Who are you and what do you do with Pulp 21?
I’m Rene Cruz, a 38-year-old child that never really stopped drawing. In fact, my habit is getting worse the older I get. Being a huge fan of storytelling in general, I’ve recently been applying my years of graphic design and illustration chops in the service of making comics. I've already spent too long standing still hoping answers would just come to me, I've got a lot of catching up to do. These mistakes aren't going to be made themselves.
What’s your comic about?
The whole thing (AstroBog) is very much a "mix tape" of imagery and themes that I've collected mentally.
I really wanted to create something basic, stripped down to the golden age. Something you just jump into and get caught up the more you read. Aesthetically, I wanted it to look like it was printed in another country almost, growing up in a border town I was exposed to 3-4 color packaging at a young age and that simplicity has always stuck with me. Lastly, I've always wanted to draw Houston. The bayou, NASA, architecture, that roller skating guy on Allen Parkway. Anything and everything I see on a daily basis is going to eventually be a part of this at the end of the day.
What do you do when you’re not making comics?
I draw a lot. Throw rocks when I can. Cook and hang out with my fiancée and dog in our backyard. Chances are, I’m drawing when you read this.
Rene can be found on the web at:
http://www.renecruz.org/