Max Martelli Interview

CoM: I see that you also have a graphic novel, tell me about that! What was your inspiration behind it?

A legendary band of Norse mercenaries are enlisted in their righteous quest by more than the promise of gold and riches. One of their own has been sourly afflicted by a power unknown to all but his attacker, the captive outsider, the níðingr. Driven by their loyalty, led by the cryptic words of their battered prisoner, yet armed with only the slightest of tangible clues, they risk both life and limb venturing out across the vast ocean, through Ginungagap itself, to the unknown worlds beyond in attempt to abolish this evil housed within their brother. It is here they encounter the keepers of this foul majick or seiðr and move to destroy it by any means possible.

Little do they know, nothing is quite as it seems…

This marks the opening scene to what I have come to call my cinematic visual horror novel, NÍÐINGABÓK.

NÍÐINGABÓK is an exploration in visual storytelling. Told in a cinematic style, this project is an endeavor to convey a rich narrative through pictures alone. Following along in grim silence you will enter a harsh world of monsters and men.

The impetus for this project was to create something for myself that was entirely my own. I went through the first several years out of college doing a little freelance here and there but always felt that my body of work was disjointed at best and I didn’t have any clear direction. I have always been interested in writing (having written and illustrated my own stories time and again as a child) so I decided to get back into it and create something that was wholly mine. Conceptually this is a combination of all my interests, monsters, cosmic horror, viking mythology and history. 

As I began working through the concepting phase of the project I was an avid watcher and follower of Greg Manchess and his “Above the Timberline” project (he is absolutely one of the best painters currently alive so go check him out if you don’t know his work). “Above the Timberline” is a fully illustrated novel and was very much a guiding light for how I ultimately envisioned this project.

CoM: Will you be making more books in the future? What are some other projects you’ll be doing in the future?

NÍÐINGABÓK marks the first in a series of visual novels telling an expansive story within the mythologies put forth in this first volume.

I have grand plans for a trilogy taking place through the 1940’s and into the present day which continues the story (working title is APOCRYPHA). This will follow an artist, plagued by vivid dreams of terrifying flayed men and women. These dreams lead him on a journey across oceans (and time) in order to discover their true meaning and ultimately stop what they portent to unleash. This will contain prose as well and exist more as an illustrated novel as opposed to it’s strictly visual predecessor. 

As I work on NÍÐINGABÓK I am also in the process of drafting out the later books. Setting up for an easy transition into the visual aspects of these once the first project is complete. 

This process can be followed through my Patreon here: www.patreon.com/maxmartelliart 

I also have a series of sketchbooks which will be released of my ink work. Sketchbook Vol. 1 can be found here www.maxmartelli.com/shop/sketchbook-vol-1

Connect and keep up with Max here:

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www.maxmartelli.com/shop 

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