Mirembe Mubanda, one of our young bloggers, recently got the chance to read Alexis E. Fajardo’s graphic novel Kid Beowulf: The Rise of El Cid, and then talk to the author about his inspirations, his process, and writing multiple storylines. Read the interview below! Mirembe Mubanda: As a child, what were some of your favorite stories? Did they play a part in your inspiration to write Kid Beowulf: The Rise of El Cid? Alexis Fajardo: I’ve always loved mythology, in particular the Greek and Norse myths. One of my favorite books growing up was the D’Aulaire’s editions of Greek and Norse mythology; they were wonderfully written and illustrated. As a young reader I was particularly drawn to the Norse myths because they were always a little bloodier than the more refined Greek myths. Those stories were a gateway to epics like Beowulf and El Cid. MM: If you were to host a dinner party where you invited characters from different comics and graphic novels, whom would you invite, and why would you invite them? AF: This is a hard question! Hmm…I suppose first off we would need someone to cook the meal, and I think Phoney Bone (from the graphic novel BONE) is a pretty good cook. Then of course we need some good conversation, so I would invite Delilah Dirk (from the graphic novel series, Delilah Dirk), Tintin, and Asterix to tell me about all their adventures (and we’ll need plenty of food if Obelix and Captain Haddock come along too). Finally, I don’t want to do any dishes so I think we’ll probably need Smiley Bone in the kitchen to help Phoney clean up. MM: What was it like when the idea of writing The Rise of El Cid came to mind? AF: When I started the Kid Beowulf series I knew I wanted Beowulf and Grendel to interact with epic heroes from other countries, Spain was always on the list because of El Cid. I was also looking forward to writing The Rise of El Cid because part of my family is from Spain, so to weave in some of that history was important to me. One of my favorite parts of creating new stories is doing all the research. I love reading the source material (in this case, the epic poem El Cid) as well as histories and other stories related to the topic. The research is fun because it means all ideas are on the table. Eventually, the hard part of writing begins when I have to whittle away at the story until the story takes shape. I knew for the Rise of El Cid, I wanted to tell the story of how a Rodrigo Díaz becomes the great knight known as “El Cid” but must stay true to himself to achieve that title. MM: While creating Kid Beowulf: The Rise of El Cid, did you have a favorite character? If so, who and why? AF: There are a lot of fun characters in this book but one of my favorites is Rodrigo’s friend Pedro the mute. He is small, feisty, but never says a word! He has a slate board that he communicates with by drawing pictures on it; it was fun to come up with the different things he would have to say. I am also fond of Rodrigo’s horse, Babieca and especially enjoyed creating the part of the story where the two first meet. Horses are very hard to draw though so Babieca was a challenge. MM: On a scale of one through ten, how much is Kid Beowulf: The Rise of El Cid based on the poem El Cid? Why is it this number? AF: In the book there is a Prologue in which I retell the original epic poem and that is a solid “10.” The rest of the book is inspired by events in the epic poem, other stories about El Cid, as well as the history of the time. My story is intended to be a prequel to the events depicted in the epic poem. The research is pretty detailed and thorough and the history is mostly accurate, at the same time it’s an original story, especially the parts involving Beowulf and Grendel! MM: Kid Beowulf: The Rise of El Cid is the third graphic novel in the Kid Beowulf series. Which comic book did you enjoy writing the most? AF: Even though they are all part of the same series and we follow Beowulf and Grendel from one book to the next, each book is very different from the other. Book one is very much a fantasy that has elements of magic in it. Book two is a swashbuckling adventure story with some comedy thrown in. And book three is a more serious adventure with some romance and political intrigue. Each one has its own challenges and when I’m creating them I am fully invested in that adventure; it’s only after I’m finished when I can begin to judge them. That said, book two, The Song of Roland has some of my favorite characters and sequences in it and I always like coming back to that setting. MM: In Kid Beowulf:The Rise of El Cid there are three different story lines. Did you ever think of making only one? AF: Ha! There are multiple storylines in all my books! I think that’s because I try to create three-dimensional characters who have a lives and stories of their own…which can sometimes complicate plots. Ideally all the different storylines come together by the end of the big story; so in the case of El Cid, we have the story of Rodrigo Díaz which is very separate from what Beowulf and Grendel are doing however by the climax of the book all their storylines intersect and (hopefully) pay off. MM: Were any of the characters personalities based on yours or someone you know well? If so which characters and people? AF: I have a few friends who sometimes become the
Young Bloggers
Being a Fan
I was eight, just a third grader. It was June 2016. I had my mind full, because the Copa America Centenario was happening, and my team, Argentina, was doing well, and had a good chance of making it to the final. When I got home one afternoon, my dad said, “We’re going to the Copa America final at Metlife! I have tickets!” I couldn’t believe my ears. I could be watching Argentina play in the final, live! That weekend, I watched Argentina vs. U.S.A. – the semi-final – with anticipation. After ninety minutes of waiting, I knew I was going to see my favorite international soccer team play, with my favorite player: Lionel Messi! The next week was the longest week I could remember. I went from counting the days, to hours, to minutes. Finally, the big night arrived! As we arrived at the Metlife Stadium, I heard the announcer talking about how you should drink Pepsi, and how they sponsored the game. I stepped into the stadium. Many smells filled my nostrils: hot dogs, burgers, chicken and so many other things. But I didn’t want any of it. I was too nervous to eat. I looked around. The stadium was huge! Each floor was packed with vendors that were selling all of these delicious things, and hundreds of people trying to find their seats. All of the Argentinian and Chilean fans were chanting in Spanish, the Argentinians in blue, the Chileans in red. Even though I couldn’t understand what they were saying, I could feel the strength in their singing, the passion. I was one of those fans. A few years before, my dad’s friend from work had given me my first Argentina shirt, with Messi’s name on the back. When I got that shirt, I didn’t know who Messi really was, but since that day, I had followed his career and watched Argentina play many times. Now Messi was my idol, and Argentina was my team. I had to pinch myself to believe that I was actually going to see him play in less than an hour! After a completely excruciating 40 minutes of waiting, while the two teams warmed up and my nerves took over, the game began. The first 10 minutes of the game were very even and then Argentina took control of the ball and I started to relax. I was about to ask my dad for something to eat, when an Argentinian, Marcos Rojo, fouled a Chilean player and got a red card! My heart sank. How could Argentina win the final when they had one less player than Chile? That thought got stuck in my head until a Chilean player also got a red card, and the teams were even once again. The rest of the first half went by with little action and so did the second half. Because the score was still 0-0, and the teams couldn’t share the trophy, they played another 30 minutes of soccer. For the first time that day, that week, the reality dawned on me that Argentina might not win, but I pushed that thought away. I believed too much in this team for them to let me down. I sat on the edge of my seat until extra time was over. There was still no score. It was down to a penalty shootout. Messi was going to take the first penalty for Argentina, but it was Chile’s turn first. Everyone in the crowd in front of me was standing up, blocking my view, so I had to listen to the crowd to know whether or not the Chilean player had scored. Penalty shootouts are usually a 50-50 battle, so there was no way of knowing who would win. Suddenly, a roar from the Chilean fans filled the stadium. He had scored. A sinking feeling tried to penetrate my confidence, but I wouldn’t let it. I had believed in this team for too long for them to let me down now. Then it was Argentina’s turn. “Piece of cake,” I muttered to myself, as Messi got ready to take the penalty. The whole crowd became silent, just like they were holding their breath. Out of nowhere, everyone gasped, and I saw the best player in the world bury his face in his hands and walk away to his team. He had missed! Tears started to pool in my eyes. He was the player that I’d wanted to see play more than anyone. And he’d let me down. I didn’t even care if Argentina won anymore. “He missed,” my dad said breathlessly. “I … I know,” I stuttered back. My dad and I stood and watched as Chile won the penalty shootout and the tournament. My eyes became two faucets, and poured and poured. I got up from the slippery plastic seat and cried, “I don’t want to see them lift it!” (the trophy). “Okay, okay. We’ll go then,” said my dad. The train ride went by very quickly because I slept like a baby. It was, after all, 1:00am. As we pulled into Penn Station, my eyes popped open, and I was removed from dreamland. After the taxi ride home, just as my dad and I walked into the apartment my mom said,“I’m sorry.” I felt like throwing my Copa America scarf against the wall and storming into my room. I felt like giving up on Messi and Argentina for good. I wanted to do so many things because of the way I was feeling. But I didn’t do any of them. Instead, I walked over to my mom and gave her a hug… As I lay my head on my pillow, I thought about what had happened at the Metlife Stadium. Messi was probably feeling way worse than I was. I thought of all the amazing goals I had seen him score before on TV. I couldn’t stop liking him because of one bad penalty. I knew I’d be cheering for Argentina again the
A Day in the Life in the Amazon Rainforest
The rainforest is one of the most complex and interesting places on earth. It is also full of energy. This energy comes from the plants which are eaten by other organisms known as primary consumers, which in turn are eaten by secondary consumers. The energy continues to travel up the food chain until it reaches the apex predator, at this point there is not much energy left. As the sun rises, consumers like macaws and harpy eagles begin chirping and screeching. Meanwhile, the jaguar sets out to the swamp in search of caiman, a reptile like the crocodile. However, another predator is already there. The green anaconda. The conflict between the green anaconda and the jaguar is an example of competition. This mighty snake can weigh up to 550 pounds and can swallow a pig easily. When this massive snake comes into conflict with the 3rd largest big cat, who will come out alive? The jaguar tries an ambush attack, but the anaconda shakes the jaguar off and begin wrapping around the jaguars’ chest. The jaguar begins scratching and kicking at the anaconda, drawing blood. The hurt and exhausted snake recoils and tries to flee. However, the jaguar grabs the anaconda and preforms a skull bite killing the snake instantly. Then, it begins to hunt caiman… Not so far away, a colony of leafcutter ants is gathering leaves from producers like a jackfruit tree. The ants are doing this, so they can obtain some of the energy the leaf got from the sun. In other words, eating it. However, the journey back to their nest is dangerous, as 10 feet, away lies an anteater. The anteater immediately starts trotting to the line of ants. It then proceeds to eat, that is until a harpy eagle begins chasing it. Still the dangers are not over yet. The phorid fly is a tiny insect that attacks the leafcutter ants and lays its eggs on the ant’s head. When the larva matures, the head of the ant detaches. This is an example of parasitism. The ant will soon be consumed by decomposers, such as worms, fungi and bacteria. It is midday, when a macaw is out searching for food. Suddenly it spies a banana tree. It starts flying toward it when suddenly a puma lunges out. The macaw barely dodges. The puma aims another swipe at the macaw. This time the puma’s paw slightly cut the macaws wing. The puma is about to deliver the killing blow, when suddenly it spots another predator. The jaguar. The jaguar doesn’t normally eat macaws, but it takes opportunities for a chance to eat. These two animals normally stay out of each other’s way. However, both animals are hungry, and they are ready to fight. Perhaps, this will give the macaw a chance to escape from predation. Indeed, it does. While the cats fight the bird escapes. Whatever cat dies shall feed the scavengers such as millipedes and phorid flies although a fight will take place. The interesting things in a rainforest are not limited to the bugs and animals. The tall trees in a rainforest mean that the other plants can’t get enough sunlight. However, the orchid has evolved to solve this problem. The orchid has evolved so that it can grow on a tree. This helps the orchid get sunlight and the tree does not care at all. This known as commensalism. As the sun sets, a lone capuchin monkey wonders about looking for bananas or flowering trees. When it spots one the monkey begins climbing toward it. The monkey quickly devours the pollen. In the process the monkey spreads seeds everywhere (annoying a caiman while doing that). The plant gives the monkey food and the monkey spreads its seeds around. Both benefit so this is a mutual relationship. Perhaps, more of the seeds would have been scattered had it not been for a harpy eagle snatching the monkey away.
