Chris Messina
Creator / Artist / Co-writer
As far back as I can remember I’ve always been into comic book superheroes. I was hooked from the day I received my first Batman action figure at the age of six. You know, the old school one. The 16” figure with the grey blue spandex suit and big plastic yellow belt. Like most people, I went though my phases of Spiderman and the Hulk, but I always seem to find my self gravitating back to the hero vigilantes that didn’t rely on super powers to get the job done.
The Landscaper comics were spawned out of my own frustrations with similar situations that main character Daniel is faced with. So I figured, instead of acting out my frustration and facing either going to jail – or – being deported, I would express my self devised resolution in the form of a online comic series.
I’ve always wanted to get into writing and illustrating comic books, but I never really had an idea to work with. Ironically, the character of the Landscaper began as a joke between myself and some friends. The basic premise of taking matter into your own hands with items you would get at a hardware store or work shed.
More of a low level version of the Punisher or Batman, but without the vast resources at your disposal.
Dan has to use what he has available. This led to some pretty cool weapon choices. Of course based on his knowledge of welding and engineering, he could pretty much modify anything he could get his hands on – The MacGyver of vigilantes if you will.
I originally hail from Boston in the U.S, but now live and work in Perth Western
Australia as a design manager for a web design company. I live with my beautiful wife Kirsty and our cat Neo.
I hope you enjoy my journey into this character as much as I’ve enjoyed creating him.
Co-Writer
Iskandar R. Sharazuddin
A kinetic image of a woman, a fiery look in her eyes as she is being toppled by a blue skinned, red-eyed mass of monster. Her purple hair flies wildly across the page her hand shaping a telekinetic katana. I’m talking about Uncanny X-Men issue #349 where Maggot and Psylocke engage in an epic battle on the cover.
Uncanny X-Men issue #349
My first introduction into the world of the comic book medium, a Scott Lobdell & Chris Bachalo comic, suddenly after that issue it became a necessity to get it all, to absorb it all, to immerse myself in bald telepaths, winged men, super-powers and the issue of humanity scared of change. 13 years later and here I sit at my laptop falling into a world of my own, a world I’ve contributed to and helped build with characters that I have shaped with my ideas and words.
It’s damn liberating to have a space on a page to create whatever you want and if it wasn’t for issue #349 sucking my malleable mind into the magic of comics and the escapism they cultivate I wouldn’t be here experimenting with my own ideas and discovering such an appreciation for creative expression.
I’m a deferred arts student, who has the want and will to work in publishing and performance. Originally from the West Midlands in the UK I now live in the west of Australia, Perth. Landscaper is where some passionate comic-book geeks get to create our own playground and share it with as many people who can get a hold of it. Enjoy our swings and slides because it just gets more fun from here on out.
Editor:
Emmet Nichols
Co-Collaborators: (LS Trust)
Greg Tangey
Steve Dillion
Shinead Gecas
Cameron Lynch
Kirsty Messina