Got It Covered: ACO's Mesmerizing 'American Ronin'
Nov 14, 2020
by Troy-Jeffrey Allen
“Since I was a child, I wanted to be a comic artist,” ACO tells PREVIEWSworld. Describing a childhood in Spain that was infused with global influences. “My first comics were Dragon Ball and Judge Dredd. Later, I discovered American comics and the Marvel Universe through Spider-man and the X-Men,” he continues. “From there, I became a reader and collector, mainly of American comics, but my taste is quite eclectic.”
The fact that comics always have been and remain a focal point for ACO should be no surprise. His talents seem very much at home here. His work on books such as the JLA/Doom Patrol Special and Nick Fury are absolutely mesmerizing and unmistakable: The propulsive panel work -- the way he designs gutters like street maps – how his villains all seem to have emerged from some sort of blacklight hell, and how his good guys embody an enviable supermodel swag! When you pick up an ACO comic, you’re getting an experience. A lesson in funny book dynamism, a geometric joy ride, and an art gallery showing. It’s all a feast for the eyes, but it never feels like too much. Matter of fact, it leaves you always wanting more. “Getting an impressive or attractive image while being minimalist is difficult,” he explains. “Especially playing with a very simple and saturated color palette. You have to draw the attention of potential readers. Sometimes, I think less is more.”
For many fans, ACO’s imagery garnered their attention in the early 2010s with his work on John Constantine, Midnighter, and Wonder Woman. Editors and readers took notice right away. Such talent isn’t cultivated overnight, however. “I started to work when I was barely 21 years old,” reveals ACO. “I started in the industry through an agent who gave me several jobs in American publishing houses.” “The beginning of my career [was] quite hard since I was very inexperienced and was not used to doing 20 pages a month, and even less inking them. Over the years, I began to make moves on my own, and, from 2013, I established myself in the industry, getting several projects for DC and Marvel.”
Which brings us to American Ronin from AWA. The subject of this installment of "Got It Covered" and, more importantly, the artist’s current project with writer Peter Milligan. “[AWA’s Chief Creative Officer] Axel Alonso reached out to talk about AWA and the possibility of working with people like Peter Milligan or Dean White,” recalls ACO. “That was already a great incentive and the idea of creating a new series from scratch seemed very attractive to me.”
To call American Ronin a spy comic is to sell it a bit short. While, yes, ACO and colorist Dean White seem to have a ball with the swankiness of it all, the creative team isn’t simply providing readers with another 007 homage. The book’s unnamed superspy is blessed and cursed with empathy. And by “blessed” I mean modified with nanites so that he can identify the emotional weaknesses of his targets. With five issues in the mini-series, you better believe it won’t be easy. Especially since those targets are heads of conglomerates. These dehumanizing multi-industry monsters have everything at their disposal. Including nightmarish troopers who proudly rock plague masks as they fire at will.
“The plague mask is always very striking,” ACO says, calling attention to the soldier on the cover of American Ronin#3 (above and below). “Seeing a soldier with it on suggests many ideas and concepts. To be honest, I made the covers from the synopsis of each issue in the book, and I don't know why I confused a part where [it said] 'soldiers with gas masks' [with] 'soldiers with plague masks.' The fact is that everyone liked it...that image was powerful enough to leave it on the cover. I think that in the end, we came out winning with my mistake."
Happy accidents aside, each cover to American Ronin is meant to generate a very visceral reaction. “In the series, we play a lot with people's fears and nightmares,” ACO continues. “[With the cover,] I wanted to draw the attention of the reader, to ask what was inside that comic. I wanted to convey concern and curiosity.”
And maybe that’s what makes the artwork of ACO (short for “Alex Cal Oliveira”) so effective. It’s his intent to drive your emotional response as a reader. Which makes him the perfect artist for a suspense comic about an empathic spymaster. Currently two issues in, American Ronin can already be declared a pop art spectacle. The combined might of writer Milligan, colorist White, and ACO is a real treat and a can't miss moment in comics. Be prepared to be blown away and emotionally spent.
American Ronin is currently being released by AWA. It is available at your local comic shop now.
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Troy-Jeffrey Allen is the producer and co-host of PREVIEWSworld Weekly. His comics work includes BAMN, Fight of the Century, the Harvey Award-nominated District Comics, and the Ringo Awards-nominated Magic Bullet.
