Nathalie Schraven: How did you become a comic artist
have become?

Julia Zejn: It is probably the most boring answer:
As a child, I loved to draw and read stories.
It took me a while to get into comics. First I
I studied communication design and was particularly interested in animation film
But I gradually realized that although it was very
It is fun to think scenically, but I do not feel like sitting for hours in front of
During and after my studies I always had
the urge to tell their own stories and not just commissioned works for
After a failed free short film project, I decided to
I said I could do a comic all by myself. At that time I
drawn several short comics and participated in comic workshops and more and
realized more how much I like to tell my stories through the medium of comics.
tell.

Fig. Julia Zeyn, Ayahuasca, 2019 © Julia Zejn

NaS: Your graphic novel “Other Circumstances” has just been published
in which you tell the story of a young woman who became pregnant unintentionally
and deals with the question of abortion.
Why did you choose this topic?

JZ: Since feminist issues are close to my heart and this
The topic is still very current. Many people think that a
Abortion is legal in Germany, but § 218 states that
an abortion is a criminal offence which, under certain
Conditions such as the obligation to consult and the three days of reflection,
This has negative consequences, such as a poor
Care situation for unwanted pregnancies. It was also important to me to have a
to tell a "completely ordinary" story about an abortion
and yet still create understanding for the affected protagonist.

NaS: How do you develop your characters or develop them
yourself?

JZ: I always draw inspiration from my immediate
environment and from my own life. I write down conversations that I
I read novels, watch series, etc. To make the characters authentic
I ask myself many questions such as: “What are the
How do you live your everyday life? What are your political
Attitudes? Are they introverted or extroverted? Who are their
Friends?” I usually write them a short CV and make
a personality test for her. In any case, I always spend a lot of time
and ultimately knows more about the characters than in the
story is visible. As for the supporting characters, I then look for
I also sometimes choose people I know who then serve as role models for me. I
I do not work autobiographically, but personal experiences are also included in
my stories and the characters are not completely foreign to me.

NaS: “Ayahuasca” – a comic about a drug between
Self-awareness and naturopathy is only available in limited quantities as a small
Magazine, which they designed with Matthias Lehmann. Why have
You decided to release the comic in a limited edition?

JZ: In addition to my two graphic novels, I have always
Drawn short comics in which I can try out style and storytelling –
a space for experimentation, so to speak. To publish some of it at a publisher
So publishing was never the plan. Besides, it is fun to
To meet friends, draw together and plan a small magazine.

NaS: What would you advise someone who
Want to become a comic artist?

JZ: Choose a topic that gives you the energy to spend a long time
to stick with it and find a style that is not perfect, but that you can
You can hold out for years. And not give up. There are always phases in which you
has serious doubts about their own projects.

Author: Nathalie Schraven