What is Yaga & Koschei?

Yaga & Koschei is a webcomic that I am currently working on. It's available to read on Line Webtoon and Tapas, and I'm also planning to publish it as a physical book once it gets done. ​The story, characters, and settings are all based on Slavic folklore, although semi-modernized. The comic follows the daily life of two iconic villains: Baba Yaga and Koschei the Deathless, as they navigate their relationships with society, each other, and themselves. 

​

This comic is a pretty personal project to me. I've put a lot of myself into these characters and the themes that are explored through them (toxic behaviors, independency vs codependency, and loneliness among other things.) I've also made it a point to showcase the vast Slavic culture, which is so often overshadowed by all the politics. It's sort of a love letter to the Russian side of my heritage.

​

Creation

The concept first came to me when I was doodling during an online class in the middle of lockdown. Somehow I ended up drawing Baba Yaga and Koschei the Deathless as young adults in modern clothes; before I knew it, they had developed personalities and story arcs! I decided that I might as well start making little comic strips about them as a little no-stress side project. 

​

Spoiler alert: that never happened. Instead I quickly found myself working on the biggest project I've worked on as of this moment, all on my own. I had an outline of the plot as well as some character scetches, but for the most part I was figuring out things as I went. Though it's challenging, I've learned (and am still learning) a LOT thanks to this "little no stress side project." 

​

What have I learned?

Since starting to work on this comic, I have developed my skills as an artist and storyteller, both in the visual and writing department. I think it's also a good showcase of my character writing skills, which I would say are the comic's biggest strenght. I consider myself to now have a good understanding of the creative process of making a comic (which I think can also be applied to other storytelling mediums, like animation or books), along with the possible challenges that come with it. Working on this comic has also taught me patience and resilience: it's not easy to work on one project for years, without getting paid and while going to school, without giving up, and I am proud to say that so far I'm doing it! 

​

Something I'm still trying to learn is time management. Because I am working on this project on the side, it progresses way slower than I would like, and it's been difficult to be my own boss. However, I'm constantly trying to improve in that regard, coming up with deadlines and trying to come up with a more efficient way of working among other things.