Q: Afterschool Charisma deals with a lot of issues: destiny vs. freewill, clones vs. humans, and progeny v. progenitor. Did you intend for readers to think about these things? How did you come up with the concept for the series?
A: To be honest, I never really thought about it. I had the idea that a manga in which lots of great personages appeared would be interesting, so I made them clones and put them all into the same world.
However, the clone element is getting stronger than the great figures element, so it may develop more along the lines of fate vs. freewill.
Panel from the series showing Ikkyu, Napoleon, Freud, Joan of Arc, Florence Nightingale, and Elizabeth I.
Q: Which of the characters are you having the most fun with? Which characters do you think your readers are having the most fun with?
A: The most fun character to draw is the director. I think that's because he's an original character so I can draw him however I want. I would guess that both male and female readers love Freud the most…
Q: How did you create high-school personalities for these historic figures? For example, Freud seems a bit arrogant. Is this how you imagine the "original" young Freud to have acted? And do you ever plan on introducing modern characters to the story?
A: My basic idea of Freud is that he's moody and lecherous. On the surface, he may appear unreserved, but inside he's bursting with eros.
Q: How did you get your start creating manga? Did you always know
you wanted to be a mangaka?
A: I think I started drawing manga after I turned 20. But I never actually tried to become a mangaka. I just noticed one day that my job was manga. It's weird.
A shot of Suekane sensei's work desk.
Q: Not only are you a manga artist, but you've also worked as a video game designer. Do you game? And how has one experience influenced the other?
A: I play lots of handheld games, for the DS and PSP, for example.
Game designers and mangaka are alike in that they both create content for consumers. I don't know how other mangaka do it, but rather than make what I want to make and hope people buy it, I make a product with a certain type of people in mind that I want to buy it. That mindset is the same.
Q: Afterschool Charisma is your third series to be published in the
U.S. (Once Upon a Glashma in 2007 and Blood+A this year). Now that you've gained an English-speaking audience, is there anything in particular you'd like to say to them?
A: To be honest, I'm not really well-versed in cultural differences. I really worry over whether audiences in other countries will find my manga interesting, so I'll be happy if they do enjoy them.
Come to think of it, I'd like to know which great figure is most popular! Let me know!
Merry Christmas from St. Kleio!
