What’s SHOOT THE MESSENGER?
Well, AICN COMICS: SHOOT THE MESSENGER is your weekly one stop shop for comic book -EWS. What’s comic book –EWS? Well, it’s our hodge-podge of everything not reviews here at AICN Comics. Sure you can find out the @$$Holes’ critical opinions of your favorite books every Wednesday at AICN Comics. But here, you’ll find special reports such as previews, interviews, special features, and occasionally news gathered here from our online brethren at Newsarama, CBR, Wizard, etc. Sure those guys are the best at reporting news as it breaks. Click on the links for the original stories. This column cuts the crap to run down all the vital information for those of you who don’t follow it as it comes in, and serves it all up with that special ingredient of @$$y goodness.
Bug chats with artist Daniel Crosier
Hey folks, Ambush Bug here with another Q & @. This time, I got to chat with artist Daniel Crosier. You may not know the name now, but if he keeps putting out beautiful comics like Bluewater Productions’ BARTHOLOMEW OF THE SCISSORS, you’ll be seeing a lot of his work in the future. Crosier doesn’t use your typical pencils and pens when he draws his panels. Nope, Daniel Crosier is a master at wood-burning. He had a chance to educate me in the fine art of wood burning, his experiences in the comics field, and other things we like to call stuff. Here’s what he had to say.
AMBUSH BUG (BUG): Your work on BARTHOLOMEW OF THE SCISSORS for Bluewater Comics was pretty unique. Can you explain the process you take to make your art and what materials are used?
DAN CROSIER (DC):For BARTHOLOMEW OF THE SCISSORS, I would illustrate using mixed media, and wood burning, on inexpensive pine lumber from Home Depot - my art supply store. I decided for the sake of time to really simplify the look and use much graphite, ink, color pencil, etc., and use wood burning to accentuate aspects of the story.
BUG: Is this a long process? How long does it take for you to finish an entire comic book?
DC: I was able to knock out an issue within about a month and a half. Some days I could hammer out 3 pages in a day. Might take a couple nights to knock out the covers, because they were mostly wood burned.
BUG: Your work seems to be pretty detailed. How difficult is it to create those intricacies with the tools you use?
DC: Actually, not hard at all. Like geology, it’s time and pressure. And whatever the hell tool might be within arms reach. It was kind of schizophrenic actually.
BUG: Where did this interest in the woodburning medium come from?
DC: I've been illustrating on wood, poplar, plywood, and such for some time, due to adding such elements into previous constructivist wood assemblage works. After doing covers for Positive Brand and Pandemonium Comics with Mike Heronime, Elizabeth Breitweiser, Marvel Comics artist Mitch Breitweiser's wife, and fellow artist, made the suggestion to try wood burning at a convention in Texas. Months after that Darren Davis offered me the BART book that was a b-movie horror genre story. I felt the wood burning thing would be a good approach and stand out.
BUG: Since woodburning isn't your typical method of artistry in comics, was it difficult to get publishers to take a look at your work?
DC: Bluewater was easy since I already had the job. Since wood burning was outside their arena of understanding, they let go of the reins and allowed me to experiment and occasionally burn my thumb. Burning human hair smells something awful.
I have sent small portfolios to DC using characters like Swamp Thing - it did get me early responses, which was nice.
BUG: Explain how you came to be artist on BARTHOLOMEW OF THE SCISSORS.
DC: I was sending in the occasional pinup for Valkyrie and other books. Anything to develop a relationship with a publisher. I basically annoyed Darren Davis at Bluewater, and was trying to get onto a Ray Harryhausen book, which he didn't think I was appropriate for. Darren suggested I take a look at Chad Helder's BARTHOLOMEW story, which I thought was fun.
BUG: Has your studio ever been infested with termites?
DC: Actually, I did have a problem with mice. Thank god for feral children abandoned in the Rocky Mtns. Just lured one to my studio with Reece’s Pieces, and let 'im hunt down any rodent protein snack he could grasp. Now he is enrolled in Harvard Law.
BUG: You must be so proud. So what projects do you have coming up?
DC: I have a VINCENT PRICE PRESENTS issue coming out this summer with co-writer Zach Meyer, inker Peter Palmiotti, and cover painter Alex Meyer. I am working on illustrating a future issue of VINCENT PRICE with writer Stan Yan, that is hilarious. I am in the middle of a DISTORTIONS UNLIMITED book through Bluewater with inker Peter Palmiotti, illustrated all on wood too. This is based on the halloween animatronic company's catalog of monsters, fiction www.distortionsunlimited.com. They will also be featured in a future episode of HOW IT’S MADE on the Discovery Channel.
Working on a ton of submissions for other publishers. Most note-worthy is the LAZARUS PAPERS which is a comic book adaptation of the feature film by Jeremiah Hundley, starring Danny Trejo. Some short & feature film projects, and designing characters for a possible Comedy Central pilot. I am still producing and directing my samurai demon performance group OdAm fEI mUd, which is available for bookings! I try to keep busy, but am open to other projects, and birthday parties!
BUG: Man, you sound busy! Well, thank you so much for answering these questions. I've read BARTHOLOMEW OF THE SCISSORS and found it to be a beautiful achievement. I can't wait to see more work from you.
DC: Thank you!
Thanks again, Daniel. BARTHOLOMEW OF THE SCISSORS can be found in stores now from Bluewater Productions. The trade collecting the series can be found in stores in April.
Ambush Bug is Mark L. Miller, reviewer and co-editor of AICN Comics for over seven years. Check out previews to his short comic book fiction here and here published in MUSCLES & FIGHTS 3 and MUSCLES & FRIGHTS on his ComicSpace page. Bug was interviewed here and here at Cream City Comics. Look for more comics from Bug in 2009 from Bluewater Productions, including the just-announced sequel to THE TINGLER for their VINCENT PRICE PRESENTS ongoing series.
Welcome to another whirl on the Spinner Rack to the Future. This week’s pull is guaranteed to whet your whistle until the comics come out on Wednesday. First is OLYMPUS #1, a godly tale by writer Nathan Edmondson with beautiful art by Christian Ward. This is a really good looking book. Click on the pages below and see what I mean.
Look for OLYMPUS #1 in stores May 20.
One of Marvel’s hidden gems, CAPTAIN BRITAIN & MI13, has another issue coming out this week. This latest arc has Cap and Co. taking on Dracula and his Legion of Vampires, and it’s one of the coolest comics out there, I promise you. Here’s a peek at issue #12.
CAPTAIN BRITAIN & MI13 #12 goes for your jugular this Wednesday!
I’m unfamiliar with the George R.R. Martin's WILDCARDS series. But after seeing this preview, my interest is definitely piqued. It’s worth the look see for the art alone. Check out what I’m talking about with WILDCARDS #5.
WILDCARDS #5 hits the stores in April from the Dabel Brothers.
Next we’ve got SAVAGE SHE-HULK #1. Seems Hulk is quite the fertile turtle these days. First he’s got a son he doesn’t know about in SKAAR SON OF HULK and now it looks like ol’ Brucie is the proud poppa of a red haired baby girl. And I thought Thundra only dug chicks! Check out this preview below of the first issue of this new miniseries.
Get your gamma on with SAVAGE SHE-HULK #1 this Wednesday!
Alterna Comics has proven themselves to be a vital source for comics that fail to be categorized or labeled. Their books are always written with care and drawn with talented pencils and inks. For this upcoming FREE COMIC BOOK DAY, Alterna Comics has put together a compilation of their best work in ATTACK OF THE ALTERNA ZOMBIES #1. Check out these snippets of the variety and quality Alterna has to offer.
Check out ATTACK OF THE ALTERNA ZOMBIES #1 this FREE COMIC BOOK DAY and check out Alterna Comics for their selection of cool titles.
I got onto the MARVEL APES bandwagon late (picked up the entire miniseries on a whim the other day and enjoyed the monkey poop out of it). Now we’ve got a couple of one-shot follow-ups dealing with the fallout from that miniseries. Here’s a sneak peek at MARVEL APES: THE AMAZING SPIDER-MONKEY #1.
Stop monkeying around and pick up MARVEL APES: AMAZING SPIDER-MONKEY #1 on Wednesday. Sometimes, I hurt myself with these puns…
Not to be mistaken with LEAVE IT TO CHANCE, TAKE A CHANCE follows a female vigilante known as Chance. What struck me about this issue is the Tom Mandrake/Howard Porter-ish art (two artists I really like) from artist Ardian Syaf. His stuff is really good. Check out what I mean with this issue (#4, for those counting).
TAKE A CHANCE #4 from the Dabel Brothers arrives in stores in April.
Last but not least we have a new title about a little known character named Wolverine. I’m happy that there’s a new series out focusing on this fellow because you really don’t see much of Wolverine these days. You’d think that with the movie coming out, he’d be appearing in X-Books, Avengers books, miniseries and his own series, but nada, nuttin’ on the shelves with Wolverine. Well Marvel heard your calls, folks, and they’re giving you a brand new series, WOLVERINE: WEAPON X. Finally, we can get our Wolvie fix. All sarcasm aside, they’ve got some damn fine talent for this book. Jason Aaron and Ron Garney ain’t too shabby. Here’s a preview to issue one.
What in the name of Hugh Jackman’s tap shoes are you doing sitting here!?!?! Go wait in line in front of your comic shop now to pick up WOLVERINE: WEAPON X #1 when it hits the stands on Wednesday!
Editing, compiling, imaging, coding, logos & cat-wrangling by Ambush Bug
Proofs, co-edits & common sense provided by Sleazy G
Ad by Prof. Challenger
AMBUSH BUG (BUG): Your work on BARTHOLOMEW OF THE SCISSORS for Bluewater Comics was pretty unique. Can you explain the process you take to make your art and what materials are used?
