In preparation for the release of the THE RAID, developed by writers Alex Paknadel and Ollie Masters for Titan Comics, I had an opportunity to reach out to Alex and inquire about the inception of the project and the intention behind the transition to comics. The underworld mythos behind Gareth Evans’ enthralling cinematic opus support a very rich, but perilous world. By expanding that universe into a series of gorgeous, action-packed comics, the team stands to garner a lot of attention for the franchise beyond the relatively niche film audience.
Comic Attack: It’s really great to have an opportunity to ask you a few questions about your career and your experience working on the The Raid. For those who might not be familiar with your previous projects, what do you consider to be some high points for newcomers to check out?
Alex Paknadel: My wheelhouse is weird sci-fi, so I’d point your readers to my creator-owned books from Boom! Studios, ‘Arcadia’ and ‘Turncoat’. Arcadia is set in this virtual reality afterlife when most of the world’s population has succumbed to a deadly disease. Turncoat is a detective story set a decade or so after the end of an alien occupation, where the human survivors are trying to make sense of their newfound freedom.
CA: What attracted you to this project in particular? Were you a fan of the films and, if so, do you have a favorite movie? A favorite character?
AP: I’m a huge fan of the films, yeah. Andy Diggle practically frog marched me to the theater to see the first one and it just blew my mind. It was such a breath of fresh air after those really balletic martial arts movies from the early 2000s where it felt like there were zero stakes. When I saw someone being killed in the face with a shard of broken door I knew I was in for a wild ride.
CA: With titles like “Arcadia” under your belt, was drawing on past projects helpful in creating this series? Which previous experience do you feel offered the most relevance for taking on this property?
AP: The first (and only) action comic I worked on before The Raid was Assassin’s Creed: Uprising. I’m so glad I got to cut my teeth on that book before tackling this one or I would have been hopelessly lost.
CA: Gareth’s films are great examples of dynamic pacing, intense performances, and mind-blowing action sequences. Did you find it difficult to translate the frenetic and brutal Raid combat to a comic without sacrificing the Edward’s very grounded approach to storytelling?
AP: I can’t speak for Ollie, but for my part I didn’t try. Gareth, XYZ and Titan wanted people who respected the source material but would bring their own sensibility to the table. Nobody was interested in making a pale imitation of the movies, so this comic is very much its own animal. Ollie and I have very different approaches too of course, but if I’ve done my job properly then the join should be seamless.
CA: What about this project can you look back on and say held the most significance for you? Is there anything that came up for you that was really surprising about the characters, or anything in the action that made you take a step back and say, “Wow, that’s really cool?”
AP: Without giving too much away I’d say that for me this story is really Bejo’s at its core. It’s a tragic story about a young man who made a deal with the devil to get out of the ghetto. We see hints of this in The Raid 2, but I was surprised at how much I pitied him when I was writing his scenes. This is a guy who’s left his humanity behind so he can move in elite circles whose members despise him all the same.
CA: As a creator, I know that research is paramount for crafting evocative and engaging narratives. Did you get a chance to dig into any of the local atmosphere and culture? Was there anything you learned about Indonesia in the process that you found particularly interesting or compelling?
AP: Yes. I researched the heck out of my issues, so I really went into everything from blood feuds in West Papua to Jakarta peasant food to get the details just right. I spent several hours researching popular Indonesian soap operas for a throwaway line in one scene. Few people care about that stuff, but verisimilitude’s a big deal for me. Context is how I choose to remain faithful to the source material. I think that’s much more important than aping stylistic idiosyncrasies.
CA: Are there plans to continue the Raid series beyond this initial run? Which characters might be next to get the spotlight?
AP: We’ll have to see what the reception to this one’s like. I’d certainly love to continue exploring this amazing underworld Gareth’s created. Sign me up!
I would really like to thank Alex Paknadel for his time and for providing an illuminating look at his process on this franchise. I can’t wait to see how more stories from this universe unfold as he takes over sole writing duties in issue #3 and #4.
The Raid #2, published by Titan Comics, is in stores now.
Christian Davenport
Cable201@comicattack.net
This is pretty cool.
It was very cool to have a chance to ask my questions. I am a huge fan of the movies, particularly the second film, and Alex has produced some phenomenal work.
Didn’t know there was a series and this is one of THE best martial arts films I’ve seen in the past 10 years. I definitely get what he’s saying about the ballet feel of most of the ones that came out in the early 2000s. Those fight scenes were pretty but that’s it. No real intensity.