An Interview with Ian van der Walt, Creator of Sleep Sister Sleep
The second issue of Sleep Sister Sleep, the surrealist alternative comic from Foreign Press and creator Ian van der Walt, releases November 23 digitally. It will be available for sale and to read on our Global Comix page. Below is a short interview with the creator about his background and the story behind his comic.
Who are you?
Sleep Sister Sleep creator Ian van der Walt
My name is Ian van der Walt
Why do you want to make comics?
I’m a born storyteller with no small interest in cartooning
What are some of your comic inspirations?
Cover for Issue 2
Zap comix and similar stuff from the 70s. But most of the inspirations are from outside comics, namely: Dr. Suess’s Night Paintings, the movie Eraserhead, and the book Roadside Picnic, among others. I love sci-fi, especially when it overlaps with magical realism or surrealism.
Can you tell us about how you came up with the idea for Sleep Sister Sleep?
I watched a video on industrial tourism, and couldn’t help but imagine the rusty, broken-down machines still serving some sinister purpose. Those kinds of spaces invoke something purgatorial for me, I guess.
How do you relate to Harper?
What with her being the only sane person in a town gone mad, it’s hard not to relate to her some days.
Scene from Issue 2
Give me five words to describe Sleep Sister Sleep
A journey into the dark
Fill in the blank: People will like Sleep Sister Sleep if they like __________________.
Les Claypool, haha
Without giving anything away, what’s the theme/moral behind Sleep Sister Sleep?
Rot and Isolation, basically I’m tryna do sci-fi Flannery O’Connor, haha
What are your plans for Sleep Sister Sleep?
A ten issue limited series, I’ve already done the world-building and mapped out the story.
