Interviews

Interview with Bettina Kurkoski & Alicia Hotovec

By LJ Douresseau
March 31, 2004 - 10:49

We're getting down to the last few interviews of winners of TOKYOPOP's Rising Stars of Manga 2 contest. This time, Mr. Charlie #23 focuses on the dynamic duo of Bettina Kurkoski & Alicia Hotovec and their winning entry "Axis Lumen."

According to the introduction to Axis Lumen in THE RISING STARS OF MANGA 2 book, Bettina "Tamaki" Kurkoski hails from Montague, MA where she still resides and works as a freelance illustrator. Ms. Kurkoski is the creator and guiding force behind this story, being both the writer and illustrator. I loved this unusual birthday story, which involves myth, friendship, love, and inheritance. In my estimation, Bettina's art recalls a number of sources and inspirations, including Joe Madureira and Adam Warren, as well as Wendi Pini's ELFQUEST.

When I look at Bettina's art, I certainly think of manga, but I'm also reminded of how truly expressive individual talents can be in this form we know as comics, graphic novels, sequential art, or whatever people around the world call this form. Following are Bettina's lively answers to my RSoM2 questions:

What was your first experience with comics? What kind of comics were they, and what were the titles?

BETTINA: My first experience with comics experience was reading the GARFIELD comic strips when I was in 3rd grade. As far as actual comic books, well, I'd have to say it was Marvel comics UNCANNY X-MEN, back in the late 80's to early 90's. Jim Lee was at the beginning of his hit run as penciller on the title and I was immediately captivated! From then on I was collecting comics. It wasn't until after college that I finally experienced my first manga. And to this day, I honestly don't remember what that first manga was.

At what point were you first exposed to manga and anime, and what were your initial reactions to it or your feelings?

BETTINA: I grew up watching "Force Five," "Battle of the Planets," "Starblazers," "Robotech," "Voltron," and many others from the 80's, not knowing at the time that that was anime. I remember actually realizing what anime was when I watched AKIRA. From that point on, I was HOOKED! It had such a different feel to it than any other show I have ever seen. The characters were that much more believable. The animation itself was much more beautiful than anything Disney or the US in general put out. I don't think there is any one thing that can describe my initial reaction to it. I was just love at first sight!

What was it about the form that attracted you to manga, and what were the particular titles and creators who appealed to you?

BETTINA: I think it was the beauty of the art itself that attracted me. The story always came second. I really enjoyed the quick pace of the movement of the storytelling, being able to cram so much action into so few pages, something that is still new to American style comics. The titles and creators that appealed to me most were SORCERER HUNTERS, RUROUNI KENSHIN, NARUTO, BLADE OF THE IMMORTAL, MARS, FUSHIGI YUUGI, UNDER THE GLASS MOON, DEMON DIARY, there respective creators and more.

When did you first become aware that there were U.S. based publishers of manga (like Eclipse, Dark Horse, TOKYOPOP, etc.) and what titles did you like?

BETTINA: I'd say it was in the early 90's that I first became aware of U.S. based publishers of manga, Antarctic Press being one of them. At the time I was still very knew to the manga/anime scene, so did not have any particular titles that I liked, as most appeared to be amateurish to me.

Were there elements of manga and titles that you didn't like or found off putting?

BETTINA: What about them didn't you like? There are those manga that I did not take a liking to. Off hand I do not recall the titles, but pretty much anything I deemed as not having art that was pleasing to my eye or that I had no interest in the story.

When did you become aware of TOKYOPOP and the Rising Stars of Manga contest?

BETTINA: I knew of TOKYOPOP way back when they had a magazine they published, of which I still have! I was quite upset when they decided to cancel the magazine, as it kept me updated with information pertaining to manga, anime, and Japanese culture in general. It wasn't until a few years ago that I discovered they were selling translated manga.

As for Rising Stars of Manga, one of my friends online had entered the first round and said that I should REALLY the second round. And I am EVER grateful that she told me so!

Was the second contest your first entry in RSoM?

BETTINA: YES!

Was your entry something you'd been working on for a long time, or was it something new for RSoM? Did you have to rework the concept to make it fit the preconceived notions of what manga is?

BETTINA: I have a storyline that spans three story arcs and many thousands of years that I've been working on for over 10 years now. My entry for RSoM was the first time I was able to put to paper a small portion of that story. The story for the entry was created with the contest in mind, making sure to keep it short and concise, so I had to focus on a part of the storyline that would fill the requirements of the contest.

How does your work fit in with the "manga style," and I'm asking this knowing that manga encompasses an incredibly broad base of genres and storytelling techniques?

BETTINA: I honestly don't know. When I started working on the story over 10 years ago, I was heavily into American comics. It wasn't until I got into manga and anime that the story really started to come together. I feel that the manga style is best suited for my self expression and how I want to present the story. The storytelling elements best suit my story as well. My drawing style actually started with an American comic style, mainly Jim Lee influenced. When Joe Madureira jumped aboard Uncanny X-Men in the 90's, that's when I REALLY started to get into anime and incorporated the manga/anime style into my drawing style. Overall, I believe it's the depth at which I portray my characters that really make it best suited to the manga style.

Is it your goal or dream to be a cartoonist, and how are you working towards that goal in terms of educating yourself about the history, form, and content of comics?

BETTINA: It is my dream to be a manga artist, having had a general dream to be a comic book artist since I was in junior high school back in the 80's. I have acquired many books on the subject to better understand the history, the business, how the pages are conceived in the first place.

What is your artistic background as far as training and learning, even it you are self-taught?

For the most part, I do consider myself self-taught. But I do have a formal college education, having graduated from the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth in 1996 with a BFA in Illustration. Though I did learn a great deal there, I still feel that I learned even more beyond that after graduating. Even during college, I was always working on my own projects and illustrations beyond the assigned projects. I believe that, what I did learn on my own has greatly attributed to the degree at which my art is today.

Describe the feelings you had upon being notified that you were a RSoM winner.

BETTINA: I was completely beside myself! I could not believe it, out the amount of entries that were submitted, that mine was chosen to be in the top ten! And at the same time, I was relieved that all the hard work that Alicia and I put into the entry really paid off! Considering she was my driving force behind getting me to do the entry in the first place!

Did winning change your long range plans in terms of your work and/or budding career as a cartoonist?

BETTINA: Yes and no. Yes it did in that my work is recognized and supported by the many people who have seen my work on my homepage and various gallery pages. No, because I am still unsure as to what this will bring me in the near future. I would be MORE than overjoyed to be able to work on my story full time as a means of financial support. As of the moment, I am more than supported by fans of my artwork in general, of which I am ever grateful for!

Born in San Antonio, TX (the home of those pretenders to the NBA throne who shall go unnamed), Alicia "Rekka" Hotovec is a freelance artist and student. She lettered and edited Axis Lumen, and she helped Bettina tone the story. Her answers were every bit as lively as Bettina's:

What was your first experience with comics? What kind of comics were they, and what were the titles?

ALICIA: Honestly, I don't know how to answer this because as a kid, I didn't really read comics. I watched TV, drew, and went to school. I don't have any actual memories of reading comics, though I did know quite about them from the cartoons.

At what point were you first exposed to manga and anime, and what were your initial reactions to it or your feelings?

ALICIA: I really enjoyed them-I liked the style and feel, and the plots. I think it was my freshman year of high school that I was exposed.

What was it about the form that attracted you to manga, and what were the particular titles and creators who appealed to you?

ALICIA: The fluidity of the style. It just looked nifty, and different from the blockiness or over-simplifiedness of most American comics I'd seen. I also enjoyed the plots that followed from issue/episode to issue/episode. Not only were the plots continuous, but they were interesting and different than the superhero genre. It felt much more like they were telling a story. X/1999 by CLAMP, D.N.Angel by Yukiru Sugisaki, GENSOUMADEN SAIYUKI by Kazuya Minekura, GRAVITATION by Maki Murikami, and SLAYERS-the version illustrated by Rui Araizumi as well as CHOUBAKU MAHOUDEN by Shoko Yoshinaka-rank among my favorites.

When did you first become aware that there were U.S. based publishers of manga (like Eclipse, Dark Horse, TOKYOPOP, etc.) and what titles did you like?

ALICIA: Probably as soon as I read my first manga-our local comic store had a really good selection of individual manga, as well as graphic novels. My friend Valerie dragged me in there multiple times, and showed me the titles she collected. At the time, there weren't that many available-not like today when you can waltz into Borders and grab a handful of titles. I liked the ones I'd read at Val's-she had SAILORMOON, TENCHI MUYO, VAMPIRE PRINCESS MIYU and EL HAZARD.

Were there elements of manga and titles that you didn't like or found off putting? What about them didn't you like?

ALICIA: Can't honestly say that I found too many. When I first got into manga, I didn't understand some of the cultural references, but I enjoy them now that I'm more familiar with the culture.

When did you become aware of TOKYOPOP and the Rising Stars of Manga contest?

ALICIA: Again, Valerie showed me. She entered the first year, and didn't place. She wanted me to enter, but I unfortunately didn't have the time with school, work, and working on my own manga to put it all together.

Was the second contest your first entry in RSOM?

ALICIA: Yes. When Bettina told me she was thinking of entering, I offered to help out and keep her motivated and put the final product together. Doing my own entry would've taken FOREVER.

Was your entry something you'd been working on for a long time, or was it something new for RSOM? Did you have to rework the concept to make it fit the preconceived notions of what manga is?

ALICIA: Well, Bettina's had the idea for at least 10 years now, and the storyline spans 4 complete but separate storylines. We didn't rework it except to fit it into 20 pages-why mold into preconceived notions when manga spans nearly every genre, and multiple styles?

How does your work fit in with the "manga style," and I'm asking this knowing that manga encompasses an incredibly broad base of genres and storytelling techniques?

ALICIA: Yeah-what Bettina said. ^^; She was in charge of the story, concept, and art, after all.

Is it your goal or dream to be a cartoonist, and how are you working towards that goal in terms of educating yourself about the history, form, and content of comics.

ALICIA: No-I'm a manga-ka in my spare time only (I go to an engineering school, after all). As for the goal, though-I am already published apart from the TOKYOPOP contest, and I usually become educated by accident by finding and reading new manga.

What is your artistic background as far as training and learning, even it you are self-taught?

ALICIA: I've been drawing for as long as I could hold a crayon-my people, when I first drew them all had hair, eyes, 10 fingers, and bellybuttons. I always drew what I saw, and I took art classes only to experiment with new media rather than merely learn how to draw. I've been drawing anime for about five years now-learning mostly by imitation and trying to develop my own style.

Describe the feelings you had upon being notified that you were a RSoM winner.

ALICIA: Ecstatic-mostly for Bettina, though. Most of the reason we entered was to get her art and talents out into mainstream.

Did winning change your long range plans in terms of your work and/or budding career as a cartoonist?

ALICIA: For me-not really. As said, being a manga-ka is my hobby, and I plan to keep it that way unless it starts taking over my life more than it already has.

THANKS, GUYS! You can see more of Bettina's art at her website, www.dreamworldstudio.com. Alicia also has a website, www.skyfallmanga.com, where you can see more of her work. To read Axis Lumen, you'll need a copy of The Rising Stars of Manga 2, available from your local bookstore like Books-a-Million or online at Amazon.com and Wal-Mart.com. As always, I've got to thank Marketing/PR queen Mina Sung from TOKYOPOP for being my heroine and helping get these Q&A's going.

And if you are a comics creator or publisher and you want to send me material for review consideration or you just want to talk about your book in a Charlie column, punch the click-able name link to send me an email. Holla!

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12