Wizard showcases some of the talent you will find appearing in Artist Alley at our upcoming shows and gives you the 411 on what to expect at the con and what projects they have coming down the pipeline.
1) What are you currently working on?
I’m the writer and artist of Shiver in the Dark.. I’ve drawn about 40 cards for various different sets of the Upper Deck card game 'VS'.. But most people will recognize me as the artist for DC Comics/ Lego toys comic 'Bionicle Ignition'
2) What do you like best about attending the Wizard World shows?
Walking in to a Wizard World Convention is like a cannonball jump in to the deep end of the pop culture pool! It’s instant total emersion into the world of fandom! There is such a great feeling to be surrounded by people who really enjoy the same things as you. Sure I draw comics for a living, but I’m also a fan! I’m always excited to meet a creator who’s work I really admire.
3) What are your plans for 2008?
I just finished up 2 years of drawing Bionicle Ignition and while I enjoyed drawing robots I’m excited to get back to working on Shiver in the Dark, as well as a few other projects at DC... Getting back to drawing creepy things is needed... I’ve been away for too long!
4) What is the project you are most proud of in your career?
I think that I’m most proud of my own comic book Shiver in the Dark, if for no other reason than that I make the book entirely by myself.. At the end of the day it’s a great feeling to pick up a comic book and say to your self, ' I made this.'... It’s just awesome! But I’m also really proud of the art that I created on Bionicle for DC Comics and Lego toys. Usually comics based on licensed products don’t allow for much stylistic interpretation of the characters. The client usually wants the comic to look as much like the toy as possible in order to help sell the toy. In the case of Bionicle I was given a lot of freedom... A whole lot. My goal was to make Bioincle the most interesting comic that I could... To me really capturing the reader in a good story was all that mattered. So that when you read Bionicle it doesn’t look like an advertisement for a toy. If want to buy Bionicle toys, it’s because you enjoyed the story, not just that I showed you what kind of rocket launcher a toy comes with.... I pushed Lego to allow me to bend the anatomy of the toys to make them have more movement. My attitude was to make the fans fall in love with the toys as CHARACTERS, not just shiny things that you could build.. I’m most proud that I could convince Lego to allow me to put so much style and drama into the comic, rather than drawing scenes that looked like a Sears catalog display. Lego really took a gamble and the fans responded well. That means a lot to me.
5) What is your dream project?
This is always such a good question. I know that most folks think that it’s a Batman comic... but I really want to write and draw Flash Gordon. I’ve not yet seen the newest TV show... I fell in love with the old Alex Raymond world of Flash Gordon. It’s so lush and decorative. I think that the world of comics is really ready for something like that. I get tired of seeing walls of computers and glowing eyes on every character in comics... On Mongo the rich don’t have rooms filled with technology beeping at them. They have fine silks wallpapers, art deco floors, and inlaid wood tables... There’s something so majestic about it. I just love it.... and lets not forget Ming.. What a great villain!
Ok, Ok.. My #2 dream is a crazy Batman project that I’ve been sitting on for years. I’d have to write it and draw it. and then fight the editors at every step... but it would be worth it! One day it’ll happen... Just watch!
6) What characters would you most want to party with? Date? Fight?
Three questions.. Three answers...!
#1 I want to party at Mojo’s palace... ( the villain from the X-men).... well, let me change that, I want to be at his party, but not actually spending time with him... I’d be in the corner talking trash with Powerman and Iron Fist and hitting on Dazzler.. Yeah. I like that.
#2 I’d like to date Princess Aura from the 70's Flash Gordon Cartoon... she’s Ming the merciless’ daughter... She’d cut my throat while I was asleep, but it would be nice while it lasted.
#3 I’d like to get in a fight with Daimon ( Batman and Talia’s son ).. I’m so annoyed by him. Someone needs to knock him down a notch or two!
That’s it gang... I can’t wait to see everyone in artist’s alley.... I’ll be there getting drawing and getting inky!
