Posted in: Comics | Tagged: Abigail Harding, Astro Inferno, kickstarter, parliament of rooks

Separated At Birth: Abigail Harding & Astro Inferno (UPDATE)

Abigail Harding's Parliament Of Rooks artwork from three years ago looks a little like Astro Inferno RPG artwork. What do you think?

UPDATE – we are pleased to report that this matter has been resolved amicably between the two artists

British comic book creator Abigail Harding is currently working on a comic book called Parliament Of Rooks, to be released from Comixology Originals later this year. Three years ago, she released this piece of work-in-progress.

She recently was surprised to come across something very similar promoting a Kickstarter appear for the role playing table top game Astro Inferno, very much not by her.

Let's zoom in a little and turn up the contrast.

The artist working for Haxan Studios, putting this game together. Andreas Ruu, credited as Art Director & Head Illustrator of Astro Inferno and Haxan Studios 2021, has this artwork on their portfolio website with the caption "The unlight Creature". Elsewhere on the site, they state that  "The unlight Creature & Undying was the first sketch for Astro inferno and was done with 'Photobashing'"  Photobashing is defined as "a technique that consists of using multiple digital assets like pictures, textures, and 3D models to create realistic-looking artwork."

All this can be dismissed as coincidence of course. But what is even odder that the Facebook page for Astro Inferno, had a Twitter contact detail for Abigail Harding rather than anyone involved with the game. You can see it here in this screencap.

After trying to contact them, Abigail Harding tells us she received no reply but the Twitter contact to her from the Facebook page was removed.  Their actual Twitter account (no longer mentioned at all on their Facebook page now) had been following Abigail Harding – but it no longer is. Funny that.

UPDATE: The artist Ruu adds to the comments "Well It would be outrageous if it was true. But here's a perfect example of someone using a straw and making it into a hay-man. Using the AI controversy to make a scoop on an image. Sure I was clearly inspired by that sketch, did I copy it, no. Did I use the same concept, sure. Did I create it from scratch using a completely different technique, yes. Do I still have the original outline sketch on my hard drive, yes."

Separated At Birth used to be called Swipe File, in which we present two or more images that resemble each other to some degree. They may be homages, parodies, ironic appropriations, coincidences, or works of the lightbox. We trust you, the reader, to make that judgment yourself. If you are unable to do so, we ask that you please return your eyes to their maker before any further damage is done. Separated At Borth doesn't judge; it is interested more in the process of creation, how work influences other work, how new work comes from old, and sometimes how the same ideas emerge simultaneously as if their time has just come. The Swipe File was named after the advertising industry habit where writers and artists collect images and lines they admire to inspire them in their work. It was swiped from the Comic Journal, who originally ran a similar column and the now-defunct Swipe Of The Week website, but Separated At Birth is considered a less antagonistic title.

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