Get Graphic: The Rebel Heart of Joyce Chin's 'Octobriana'
Oct 18, 2021
Art by Joyce Chin
Interview by Troy-Jeffrey Allen
First hitting the pop culture zeitgeist in 1971, Octobriana was created by Russian artists Bohumil Konečný, Zdeněk Burian, and Petr Sadecky. A byproduct of communist ideals, it was important to the creators that their Russian superhero be shared with the world. Jump forward 50 years later, and everyone from Cartoonists Kayfabe's Jim Rugg to David Bowie has utilized her imagery in their respective creative outlets.
This brings us to artist Joyce Chin and her role in Dead Good Comics' Octobriana With Love (SEP211446). Joyce is one of several talented artists featured in this upcoming anthology series. In the following interview, she takes us behind her creative process and shares her thoughts on the character.
PREVIEWSworld: Firstly, who are you and where do hail from?
Joyce Chin: I’m Joyce Chin and my origin story begins in San Francisco, California.
PREVIEWSworld: How did you get into comic art?
Joyce Chin: My Mother actually got me into comics. She’d found them incredibly helpful when she was learning English as an adult. So, growing up there were always comic books in the house, and one of my first memories is actually her reading a comic book to me through the bars of my crib. Since I could draw, seemed like a good fit. I was definitely an oddball in the 90s when I got hired by DC for my first job as a Penciller.
PREVIEWSworld: So what is your contribution to Octobriana With Love? What can you tell us about it?
Joyce Chin: I was asked for a cover, and there were so many elements to love about Octobriana, it was actually a bit hard to choose what to include in the cover!
PREVIEWSworld: How did you get involved with the anthology?
Joyce Chin: The multidimensional access of my email box delivered a query from [Octobriana With Love editor] Stu Taylor.
PREVIEWSworld: How did you and go about making the character of Octobriana your own?
Joyce Chin: She’s just the sort of Rock and Roll tough as nails woman I adore drawing. I tried to convey a sense of confident aggressiveness with a hint of humor in my cover.
PREVIEWSworld: What do you find to be cool about Octobriana?
Joyce Chin: Her long, weird history, and her absolute rebel heart.
If you've enjoyed discovering the artwork of Joyce Chin then be sure to give her a follow on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Octobriana With Love (SEP211446) hits comic shops on November 10, 2021 courtesy of Dead Good Comics.
More from Joyce below.
For more info about Octobriana With Love, see below. And be sure to check out our previous interviews for Octobriana With Love with artists Stephen Byrne and Simon Fraser.
Keep an eye on PREVIEWSworld.com's Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, or Instagram for more artist spotlights!
Billy Idol has a tattoo of her.
And now, 50 years since her debut, celebrate the return of one of the most enigmatic comic book characters that you've never heard of...
OCTOBRIANA WITH LOVE is an all-star, 64-page, full color softcover graphic novel, celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the cult underground Russian superhero by an exciting mix of creative talent.
For centuries, immortal warrior woman Octobriana has been the champion of the oppressed. Leading a rag-tag group of freedom fighters, Octobriana travels the dimensional highways in her Wonder Machine, disrupting authoritarian regimes, overturning tyrants... and gate-crashing the best parties!
In OCTOBRIANA WITH LOVE, Octobriana and her underground take on a daring rescue mission above the skies of a near future Britain to rescue Lucretia Hussain, a young vlogger destined to be a figurehead for a future revolution. To correct the course of history Octobriana clashes with her ancient nemesis Baba Yaga, leading Octobriana to relive her past and setting the stage for a whole new universe of adventures.
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Troy-Jeffrey Allen is the producer and co-host of PREVIEWSworld Weekly. He is also the Consumer Marketing Manager for Geppi Family Enterprises. Troy's comics work includes MF DOOM: All Caps, Public Enemy's Apocalpyse '91, the Glyph Award-nominated Fight of the Century, the Harvey Award-nominated District Comics, and the Ringo Award-nominated Magic Bullet. |
