Q&As// Red Star Creator: Christian Gossett

SPOnG: As you have been involved with both video games and art, what are your thoughts on the age-old debate that the two forms are one and the same?

Christian Gossett: There are very few human disciplines that cannot be elevated to an art form if the persons practicing that discipline are passionate enough about what they are doing.


SPOnG: A lot of comic book writers have recently taken a stab at the video games industry. Do you feel that games have stunted the growth of the comic book industry or do you think that they can both co-exist, with one perhaps even facilitating the brand of another?

Christian Gossett: I'm an optimist, so I only ever see what is possible. There is this funny thing that happened to me a few years ago. I was talking to a bitter old writer who tried to convince me that children's books were going to be dead within the decade. A few months later no one could stop talking about that 'Harry Potter' kid. Bitterness is a bad habit. Right now there is some artist out there that is struggling to get out of bed that may just have the comic book idea that can make them a star.


SPOnG: Speaking on your career within and outside video games, what has been your proudest work and achievement? The creation of Darth Maul’s double light-sabre must get you plenty of free pints down the pub.

Christian Gossett: I'm very proud of that idea - my first drawing of a double-edged light-sabre was approved by George Lucas in 1993 and first nationally published in 'Sci-fi Universe' magazine in 1994 - and of the other rare light-sabres I designed that didn't make it into the prequels.

As for proudest work achievements, working alongside the Weta Workshop design team under the direction of Richard Taylor is the one that comes to mind. The Weta Workshop approach is so unique and so focused. I don't feel like I was a professional until they taught me what the word meant.


SPOnG: Where do you see The Red Star going as a comic franchise in a year or two’s time? More video game adaptations? Merchandise? A tie-in movie? Do you also plan on continuing to work in video games in the future?

Christian Gossett: The most important thing to us is to finish telling this chapter of the saga. There have been three graphic novels (or 'story arcs' as we say in comics) and we are working on our fourth and fifth right now. With the new stories being digitally painted by the Weta Workshop, it is a very exciting time for The Red Star creatively.

The telling of our story is what has brought us what success we have, so that will continue to be our main focus. Whichever medium we can expand into is fine, but we're keeping our sights on the message.

Many thanks to Christian Gossett for his time. The Red Star is due for release on PS2 on the 27th April, those who love a great comic-inspired action shooter should check it out.