February 2004.

Hello. I've found quite nothing about you on internet. So, first, could you introduce yourself? What was your way to comics?

Hello. Well, comics ARE my life, what can I say more? You can't find much on the net about me, because I didn't need it. I've been a professional for a long-long years although always being carefull with choice of the work...So, part of the answer goes there...I sacrificed a lot with this attitude, but I still think that it's better not to do something if you don't believe in it, ESPECIALLY comics, because I respect it too much (and did have some bad experiences)...And existentially speaking - in my ex-country ("Ex-Yugoslavia") being good doesn't mean much, even if you are "officially" prized, and "very" good...so...;

Your work is not really known in France. Have u published in other country?

Well, I live in Barcelona Spain for twelve years now, so - Spain, Ex-Yugoslavia, United States & more, and besides I did a lot for animation-universe regarding story-boards (for Spain, Italy, Denmark...). Did a lot of publicity stuff for the likes of Honda, Science Museums, Music Festivals, and too many to number, but, my real life all this time were - and are comics (I don't know how this sounds for somebody from France, that has incredibly long and vital period of "the best" in comics, but for me it's simply reality...And, reality - the onliest choice you have is to get used of)...

You're from ex-Yugoslavia and you don't speak french. Is it hard to do comics for an audience who may not have the same cultural references than yours?

Well, it's inspiring, to say the least. So, really not hard, even if it needs alot of work. In Glénat I really feel accepted, and this is the basic part for creating "your universe". I've always felt that - spending so much time with French comics, I know them very good, and we're "friends", so the only thing is that French comic didn't know me, and that's all...So - THATS what I'm working on...The difference in cultural references could be the good part, because we all are human beings, and that's more than enough fact...Kusturica is a really good example...;

For France, Howard Blake would be your first comics alone (writing and drawing). What difference does it make for you?

Incredibly big and important. This way I'm in the natural situation of creating, and the other way is that you always doubt if what you do will meet the expectations of the idea-maker...I do consider that our real profession is expressing ourselves, our beings, and not "just our hands OR imagination". Ourselves. And I must say that although I do wish to collaborate with French script writers (and some of them really ARE GOOD!) - the natural part of self-sufficient approach attracts me a bit more...But, there's time for everything if you know how to wait for it...For the moment, I'm more than satisfied , because I also have the enormous help of a friend and a long-time collaborator from Serbia named Dragan Savich. We made together already prized comics in my "ex" country with him as a script writer, and I really feel secure...;

Could you present Howard Blake, the comics?

Basically, it tries to explain the problem of growing up, with the bad reputation of your parent. So, the reputation you're not guilty of. Daniel Blake is the son of Howard Blake, who was publicly known as the executed (hanged) assassin and a pirate. The violent surroundings of the time does not differ so much from the ones we have now - look as far as you want - and the best friend of his fathers' , Gilliam Perrin (the REAL hero of the serial, as long as I'm concerned) will try to bring up and connect Daniel with the REAL person his father was. Father who in fact was killed (NOT executed)before Daniel was born. Difficult task (his AND mine)...; 

How come this interest for the last pirate?

Because I think that the end of an era doesn't mean the end of you as you are. I consider this interesting enough to write a story about it. It's remarkably difficult to change the character you already had hard time to build (it has happened to me, anyway). It needs as much strength as the building it. But the era changes, and you must decide if you're gonna change with it, and it looks as the happy ending is impossible. There's a saying in my country about the "Dark Cave": There's a "Dark Cave" that has a sign on it that says "if you enter, you will regret it, and if you don't, also". It's a metaphor for the wish of knowing more. And not just "informing" - KNOWING(!)... From some moment on, you KNOW that knowing more doesn't mean being better. You're almost sure that it's the opposite. So, entering or not, it brings the moral problem to the surface. Ethical problem. And it's a perfect saying, because, once you know the "Dark Cave"(not knowing what's behind it), and the problem of entering or not, you will never be the same person again, even if you go away from there. Like when the times change. You CAN'T be the same, although you feel you are. It's like being too weak to live, but too strong to die...;