DF Interview: Sal Abbinanti brings readers his decade-long passion, ‘The Hostage’ OGN, now on Kickstarter

By Byron Brewer

The Hostage tells the story of a group of street kids who are abandoned by society. Dying every day from poverty and gang violence, the kids join together and summon a mystical spirit – The Hostage – which will protect them and avenge the deaths of their friends.

Loosely inspired by the culture and religions of Brazil like the Umbanda and the Candomblé, illustrator/writer Sal Abbinanti has been building the world of this graphic novel in his studio for over 10 years: sketching characters, designing panels, and scripting pages. His unique art style and vibrant color choices create a spellbinding effect.

DF learned of his project and wanted to get in on the excitement as the campaign for The Hostage, now on Kickstarter, begins in earnest. So we sat down with creator Sal Abbinanti to discuss this labor of love.

Dynamic Forces: Sal, this graphic novel The Hostage is obviously a passion project for you. Tell readers about your passion – for this story, for comic book art itself.

Sal Abbinanti: Byron, I wanted to go in the front door and work in the comics industry, but they didn’t want what I was selling, the house style clearly wasn’t my work. That’s when you either move on or get mad. I decided I wasn’t going to let the rejection stop me from drawing comics. For me, it wasn’t a choice, drawing is the only thing that will shut up the voices in my head.

DF: Without spoilers, what can you tell us about The Hostage?

Sal Abbinanti: The Hostage is set in the streets of Rio de Janeiro. The homeless children are being eradicated by killing squads like rodents. The locals see them as a nuisance. These kids have no food, nowhere to sleep, no one to protect them. The Hostage is the mythic spirit that rises when the blood of a murdered child enters the soil of Brazil.

DF: Talk about your opportunity, finally, to put pen to paper on this graphic novel.

Sal Abbinanti: I worked on The Hostage for more than ten years on and off because I knew it was an important personal story. You don’t take on any indie project for the money. One does it because it’s a personal creative take that you feel that only you can convey as an artist. When Covid hit, I knew it was time to grind and finish it once and for all and put it out.

DF: I know besides being a talented artist and writer, you represent some iconic artists. Will you be doing the sole art on this OGN, or will you have some help from some well-known comic book art veterans?

Sal Abbinanti: I feel this is too personal a project to ask other artists to contribute storytelling pages. That said, Alex Ross and other creators have been tremendously supportive and I’m certainly not crazy enough to say no. It’s very cool to see other artists take on one’s own characters, it gives the narrative a deeper mythology.

DF: When all is said and done, what do you as creator hope readers take away from the book?

Sal Abbinanti: I’m just hoping comic readers will give it a look. I know how loyal comic readers can be to their characters and many regretfully do not buy indie comics. But I guarantee you The Hostage isn’t like anything you’ve ever seen before as a comic reader.

DF: Sal, I know a Kickstarter program is ongoing for The Hostage. Tell us about the campaign and how readers might learn more.

Sal Abbinanti: I wasn’t sure about Kickstarter, but upon looking into it I was shocked by how great a creator can present his product direct to the consumer.

Stretch goals are very important for supporters. I was fortunate to have some amazing creators contribute – Alex Ross, Bill Sienkiewicz, Geof Darrow, Sanjulian, Eric Powell, Jeffrey Alan Love – lithographs and printed postcards. It was important to me to allow supporters to also be able to acquire a one-of-a-kind original piece of art by me. I’m offering hand-painted postcards as well as 11 by 17 full color original art with some of the stretch goal tiers. Also, sticker and bookmark levels as well as I wanted The Hostage to be available to the Brazilian comic market so we offer a PDF version of The Hostage in English and in Portuguese.

I want to thank everyone that has come out to support The Hostage, small or large. Believe me, any and all support is very much appreciated. Thank you very much for letting me share my work.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/420812560/the-hostage-a-graphic-novel-by-sal-abbinanti?ref=nav_search&result=project&term=the%20hostage

Dynamic Forces would like to thank Sal Abbinanti for taking time out of his busy schedule to answer our questions. The campaign for The Hostage is currently ongoing on Kickstarter.

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