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Inspiration

The creative process is a conversation

We all know that, today, almost every story has already been told. And art doesn’t arise out of nothingness. Writers, painters, directors and other artists create their work in communion with their environment. So we admire a director like Quentin Tarantino who’s not afraid to announce his influences.

Andrew Wheeler says it well: “Star Wars was inspired by Flash Gordon. A Song of Ice and Fire owes a debt to The Lord of the Rings. Harry Potter offers an answer to The Chronicles of Narnia. Breaking Bad takes its lead from The Godfather. Jason Bourne took shape against James Bond.

“Art exists in conversation with that which came before it, and that’s as true in comics as in any other narrative form. […]Everyone who tells stories or creates art is a critical thinker, responding to ideas with ideas of their own. There aren’t just two types of people. Makers are critics.” (“‘If You Don’t Like It, Make Your Own’ Is a Terrible Argument, but a Great Idea,” http://comicsalliance.com, September 2, 2015).

So we don’t have any hang-ups about presenting what has inspired sections of our stories, or even whole stories.

What’s troubling though is unintentional borrowing. It is possible that certain parts of a given film or novel made an impression, without us remembering it explicitly. Kate Willaert talks about this phenomenon: “Being such a huge Jack Kirby fan, is it possible Alan Moore read this story at some point and simply forgot about it? Or for that matter, could The Architects Of Fear writer Meyer Dolinksy have read it?

“A creator forgetting they encountered an idea elsewhere isn’t an uncommon phenomenon, especially in the music world. Paul McCartney has a famous story about how while writing “Yesterday,” he became paranoid that he might’ve accidentally nicked it from somewhere. After playing it for just about everyone he knew and no one saying they recognized it, he felt confident that it was completely original.” (“Did Watchmen Steal From the Outer Limits, Or From Jack Kirby?” http://www.comicsbeat.com, August 10, 2015).

In a world like ours, we really have to stop looking for plagiarism. We should admit our influences and honour them. The word plagiarism should only be applied to outright copying, and not to borrowing. Otherwise, we could never again see any of Tarantino’s movies.

Where does that character come from? The example of Jason

17.28) Where does that character come from? The example of Jason (inspiration, illustrations)

We like to send our collaborators photos of places or people, to set the groundwork for developing their illustrations. Jason is loosely based on Quebec singer Yan Perreau’s look from the 2000s.

Where does that character come from? The example of Jarnak

We like to send our collaborators photos of places or people, to set the groundwork for developing their illustrations. The very first version of Jarnak, as well as his most recent presentable incarnation, is loosely based on Vincent Cassel, in his role as Mesrine.

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Where does that character come from? The example of Wood

We like to send our collaborators photos of places or people, to set the groundwork for developing their illustrations. Wood was very loosely based on Spanish politician Jose Socrates.

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Where does that character come from? The example of Cesar

We like to send our collaborators photos of places or people, to set the groundwork for developing their illustrations. Cesar is loosely based on Jose Yero, a character from the Miami Vice movie who was played by Michael Mann. The name Cesar was inspired by a South American student we met.

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Where does that character come from? The example of Vincent Krugger

We like to send our collaborators photos of places or people, to set the groundwork for developing their illustrations. Vincent Krugger is loosely based on the mug shot of one of the sons of former US Vice-President Al Gore.

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Where does that character come from? The example of Richard Krugger

We like to send our collaborators photos of places or people, to set the groundwork for developing their illustrations. Richard Krugger is loosely based on Julian Glover in the role of Aris Kristatos in James Bond: For Your Eyes Only.

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The origins of Cassius

Cassius has had different incarnations, depending on the illustrator. But, bottom line, he should bring to mind Muhammad Ali. His name is in fact borrowed directly from the famous boxer, who was called Cassius Clay before he changed his name to Ali.

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Meta-references in superhero movies

This may only be the movie-lover and comicbook fan talking, but it’s so much fun to see a panel or a page in a superhero movie! There was one in Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

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Where does that character come from? The example of Jacobs

We like to send our illustrators photographs of locations or characters so they have a foundation on which to develop their art. Thus, Jacobs is very broadly inspired by the character of the mysterious tutor played by Max Von Sydow in the movie Three Days of the Condor.

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