With the release of The All-Nighter #1 and The All-Nighter #2 digitally today and also available as part of the comiXology Originals program, we are delighted to be joined by artist Jason Loo. Jason is the creator of The Pitiful Human-Lizard comic but has worked on numerous comics including, Razorblades, Kill Shakespeare, X-Corp and multi-award-winning Afterlift.
As some of our readers may not be familiar with your work, could you please tell us about yourself?
I created Toronto’s pretty decent superhero the PITIFUL HUMAN-LIZARD which I both wrote and drew for five years with 22 issues. Then Chip Zdarsky asked if I wanted to be the artist and co-creator for our creator-owned series AFTERLIFT (ComiXology Originals) which won us an Eisner! So I went from being pitiful to an Eisner winner!
When you read the script for The All-Nighter, what did you think?
Before there was a script, Chip asked me ideas on what I’d want to work on, I suggested a family of vampires from different backgrounds who operate an all-night diner, just trying to survive the daily grind without killing people for blood. I also said to him, ‘no superheroes!” Because I felt content about not having to draw superheroes after wrapping up an offbeat superhero series like Pitiful Human-Lizard and winning an award on AFTERLIFT that had nothing to do with them. So when I got the script and read that these vampires will be dressing up as superheroes, I felt so reluctant to get into it. But the more I got into working on it, I was having lots of fun with it. Chip made me love superheroes again!
How would you describe The All-Nighter?
The All-Nighter is set in a world where the idea of superheroes are fictional, but monsters are real and hiding among us. There’s a rule that monsters cannot interfere with the human society or else they’ll be eternally banished from this realm. The All-Nighter diner staff Alex and Joy are bored vampires that figure out they can get away with doing vampire things by dressing up as superheroes and fighting bad guys. But their actions gain some attention and other monsters are getting similar ideas that would put a lot of people in danger, especially the ones Alex and Joy are trying to protect.
You are working with the same creative team that worked on the Afterlift graphic novel; what has it been like working with them on The All-Nighter?
Working with Chip, Paris Alleyne, Aditya Bidikar, and especially our editor Allison O’Toole has been a blessing. Especially since I’ve known Chip, Paris, and Allison for years in the Toronto comics community. Aside from being one of my best friends, Allison was my editor for The Pitiful Human-Lizard and a bunch of other comic projects. She’s our Ted Lasso of our team who brings so much positivity and encouragement. Paris is another best friend who I hang out regularly at our drink and draws who is a phenomenal artist. He can work with any style when it comes to coloring and bring the right atmosphere and mood to the scene. I’ve yet to meet Aditya in person but his lettering work is delightful. He’s an expert when it comes to placing the right voice tone with his choice of typefaces. And we already know how much of a darling Chip is to the world!
The All-Nighter has horror elements; as an artist, was that something you enjoyed illustrating?
Definitely! Especially the fact that we are reimagining some of our favorite monsters in a world that’s close to our own. I wanted to make these characters look grounded and real.
The cover of the first issue of The All-Nighter has the character called Nightshock on it; can you talk us through the design elements of his costume?
Alex is super geeky into superhero comics and films, so when I was designing his costume, I wanted the costume itself to look as cool as Batman’s, but he’ll look dorky when he’s actually wearing it. So there are wider eye slots in his mask and his tights reveal his very lean body. He’s even wearing two layers of capes!
How did the comic find a home at comiXology Originals?
After the success of our last project AFTERLIFT winning an Eisner, I guess comiXology and our team want to see if we can make lightning strike twice. I’m really happy with our working relationship with the comiXology team, especially Chip Mosher, and I’m sure they feel it’s mutual.
Do you have a favourite scene from the first issue?
The action in the warehouse scene.
Does Chip send you a full script for each issue?
He does. And then I send all the pencilled pages all at once. Then the inks. Then repeat.
You are creating all of the art for the comic; how long does it take you to complete an issue?
It takes me roughly 2 weeks to pencil 20 pages and cover and then another two weeks for the inks.
What are you currently reading?
I’ve been enjoying Tom Taylor’s Nightwing series. I also love Bruno Redondo’s art. It’s a great, fun DC series to jump into without having to know years of continuity.
Any message for the ComicBuzz readers?
If you want to see what else I’ve been working on, you can follow me on Twitter and IG at @Rebel_Loo.
We would like to say a big thank you to Jason for sitting and chatting with us. We wish him and the rest of his team the best of luck with the release of The All-Nighter comic. Feel free to check out both issues of The All-Nighter comic, digitally here. It is also available as part of the comiXology Originals program.
