We continued our conversation with the UK-based artist and learned more about her creative process behind crafting the comics featuring the adorable duo of a cat and a frog: “The Luna and Bean comic almost writes itself. Relatable besties, doing best friend things in a frog city. There have been a few longer arcs, but for the most part, Luna and Bean is a bite-size, loveable comic based on interactions with my friends, past and present. The more I get to know these two characters, the easier it is to write them.”
Then, the cartoonist shared more insights into the creation of her 'Foo Bun' series: “Foo Bun, on the other hand, is a long-form comic with complex lore and character development which runs concurrently with Luna and Bean within the same universe. The original idea for Foo started on my Instagram with an illustration of a ghost rabbit visiting their sleeping friend. I enjoy stories which on the surface appear to be one thing but then you spot little Easter eggs scattered throughout, suggesting something else is going on. Foo, for all intents and purposes, is simply following his heart to resurrect his best friend, but what if by doing so, he unknowingly unleashes something catastrophic? For me, finding the hook and themes was key to knowing where the story would go and how we'd get there. In this case, the theme of 'cause and effect' drives the story but also helps create realistic and nuanced characters who otherwise might be read as pure villains or heroes. The theme of 'predator and prey' also runs deep in both comics. Foo's confidence grows over time, but he's always keenly aware of his prey status and how this impacts his journey along the way.”
Rebecca’s comics often feature unique and memorable characters. We were curious about how she develops characters that fit the tone of her series, and she explained: “I'm an avid movie lover and people watcher. Eavesdropping in cafes with a sketchbook is a great way to find inspiration. Listening and looking is probably where most of my characters have been fleshed out. Some are inspired by people I know, but mostly strangers. Have you ever met someone and thought, 'oh yeah, I can see them reincarnated as a snail'? However, Frog Mayor Toderick was directly inspired by the mayor from JAWS. When a major incident happens, his first priority is the reputation of the city and its tourism. A despicable character and probably one of my favourites. Foo Bun is mostly a cozy fantasy read, but there are arcs with darker tones. Having cute, personality-driven characters is important for me to keep it lighter.”
Then, the author of ‘Foo Bun’ shared a list of artists who inspire her and whose styles she admires:
“Vera Brosgol's ‘Anya's Ghost’
Derek Laufman's ‘Crimson Fall’
Armand Bodnar's ‘Tales of the Frog Knight’
Tim Probert's ‘Lightfall Series’
Sage Cotungo's ‘The Glass Scientist’
Secondina's ‘Crow Time’
Jo Rioux's ‘Cat's Cradle’ graphic novel series
Gigi DG's ‘Cucumber Quest’
Jen Wang's ‘The Prince and the Dressmaker’
Luke Pearson's ‘Hilda’ art style.”
Finally, the cartoonist shared with us what aspects of comic creation are the most rewarding for her personally: “I'm very new to comics. The webtoon Foo will be a year old at the end of January, but I've learnt so much in the last eleven months. Every episode is thrilling to plan, sometimes exhausting to execute, but at the same time incredibly rewarding and freeing for someone with an overactive imagination. I can see why so many creators are drawn to comics now. It's very addictive once you find your focus. I went in with zero expectations and just wanted to try something new to appease my inner storyteller. Finding others who relate to Foo and reading the comments is enough motivation for me.”
