Interview with Captain Manu Part 1: A Journey to the Heart of Adventure
Have you ever wondered how a comic book artist is born? What experiences shape their unique vision and style? Get ready to embark on a fascinating journey through the life and work of Manuel Loza, better known as Captain Manu, one of the most talented adventure comic artists of our time.
In this exclusive interview, Captain Manu opens the doors to his creative world, sharing anecdotes from his childhood, revealing the influences that forged his passion for visual storytelling, and offering valuable insights into the art of telling stories through comics. From his first scribbles to his most acclaimed works, we’ll discover the path that led him to become the artist he is today.
Get ready to immerse yourself in a story full of inspiration, creativity, and, of course, lots of adventure! Are you ready to set sail on this journey with Captain Manu? Let’s weigh anchor and begin!
By Chuky Rossi
The Birth of a Visual Storyteller: The Origins of Captain Manu
Welcome, dear readers, to an interview that promises to be as exciting as our guest’s own creations. Today we have the privilege of delving into the creative mind of Manuel Loza, known in the comic world as Captain Manu (@manucapt). This talented artist has won hearts with his endearing character Almer and has left his mark on the industry with productions of the caliber of Red Star and Nathaniel Fox.
In this first part of our conversation, Captain Manu will take us on a journey to the past, revealing the foundations of his career and the experiences that shaped his artistic vision. From his first childhood strokes to his training under the tutelage of the legendary master Oswald, each anecdote is a piece of the puzzle that makes up the portrait of this extraordinary visual storyteller.
Get ready to discover the works that ignited the spark of his love for adventure stories and how that passion transformed into a career dedicated to creating worlds and stories that captivate readers of all ages. Join us on this exciting journey through the life and work of Captain Manu!
From Broken Toys to Imaginary Worlds: The Genesis of a Comic Book Artist
“Since I was 10 years old, I was already creating comics,” Captain Manu confesses to us with a nostalgic smile. “I was always more interested in telling a story than simply making an isolated drawing.” This inclination towards visual storytelling didn’t come out of nowhere; it was the product of a childhood rich in imagination and, paradoxically, marked by loneliness.
Manu transports us to his childhood, where broken toys became protagonists of epic adventures. “I played a lot with little figures that would break,” he recalls. “I would gather them, glue them together, and create stories by inventing characters. It could be a Batman with legs from some Transformer.” This ability to give life and story to seemingly useless objects was the first indication of his future career as a visual storyteller.
The need to share these stories naturally led him to drawing. “I felt that with drawing alone I couldn’t convey the whole story I had invented,” he explains. “So I drew comics to show my little classmates and tell them: ‘See? It has a story, like the character is alive’.” This early understanding of the synergy between image and narrative laid the foundations for his future as a comic book artist.
Manu’s passion for comics wasn’t limited to creating them; he was also an avid reader. “I read comics all day,” he tells us, revealing how this immersion in the world of comics nurtured his imagination and technique from an early age. Want to explore your potential as a visual storyteller? Discover how to develop your skills here.
Adolescence marked a turning point in Manu’s life. “I started studying with Oswald,” he remembers with excitement. “That’s when I fell deeply in love with comics and understood that I couldn’t do anything else.” This encounter with a recognized master not only reinforced his passion but also provided him with the tools and knowledge necessary to turn his love for comics into a professional career.
Under the Tutelage of a Master: The Transformative Experience with Oswald
The experience of studying with Oswald was a turning point in Captain Manu’s life. “It was incredible,” he tells us with palpable enthusiasm in his voice. This learning period came at a crucial moment in his adolescence when he was facing challenges in school and searching for his place in the world.
“I started having a lot of disciplinary problems in school,” Manu confesses. “I was a 15-year-old teenager who didn’t know what would become of his life, and the only thing he liked was drawing.” In a world that often discourages artistic aspirations, Manu found himself at a crossroads. It was then that, on the recommendation of a psychologist, his parents enrolled him in a comic book course with Oswald.
What captivated Manu most about Oswald was his unique approach to teaching. “I loved it because he talked about comics, about drawing, about how to make them,” he remembers with admiration. “But everything he had to explain, he explained by telling a story. I thought that was fabulous.” This methodology not only transmitted technical knowledge but also reinforced the very essence of the art of comics: storytelling.
The relationship between Manu and Oswald soon transcended the classroom. “At some point I discovered that Oswald had given me his home number,” Manu recounts. “He was from Quilmes, I was from Quilmes, and I realized that he lived about six blocks from Oswald’s house.” This geographical proximity translated into a more personal and profound mentorship. “I started going and calling him, ringing his doorbell and bothering him often. I loved talking to him.”
Oswald’s influence was decisive in Manu’s trajectory. “Afterwards I continued making comics, and I set up a publishing house called Panxa,” he tells us, showing how his mentor’s teachings translated into concrete actions that propelled his career. Ready to take the next step in your artistic journey? Explore our resources here.
This formative experience with Oswald not only provided Manu with the necessary technical skills but also reinforced his passion and gave him the confidence to pursue his dream of becoming a professional comic book artist. Oswald’s mentorship proved to be a crucial catalyst in Manu’s transformation from a passionate teenager to a budding artist, laying the groundwork for his future career as Captain Manu.
The Romance with Adventure: Literary and Cinematic Influences
Captain Manu’s love for adventure stories has deep roots that go back to his childhood. “As a kid, my life was superheroes,” he reveals to us, “and that’s already kind of entering the realm of adventure stories.” But his fascination with this genre wasn’t limited to superhero comics; it was nurtured by a rich variety of literary and cinematic influences.
The seed of this passion was planted by his family. “My dad and my maternal grandfather talked about Sandokan and Robin Hood,” Manu recalls. “From a very young age, those names were floating around.” These family conversations sparked his curiosity and led him to explore the classics of adventure literature.
“My grandfather gave me many adventure books,” Manu continues. “A lot of Alexandre Dumas, a lot of Stevenson. For example, ‘The Black Arrow’ by Stevenson, I read it many times.” These classic authors not only fed his imagination but also influenced his narrative style and his understanding of the structure of adventure stories.
Adolescence brought new literary discoveries. “When you finish high school and you’re in that middle teenage age, where you go to the bookstore and buy what you want, I started strong, but very strong, with Emilio Salgari,” he tells us enthusiastically. “I have a mini library of Emilio Salgari. The Black Corsair trilogy seems to me to be something from another planet.”
But the deepest and most lasting influence in Manu’s life was the legend of King Arthur. “My grandfather had given me a modernized adaptation of the King Arthur myths made by John Steinbeck,” he remembers. This gift awakened a passion that would lead him to become a “very amateur, but very much in love with the subject, medievalist.”
Cinema also played a crucial role in his formation as an adventure storyteller. “As a kid, I watched John Boorman’s Excalibur over and over again,” he tells us. “I watch it now, and it has sex scenes and gore, but I was already hooked on that armor stuff, that era.”
This rich mix of literary and cinematic influences not only nourished Manu’s imagination but also shaped his approach to storytelling. Eager to create your own visual adventures? Discover how to bring your ideas to life here. The combination of adventure classics, Arthurian mythology, and epic cinema is reflected in his work, endowing his comics with a narrative depth and richness that transcends mere entertainment.
The Essence of Adventure: Keys to Telling Stories That Endure
For Captain Manu, the art of telling adventure stories goes beyond the simple narration of exciting events. His approach is deeply influenced by the words of Héctor Germán Oesterheld, the legendary Argentine scriptwriter, who maintained that “genre storytelling is the best vehicle for social commentary.”
“I believe that in a good adventure story you’re talking about something that happens and is very profound,” Manu reflects. This perspective reveals his commitment to creating stories that not only entertain but also resonate on a deeper level with readers.
According to Manu, the key to a memorable adventure story lies in its ability to transcend superficial action and address more complex themes. “A good adventure story has, at some point, a comment on the world or on people’s emotionality,” he explains. “It’s always a metaphor for something more complex, stronger.”
This depth is what, in Manu’s opinion, distinguishes great adventure works from more commercial productions. “For me, when that appears in an adventure story, it’s what differentiates a Disney movie from ‘heavy’ stories,” he states, underlining the importance of narrative substance beyond mere spectacle.
Manu finds inspiration in the words of Alexandre Dumas, another master of the adventure genre: “The only adventures worth telling are those that change the hero’s heart.” This philosophy is reflected in his own work, where he seeks not only to entertain but also to provoke reflection and growth in his characters and, by extension, in his readers.
“I like that,” Manu concludes, “there has to be a bit of growth in the adventures.” This perspective reveals his commitment to creating stories that not only capture the imagination but also touch the heart and mind of his audience. Inspired to create your own epic stories? Discover how to take the next step in your creative journey here.
This focus on narrative depth and character growth is what distinguishes Captain Manu’s work and what has contributed to his success in the world of comics. His stories not only offer excitement and adventure but also invite reflection and self-discovery, creating a lasting connection with his readers.
Conclusion: The Journey Continues
Throughout this first part of our interview with Captain Manu, we have witnessed a fascinating journey that has taken us from the imaginative games of a lonely child to the formation of a committed and passionate artist. Manuel Loza’s story is a testament to the transformative power of art and perseverance.
From his first childhood scribbles to his most acclaimed works, Captain Manu has shown us how passion, combined with proper guidance and a rich source of inspiration, can shape an extraordinary career. His experience reminds us that behind every great artist is a story of personal discovery, inspiring mentors, and an unwavering love for the craft.
The lessons we can draw from Manu’s experience are invaluable:
- The importance of nurturing creativity from an early age
- The value of having mentors who not only teach technique but also inspire and guide
- The richness that a wide range of literary and cultural influences brings
- The need to seek depth and meaning in the stories we tell
But Captain Manu’s journey is far from over. In the second part of our interview, we will delve into his creative techniques, explore the tools he uses to bring his ideas to life, and discover his advice for aspiring comic book artists. Eager for more inspiration? Click here to continue your adventure in the world of comics.
Don’t miss the continuation of this fascinating conversation with one of the most inspiring artists in the world of adventure comics. The adventure continues!
