girlish? caricature? Metal Music! See The Second Classic: The Legend of Babymetal
Sweet idols collide with metal rock, Babymetal takes you to break through the dimensional walls of music and comics and experience a magical journey through time and space.
Text: Little crab
Editor: Shawn
Japanese teenage metal band Babymetal members Suzuka Nakamoto and Kikuchi favorite (Moametal)
Babymetal, a Japanese band whose name alone is eye-catching, created a phenomenal metal idol in the Japanese music scene by relying on three young and lively young girls.
On October 30, 2018, Z2 Comics officially released Apocrypha: The Legend Of BABYMETAL, a 144-page comic book about the band, retailing for $24.99.
They also limited the sale of 500 collectible deluxe editions, including three originals autographed by cartoonist GMB Chomichuk, worth $199.99.
GMB Chomichuk is a self-taught, non-conformist comic book artist and the "music narrator" of the band Babymetal. He has a rich track record of writing such as Infinitum, RayGun Gothic, midnight city and other works. Growing up with four sisters, he was always particularly interested in female characters in comics.
Unlike many of his peers, Chomichuk's inspiration comes mostly from things other than comics. Like Wen's tu, his works are a collection of characteristic styles from different eras and are a school of their own. Because of this, he became the best person to create Babymetal comics.
Two years ago, the Toronto Comic Strip Arts Festival exposed Chomichuk to the comic's vision. At first, he wondered if it was "for marketing or just storytelling?" However, as soon as he learned more, he immediately became interested.
The story of the Cijing tells the story of a mysterious mission performed by the fox fairy (a figure often found in Babymetal's music) to lead three reincarnated protagonists on a journey through time and space from prehistoric Kyoto to modern-day New York.
Chomichuk put a lot of effort into creating this book. He sees Babymetal's performances as a combination of drama and mythology, one of his favorite art forms. Today, being able to paint their music with his own brush is something that even he himself finds a wonderful and fantastic thing to do.
When I first saw Babymetal's performance, Chomichuk was deeply shocked: "Listening to the scene with the fans was really lucky and unforgettable, and I got a better understanding of what this band is about." ”
Some hard rock and metal bands like to wrap themselves in strange shapes, disguised on stage as specific images, typical of which are such as live knot bands and ghost sacrifices. But this is not the case with Babymetal, who is also a metal band, and they have always shown their original girlish faces.
Similarly, the Cijing does not create mystery in that way, but focuses on expanding the band's existing musical connotations.
Live Knot Band
Ghost sacrifice
Chomichuk said, "As John Updike put it, 'celebrities wear masks that can't be taken off.'" The mythical time and space created by Babymetal provides the basis for creation. The comic doesn't create a new backstory, but rather revolves around the band's existing fantasy story, drawing on the iconic content they already have. ”
"Babymetal stands out mainly because these fantasy symbols and stories are inseparable from them, adding a richer experience to the audience in addition to the music." Of course I can't reveal too much about the book, otherwise there would be no surprises. ”
In Japanese culture, the legend of the fox fairy has changed from generation to generation, and in the world of Babymetal, the fox fairy has its own unique meaning. In order to create such an important role, Chomichuk and his team did not spare any effort.
Previously, the spoilers used by the band for publicity gave readers a lot of room for imagination, and the styles of different chapters also changed. In this regard, Chomichuk said that it is to show you these gorgeous and mysterious things, and the plot god will buy books to read well. For the painter himself, such a fusion and expression of different dimensions is also an attempt to inspire.
In recent years, many rock and metal musicians have released their own comics, such as Alice Cooper, KISS, Megadeth and Danzig. Therefore, Chomichuk is very clear that if he wants to make the Sub-Sutra stand out, he must not be similar to his predecessors, so he has to find another way.
"Although it is a comic, we have no intention of portraying the band members as superheroes, but rather to explore the essence of the band and its music in the story. No matter what world they are in, Babymetal is a metal band that seems sweet, but is actually cool, which is their unique and authentic feature. ”
During the comic preparations, Chomichuk listened to a lot of Babymetal songs to find resonance and inspiration. He has always liked to compose while listening to metal music, and many of Babymetal's works have become his favorite, such as "Nightmare Boomerang", "Karate" and "Mototaro".
Chomichuk's work is very busy with a wide audience and many events, but he can manage it all with ease: "My time is no different from others. It's just that if I encounter a creative bottleneck, I will actively switch the artistic perspective to improve efficiency. More importantly, my family and colleagues supported me and helped me – they gave me more possibilities. ”
Now, Chomichuk, who tells babymetal's fantastic journey, has thrown in a new job, and Yuimetal's retirement has also made fans sad. However, the temporary departure also means a new beginning, so it is better to wish them all better and better!