Klenda V is a fixture in the western Ultraman fandom, a talented artist with a passion for the series. Imagine everyone’s surprise when her incredible art showed up on this official Ultraman Card Game card!
We caught up with Klenda to find out a bit more about how she got involved with all this, and what’s next for her!
UC: You’ve been a fan of Ultraman for a while now, and your fanart is well-loved, but how did you get involved with the Ultraman Card Game?
KV: Honestly, I don’t truly know; it still doesn’t quite feel real! I’d had the pleasure of having talked with Jeff, EJ, and Starlight Runner in the past, and all my interactions with them had been very positive. From my memory, this past spring Starlight Runner reached out and asked if I — as someone who’s both a fan artist and a professional illustrator — would be interested in trying out for a playing card illustration; they said if I sent them some art samples, they’d pitch me as an artist. So I did, and I guess the rest is history!
UC: What were your influences when making this version of Ultraman Arc for the card game?
KV: In terms of influence, I wanted to play with the idea of a Trompe-l'œil — a classical painting trick where part of the painting looks like it’s sitting on top of the canvas, such as a painted piece of paper “tacked” to the painting. I also knew I wanted to emphasize a warm, hand-painted feel, so I drew from one of my favorite influences, Alphonse Mucha, for the colors and rendering style. I’m sure some more contemporary influences got in there too, like the currently-working Peach Momoko and Alex Maleev, both of whom I’m a big fan of.
UC: Are there any other characters you’d love to work on in the Ultraman Series?
KV: Honestly, I’d be delighted to return for any Ultra character! Working on this was such a delight, both personally and professionally. But aside from that — and the obvious joke that I’d fight to do any Absolutian card art — I’d love the chance to do a card for any of the Ultra brothers. They’re such a foundational part of the Ultra universe, I’d love to get to draw or paint one of them in an official capacity!
We can’t want to see what Klenda does next — we were so impressed by her work that we have a feeling more will be in her future! To get this gorgeous art in your hands, pick up Ultraman Card Game BP02 Vortex of Crimson and Azure when it comes out January 24th, 2025! And for more Ultraman Card Game news, stick close to Ultraman Connection!
