Interview with Richard Domínguez of El Gato Negro

If you have been following us for a while, then we hope you’ve enjoyed our article dedicated to the Top 10 Superheroes in Latinamerica because today we have a new article that came out from this one. One of the heroes that we included on that list was El Gato Negro (The Black Cat), also known as the Nocturnal Warrior.

The character was created by Richard Domínguez, an American author that for many years has been submerged in the world of comic books and nowadays is regarded as one of the most important artists on the field. We had the chance of talking with him on an exclusive interview for Mishës.

Mishës

Hola Richard!

Richard

Hey bro!…

Mishës

How’re you? It’s an honor to meet you…

Richard

Same here.

Mishës

How are things going up there?

Richard

I’m in Texas; we’re just now getting cooler weather since it’s been in the 100′s all of august.

Mishës

Oh I see, and besides that, how’s everything going?

Richard

Everyday life, wife working (she’s a teacher), kids going to school, and me…working in the house…trying to finish the pencils for War of the Independents…and trying to dig up the old original pages of EGN #1 and see if I can change the English words and translating it to Spanish…

Mishës

Oh that’s great, if you need any help with the translation just let me know.

Richard

I might take you up on that…

Mishës

Btw, I’ve been reading a lot about EGN…I read about Narcilina!!!.

Richard

Such as…?

Mishës

That she’s from Colombia, just like us!

Richard

Oh really…???, that’s great!.

Mishës

Ok then, though I’m not a journalist and making interviews is not my specialty, on behalf of all our fans and EGN fans, I’d love to ask you a few questions.

Richard

I’m ready when you are… and have you’ve check out “Nocturnal Warrior: The Legacy of El Gato Negro Film/Movie” page in Facebook?

Mishës

OH! No I haven’t!

Richard

There are actors/actress who I would like to play my characters…

Mishës

Jeez!!!. I thought you were just in the primarily negotiations…

Richard

The actress who I would like to play Narci is from Colombia…These are just my “Dream Team”: Official El Gato Negro Facebook Page

Mishës

Carolina Sandino, yeah, she’s probably the biggest Colombian star in films…Dave Navarro would be awesome as El Graduado!!!..Yeah, the cast looks great, I’m not sure about Antonio Banderas however…although he might play a nice role as the officer Bustamonte.

Richard

Regardless, it would be a kick-ass high grossing movie… both English and Spanish versions

Mishës

Oh yeah! I’ll be looking forward to see it… So besides the movie, what other plans do you have in mind for EGN?

Richard

Besides the reboot the comics in Spanish, the movie, and crossovers with other characters in comic books… I also want to a comic strip in Spanish for newspapers in Latin America and continue with my web comic…

Mishës

It seems like you have almost everything covered, so is there any chance we’re going to see a Team Tejas reunion/film any time soon?

Richard

My writer, Michael Moore, who lives in Austin, Tx. helped me developed the characters in Team Tejas, is currently writing a graphic novel with someone (hopefully) to provide the art for it.

Mishës

That’s awesome Richard!, and what about your colleague Efren Molina?, is he still working with you?…

Richard

Efren is a mysterious fellow, sort of your “Latino Steve Ditko”…a very private man. Although, he provided a good majority of art for “El Gato Negro, Nocturnal Warrior” completing almost two full issues of it. Then, he had gotten very ill…I quickly had to retrieved the original art and pick up where he left off…and finished his pencils and also did the inks.

Mishës

Man that’s sad, I hope he can get back on his feet very soon. So far the art I have seen on the new EGN issues shows an impressive quality. Regarding this aspect, are you still working using the classic ink and pencil techniques or are you starting to incorporate digital elements in your work?

Richard

The only think I use “digital elements” is the gray shading and lettering. Everything else is on by hand…I’m too much of a traditionalist. I meant: “done by hand”. The old pioneers of the comic book industry did it the old fashioned way, and they made it look good…I feel that it should be done that way as well.

Mishës

Yeah you’re right, despite all the new tools and gadgets that are being released every day, there’s a timeless magic that can only be achieved by following the traditional style. So I guess you have a large collection of pens, inks and papers in your studio haha.

Richard

I have a mini museum…And that’s something that computers cannot do.

Mishës

I know, I also have furniture filled with paintings, brushes, papers and more! Because many people (especially children) are starting to adopt new technologies such as tablets, have you considered releasing a digital version of EGN exclusively for reaching that audience?

Richard

If you go to webcomicsnation.com and look for the “superhero” genre, you find the web comic version of EGN…

Mishës

It seems like you’re always a step ahead of the events, just like our Nocturnal Warrior hero!!!…

Richard

HAHAHA, yes…he’s also called “The Latino Batman” which is a HUGH compliment!

Mishës

That’s awesome! If we compare both characters, probably the only thing missing is a Batgirl or a Robin? Is there a chance that Narcilina will be adopting a secret identity on the future?

Richard

No, but we are developing a Latina character with a strong personality and might be a anti-hero type…like Elektra (in Daredevil) and like Catwoman (in Batman). When you check out the web comic…you’ll see a very unique villain in there…He’s Brazilian.

Mishës

Yeah, he seems kind of cool!, I guess he’s going to make our hero dance at the rhythm of his “samba”…

Richard

He’s the master of caprioa (I think I’ve misspelled it), and carries two samurai swords and has two “camera lens” in place of his real eyes…and dresses up like The Shadow.

Mishës

He seems really dangerous and a little maniac…

Richard

Known as The Observer, the Sightless Assassin! He uses his camera lenses and takes pictures of your fighting skills and stores them in his mind.

Mishës

I guess he has some sort of super intelligence skills in order to learn all their enemies’ moves, right?

Richard

And he anticipates all your moves before you can do them. Am I revealing too much? Well, check it out and you’ll know what I mean…

Mishës

Well this is going to be read by real comic book fans, so I think we’re OK …Hey you have created some very unique characters, where does your inspiration come from?

Richard

Years of reading comic books…especially both Batman and Spider-Man, because both have a colorful array of super-villains…enough to make Dick Tracy green with envy. And as well as the urban superheroes, like Daredevil, Nightwing, The Spirit, The Shadow, The Crimson Avenger, Zorro and The Phantom…

Mishës

It’s so nice you put the last two along all these famous superheroes, El Zorro and The Phantom are huge in all Latin America, everyone loves them…

Richard

Those heroes who don’t rely on “superpowers”, mostly their own physical strength and their wits. I would like for EGN to be amongst them to be popular in Latin America…Those kind of superheroes…are the REAL HEROES!

Mishës

Yeah! That’s definitely one of the reasons why we chose EGN as one of the Top Ten Heroes in Latin America, he’s definitely an inspiration for many people out there… and what does people think about EGN and all your characters in the US?.

Richard

He’s popular in mostly all of Texas and especially in South Texas. In the West Coast and Spanish Harlem in New York. Puerto Rico likes EGN and England as well as Japan. But my new target is now South of the Border and Beyond.

Mishës

Well things might be easy on this moment, it’s been a while since a new and fresh character hits the tabloids, I’m sure Latin people that haven’t heard about EGN are going to love the story.

Richard

I think they’re ready for EGN.

Mishës

Yes Sir, it’s time for the Nocturnal Warrior to take over the streets of Latin America! Regarding the film, is there any date yet or are you still working on the script?.

Richard

From what I’ve heard, “they” are still working on the story treatment. Unfortunately, I didn’t approve the first draft.

Mishës

Oh that blows, but I think we can wait all the time you need because in the end, I’m sure that the EGN adaptation can become something huge!!!.

Richard

I have an agent working on this from Chicago. He’s the same agent who has Mike Mignola (creator of Hellboy)…

Mishës

Oh that’s a real big name; I hope they can make EGN to look just like all his fans have always imagined him.

Richard

Let’s hope so.

Mishës

Well Richard, congratulations for all the nice work you’ve been doing throughout these years, you have become a true symbol for many young artists both in Latin America and the USA.

Richard

I also teach “Cartoon & Comic Book Class” at a middle school in Dallas twice a week in an afterschool program.

Mishës

That’s amazing!!!, now we can be sure that the EGN legacy will prevail for many years, so I guess we might expect a new generation taking over EGN role…

Richard

I think my son have first dibs on that…LOL! At least that’s what he’s tells me…

Mishës

Hahaha, that’s nice…well Richard, thanks a lot for giving us this small interview, is there any advice that you would like to share with all the young artists in Latin America that are planning to pursue a career on this field?…

Richard

Yes, if this is something that you really want…it has to be in your blood, in your heart, in your life…”Con todo ganas, si se puede!” With all your desires…you can make it happen!

Mishës

Well then, we will continue to follow all the adventures of EGN and his friends!…

Richard

I had a great time spending time with you.

Mishës

Same here Richard, thanks a lot for your time and we’ll see you soon!

Richard

Thanks.

Mishës

Bye!…

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