Let’s go with the interview!

How was the project “Risenfall” born?As all my projects: with the desire of telling stories. For “Risenfall” in particular I wanted to tell about something which had the Victorian gothic atmospheres, which recalled the horror novels as well as the ones by Jane Austen that I love. I have always adored long dresses and gentlemen, I wanted to talk about a story that told about them. Then, I understood the moral of the story, the one about the plot is all about: I want to spread a message that is growing with myself.
Who are the main characters of your comic?At the beginning I thought it was only Mr. Risenfall; as time went by by and the understanding of their psychologies I must say that even Miss Heartly and Mr. Graymist got well defined characters. It is sure, anyway, that Mr. Risenfall can be actually considered the main character in this first adventure.
Why did you choose London in in the Victorian period?What is more suggestive and disturbing? To be honest, the first location of “Risenfall” was Prague, I love that city; but I knew better the British lifestyle, the Celtic folklore… I felt so much more comfortable with the old fashioned United Kingdom that the location consequently changed; then I got to know the Celtic culture better and… so, Tolkien for life!
The technology used by the Second Class is pretty advanced: does the society where it lives join this technological revolution? What kind of relationship is there between technology and “Risenfall” talking about comunication tools, weapons, transports etc.?

Yes, the technology used by Helwyrs is beyond common technical knowledge, mostly unknown to the world. They are a secret police force, they have their cards to play and a Doctor (who will appear pretty soon) who cares about most of the technical tools not only for comunications, but also for the building of particular weapons used by the Hunters.
What kind of relationship has “Risenfall”’s society with magic and supernatural events?

It is actually the same they had in the XIXth century. Magic, in particular in Wales, is a question about nature, it concerns the Celtic origins on whom the christian culture took its place (Yeats and his tales helped a lot for understanding this relationship, but since I am Italian it is unfortunately pretty difficult to get such a deep concept). Ghosts are chased, but no one believes in them for real, apart from the Queen and her Special Police Force.
What kind of relationship is there between Mr Risenfall and Shakespeare’s characters, quoted inside the volume?
“Macbeth” in particular has some sort of a bond with “Risenfall”, but more as a model for the magic. Who are the three Fatal Sisters? What do they do? This is what you will find during the story… I hope to talk enough about it in the second volume. Shakespeare showed his most magical and obscure Celtic culture in that tragedy, I could not resist!
Which bond is there between Miss Heartly and the tarot cards?

Zan zan! Big question! Here I leave the answer to the reader. I will not explain (maybe) the bond she has with the cards (the only thing I can say is that Luna reads perfectly the tarot cards), but, on the other hand, if you think about the meaning of the specific card appeared in the first volume of “Risenfall” and the last comic page… maybe you will understand the meaning of Luna inside of this story.
How are the last Helwyrs’ outposts integrated in the British society of the time? Do they work at same time with the police or in the dark?

All the outposts have already decayed, that is why Rein and Fray are surprised there is still one left in Wales. During the Middle Ages they were really active, but as time went by they became unused for the ongoing literacy and conversion to Christianity; there still are some of them. But in our situation, we are talking of a special place.
Are we going to meet historical characters as Queen Victoria?

In the first realisation of “Risenfall” I had decided to put them; I do not think I will actually have the time now. Anyway I would totally like to draw some of them! In particular a certain friend of Mr. Graymist!
What do the characters have in common with you? Who looks more like you?

I believe that somehow everyone represents a part of me. Mr. Risenfall’s sufferings are mines (they will be mines… they have not revealed themselves yet), Miss Heartly’s “goofyness” is mine, Pascal and Mr. Graymist have my sense of humour (which sincerely is better on the paper). The commander Cross feels in the same way an adult feels about youngsters, feelings that I am starting to understand as well, I admit it!
Which are your sources of inspiration for “Risenfall”?My first influences are surely “D.Gray-man” and “Pride and Prejudice”, but also novels by Neil Gaiman and Susanna Clarke (hers in particular) greatly influenced me. Lloyd Alexander, the “Mabinogion”, Tolkien, Mike Mignola’s direction and atmospheres… every day I find a new somebody or something that can help me creating my world. Every day a new piece of the puzzle. It is wonderful!
Which stories of the nordern mitology inspired you?

Well, it is not that I chose just a story. After reading many books about Celtic culture and thinking about the message I would like to send with “Risenfall”, I can tell that “Mabinogion” tales and Yeats’ Irish fairytales were really important. And more… Do Lloyd Alexander and his “Prydain” (I have just discovered it was Wales’ old name) count?
Did you go abroad to realise better costumes and backgroundings of the United Kingdom in its Victorian period?

Before starting the first versione of “Risenfall” (I think I have started it at least seven times) I understood that I HAD to see London, I had to understand that mentality. I could not afford the Wales nor the Cornwall (but I visited Poldark), but understanding, feeling directly on the field… it is something that you can not explain with words. London is another world which tricked me for good!
Crowdfunding project: how was it? Would you recommend it?Crowdfunding is a beautiful thing. It really makes you feel the emotional involvement of the people, you can tell that what you do is seriously loved. However it is a really tiring experience, I would say exhausting. Starting it makes you face your passion and how much you want to do to make your wish come true. At the moment I admit I would not not what answering, about recommending it… After Lucca Comics & Games 2016 I think that I would recommend only a spa, haha!
Which comicons have you joined with “Risenfall”?As Shockdom comic artist, officially only at Romics in April 2016. Then I had a stand at the Caffè degli Artisti (Comic Artists Area) during the last Lucca Comics and Games 2016.
How long will “Risenfall” be?It will stop with the second volume for now, with the solving of the case in “Risenfall” 1.
And then… well, I hope to be able to bring the story where it wants to go, eheh!
Which morals do you want to pass down? And what themes do you want to talk about in “Risenfall”?At the beginning I was thinking about the fact that every single one of us is able to build his own destiny wherever we are. At the moment, I am reflecting on this theme and I have understood it is a deeper question, deeper than I expected. I can only answer that Rein, Luna and Fray are growing up with me.

What else apart from “Risenfall”? Tell us something about you!

“Enchanted”: which drawings are collected in this sketchbook? How was the idea born?“Enchanted” was not my original idea, I must admit it. It came to life thanks to my friends’ advice and because I could see the happiness in my readers’ eyes when they looked at the sketchbooks during the comicons. So, even for not disappointing the “Risenfall” supporters, I made this anthology where you can find studies about all the stories I realised and I want to realise, my drawings in the free time, my fan art, exercises and so on. It is me 100%! (P.S: And the title was a suggestion by my sister!)
Which comicons have you already joined? Which ones are you willing to join?Romics 2016 in April, Lucca Comics & Games 2016 and all the comicons in my region (in the towns of Teramo, Lanciano, Pescara…). At the moment I am talking with a comic book store for a presentation in January (I can only tell you it is in the north of Italy), for the rest… I would like to focus on “Risenfall” 2, I admit it, and once it is concluded I would like to make a more detailed plan. I would surely be happy to attend the ARF (in Rome) next year.
What tools do you use? What do you like the most, digital or traditional drawing?I must say that the sound of the pencil on the paper, its scraping, the dust, the power of graphite are in my opinion priceless (that is why I draw lots of sketches!), but the digital drawing gives me marvelous variations and the possibility of fixing instead of the traditional, with whom I could stop drawing in that case. I hope to be able to use as good as possible both of the techniques!
In which publishing houses are you working?Now “Risenfall” is published by Shockdom, “Norby” by Manfont (that are the series I am realising, the first on my own as a comic artist and the second as cover drawer and sometimes colorist).
What is your education path?It is a path that definitely touched me making me into a complete artist (this is sometimes a problem for working with screewriters… not because the stories of somebody else are bad, but because I would like to create my owns!) But I was saying…
Grammar High School, Degree in Classical Literatures, and after a stage in Archiving I attended the International School of Comics which helped me becoming a comic artist and where I work now.
Artistical influences: artists you admire, video-games, writers and novels, music. If you had to choose a few examples, who would you name?Long list, hahah!Artists: Mike Mignola, Kentaro Miura, Charles Vess, Claire Wendling, Glen Keane, Katsura Hoshino, Michelangelo, Bernini and Alphonse Mucha (and Monet of course).
Video-games: “Final Fantasy” VIII, IX, X ( less than the others) and I have expectations for the XV. “Kingdom Hearts” I and II. “Uncharted” forever! “The Last of Us”. I really appreciated “The Order”.Writers: Jane Austen, Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett, Lloyd Alexander, J.K.Rowling, Susanna Clarke, Steven Moffat (damn him), Dan Simmons, Philip Dick, Erri De Luca, Alessandro Baricco, Stefano Benni but also Keats, Yeats, from time to time the good old Giacomino il Pardo… too many!Music: everything that can inspire me! I prefer the albums by Loreena McKennit, but I listen with no problems even AC/DC and I love Queen. I also listen to classical music, sometimes! I am in love with the “Nocturnals” by Chopin!)
What does “Raven”, your first comic, mean for your career as a comic artist?It was some sort of a “thesis” about comics for me: in a moment I realised I could not only draw, but more than that I could end a story. An absolute splendid feeling. “Raven” taught me that maybe I could have been a comic artist.
Future projects after “Risenfall”? Too many! And since I am an old woman, I would really like to draw “An Old Fashioned Girl” by L.M. Alcott,as well as making my interpretation of the fairytale “The Nutcracker”. All of this because I am really romantic!
What would you recommend to future generations of comic artists?

Do everything with the heart. There will often be somebody who tells you your stories are not good. Have the wisdom and the critical sense to look yourself and think about what is actually wrong and what is not. If after thinking about it your heart runs in a direction, then go! It will be felt much more than you could ever expect.
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Email: lillyre@gmail.com