Kyriazis talks "Jared" at "MySpace Dark Horse Presents"

CBR

By Emmett Furey

Published Feb 22, 2008

One of this month's new features on "MySpace Dark Horse Presents" is "Jared," a story that Greek writer-artist Ilias Kyriazis describes as "Realit Bites" meets "Robotech." CBR News spoke with Kyriazis about his first American work.

"MySpace Dark Horse Presents" #7 is online now

"MySpace Dark Horse Presents" is the new, free and online version of the classic Dark Horse anthology spotlighting new talent and brand new work from some of comics' most exciting names. This month's issue #7 features original stories by Gilbert Hernandez, Fábio Moon & Gabriel Bá, Avrid Nelson & Juan Ferreyra, and newcomer Ilias Kyriazis. The native of Athens, Greece is the creative force behind "Jared," and CBR News sat down with the writer/artist to talk about his first foray into American comics.

Intriguingly, Kyriazis describes "Jared" as a cross between "Reality Bites" and "Robotech." "Jared, a 20-something slacker, tries to win over the beautiful Claire," Kyriazis told CBR News. "But Jared is in fact a life-like robot controlled by a crew of tiny, alien pilots living inside him, sent to Earth to experience human life. It's a funny, little love story with a twist."

Panels from Jared

Prior to "Jared," Kyriazis' comics work has been limited to the borders of Greece. "I think my two most popular works are 'Manifesto,' an on-going semi-autobiographical story about love, comics and life at 25, and 'Blood Opera,' a revenge story set three days before the end of the world," Kyriazis said.

The author has nothing but good things to say about his Greek fans, but Kryiazis grew up on American comics, and is influenced heavily by the Hernandez brothers, Frank Miller, Alan Moore, Peter Bagge and Dan Clowes. "It's practically impossible to make a living as a comic artist in Greece," admitted Kyriazis. With that in mind, he set aside enough money to afford a trip to California for Comic-Con International in 2007. "I've been to Europe's Angouleme comics festival but [Comic-Con] was completely mind blowing. I'm sure I was acting like a little kid in a candy shop all the time. There was this feeling of love for comics that was intoxicating. I cannot wait to go again."

Panels from "Jared"

"The most important thing for me was meeting all these artists I grew up admiring and hanging out with super-talented new creators," Kyriazis continued. It was at the 2007 San Diego convention that the writer/artist had the opportunity to show his work to Dark Horse editor Scott Allie. Allie told Kyraizis about the then-soon-to-be-launched "MySpace Dark Horse Presents," and the rest is history. "You cannot imagine how glad I was when I got the e-mail asking me to do a story for them!" Kyraizis said.

Kyriazis fully intends to continue his career in American comics, and would love to work with Dark Horse again, and is working hard to see that his first foray into American comics is not his last. "I have lots of stories I want to tell, from superhero epics to quiet, little dramas," Kyriazis said. "Many years from now I want to feel like I've traveled all over the comics landscape and tried many, many different things. That or to write and draw 'The Avengers.'"

"Jared" is featured on "MySpace Dark Horse Presents" right now.

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