Eduardo Medeiros is back with a new graphic novel titled Battle In The Flower Gardens, a coming-of-age story about two best friends and one unforgettable and bittersweet summer.
Written, drawn, and colored by Medeiros (and available now through Amazon’s Comixology Originals exclusive digital content line) the partially biographical story follows two adolescents during the type of summers that bring one closer to the realities of adult life, while still immersed in the joys of youth.
We spoke to Medeiros all about the inspiration behind Battle in the Flower Gardens in this exclsuive interview with the artist.
Battle in the Flower Gardens is based on some of your own experiences as a teen during the summer months. How much is taken from your own life story?
Eduardo Medeiros: Pretty much. The story takes place in that period when we are not children anymore, but we’re not teenagers yet, either. It’s a numb period when you are trying to discover who you are and who you want to be. Battle in the Flower Gardens is set in the mid-90s during a summer that I am deeply nostalgic for.
How did you approach telling your story in an illustrated form and was it difficult to plot?
Medeiros: I wrote/drew this book almost twice in three years. After I chose the storyline, I decided to make a book that feels like a cross between a comic book and a picture book. That was a necessity to show the phase Luke is going through. He’s dealing with all those things, acting like a kid sometimes and a teenager at others.
What is it about the two friends in your story that makes them unique and also relatable?
Medeiros: I think it’s that weirdness of growing up. Everybody has already felt the need to be part of a group or felt unhappy with who they are. This insecurity is something everyone can relate to. Luke is all about this, while Mitch is much more comfortable with himself.
Why is summer such a transformative time for young people?
Medeiros: Summer is always associated with happiness and vacations—it’s that period when we don‘t have any responsibilities other than to have fun and make the most of it. I believe that most of our best memories from the past come from this period.
Much of the bonding that the friends do is around video games and arcades. What are your memories of those long lost arcades?
Medeiros: Arcades were our social network at that time, and I miss the simplicity of not having the weight of adult life yet. Our days back then were spent talking about games, reading video game magazines, and talking about them all the time. I only got to experience this during the summer at the beach. In the city, arcades were definitely not a place for kids.
Upcoming projects?
Medeiros: I really want to do a second arc/volume of Roderick (released through Comixology as an original and now in print this month from ABLAZE). I have an infinite source of adventures that I want to tell with this character, who I care about so much. I also have more biographical stories to tell. Right now, I’m writing and doing layout work for two picture books, which is something I absolutely love.
