Cool News
Part 2 of AICN's first look at Marvel's THE STAND! Quint interviews artist Mike Perkins!
Ahoy, squirts! Quint here with Part 2 of our three-part Marvel series of exclusives on their adaptation of Stephen King’s THE STAND.
CLICK HERE FOR PART 1 featuring a first look at a colored splash page and the cover for Issue #2!
Below you’ll find some uncolored character studies of all the major characters from artist Mike Perkins sprinkled throughout the brief email interview I did with him. Enjoy!
Quint: I think Jae Lee and Richard Isanove have set the bar pretty high for Stephen King retold within Marvel's pages. You obviously will need to give The Stand it's own distinct universe, a unique feel. What are you doing in order to achieve that?
Mike Perkins: I totally agree with you in regards to the amazing work that Jae Lee and Richard Isanove have been doing - it's truly gorgeous. The Stand, as opposed to the universe of The Dark Tower, is firmly set within the environs of the real world. Scarily so, when you consider the aspect of the superflu - Captain Trips - that rips across the world portrayed in the novel. We're going to see a lot of familiar environs within the comic and I've been taking photos so that I can get that reality spot-on. I'm going to be really playing around with the mannerisms of the highly individual characters too, so that they feel and react like anyone you meet in the street...with certain exceptions, of course. This is a Stephen King story!
Quint: The Stand is a dark tale. How dark are you prepared to go with your art?
Mike Perkins: As dark as the book goes to a certain extent. Sometimes there are situations that work better when the readers imagine them themselves, of course, but the novel is an incredibly atmospheric piece of literature and it's a true challenge to bring that atmosphere to the illustrated page. A challenge I relish.
Quint: Who is your favorite character, both in terms of King's original work and in your own character design?
Mike Perkins: I think both Randall Flagg and Trashcan Man are the most fun to play around with and in a way they encompass both ends of the spectrum visually. The Walking Dude should be a force of nature and played subtly - in shadow - the thing you fear in the dark. Trashy, on the other hand, is entirely twisted - a pyromaniac who likes getting a little too close to the fire. His deterioration is going to be weirdly fun to draw!
Quint: How far along are you at the moment? How expansive is the project (how many issues?) Are you just beginning to climb this mountain?
Mike Perkins: I'm working through issue two at the moment and the plan is for thirty issues separated into six five-issue arcs. I've just begun a brisk, invigorating hike at the moment - the mountain looms and I'm eager to conquer it!
Quint: Will there be any easter eggs for us Dark Tower fanboys?
Mike Perkins: Well, Randall Flagg - or at least the personification of The Walking Dude - plays an integral part within both epics...as he does through a fair few of Mr. King's novels. I'm sure there'll be plenty of interest for all sorts of fanboys.
Quint: What is your favorite sequence you've done so far?
Mike Perkins: I enjoyed the opening sequence as it came out onto the page fittingly oppressive - taking into account the approaching storm. I also enjoyed, rather worryingly, unleashing the first flu victim upon the world. It's incredibly graphic and rather disgusting! Lovely stuff!
Quint: Have you spoken with King about this project? If so, what was that meeting like? Did he steer you in any particular direction?
Mike Perkins: The editorial office of Ralph Macchio, Bill Rosemann and Lauren Sankovitch already have a working relationship with Mr. King - so they deal with him directly. He approved the character studies without any problems ( I've been following the descriptions throughout the novel extremely closely) and he let me know that the character study of Frannie was exactly how he envisioned her when he first started The Stand. That, for me, was highly complimentary.
Quint: As someone who collect comic art, the most important question I have is if you will offer people who have interviewed you via email a steep discount on one of your Stand pages. I only ask the important things, afterall...
Mike Perkins: Hah! That would be something you'd have to approach my art dealer about at www.comicbookartgallery.com!
Quint: Is there another property you'd love to try to tackle?
Mike Perkins: Well, I'm going to be quite busy for the next few years so that may be best to ask at a later date!
Short and sweet, but there you have it. Doesn’t Larry look like a young Springsteen? If I remember the book correctly, that’s pretty damn close. Also love Trashcan and Frannie looks cute. What do you guys think?
Check back in tomorrow for my e-chat with writer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and something really nice to cap off the awesome art that Marvel has provided us.
Remember to check out Part 1 here!
-Quint
quint@aintitcool.com
-
+ Expand All
-
like it matters
-
I'll need to check this out when it's released.
-
Gunslinger just may be my favorite comic on the stands right now. Character designs look great and I'm glad this guy is as excited for Flagg and old Trashy boy as I am.
-
King wrote about how he would've loved to see Springsteen as Larry in one of the novel's prologues. Looks like they took his advice...
-
Very impressive stuff. My only complaint is that Flagg looks a bit vagrant. I always imagined him more like a lumberjack stereotype once he's settled in Vegas, big looking and rather boastful, instead of ratty. Other than that, I love Fran and I really love Larry.
-
These drawings look good, can't wait to check this out.
-
This is golden. Keep it up.
-
Definitely looking forward to this.
If anyone gets 'The Stand Sketchbook' comic, it has the above art.
From interview: "
The Stand, as opposed to the universe of The Dark Tower, is firmly set within the environs of the real world."
Two words: Takura Spirit! -
I never did like the made for TV movie of The Stand. From the looks of this comic I think it's gonna be a hit.
-
well done
-
Actually this could be kinda cool, I'm just bored and couldn't resist a m-o-o-n joke. Has potential anyway. We'll see.
-
Gotta say, I'm really looking forward to this, hope it's at least as good as the Dark Tower books that Marvel has put out so far.M-O-O-N. That spells Stephen King.
-
Than the finished art. As is often the case.
-
Is almost enough reason for me to not buy this book. I know King has said it in the past, but please don't get your "Boss" in my ultimate King yarn please, thanks.
-
...always seems amplified by his comic adaptions.
They seem to focus exclusively on the grotesque and horror elements of his work, while ignoring (as the format is wont to do) his characterization and dialogue (which I, along with other members of the Intelligentsia, consider his strong point). -
Looks fantastic. His artwork reminds me a little of Bernie Wrightson's.
-
Is that Redman or Lloyd Henried?
-
Just saw the "Stu" on the top of the page. Not sure I like the look of Stu...or perhaps I'm still hung up on Gary Sinise. Woulda made a good Lloyd, though.
-
But not what I imagined at all. I thought of flagg as a greaser/hipster type with the vietnam pins on his black leather biker jacket...also stu should be a lot bigger, 90% bald, humble, (possibly a young version of red forman from 70s show)he's what the story will revolve around. Not casting someone who really sticks out will kill his credibility as a leader. Nick is good, although I imagined him as softer, with slightly longer black hair. Much less machismo. Frans good, and who will play piggy? needs to be a real demonic lowlife asshole that we pity.
-
Funny thing is I imagined him as a black guy the whole book.
-
Just saying, he could do the junkie groove. And Kurt Russell could be Roland. Its in the eyes man. Tombstone holds up well.
-
Could all work nicely.
-
The way they make it sound, is similar.
-
I read this years ago and then seem to remember a made for TV version which was kind of sucky so I'd like to see this done well although wasn't there a demon type guy and some pretty weird stuff that might translate into cheesy!
-
Jul 23, 2008 6:43:50 AM CDT
whats with this idea that Flagg has long hair nowadays?
by rocklobster800
as far as I remember thats never mentioned in the book, and I didnt like the hair on Jamey Sheridan, nor the Dark Tower illustrations...Ive got nothing agaisnt long hair but on Flagg it just never fitted with me: probably cos when I read the book I couldnt get the image of Cuckoos Nest Era Jaaaaack out of my head, so Im stuck with that idea...but, Ive already voiced my opinions on the casting in the other talkback...thats said the sketches dont look bad, ill definatly be looking into this when it hits.
-
Nice interview Quint.
-
I'm not into comics generally but the art is intriguing and the King story adds some genuine interest for me.
-
They should just change his name to Bruce. Sweet Jeebus.
-
.....Classic
-
......I hope Julie Lawry looks pure filth.
That is all. -
He's a righteous man.
-
on film at least (riding the bullet did a pretty damn good job of capturing his style though), i think the stand could be broken up into a trilogy of films and really blow some peoples minds
-
What's Daniel Laruso doing having relations with the King??
-
...Didn't King actually say that Springsteen "would be nice" for the Larry character, but that his first choice would be Marshall Crenshaw, or something like that? Anyhow, love the designs; Trashy in particular looks even creepier than the Matt Frewer incarnation, and Frannie better matches up with the Berni Wrightson drawings. (And I still say this a fan of the 1994 miniseries.)
-
Flagg's pretty much had long hair in every major official illustration, I think, from THE STAND to THE DARK TOWER books. (EYES OF THE DRAGON, though, hard to tell.)
-
has pictures of Flagg within and his hsirs pretty short...he actually doesnt look unlike Springsteen himself in them!
-
I know the second volume of The Dark Tower is complete now with all 5 issues released. Does anyone know when the hardcover with all of them packaged together will be released?? I have the hardcover of Volume One and have been waiting, and not reading, the second volume. I NEVER read comics and I HAVE to have this lol. I love it.
-
a Gary Frank/Bernie Wrightson/ Quesada colabo. Nice.
-
seriously . . . inject the already well-developed frank tj mackey persona with some of the brooding darkness that we all know lurks beyond the surface and we could end up with a hell of a performance
-
And as for Flagg, sorry, but an amalgam of Christopher Walken and Jack Nicholson will always be Flagg to me...
-
Is scheduled for Oct 7th to hit about the same time as Stand #1.
-
Coming soon...
-
Tom Cruise as Flagg is a great idea. Give that bastard some long greasy hair and tell him to go into full batshit mode. Ideally, yeah, Flagg would be this probably nonexistent actor with Walken's wierd teutonic looks and Nicholson's crazy charm, but Cruise could carry it and people would buy into him in the role of a wierdly charismatic control freak with unholy nothingness behind his eyes. He could cross over to play Flagg in other King stories as well.
-
The Stand is probably my favourite King novel, but it's a close call with Eyes of the Dragon. I enjoyed the TV miniseries but my memory of it is faded having not seen it in many years. I think I'll wait until it's complete and released in some single volume before picking it up, though. I stopped buying comics because I hate having to wait month to month for the next installment.
-
...that whole hand of God debacle... I'll enjoy this for the most part. Like that artwork.
-
Silverado, ho!
-
...kinda looks like Keith Moon. Really, other than Larry, Fran and Nick (and I think only because Nick, as someone above posted, still resembles Rob Lowe) I'm not huge on these character designs.
-
Jul 23, 2008 11:44:23 PM CDT
they shouldn't ink the comic. diminishes the pencil work
by george newman
there's texturing and depth in this guy's pencils. Gradience. and it will all get lost in the ink. Inking is just too stark
-
'Thought he disappeared from the X-Men editors list and didnt know if he left the company or something
Readers Talkback
User Login
Top Talkbacks
- Whitney Houston 1963 - 2012 -- 209 total posts 207 posts
- AVENGERS enemy revealed as pink boardgame pieces... You might suffer some form of elation... SPOILERS!!! -- 160 total posts 97 posts
- There's a STAR TREK video game that is going to lead into JJ's STAR TREK 2 apparently... -- 144 total posts 77 posts
- Here's The Red Band Trailer For Drafthouse Films' THE FP! -- 68 total posts 68 posts
- New JUDGE DREDD post production footage pops up -- 67 total posts 67 posts
- Does ‘SNL’ Rhyme With ‘Deschanel’?? Learn Which SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE Vet Hosts After Sexy Zooey!! -- 64 total posts 60 posts
- To Commemorate The 3D Release Of STAR WARS EPISODE I: THE PHANTOM MENACE, George Lucas Wants You To Know...Greedo Shoots First!! -- 480 total posts 55 posts
- HANNA's Saoirse Ronan to boss around seven little people -- 53 total posts 50 posts
- Friday Brings SWEEPS DAY NINE!! Gab Here About Tonight’s FRINGE!! Plus Einstein on TIM, Wiig On PORTLANDIA, MAHER, CLONE, GIFTED, GRIMM, SPARTACUS, SUPERNATURAL, GOLD RUSH And More!! -- 118 total posts 32 posts
- SPACE 2099!! -- 182 total posts 27 posts