Åsa Grennvall
Confessions of a comic maker

Åsa Grennvall is a Swedish girl that makes comics with a dark twist.
Get to know her through our "under-the-skin-interview" and
take a look at her work at the bottom of the page.
For more info, check out Åsa´s publisher´s website here.

When and why did you start making comics?
ÅSA: I began to draw comics about 6-7 years ago. It was at around the same time I discovered that it sometimes is easier to describe things in a picture than in words, but since I love to create stories with words as well, I found that making comics was the perfect medium for me since it combine the two things.

How long has this comic been alive?/when did you create this one?
ÅSA: I don’t see my work as one particular comic. I do different stories every time.

Had you painted a lot before you started making stories in squares?
ÅSA: No, not at all. Like I said, I discovered the joy of making pictures/drawings late in life; about 8 years ago. Before that I never really draw things. I was told in school that I wasn’t good at it, so I just accepted that and didn’t draw anything when I was growing up. I can’t say I’m GOOD at drawing, but I have developed my own style, and drawing has now become very important in my life, and I wish I would have drawn more growing up. I think I would have felt better then.

Is your main character a copy of you or just a reflection?
ÅSA: A reflection. The caracter with long black hair that often appears in my stories sure is a part of me, but it’s not all me. She is other people as well, and sometimes there is more of ’me’ in the other caracters in my stories than in the long-black-hair-girl. I like playing with all of my characters personalities. It’s like playing with dolls.

Where do you find inspiration?
ÅSA: Everyday-life mainly. Things you pick up here and there. From telly, movies, friends stories, my own experiences in life. Thougts that pop up in my head. Well, things I think pop up in everyones head really, but I write them down and put them as scenes in my stories.

Is everything you write TRUE?
ÅSA: Hm, if I put it this way: It’s true emotions. Or at least that’s what I strive for in my comics. To reflect true emotions. But I don’t believe that is an ’absolute truth’ in anything. If 10 people are located at the exact same place when something special occures, I believe there is 10 different stories afterwards about what REALLY happend. Everyone has their own truth. But sure, sometimes I’m very auto-biographic in my stories. And sometimes I just make things up. I like switsching between realism and symbolism.

What´s your favourite music and do you listen to music while you´re making your comic?
ÅSA: Well, I guess I’m goth leaning towards metal when it comes to taste in music. When I’m writing the manuscripts I don’t listen to anything, because then I can’t focus properly. But when I’m drawing I listen to music all the time. Mostly not so brutal stuff then. Swans, Tori Amos, Cure, Fields of the Nephilim, Joy Division, Interpol and so on is nice to listen to while drawing.

How many books have you published?
ÅSA: 4

Was it hard to get the publisher interested?
ÅSA: No, not really. I was lucky. I sent my early work to a publisher for about 5-6 years ago, and apparently he liked it and incurraged me to keep on drawing and later on my first book was released.

Have you got a lot of positive response?
ÅSA: Yes, I can’t complain, haha.

Has your books been published anywhere else in the world than in sweden?
ÅSA: My third book, ”Sjunde våningen”, has been released in Finnish this year. ”Seitsemäs kerros” it’s called there... Apparently that means Seventh floor, but I wouldn’t know, haha.

Is there any special country you would like them to be published in?
ÅSA: Hm.. well, it would be fantastic to be translated into english, because it’s such a universial language and so many people would then be able to understand it.

Do you think there are many people who can identify with your comics? Why/
why not?
ÅSA: As I said earlier; I think I do comics about things that often pop up in peoples head. So I guess some people identify themselfs in my stories. And maybe I make comics about awkward stituations most people don’t WANT to think about because it’s painful. Some people say that they can’t read my comics because it’s too painful and remains them of sad things they have been experienced themself in their own lifes and they just want to forget it.

What (that have happened to you in your career) are you most proud of?
ÅSA: Hm, difficult question. I tend to have a hard time to be proud of myself. I’m working on it. But... well, I’m sort of proud just that I have continued to do this that I believe in, even if it’s a disasterous career-move really, haha. From a economic piont of view and so I mean.

Do you read and do you like some other comics?
ÅSA: I don’t really read that much comics myself. Quite embarrasing, but the sad truth. And I’m HOPELESS when it comes to name-dropping.

If your comic would have a soundtrack, what would it sound like?
ÅSA: I think it would have been some sort of sad singer/song-writer thing, someone telling stories with their music; combined with pitchdark elements blasted into it. And very low-budget, so I don’t think the sound would be that good, haha, but hopefully the feeling is there which is most important.

Is your comics in some zine or something too or is it only readable in your books?
ÅSA: I’m not in any zine.

What´s your favouritecandy?
ÅSA: Chocolate.

Do you have any diseases?
ÅSA: Not that I know of.

In your book ”Sjunde våningen” the boyfriend is SO stupid!!! Do you want us to
kill him?
ÅSA: Hehe, I have killed him myself so many times in my head. In fact, when I just had left him, and still was scared like hell of him I used to picture little armys consisted of my brother and my friends and other people I feel safe with surounding me and protected me from him. So, thanks for asking, but I’m my head he’s already dead, hehe...... almost.

If you could only eat one kind of food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
ÅSA: Pasta. And tomatoes.

To see some of Åsa´s work, in English (previously not published)
click here, here and here.

December 2003