Planeta Inquietante

Now, Adolfo Rodriguez shares his insights on Planeta Inquietante:

Most of my comic book work for Area 51 revolves around the fictional universe of "Planeta Inquietante." This series serves as both a parody and homage to the Ancient Astronauts theory, popularized by Erich Von Däniken in the seventies.

Initially, "Planeta Inquietante" began as a script for a short film but evolved into a blog where the main character, Patrick Von Steiner, a devoted follower of Däniken's theories, narrated his adventures. Given the significant influence of the Ancient Astronaut concept on authors like Jack Kirby, it felt natural to explore this universe through comic books. As a writer, I also have a deep love for the medium.

In addition to comic books, I delve into sci-fi movies and shows, a theme closely tied to "Planeta Inquietante" and Mr. Steiner, who views pop culture as a powerful tool for unveiling the Truth, unaffected by the censorship of the oppressive Academy.

Our team consists of José Ramírez (magazine editor, letterer, and co-writer of the story "Two Planets on Danger"), Gustavo Rubio, Ángel Bernuy, Jen del Pozo, Conrado Martín (the artists), and myself as the writer.

Our workflow is relatively straightforward. I write the script and share it with the artist via email or Dropbox. Subsequently, I receive the designs, storyboards, and completed pages through the same digital channels. Finally, we submit the story to the magazine, where the texts, credits, and page numbers are added.

While I believe that comic books are gaining more attention nowadays, I wonder if publishers truly understand how to leverage this attention to attract more readers.

Furthermore, I believe that printed comic books and webcomics can coexist and even cross-promote. The reading experiences differ based on factors such as screen size and tactile engagement, and these differences should be taken into account when publishing. Ideally, a digital comic book should offer more than just a PDF version destined for print and should utilize the unique possibilities offered by digital devices.

I hold great admiration for Gustavo Rubio, an Argentine artist with whom I've had the pleasure of working, and I eagerly anticipate future collaborations. Additionally, Mike Deodato Jr., a talented Brazilian artist renowned for his work with DC Comics and Marvel, particularly stands out. He is among the many artists who rose to fame in the 90s and continues to produce exceptional runs on series like Avengers or Amazing Spider-Man.