Writer Carlos Yacolca Talks New Comic ‘Before We Sail’ (Exclusive)

Making his writing debut, we talk to Carlos Yacolca for his anticipated comic Before We Sail. Told in 7-parts, the story follows questions of life without hope, and uncertainty in a world ruled by the undead. 

Set in a post-apocalyptic, zombie-ridden world, Before We Sail follows duo Jonathan and Kath as they flee Lima and head for the sea. Blending survival with a sprinkle of piracy, it explores themes of depression, purpose, and the search for meaning in a world ripped apart and torn of order.

In our review, we prised Before We Sail as a “triumphant debut in comics for Carlos Yacolca,” who worked alongside artist Michelle Lino and letterer Diego Revelo. Comics legend David Lloyd (V for Vendetta) was also involved as an editor. 

The comics is told across 7 pars in comics in online magazine ACES WEEKLY. We recently had the opportunity to sit down with writer Carlos Yacolca to discuss the work. Check out our interview below.

Congratulations on your comics debut! How does it feel to make your first move in comics?

It’s like a start. It’s a declaration of intentions, like an EP before an album. When you read this comic, it’s designed to present me as an author; it’s concepts, ideas, it’s a subject that I will treat as a layer. So, with that in mind, we designed a one-shot that is 44 pages long, that is very concise, and that has two levels of narrative, as you could say.

The first is an apocalyptic zombie story. The second thing is a very filling subject: it’s a treatment of psychology.
Why did you choose this story, with such a complex theme, for your first shot in comics?

Well, in a way, I always think comics and art in general is a conversation, an elevated way of communication as a conversation. You could say that art answers itself, proposes itself, criticises, objectivises, because it’s a larger conversation, in a way. With that in mind, I had the idea of mental health on the map in a way that came across more psychologically instead of self help.

A year long of pitching… 10 months, really, because the comic changed a lot. I wanted to dive into the centre of human emotions. I want a really frank, well, a really sincere, logical story. I had this idea that is chronic depression that could last months, years, and more. I myself started treatment with a psychologist and a psychiatrist four years ago. I wanted to capture part of a true story.

This comic creates a landscape around two lead characters. Tell us a bit about them?

So the first is Jonathan, for Jonathan Hickman, he is one of my favourite authors. I want to honour him in a way. Jonathan, as a character, is a person that is trying to find how to value life, how to find a meaning in a search of fighting. With that, in the process of this story, he is trying to do good things, not because he is a good person but because he tries not to make the world worse.

While Kat is the person that has the most background, has the most feeling, has the most role. In a way I thought of Kat as a person that wants to close things, wants to operate things that make them happy in this dead world. The characters aren’t just straightforward; they are complex and driven, but also somehow stuck.

To create this comic you have worked with some really cool people — like comics legend David Lloyd, as well as artist Michelle Lino and letterer Diego Revelo. Tell us what that experience has been like?

When we started it was a long process of pitching and back and forth. I started writing the first chapters to pass to Alberto Rayo, a script of four or five pages. He sent the script back with 30, 40 points that I had to fix.

I said to myself, ‘Wow, I have to get better‘. It was two, three, four, five, six times. I am a beginner. That is how we learn. David Lloyd also had things to say. I had to rewrite again, I had to perfect it more. In a way, it was a tough process. It was a zero to 100 with the mentality of, ‘OK, this will be good.’ I want to take my time to make a body of work. So it was a tough process even with great people. They kept me humble to my work and in a constant state of growth.

Lastly, do you have any upcoming projects in the works?

I’m not going anywhere, I still have a few ideas of things I want to craft but first I need funding to do so. I will still be making comics. I try to make every chapter of work feel like a music genre.

I feel like I only achieved that in the sixth and the seventh chapter. The sixth chapter is a free jazz, and the seventh chapter is a gospel. It’s a Godspeed You! Black Emperor. A kind of music, a long violin with not much talking and a long landscape. So, with my next project, I will be doing more with that.

Carlos is delight to speak to, and holds a true understanding for classical comics. We thank him for his time. You can find Before We Sail on ACES Weekly here.