I’m extremely excited right now because I have the honor of conducting a rare interview with a comic book artist who, if you don’t know his name already, you definitely will soon. Hernan Gonzalez has worked with many independent publishers such as Space Chimp Comics on their Noir/Sci-fi series The Cutting Room Floor, Cherry Bomb Comics on their The Brooding Muse universe, as well as the Wales-based Afterlight Comics, and Storm King Comics which is owned by notable film producer Sandy King and her business partner and husband, the legendary director John Carpenter.
(Cover art by Francesco Francavilla)
Many of us who are involved in the independent comic scene have been singing Hernan’s praises for quite some time and now we get to see his amazing art in the pages of the newest arc of IDW’s STAR TREK: THE LAST STARSHIP, which will take a decided horror-centric turn, this May at your local comic book store.
Stephen Baker: Hernan, I want to thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to sit down with HorrorBuzz. I know you’ve got so much going on at the moment, especially with your upcoming work on THE LAST STARSHIP. I know that the horror genre is what you’ve become known for. Did you find it to be a challenge to pivot to a more sci-fi oriented direction?
Hernan Gonzalez: Hi Stephen! Thank you so much for sharing my art and your kind words! It was quite a challenge to draw characters created by both the writing duo Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly, and the great artist Adrián Bonilla. And, I think this is the hardest part, I also had to draw characters that are very familiar to Star-Trek fans, like Agnes Jurati and Captain Kirk. I really love the horror genre, and the direction they’ve taken with this series makes me feel closer to a space-horror comic than something focused on science fiction.
Baker: Considering Star-Trek has one of the largest and most rabid fan bases in pop culture, were you nervous at all to step into this role as the series artist for this arc of THE LAST STARSHIP?
Gonzalez: Absolutely! I’m still waiting for the fans’ reaction. I hope I can live up to Adrián’s standards, since he’ll be taking over the series after the arc I drew (issues 7 through 9). But yeah, I think it’s the biggest challenge I’ll have in a long time, haha.
Baker: Without giving away any spoilers, what were some Star-Trek universe specific things that you’d never had the opportunity to draw previously that you really enjoyed being able to bring to life on the page?
Gonzalez: I think the biggest challenge is taking the series into the horror genre while keeping the characters true to themselves. I don’t know if this has been done before either; bringing such well-known characters into the horror genre is truly rewarding. And as an Argentinian, it’s a real honor. I think everything related to the Borg’s “malicious” technology and other things that will be hinted at in issue #7, was a fantastic challenge, but… I really love challenges; I always want to improve as an artist.
Baker: Now, for people who may not be familiar with you and your background, when did you first discover that art was something you wanted to pursue as a career? And, as a follow up question, who are some of your major influences and inspirations?
Gonzalez: Well, it’s always been my dream since I was little! It’s very difficult to dedicate yourself to what you love anywhere in the world, but in South America, everything is a bit more difficult. My father had a news stand, and I would go there as a child, and since I never sat still, he would give me comics to read, haha. But they didn’t really entertain me; they were overly historical comics, with too much text, and horrible colors. My maternal grandmother, whom I loved spending time with, would buy me comics at used magazine stores, and I think I was about eight years old when she gave me a Slaine comic, drawn by McMahon with a script by Pat Mills. It was truly love at first sight. What’s more, almost 40 years later, I still have that comic.
I love a lot of artists, some show their influences more than others, but just to name a few: Sean Phillips, Tim Bradstreet, John Totleben, Stephen Bissette, Frank Quitely, Guerá, Thomas Ott, Jason Shawn Alexander, Bill Sienkiewicz, José Muñoz, Alberto Breccia, Katsuhiro Otomo, Alberto Mielgo.
Baker: Most of us who know you are aware of what a big fan of horror you are. What is it about the horror genre that inspires you and do you have a personal philosophy or approach to creating horrific imagery or dark subject matter?
Gonzalez: Well, not really, ha, it’s funny. I imagine they think I’m in a dark room, surrounded by candles, with eyeliner, dressed in black, drinking blood from a skull, wearing those long rings Alan Moore uses, surrounded by magic books, hahahaha. Well, I’m actually the complete opposite, a family man who lives in the countryside. I have a big vegetable garden, and I like to put my feet in the grass, ha!
I studied fine arts at university. Back then, there wasn’t anywhere to study comics, so I went there, a bit lost, but I had some great professors who introduced me to printmaking (which I studied), and to artists from the Baroque period. I think my favorite artist is Rembrandt, and I love creating that dense, tense, and gloomy atmosphere.
Baker: I want to go back to Star-Trek: The Last Starship for a moment. You’re working with writers Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing on the project. Can you tell us a bit about what the collaboration process is like working with them?
Gonzalez: Oh, yes! It’s really great, besides those two who are really great, we’re in the same group as Heather and Cass, the comic’s editors. They usually send me the script and then I do some little sketches full of questions, haha, then they give me feedback on them and we brainstorm some ideas, and… “we get to work.” It’s really great working with them, they’re all very kind. Cassandra (Jones) is a fantastic editor. She’s always attentive to my needs, sends me references, and clarifies any doubts I have about Star-Trek details I’m unfamiliar with.
Baker: Thank goodness for editors. I’m a huge Star-Trek fan and I couldn’t even imagine how daunting it would be to keep that sheer volume of canon and continuity in the back of my mind. Editors are definitely the unsung heroes when it comes to keeping the train on the tracks.
I mentioned earlier that you’ve got a lot on your plate that’s keeping you busy professionally. What other projects do you have coming up that you can tell us about?
Gonzalez: There are actually a lot of them, haha. All in different stages of production. I’m at Mad Cave doing a horror miniseries with the great writer Benjamin Percy, also with Stormking Comics on two projects. Well, we also have something in the works with you, haha.
Baker: That we do! I didn’t want to take up your interview time with any self promotion but hey, you mentioned it, not me. Haha! But, yes. I’m very excited to get that out into the world.
Hernan, I have one last question and I promise I’ll let you get back to your drawing table. Now that you’ve gotten a taste of working on such a major, high profile property like Star-Trek, are there any other big name properties that you’d love to work on if the offer came your way?
Gonzalez: I hadn’t thought about it… but I think there are a lot of great titles at IDW. I’d love to draw something from The Twilight Zone, maybe a Godzilla cover, haha, that would be awesome, right? Alien, hmmm, I hadn’t thought about it… oh, it just occurred to me while we were chatting… Hellraiser! That would be great!
Baker: Yes! Hellraiser would be perfect. Hopefully you’ve just spoken it into existence, my friend. Hernan, I want to thank you for giving us a peek into all the exciting things you have on the horizon. I really appreciate your time. You already know what a big fan I am of your art and of you as a person. Congratulations, my friend. I’m happy that so many people are finally going to get a look at what I believe will be an essential chapter in Star-Trek comic history. I certainly can’t wait to get my hands on a copy when it comes out.
Gonzalez: Thank you so much, bro! I look forward to your comments when you see it! Please! Thank you so much for the great article, and a big hello to all the readers.
A new chapter in the story of the crew of the U.S.S. Omega begins when STAR-TREK: THE LAST STAR SHIP issue #7 arrives at your local comic book store on May 20, 2026 from IDW Publishing. Make sure to grab yourself a copy!
