A while back I wrote about having a support group and I wanted to write about another person that has helped me a couple of times. Yet I want to stretch this and make it more into artists and writers on the Puerto Rico writing community.
Roberto Cruz is a talented creator that has written and drawn comic books, collaborated with one of the BIG TWO in the world of comics with DC Comics. So This guy is no scrub on this realm. With this interview, we hope that you can learn a bit more about him and what he is working on.
Another thing to know, Roberto Cruz has also collaborated with our previous Local Talent: Gabriel Alejandro with Tolath.
Q – Robert Tell us a bit about you. Where you studied? What major?
A – I have a bachelor in Visual Arts from the Sagrado Corazón University in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Q – What projects have you worked on with others?
A – Since I founded Damarojo Studios I worked with a few friends in the projects I produced. I worked with all members from the studio in the Darkest Alliance saga. I illustrated 3 volumes of the De Amor & Desamor project written by my wife, Maribel Texidor. I also worked with artist Rodney Buchemi on a short story for DC Comics that was published in 2011 inside the JLA 80 Page Giant. Also, I co-created the comic book ECOS with Francisco Javier Rodriguez
Q – How was your experience working with DC and your collaboration with La Borinqueña?
A – My experience working with DC was almost surreal since I only started publishing my little comic a little over a year before DC showed interest in me to work for them as a writer, especially since I see myself more as an artist than a writer. I write because I always wanted to draw comics and since I didn’t find someone who wanted me to draw their story I created my own.
Working in la Borinqueña was fun. I was contacted by my friend Francisco, who I created the comic ECOS with, and told me about this project that paired the character of la Borinqueña with the DC Universe. At first, I said no, but after some convincing from my wife I decided to give it a try. Plus the idea of writing the character of Swamp Thing was too tempting to pass. After it was published I saw a video where the writer Gail Simone talking about my story and the feeling of hearing her praising my little story was awesome.
Q – Tell us about your personal projects.
A – Right now I’m working on completing my Graphic Novel, The Briathos Chronicles, that I hope, will be complete by 2021. Also, I’m working on a one-shot story written by ER Landron and some other stuff down the line that I hope to announce soon.
Q – I’ve seen you have done both writings and being the artist. Which one do you like the most and how they defer from one another?
A – I always like to see myself as an artist, but I enjoy writing stories. Especially when I can fill the page with details that the artist has to draw. I have fun watching others do the work.
Q – Tell us about your writing and artist heroes.
A – The list is endless. I always liked stories written by legends such as Marv Wolman, Geoff Johns, Gerry Conway, Mark Waid, Jeph Loeb, Ron Marz, etc.
From an artist, I buy everything that Jim Lee does. I also follow artists such as Ivan Reis, George Pérez, Mike Mignola, John Byrne, Greg Capullo, etc. I recently rediscovered the art of Don Newton and I’ve been awe with his linework and clean storytelling.
Q – Tell us about your favorite character or characters, and if their story resonates with what you do as an artist.
A – My favorite character is Batman, I think it always has been. When I was a kid my sister took me to the movies to watch Tim Burton’s Batman and from the moment the end credits started to roll I decided that I want to work in comics and I want to create stories like the one I just saw.
Q – How do you prepare for a project?
A – When I start a new project I try to not overthink too much what I want to do or how to approach it. I write what I as a reader want to see in a story and roll with that.
Q – How do you see yourself in a future? Goals?
A – My goal at the moment is to complete the graphic novel and the other projects I have on the table. I tend not to plan too way ahead.
Q – What does your family think of you about your art?
A – They think I’m a great artist. I sometimes wish to see myself the way that they see me.
Q – Tell us about your best moment or the moment you cherish the most while in the industry.
A – There are a lot of moments that I’ll always cherish as part of the comic creator scene…
From holding my first self published work in my hands, to visiting the central offices of DC Comics as part of a writers workshop. From being published by DC to having artists such as Andy Kubert seeing my art and giving me feedback. But what I cherish more is the people I have met along the way, with some of them becoming family.
Q – What suggestion you can give to aspiring artists and writers?
A – The best advice I can give to an artist or writer is to be disciplined. Make your own schedule and follow it no matter what.
Q – For you, what makes a good story?
A – In comic books, a great story must test the hero’s resolve to its limits. Must have cool dialogs and badass moments. A story where the writers let the artist shine since comic books are a visual medium. A story where you can see what I’m talking about? I recommend Kingdom Come by Mark Waid and Alex Ross. It has an excellent paced story with good dialog and gorgeous artwork.
Q – For you, what makes a good character?
A – A good character is measured by how he reacts to the consequence of his actions and the world around him.
Q – Anything you want to add up? Briathos?
A – Yes, follow Damarojo Studios on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. And stay tuned, you won’t want to miss what happens next.
We thank dearly Roberto “The Rob Stuff” Cruz for this interview. We hope to do this in a video in the upcoming months.
If you want to know more about Roberto Cruz’s work, I’ll list some links below.
Briathos Comics: https://www.comixology.com/search?search=briathos
Roberto Cruz: https://www.instagram.com/the_rob_stuff/
Definitivamente talento local. Lastima que en esta isla no aprecien las artes de todas las personas.
A eso vamos. Queremos poco a poco enseñarle a la gente sobre que talentos tenemos y poder mercadear y exportar ese talento para el deleite de los amantes de historias y comics.