First Comics News: How did you break into writing professionally?
Christian Douglas: My first paid job was back in college. I won a couple of awards, and I created my own theatre company. There, I was the head writer/producer/director.
1st: How was Unpopular Comics founded?
Christian: I got back to reading comics about 12 years ago. As I had already written theatre and cinema scripts, short stories, and poetry, I decided to give it a try. After getting rejected for almost two years, I published myself using Crowdfunding. That is how the studio started ten years ago. That comic has sold more than 2,000 copies and is in its third edition.
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1st: Who or what is Pinochia?
Christian: Pinochia is a fierce, intelligent, and driven android determined to achieve peace. Like her male counterpart, she symbolizes the ultimate puppet—one that wants to break its strings and exercise her free will.
1st: Do you think AI’s could ever develop as much as Pinochia has?
Christian: It is just a matter of time.
1st: Why have a girl robot over a boy robot?
Christian: There is no real gender discussion here because machines are machines. I decided that from an infiltration point of view, being perceived as a female could help her get everywhere more easily. They portray less of a threat on a first impression.
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1st: Why does Pinochia exist? What is her purpose?
Christian: Bring peace between the machines and the few humans that have survived decades of persecution.
1st: Please tell us a little about Ishtar, Little Man, and Lex.
Christian: Ishtar is a cheeky ex-sex worker robot. Inspiration from Jude Law’s character in AI.
Little Man is an industrial machine. Created to move and handle heavy cargo. Inspiration Engelbert character from the Bad News Bears and the Iron Giant
Lex is a personal companion/cleaner robot. Good with kids, friendly, and very capable. He has suffered several modifications and is now a hazardous machine: inspiration Wall-E and Kenny from South Park.
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1st: Who will be the main villain Pinochia has to face?
Christian: (Spoiler) James H. He will be introduced in number 3. The AI that controls 01 is the Machine City.
1st: What is your impression of Claudio Sanchez Viveros’s art?
Christian: He is a sensational traditional artist. He is my right hand. I have been collaborating with him for over ten years now.
1st: What is “Punkdroid” about?
Christian: It is a 110-page, 13-story Cyberpunk and Sci-Fi comic anthology collection from a group of creators concerned with the growing power of technology, automation, social networks, and virtual reality in our lives. It perfectly combines Black Mirror tone with Love, Death, and Robot artwork.
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1st: What would be your ideal comic book to write?
Christian: A long series about angels: done with a publisher like Image, Boom, or Dark Horse. I can choose the artist without worrying about marketing, distributors, campaigns, etc. I have a specks script already lined up.
1st: Why do you enjoy writing?
Christian: Writing is not just a job for me, it’s a passion. It’s the perfect vehicle to deal with all I have in my head.
1st: What do you have planned next for your career?
Christian: As for the future, we have exciting plans to expand into new markets, with France and Japan on the horizon for 2025. We’re also focused on consolidating our position in the Anglo-Saxon market, so stay tuned for more.
1st: What do you have to say to the fans of your writing?
Christian: To all the fans of my writing, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude. Your support means the world to me, and I can’t wait to share more of my work with you. Stay tuned, because this is just the beginning of our journey together.
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