SiDEBAR - COMICS, ART & POP CULTURE

Podcast Episode 222 :: Cover Band

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This little roundtable was recorded (somewhat covertly) in an empty panel room at Spectrum Live 2. I thought it would be fun to discuss comic book cover art, so I hit up our friend Mark Chiarello (DC Comics Art Director) about joining us on the mics. He said sure, but suggested we ask another friend, George Pratt (The Art Department), to sit in as well. George said he would love to, and well, we did it.

The questions were these: What makes a good comic book cover? How have they changed over the many decades from the Golden Age up to current day? At what point did comic publishers decide to really focus on the cover image as a tool to get fans to buy their books? And who are some of the all-time greats at creating the quintessential comic book cover? (Ah, you'll have to listen in to find out the answers, true believers!)

Our thanks to George and Mark for jumping in the fray with us. They are both big fanboys so it didn't take much wrangling. And special thanks to Spectrum Live for "loaning" us (cough, cough) the use of one of their rooms. 'Preciate you, Cathy and Arnie!

**WARNING: THE AUDIO ON THIS EPISODE HAS SOME ISSUES. MY MIC WASN'T PLUGGED IN PROPERLY, SO MY VOICE SOUNDS FAR AWAY. APOLOGIES UP FRONT, 'NATION! IT WAS ALL ON ME, NOT THE OTHER GUYS.

- SWAiN

Podcast Episode 221 :: TERRYL WHITLATCH - From the Main Stage at SFAL2

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To be honest, illustrator and creature designer Terryl Whitlatch was someone that I was absolutely unfamiliar with prior to hosting her panel on the main stage at Spectrum Fantastic Art Live 2. The first time that I had heard her name was when she was named a Special Guest on the Spectrum website.  

Shame on me.

However, in my preparation for the panel, I found her work to be fascinating and I bubbled over with questions to ask. I and the panel audience learned about her life-long passion for animals both real and imagined, how she creates the phyisiology of fantastic creatures for film and her involvement with Star Wars: The Phantom Menace and the creation of Jar-Jar Binks. Plus we learn about her creator-owned book The Katurran Odyssey with writer David Michael Wieger.

A big thanks to Terryl for being a delight and enlightening me on a subject that I knew nothing about and a huge thanks to the attendees for their excellent questions.

- ADRiAN

**More audio to come from Spectrum Live 2. Stay tuned!

Podcast Episode 220 :: PETER DE SEVE - From the Main Stage at SFAL2

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I like this young man right here. This young man invented the phrase: "Oh no, you didn't!" He is none other than Peter de Sève, and he was one of the Special Guests at Spectrum Fantastic Art Live 2.

We spoke with Peter (or Pete, as he allowed me to call him) on the podcast back in October of 2009. As a character designer, he was fresh off of Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs and well into the promo tour for his recently-released sketch book, A Sketchy Past: The Art of Peter de Sève. I had a copy of said sketch book and loved it, so Dwight and I called him up and we had a lively and robust chat. Click here to check out the tomfoolery.

Fast forward to May of 2013 and Spectrum Live 2. I not only got to meet Peter in person, but I also moderated the panel with him from the SFAL main stage. I found him to be as charming and jovial in person as he was during our phone interview. Lucky moi.

Thanks to de Sève for being such an entertaining guest, thanks to the attendees for their presence and great questions, and thanks to you all for listening in today.

And, oh — Darla lives!

- SWAiN

Podcast Episode 219 :: TARA MCPHERSON - From the Main Stage at SFAL2

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Tara McPherson: Illustrator. Designer. Entrepreneur. Bass player. Mom. (And certainly not in that order!)

Tara was also one the very special guests at Spectrum Fantastic Art Live 2 a few weeks ago. As expected, I had crazy fun at the event and she was one of the reasons why. Dwight and I had met her once before at a Dragon*Con, but never got the chance to chat with her on-mic. Well, SFAL fixed all that.

McPherson took to the main stage on Saturday morning and the audience ate her up. She was upbeat, charming and ready to go. Recommended for your ears, 'Nation!

- SWAiN

**A huge thanks to Arnie and Cathy Fenner for bringing us back to the Land of Kick-Ass Barbecue, to Tara for being a cool guest, and to the attendees at the main stage for asking such good questions. All you folks rock!

Tara's work with Kid Robot came up in the conversation, and to the left is an example of one of her Dunnys from 2012.

Podcast Episode 218 :: RALPH MACCHIO

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In this age of perpetual hyperbole, the word "legend" gets thrown around a lot. If you've lasted, you're a legend. If you've done great work over the years, you're a legend. If your name has been attached to big-name projects, you're a legend. It can (and does) get old.

However, with a career spanning over thirty years, Marvel writer-editor Ralph Macchio has done all the things mentioned above and more. Without question, he has earned the title "legend".

As an editor, Ralph has touched nearly every character in the Marvel Universe. He was in the Bullpen for all of Frank Miller's classic runs on Daredevil (including the Born Again series with artist David Mazzucchelli). He gave young talents like Bill Sienkiewicz, John Romita, Jr., and Greg Capullo their first big breaks in comics.

In 2000, he was put in charge of the entire Ultimates line at the request of Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada. And he also oversaw the launch of Marvel's adaptation of Stephen King's The Dark Tower novel in 2007.

As a writer, Ralph crafted the Project Pegasus saga in Marvel Two-In-One, a storyline that became a real fan-favorite. And he had stints putting his pen to other titles like The Mighty Thor, X-Men and The Avengers.

Our chat with Macchio is a long one, but it needed to be. We had plenty to ask and we didn't want to rush the man. As they say in his business, he had a story to tell. As a matter of fact, he had plenty of them.

Have fun listening in, 'Nation. 

- SWAiN

**A big super-sized thanks to our pal Skottie Young for hooking us up with Ralph!

Podcast Episode 217 :: WILLIAM WRAY

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William Wray is a trip. Let me say that up front. He is a former comic book artist, former animator, former cartoonist, and present-day fine artist; but turns out his real superpower is that of storyteller.

And his stories will trip you out.

If his name sounds familiar, that's because Wray went by 'Bill Wray' in his commercial art days. As Bill, he worked in animation for companies like Spumco and Cartoon Network, created backgrounds and storyboards for television shows like The Ren & Stimpy Show and Samurai Jack, and was the creative force behind Monroe, a cartoon strip he did for MAD magazine. Monroe ran in over 100 issues of MAD before BIll, frustrated with editorial, finally hit the ejector button.

Turns out, he's also done some comics. In 1997, he co-created Hellboy Junior with his friend, writer-artist Mike Mignola. The series was a one-shot, but is remembered fondly by rabid fans of the Hellboy universe.

During our conversation, Wray dropped a few names, but not at all in the douchey way. When one has had as varied a career path as him, one is bound to have run into everybody: Dave Stevens, Doug Wildey, Howard Chaykin, John K., Roy Thomas, Al Williamson, Tony Dezuniga, Alfredo Alcala, Jack Kirby, Ashley Wood, etc. (Exhausting, right?)

We jumped on board the Bill Train and held on for dear life as he regaled us with tales that will literally curl your hair. And he also shared some insights into his life now as a fine artist; a pursuit he finds richly satisfying, but replete with its own unique challenges.

Oh, and do pick up a copy of Wray's new art book from Brandstudio Press called Monolith. It's his second book with Brandstudio and looks to be 48 pages of full-color, full-bleed, urban landscape awesomeness.

Thanks for checking out the interview. We had a lot of fun. William Wray was a hoot.

And a trip.

- SWAiN

***Bill's blog.

Below are a few of Wray's fine art pieces. The first being the Cap painting he mentions in the episode.

Podcast Episode 216 :: Bookshelf Babble-On

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I think we got us a series, y'all. Welcome to our third Bookshelf Babble-On!

If you haven't listened to our previous installments, the premise of this series is this: We go to our respective bookshelves, pick a book we like, and try not to bore everybody for the next hour. It's that simple.

Dwight's choice for this episode was an old favorite in terms of the artist: Luis Royo's "Third Millennium". One part art book, one part narrative, and all parts apocalyptic; Royo's hauntingly beautiful art details the story of a physically deteriorating man who replaces his dead body parts with mechanical ones. It also explores the untraditional romance he has with the woman he pines for with the ultimate of contrasts: flesh against metal.

Dwight has mentioned Royo's name fondly on this podcast and in person, so it was fun hearing him officially wax poetic on the pathos within one of Luis' stories.

My pick was "Sharaz-de: Tales from the Arabian Nights" by the late Sergio Toppi. As most know, Toppi passed away last year. And being a relatively new fan, I was determined to get one of his books on my bookshelf sooner rather than later. So, when Archaia Entertainment announced that they were putting out an English language edition of "Sharaz-de", let's just say that like Marcellus Wallace: "I was on the motherf*cker, Jules".

The story is a classic tale of evil spirits, despotic kings and supernatural intrigue, and it is gorgeous to behold. If you don't know Toppi's work, you ought to be ashamed — ashamed, I say!

Adrian's book was a curve ball, folks. You do a podcast with a guy for a few years and you think you know him. Not so much. "The Adventures of Jodelle" by Guy Peellaert and Pierre Bartier is as pop art as pop art can be. And who knew Adrian really dug that stuff?! (Not us.)

Though "Jodelle" has been a sensation in Europe for decades, Peellaert wasn't even a comic book artist when he created it. He was a Belgium advertising dropout who wanted to try comics as another medium of expression. Rumor has it, Peellaert often made up the story page-by-page as he drew it. 

"The Adventures of Jodelle" is an sexy, anachronistic romp filled with the juicy visuals and aesthetic of the emerging counter-culture of the mid-1960s. And to be even more subversive, Peellaert appropriated the visage of real-life French teen idol Sylvie Vartan as his heroine, Jodelle.

Also, 'Jodelle' was first run in the French magazine Hara-Kiri, which was also home to several early efforts of Moebius (Jean Giraud)!

Thanks for checking out another Babble-On, 'Nation. We appreciate the ears. More interviews and roundtables a-coming!

- SWAiN

**There is another Easter egg at the end of this one covering "the one(s) that got away.

Podcast Episode 215 :: Remembering the Man Called MOEBIUS

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Jean Giraud.

Moebius.  

Two names existing as a monolith of singular vision. A vision that can conjure tales of gunfighters riding the arid trails of the Old West, to alternate worlds with towering mega-cities, to the farthest expanse of the imagination.

And beyond.

When Jean Giraud aka Moebius died a year ago, social media amongst his fans went nuts! It's not hyperbole to say that Giraud was one of the few living artists whose work was universally admired and loved by everyone.

He is missed.

To mark the anniversary of his passing (March 10, 2012), we took an hour to remember Moebius. Words could hardly encapsulate the breadth of this career, though we do try. Thanks for stopping by and taking a listen.

- ADRiAN

**In honor of Blueberry, we threw an Easter egg at the end of this one discussing our favorite westerns. Stay til the end credits roll, 'Nation!

Below is an image from Arzach, the wordless comic series Giraud created back in 1975 for his own Métal Hurlant (Heavy Metal). Arzach was probably considered an instant classic the day it debuted.

It's always fun when you see guys and gals who don't normally do mainstream comics tackle well-known mainstream characters. Their takes are usually provocative and challenge your ideas of what these characters should look and feel like. These are from a series of posters produced by Marvel in 1990.

A painted image from Blueberry, Moebius' popular western series. It would be almost trite to say that this man could draw anything and make it look awesome — so I won't say it!

From the book 40 Days in the Desert. Love it.

I'm a Hendrix fan, so what the hell. Jean Giraud collides with pop culture, yet again!

A shot of the man himself at a gallery show somewhere. If anyone knows the where and the when, shoot us a note.

- SWAiN

Podcast Episode 214 :: JOHN ROMITA, JR

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With a career spanning over three decades, John Romita, Jr. has come to be known as "Mr. Marvel" or simply "JRJR". Like his father, John Romita, Sr., his name is practically synomynous with Marvel Comics as he has depicted nearly every character in the company's universe.

With a style typified by solid storytelling and powerful visuals, JRJR puts the 'super' in super-heroes. He is as adept at illustrating tales of street-level crimes as he is with capturing the majesty of galaxy-spanning demigods. 

Romita, Jr. has been a personal favorite of mine since my first issue of his Iron Man run (#258, to be exact). I got it as part of a 3-for-$2 grab bag when I was a young teen. Shortly thereafter, I started collecting anything I could find of his: Uncanny X-Men, Daredevil, Punisher War Zone, Daredevil: Man Without Fear, and of course, Amazing Spider-Man.

But JRJR's success and longevity have not come without joys and pains as we discover in our conversation. He details his early career wrought with accusations of nepotism, and his mission to establish his own artistic identity apart from that of his legendary dad.

John also regales us with hilarious stories of the 1980s-era Marvel bullpen and him being the first (and only) Marvel "Hunk of the Month". And he speaks warmly of his collaborations with writers Frank Miller, Ann Nocenti and Mark Millar, as well as inkers Al Williamson and Klaus Janson.

- ADRiAN

* Special thanks to our friend Warren Drummond for helping make this interview possible.

Podcast Episode 213 :: DAN DOS SANTOS

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In a marketplace where digital is increasingly becoming the production standard for book covers and sci-fi/fantasy art, there are artists still dedicated to bringing fantastical visions to life with oil-to-canvas.

One of those artists is Dan Dos Santos!

In our conversation, we discuss working within the ever-changing field of sci-fi/fantasy art, his mentorship with illustrator Steven Stroud, love of comics, and the virtues of hard work instilled in him by his parents. Dan also relates his founding of the Muddy Colors blog and what the future may hold for it.

Dos Santos has worked for clients such as Disney, Universal Studios, Scholastic Books and Wizards of the Coast, and can be found online at dandossantos.com. He posts regularly on the aforementioned Muddy Colors blog as well, along with his fellow contributors.

- ADRiAN

 

 

Podcast Episode 212 :: Shine On — TONY SALMONS

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In this latest edition of our 'Shine On' series, we focus on artist Tony Salmons. In the circles of comic book art, Salmons has been lauded for his energetic, avant-garde approach on titles such as Dakota North, Vigilante, The Mark and Doctor Strange.

A thinking man and an "artist's artist", Salmons is hailed by his peers as one of the brightest of their generation. However, many of those same peers will also relate that Tony seems plagued by misfortune, chronic lateness and the ruination of relationships in his professional and personal life.

Swain and I discuss these aspects of Salmons' career as well as his influences and his influence on other cartoonists.

- ADRiAN

**Special thanks to friend of the show Michel Fiffe for his excellent three-part interview with Salmons at The Factual Opinion. Many of the points from our conversation were culled from Fiffe's interview. 

***And another thanks to past guest Toby Cypress for his story about meeting Salmons. We quoted him from his post on the DrawingBoard.org forums.

 

Podcast Episode 211 :: Under the Influence

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Despite our slightly misleading title, the conversation on the show today is pretty sober. And we were joined in it by a special guest, Wilfredo Torres — friend of the show and artist on The Shadow: Year One mini-series available right now from Dynamite Entertainment. It seemed apropos to ask Wilfredo on. Not only is he a stellar artist himself, but one look at his work will easily tell you what his influences are.

Or will it..?

Hence, the crux of today's roundtable. We chop up the nature of influence in comics and art. Why some artists transcend their influences while others do not. How far should said influences go? And can one be influenced in ways other than visually?

Check out the discussion and see what you think. Our goal with the talk was to take a conversation we have all had privately with our buddies, and bring it to the fore. Hell, you'll even learn to appreciate the greatness that is Curt Swan if you don't already. (Shame on you if you don't!)

-ADRiAN  

Podcast Episode 210 :: NATHAN FOWKES

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Today's conversation is with visual development artist/instructor Nathan Fowkes. Fowkes' career in animation of nearly two decades has included work with clients such as DreamWorks, Disney and Digital Domain, and spans feature films like The Road To El Dorado, The Prince of Egypt and Shrek Forever After. He shares some enlightening and funny anecdotes about working in the field of "entertainment arts".

Nathan also details his experience as an instructor; teaching classes in charcoal portraiture and use of color and light. And as Fowkes reveals, he once had a famous artist in his class and didn't even know it. (It's great, too!). Allow us to say that you owe it to yourself to discover Fowkes' masterful charcoal drawings and vibrant watercolors. 

He can be found online at nathanfowkes.blogspot.com. Tell him SiDEBAR sent you!

- ADRiAN

 

 

Podcast Episode 209 :: Run for Your Life

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Belated Happy New Year, 'Nation!

The Tres Amigos are recovered and ready to bring you the art funky like none other. First, we have some unfinished business from last year as we present Dwight with his belated Christmas gift (it's good, too!). Then, Swain and I give thanks for bundles of amazing books that we received from friends of the show (Thanks, Derek and Colby!). 

Then it's our Feature Presentation of the roundtable segment we like to call 'Run For Your Life'. For the uninitiated, this is the segment where Dwight, Swain and myself each choose a run of comics that impacted us personally and chop it up. Dwight chose Fantastic Four issues 279-281, Swain chose Amazing Spider-Man issues #18-22 and I chose The Invaders issues #1-28, plus the Giant-Size Annual PLUS the What If? issue #4. (It all fits together, trust me.)

Hope you enjoy the talk and here's to an awesome 2013!

- ADRiAN     

Podcast Episode 208 :: 2012 Year End Wrap-Up

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Of course, on this last episode of 2012, we reflect a little and celebrate a lot. Plenty of great interviews were had this year, tons of fulfilling conversations, some big belly laughs, and even a few cries. It's been a good one, 'Nation.

Thank you sincerely for hanging out with us over the last twelve months. We couldn’t have done it without you all.

Thank you to each and every guest who made the time to come on the show and chat. You are appreciated! *Tupac voice*

Thank you to Graham Crackers Comics for continuing to be the best sponsor around. John, you and the guys are the best!

And my personal thanks to Dwight and Adrian for having my back on these here mics. The three of us form a unit like Voltron, yo!

- SWAiN

Podcast Episode 207 :: STEVE 'THE DUDE' RUDE

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Steve Rude aka the Dude is by far one of my favorite comic book artists and illustrators. By far. So it was a real honor to finally interview him for this podcast. Oh, sorry — Steve Rude is generally known as the Dude to his friends. (Come on, try to keep up.)

I’m a fan of the Dude’s going back to my late teens. With his brilliant, sci-fi adventure series Nexus (with writer Mike Baron), The Incredible Hulk vs. Superman, World's Finest, X-men: Children of the Atom, and his work on so many other titles; the guy is just the best.

I have my pal Don Hillsman to thank again for turning me on to Nexus, and essentially, on to Steve Rude. Don was reading Nexus in the ‘80s, and as he had done many times before, shared the love. I said he was a pal, right?

After that, I became a rabid fan of Rude's stuff. I bought all of his comics, and eventually his art books, too. And discovered he was not only an outstanding comic book artist, but an outstanding all-around artist. The Dude can do it all — illustration, portraits, landscapes, commercial art — all of it! But as we found out in our talk with him, at the end of the day, comics are home. They are his calling.

Originally from the Midwest (like Dwight and I), Steve now makes his home in Peoria, AZ. He’s a family man (which comes up in the interview), fiercely loyal to his friends, and dedicated in the truest sense to his craft. You won’t meet a guy more committed to growing as an artist.

Our conversation covers it all, although not step-by-step. We thought it best to try and ask the Dude good questions and just let him talk. I mean, he’s been at this thing for over 30 years, right? We figured he had some stories to tell and opinions to share. And he damn sure did!

 

Our thanks to Steve for coming on with us and being so epic. (We knew he would be!) Our thanks to you all for listening in and supporting the show.  And check out Steve’s new DC project, a Dollar Bill One-Shot, when it hits stores everywhere in January. It looks amazing.

Okay, enough typing. It's time for hyperspeed! It's time for the Dude!

- SWAiN

**Scoop a copy of his 2007 art book — Steve Rude: Artist in Motion.

Podcast Episode 206 :: LEINIL YU

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I wanna talk about Adrian Johnson for a minute. Yes, I know today’s interview is with 'The Quiet Superstar' Leinil Yu — but indulge me, please.

The three of us are all fans of Leinil’s, but it was Adrian who pulled the trigger and invited him on the show. Yu and Adrian are roughly the same age, both are Image Comics babies, and Adrian became a fan of Leinil’s right from the jump: his professional comics debut on Marvel’s Wolverine (1997).

Adrian was majorly excited when the Manila-based artist said yes to the podcast invitation. He dove headfirst into his prep and research for the talk. And it was a real treat to sit and watch my boy cheezin’ like the Cheshire Cat as he interviewed someone for whom he's been a longtime fan. Matter of fact, it always is. When Dwight does it, I love watching it; and I’m sure when I do it, those two guys get a kick out of it. Okay, back to Leinil!

Wolverine, Superman: Birthright, Batman/Danger Girl, New Avengers, Supercrooks, Superior, and now Indestructible Hulk — Leinil Francis Yu is rocking it. And not just because of the kinds of books he works on. The dynamism and raw energy in his work put him head and shoulders above many of his peers — but then so does his prolificity. In a fanboy world where we throw the term ‘superstar’ around willy-nilly because someone “draws good” and quickly gains popularity, Yu actually cranks out the pages.

He does the work. He makes comics.

It’s a shame that one has to parse that distinction from other so-called comics superstars, but it’s true. (They know who they are.)

Enjoy hearing about Leinil’s early days and the influence of guys like Travis Charest and Yu’s mentor, Whilce Portacio. Enjoy hearing about his excursions into concept art for film (Serenity). Enjoy hearing Leinil very pragmatically reconcile himself with the lofty term ‘superstar’. And definitely enjoy listening in on the overall good time we had chatting with this humble, yet multi-faceted guy. Because it was like that!

Thanks, Leinil.

- SWAiN

**Some Firefly/Serenity concept art by Yu!

Podcast Episode 205 :: Rise & Shine feat. JANE RADSTROM and JAMES HARREN

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On this podcast, we talk to tons and tons of creators. The vast majority of which have had long and very fruitful careers. They've seen it all and done it all, too.

Well, we thought it was high time we got off our asses and created a format where we could bring some relatively new talent to the fore. You know, guys and gals who are on the front ends of their careers, but show incredible promise even now. Hence, Rise & Shine: Their stars are on the rise and we wanna give them some shine. So, here goes!

First up is Jane Radstrom. Without giving too much away here, Jane is an artist and illustrator based out of Austin, Texas. She's a grad of the Ringling College of Art and Design and now works, not only as a freelance illustrator, but also as a drawing instructor for The Art Department (TAD).

Don't be fooled, though. Jane's real secret weapon is her personal work. Not to downplay her skills as a commercial artist (she's got 'em), but her fine art is amazing. You can find the charming Ms. Radstrom on-line right here. Do click now.

Next up is sensational young comic artist James Harren. James hails from Doylestown, Pennyslyvania, but received his formal art training at The School of Visual Arts in New York. And as fate would have it, legendary artist and inker (and past SiDEBAR guest) Klaus Janson was one of Harren's instructors while he was in school.

After SVA, James cut his teeth freelancing for a year at Marvel Comics, then settled in nicely with the folks over at Dark Horse. So far, he's done a killer job on titles like Abe Sapien, Conan the Barbarian, and of course, B.P.R.D.

This guy is definitley the one to check for. You can find him on-line at his DA page, as well as his blog Pregnant Void. (Yeah, we know — dope name.)

- SWAiN

**Here's a link to a cool short video featuring Jane Radstrom. Below are two of her personal pieces.

 

And here are two images by Mr. Harren. The one on the left is his latest B.P.R.D. cover.

 

Podcast Episode 204 :: Halloween Special - THE 'SUPER' IN SUPERNATURAL

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Trick or treat, smell my feet, give me something good to eat. — Unknown

Our Halloween shows are little more than another opportunity for the three of us to run our mouths, but we do try to make them special. And finding ways to connect our nerdiness with our love of 'the scary' is far from a chore — we love it!

That said, today's episode is all about superheroes who wield magic and mysticism, or in some cases, the straight up occult. Many of these characters are incredibly powerful with god-like abilities, yet when you think about it, they are generally not super popular. Why is that?

The Spectre, Dr. Strange, Zatanna and even Death herself are just a few of the conjurers and other-worldly types we bring up in our conversation. We also dig around in their origins and shrouded pasts, as well as make fun of their alter egos and nicknames (some of which you won't believe).

As always, thanks for tuning in, 'Nation. Let us know what you think, and we hope all who celebrated it had a happy and safe Halloween!

- SWAiN

**Lots of episode-specific music played on this one: "Abracadabra" by The Steve Miller Band, "Strange Magic" by ELO, "You Can Do Magic" by America, and Nina Simone's "I Put a Spell on You".

And we posted a few cool images here by some artists we dig: Tomm Coker, Adam Hughes and Christopher Gutierrez.

 

Podcast Episode 203 :: "Read Between the Lines..." - Exploring HBO's Brilliant Police Drama THE WIRE (Part II)

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As promised, here is part two of our epic discussion of HBO's The Wire. From the towers, to the terrace, to every corner in West Baltimore — Adrian and I dig in.

This one covers most of season four and also, season five, the final season. And I gotta say, watching the last episode of the last season was tough. It was like saying goodbye to a new best friend I had made at summer camp — on the very last day of camp. Bittersweet...

As established on part one, these shows are super spoilerific. You have been warned!

- SWAiN

**Thanks to David Simon, Ed Burns, and everyone who worked on this show for one hell of a ride.

And please stay tuned for more interviews and roundtables. Especially our upcoming Halloween special — muahahahahaha!

Podcast Episode 202 :: "Listen Carefully..." - Exploring HBO's Brilliant Police Drama THE WIRE (Part I)

 

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(WARNING: Due to spoilerific content, listener discretion is advised.)

About a month ago, Swain and I plowed through all five seasons of HBO's The Wire. Disc by disc.

"What took you guys so long?!"

I hear you yelling. But I think I speak for both of us when I say that we had reservations regarding the nigh-universal and perpetual acclaim that the series garners. Could it live up to the hype? Five seasons later — yes!

From some of The Wire's most memorable characters (Jimmy McNulty, Omar Little, Stringer Bell, Snoop), to the behind the scenes production, to our favorite quotes; Swain and I delve fully into the world of West Baltimore.

And again, if you have not seen the show and plan to, I highly recommend you save these episodes until after you do (trust).

Like the epic scope of the series itself, we'll deliver our conversation to you guys in two parts. In other words, we're dropping off "that good package". So step on it and get your fix.

- ADRiAN

**Below are a few key frames from the greatest drama in American television history.

Podcast Episode 201 :: PASCAL CAMPION

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Pascal Campion is the definition of prolific. As a matter of fact, if you look the word up on dictionary.com, it hyperlinks to his website (kidding). Sarcasm aside, this man does his thing, he does it well, and he does it a lot! His friend Anthony Vu says he has over a 1000 Campion images saved on his computer. And Vu received all of them via email — one day at a time.

I became a stalker fan of Pascal's work like most of you did. Somehow, I stumbled across his sketch-a-day drawings and simply fell in love. And I mean that. I started going to his blog daily to check for them. It became a bit of an obsession!

If you aren't familiar with Pascal's art, specifically his sketches, they're the best. These colorful slices of life that are superbly rendered and warmly captured. Turns out, Pascal is a listener to the podcast, which is always flattering to hear. We're humbled to say the least when artists, especially great artists, enjoy the talks.

Two new Campion books out this year: Papa c'est Moi, a family-focused collection of his work, and Sunny Side - The Art of Pascal Campion. The latter is a bigger book, we hear, and has way more in it in terms of the "how". Click and buy if you wanna soak up his goodness in hardcopy form.

To Pascal, my friend: I appreciate your putting up with my feeble attempts to affect a French accent during the interview. I wanted to impress you, but I suspect I missed. (C'est la vie?) Either way, thanks for coming on the show and chatting with us. Dwight and I enjoyed it immensely.

- SWAiN

**Anthony Vu produced a short video on Pascal and his art. Take a look here.

Podcast Episode 200 :: Listener Call-In Show

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"DJ, please ... pick up the phone, I'm on the request line!" — Rock Master Scott & the Dynamic Three

Today's topic is "milestones", and two hundred podcasts is definitely a milestone for the three of us. We not only didn't think we'd ever get here, we never even thought about getting here! We just took it a step at a time, a day at a time. And so...

Thank you to everyone who called in for the Listener Call-In Show. It was made special only by your presence. And a huge thanks to everyone who has ever downloaded an epsiode, sent an email, posted a comment, made a donation, or said "hello" to us at a con or event. Every single interaction we've had with you all has meant a lot to us.

You are friends. You are the 'Nation.

Hope you enjoy listening to episode 200. And as several callers warmly wished us during the recording — here's to 200 more!

- DWiGHT, SWAiN & ADRiAN

Podcast Episode 199 :: Countdown to Call Time

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As we waited to hear from the 'Nation — the three Amigos, the Siblings, Dwight, Swain and Adrian — decided to reflect a little. Basically, it was our normal intro for episode 200, but we went deeper. You know — how the show got started, what we thought then versus what we think now, changes along the way.

And it only seemed right after listening to the audio to give that reflection its own space. Besides, we got so many great calls and heard from so many of you, you all deserved your own space, too.

So, we hope you enjoy this little apéritif. Coming up next, the main course!

Episode 198 :: THOMAS BLACKSHEAR

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The amazing Thomas Blackshear has finally graced these esteemed microphones and we are elated! Thomas has been on the short list of wanted SiDEBAR guests for eons (or at least since Dwight and I first started the show back in 2007).

He is a former illustrator, and now, fine artist, and his large and eminently respectable body of work has garnered him legions of dedicated fans (many of whom are his peers).

After more than two decades of working as a professional illustrator, Thomas switched lanes to jump into the collectibles market as a designer and sculptor. That endeavor, too, has been ridiculously successful. (Check out his Ebony Visions series, folks.)

This was a real treat and a coup for us. Blackshear doesn't do an awful lot of interviews, podcast or print. We're honored to have spoken with him. Thanks to him for chatting with us, and thanks to you all for checking it out.

- SWAiN

Podcast Episode 197 :: MICHAEL WM. KALUTA

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Hero moments are pretty easy to come by doing this show. One minute, you're conducting an interview and trying to be professional. The next, a "fanboy unease" comes over you when you realize you're talking to someone whose art you've admired for most of your life.

That happened to me in waves while chatting with Michael William Kaluta.

Since I was a teen, Kaluta has been an artistic hero of mine. I was a fiend for his run on The Shadow with writer Denny O'Neil, all of his short stories at DC Comics, and the stacks and stacks of comic book covers he drew throughout the '70s and '80s.

It was somewhere in those '80s that I rediscovered Mike as a painter and illustrator. He had joined up with a unique quartet of artists that you may have heard of. Yes, that's right — The Studio. Together with Jeff Jones, Bernie Wrightson, and Barry Windsor-Smith, Mike Kaluta made fantasy art history in the New York City loft they all shared on West 26th street. Oh, to have been a fly on their wall.

Much of the above and more is covered in the interview, so settle in. We also get the scoop on what he's working on these days (hint: it involves a certain princess on a certain planet in our solar system). Here's the one and only — Mike Kaluta!

- SWAiN

**And here is a link to the Alan Parsons Project's video for "Don't Answer Me". Mike did design and concept work on it.

Podcast Episode 196 :: Back in the Clubhouse

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The Los Bros SiDEBAR are indeed back in the clubhouse!

It's been a hot minute since we've done a good ol' fashioned Roundtable and chopped it up casual-like, so here goes:

First, we mention Dragon*Con, which will invade the ATL next week from August 31 through September 3, 2012. Next, we three offer reflections on the passing of comics great Joe Kubert (Sgt. Rock, Enemy Ace, Tarzan). Swain and Dwight offer a review of 'The Dark Knight Rises' (which I still haven't seen... I know, I know...). Then, I take point to examine the 'Legendary Failure' of Thomas Peak and the incredibly dubious tale of his hardcover collection of the career of his father, famed illustrator Bob Peak.

Lastly, we cap things off with:

That's right! The SiDEBAR Bicentennial is nearly upon us. It promises to be a Treasury-Sized Anniversary Spectacular and we want the 'Nation to join us in the celebration. Listen in to find out how YOU can get on the air and help us ring in the occasion in style!

-ADRiAN 

Podcast Episode 195 :: CRAIG ELLIOTT

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Today, we've got artist, illustrator, animator, architect, sculptor, and now jewelry designer, Craig Elliott. (I know, enough already!) Dwight and I have been big fans of the guy's work for years, met him in person at Spectrum Live, and he was totally amenable to coming on the podcast and chatting with us.

Craig’s clients include Disney, Dreamworks, Blue Sky, and Nickelodeon. Films he's worked on: Hercules, Mulan, The Emperor’s New Groove, Flushed Away, and The Princess and The Frog (just to name a few).

You can view his printed work in the esteemed pages of the Spectrum annuals, as well as in his new art book: The Art of Craig Elliott. Said art book is available right now through its publisher, Flesk Publications, and we encourage you to go and scoop one up today. It's good stuff!

Craig covers quite a bit in our conversation with him about his background, training, his professional choices, and his thoughts on art and being multi-faceted. He was a delight to talk to, and we hope you enjoy listening in.

- SWAiN

Podcast Episode 194 :: JASON FELIX

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What can be said about Jason Felix (pardoning the obvious pun) is that he is "that cat'" In fact, a wonderfully talented cat who has worn many hats artistically in his eighteen year career.

The roll call of companies he has worked for is voluminous: Electronic Arts, Blur Studio, Hasbro Inc, Wizards of the Coast, Del Rey, Lucas LTD, Atari, Broderbund Software, The Learning Channel, Mattel, Sega, TSR, Upper Deck, White Wolf Studios... to name a few. And he has often done so in capacities that most seasoned vets seldom have the opportunity to.

I first met Jason at WonderCon back in 2004, while he was working on the upcoming StarCraft Ghost video game. He was an affable guy, very giving of his time, and not to mention, the first concept artist of regard I had ever spoken with. We talked about his work with Christopher Shy and how much those collaborations emboldened me to renew my own artistic pursuits.

And as much as I perpetually go on about the 2005 ConceptArt workshop being a catalyst for my personal growth, my conversations with Jason have been equally influential on the kind of talk that ultimately became SiDEBAR. So, having him officially join us on the podcast feels very much like home to me.

It was an entertaining and inspiring chat, 'Nation. Hopefully you'll agree.

-DWiGHT

**Below are two frames taken from the opening title sequence of the David Fincher film "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo". Felix was contracted to work on the sequence through his associates at Blur Studio.

Podcast Episode 193 :: Spectrum Fantastic Art Live (2012) - The Recap

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We finally did it! Dwight and I finally sat down and culled together all of our memories from Spectrum Live. Twas a huge undertaking, too. Especially considering our brains were still blown by (not only) the incredible amount of art we saw, but also, at how positive the whole experience was.

SFAL was a lot like a 'fantastic art nuclear bomb' going off in the middle of Kansas City (I'm not kidding). And yet there wasn't an ego in the house, folks — art was the star of the show. Everyone in attendance was there to have fun, buy and sell some amazing art, connect with other amazing artists, and just soak up the vibe.

I called the whole weekend magical once before and I'll do it again here. Hope you enjoy the recap.

(And 2013, you better watch your ass 'cause we're coming back!)

- SWAIN

**Once more, we gotta thank Arnie and Cathy for bringing us aboard for this first year event. We had a ball. They were both guests on SiDEBAR back in October of 2008 and it was pleasure to finally meet them in person. Also, thanks to the Spectrum Live staff and all the volunteers. They rocked! And as it pertains to this episode, many thanks to the talented folks who kindly jumped on the mic with us: Tyler Davis, Bregelle Whitworth-Davis, Scott Quick, Travis Lewis, Jason Felix, Kristina Carroll, Kirk DouPonce, and Ron and Vanessa Lemen.

The image to your right was captured by Irene Gallo at the live award show on Saturday night. That's "Phaedroid" performing (Andrew Jones and Phaedra).

Podcast 191 :: Spectrum Fantastic Art Live (2012) - JAMES GURNEY

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This panel took place on the main stage at SFAL on Sunday morning. It was the day after the live awards show at the Midland Theatre where our friend James Gurney was awarded the Spectrum Grandmaster Award. Dwight and I were both there to see James win, heard his very gracious speech, and couldn't have been happier that he was being honored.

Jim Gurney is not only an outstanding artist and writer with a huge body of work, but a teacher and lecturer who remains fiercely supportive of the fantastic art community. It was nothing short of moving to see him get a standing ovation from a room full of his peers (many of whom are also fans).

Oh! And a special thank you to everyone who attended the panel. I know Jim felt the love, and the Q & A portion was exceptional, folks.

- Swain

**James Gurney was a guest on this podcast back in February of 2010.

The picture up top was taken by Janet Schroeder of Rock A Baby Photography. The shot to your right is the property of Irene Gallo and was captured at the awards show. Thanks to both of these ladies.

Podcast Episode 190 :: ARTHUR ADAMS

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The chat of all chats is up and available in our free feed: Arthur Adams. Longshot, Uncanny X-men, New Mutants, Fantastic Four, Monkeyman and O'Brien, Ultimate X — you know his hits! Arthur joined us on the mics and we had an absolute blast with him.

In the interview, we cover some background, breaking into comics, working on Longshot and the much-talked about Speculator Boom of the late '80s.

Also, Arthur gives us his take on drawing fast vs. drawing good, his love of Godzilla and monsters, and the "rarefied air he breathes" as a sought-after illustrator who still wants to make comics.

Adams gave it all up and cracked us up while he was doing it, too (something we didn't expect). Our thanks to him for taking the time out to come on the show.

**There's a little Easter Egg at the end of this one. Don't miss it!

The picture above was taken by Eddy Choi at Wondercon earlier this year. We thank him as well for letting us use it.

Podcast Episode 189 :: Spectrum Fantastic Art Live (2012) - PHIL HALE

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Phil was one of the special guests at Spectrum Fantastic Art Live and I had the honor of moderating this panel with him. I was a little nervous, too. We had interviewed him on the podcast recently, but this was my first time meeting him face-to-face. I noticed a couple things about him right out of the gate:

1) Phil is a lot taller in person than he looks in pictures. I thought he was my height. Not so much! He's easily over six feet.

2) He was super nice. Not that I expected him to be an ogre or anything. But the man creates such provocative and moving images, I guess I thought he'd be all serious and what not. And to some extent he was. For the most part though, he was approachable and friendly, and very much a regular guy just there to hang out.

The panel took place on Friday (the first official day of the show) and it was well attended. I asked a few starter questions, then we opened it up for Q & A. Hope you enjoy the audio.

- SWAiN

**Our unending thanks to Cathy and Arnie Fenner, the founders and organizers of Spectrum Fantastic Art Live, for inviting us to be a part of their event. It was a magical weekend.

Podcast Episode 188 :: NIC KLEIN

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Nic Klein has the goods, baby. He draws his ass off, paints traditionally and digitally, and he friggin’ rocked it on Viking, his 2009 Image Comics mini-series with writer Ivan Brandon (Secret Invasion, NYC Mech). Oh. And he’s about to do it again with his next book, Dancer. 

We've never met Nic face-to-face, but we know people who know him. He hails from Germany (Kassel, to be exact), and is pals with former Marvel Comics exclusive artist Marko Djurdjevic. As a matter of fact, Nic was part of the staff for Marko’s MADE symposium back in 2010. In the interview, he tells us all about the experience and doesn’t spare any of the funny bits. HIGH-larious!

Nic is also boys with Wizard of Oz artist Skottie Young. Skottie told me in an email that Nic was the first guy he knew of (other than Jon Foster) who could paint digitally and make it look just like his traditional stuff. And Nic all but confirms this in our talk with him.

After a slew of covers for New Warriors and other Marvel titles, and after getting much fan love for the conquering Viking (see what I did there?) — here comes Dancer. Due out tomorrow, it’s an espionage tale (of sorts) with full art by Klein and script by Nathan Edmondson (Who is Jake Ellis, Olympus). We’ve seen the previews and it's really killer. Very different, too, from Nic’s other work.

See, told you he had the goods. You gotta change it up or get stale. Go, Nic.

- SWAiN

**Below is a page of interior art from Nic's new book, Dancer.

Podcast Episode 187 :: THE AVENGERS (a b-side movie review)

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Around these parts, we don't usually do movie reviews. But Marvel's The Avengers was so top notch, and so well done, that we had to make an exception. Joss rocked it, the cast rocked it, and the Siblings had to gush! There ain't much more to it than that, partner.

Excelsior!

**Spoilers a-plenty. Consider yourself warned!

Podcast Episode 186 :: BROM

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Gerald Brom has something in common with Prince, Madonna and Sting. No, he’s not a musician (that we know of). But his art so singularly represents him that one name, his last name, is all he needs to go by, really. And it’s a kick-ass name, too, by the way!

Born here in Georgia, but raised all over the world (a military brat), Brom has gone on in his creative endeavors to become a fantasy writer and artist almost without peer. The author of amazing books like The Plucker, The Child Thief, and his upcoming Krampas the Yule-Lord, his fans are legion. You can count all three of us in that group, too.

In today’s interview, we cover some background on Brom, TSR and life in rural Wisconsin, working traditionally, picking up the writer handle, and everything in between.

Plus, we talk a bit about him being a special guest at Spectrum Fantastic Art Live which is going down in just over a week in Kansas City, MO. We’ll be there as well and hopefully we can grab a beer with the guy. He was awesome.

Can. Not. Wait.

- Swain

**By the way, I'm loving that spiffy jacket he's wearing in this shot!

Podcast Episode 185 :: 20 Years of IMAGE COMICS

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Recently, the fellas and myself realized that this year, 2012, marked the 20th anniversary of Image Comics. In 1992, seven former Marvel artists struck out on their own to make the kinds of books that they wanted to make, and inadvertently started a revolution.

Now I can imagine the eye-rolling going on from those of you who remember chromium covers and every other Image title called Blood (fill-in-the-blank). And that sort of derision is deserved to some extent. But putting aside all the gimmickry, it cannot be denied that Image Comics changed the industry forever in ways, ultimately, for the better.

As you'll hear on the roundtable, back in 1993, it would have taken a triple gatefold cover to contain my excitement for that initial line of Image books. That period was my personal 'Golden Age'. And Swain and Dwight both temper the conversation righteously with some great recollections of those days pulled from their memory banks.

From comic book millionaires to having an underground garage of exotic sports cars, to the direct market crash to becoming a respected independent publisher; we cover the gamut of Image's history — to the extreme.

-ADRiAN

'The Seven' in 1992: (clockwise from left, top row) Erik Larsen, Rob Liefeld, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri, Jim Valentino, Jim Lee and Whilce Portacio.

'The Seven' in 2007 (below).

Podcast Episode 184 :: Deep Focus with Filmmaker ERNEST DICKERSON

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If you listen to this show with any regularity, you know that 1) we are comic book fans, 2) we are art nerds, and 3) we are huge pop culture junkies with an unending fascination for TV and movies. So, of course, a conversation with filmmaker Ernest Dickerson was right up our alley. 

Ernest made his name as a respected cinematographer for years before finally planting himself down in the director’s chair. Brother From Another Planet, Krush Groove and several of Spike Lee’s first feature films (Do the Right Thing, Mo’ Better Blues, Malcolm X) all bear his lush but tasteful style. Dickerson and Lee actually met as students at NYU film school where they became friends and eventual collaborators. 

Ever since his 1992 directorial debut, Juice, which starred then unknowns Omar Epps and Tupac Shakur, Ernest has been “calling his own shots”. And over the last eight years, his presence as a director and storyteller have been felt exclusively on television shows like The Wire, Heroes and Dexter, and more recently on HBO’s Treme and AMC’s The Walking Dead.

Adrian and I chatted with Dickerson at length about his craft, choices, the business as a whole, and the kinds of projects that he would like to produce. And it was like that.

-SWAiN

**Our sincere thanks to Ernest for coming on the show with us. He was awesome! Also, many thanks to his manager Jennifer Levine and storyboard artist Warren Drummond (BFAM) for making this interview happen.

And check for the Easter Egg at the end. We play some "Either Or" with our guest and it ends with a surpising Hollywood horror story.

Podcast Episode 183 :: Spousal Support

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For every whole, there is a better half. At least we’re sure that’s what that saying is supposed to imply. And that brings us to Spousal Support.

Over the last five years, we have talked to a ton of creators. During that time, we’ve heard tales of incredible triumph, and in some cases, incredible challenge — and everything in between. We thought it would be fun to see, well, how the other half lives. So, we did. We sat down with four women who are married to, and/or, committed to creators and geeks, and had a blast doing it. The chosen four (as it were) were very open, honest and forthcoming, and we think you’ll really enjoy hearing what they had to say. Here they are:

Kellie Warring of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia chatted about life over the last year and a half with her beau, Darren Yeow. Darren is a concept artist and has a company called Stylus Monkey Design. Janis Renzi of Charlotte, North Carolina shared some of her story. She’s married to colorist Rico Renzi, who is also the creative director of the Charlotte-based Heroes Convention. Atlantan Samantha Johnson talked to us about living with none other than our own, Adrian Johnson. Adrian is obviously one of the hosts of this podcast, but is also an artist himself. And last up is Monica Torres, a former New Jerseyian who now makes her home here in Atlanta. Monica is married to Wilfredo Torres, a working comic book artist whose star is on the rise.

Many thanks to these ladies for braving the geek waters and joining us on Spousal Support. We know we have a reputation for being silly and a bit cheeky, and we're pretty sure we maintained that rep solidly throughout all of these talks (ha).

- SWAiN

Podcast Episode 182 :: DAVID GROVE

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I do not believe in providence. Not at all. Doesn’t matter that we’ve been fans of illustrator David Grove for forever. Doesn’t matter that out of nowhere, a friend of the show emailed us and basically offered to hook us up with him. Doesn’t matter that while he wasn’t a podcast guy (at all), David graciously agreed to chat not knowing what it would entail. And it doesn’t matter that a wonderful career-spanning art book on Grove came out not four months ago. Nope, that ain’t providence. 

Okay, thinly-veiled sarcasm aside, this interview was a coup. If you’re at all a student of illustration, and by that I mean the hey-day of it, you know David Grove. He worked throughout the 1970s and ‘80s and left a trail of broken art-loving hearts when he finally retired from commercial work in the ‘90s.

Book covers, editorial illustration, national ad campaigns and movie posters were his bread and butter — and he knocked them all out, folks! The Outsiders, Pale Rider, Something Wicked This Way Comes and Vision Quest are just a few of the films Grove painted posters for. And they made him a star of his industry. 

We would be telling a big fat lie if we said we didn't have an awesome time on this one. David was witty, warm and charming, and he told terrific stories. And if you know anything about his life, you know he’s got a few. Last year, Norfolk Press put out an art book called David Grove – An Illustrated Life. It is chocked full of drawings, sketches, color illustrations, photographs, and yes, tales from Grove’s past that will curl your hair. 

Do grab a copy of the book from his site. It’s well worth the asking price ($35). And while I don’t believe in providence, I do love and believe in great art. David Grove’s kind of art. 

- SWAiN 

**First things first. The fella who made this interview happen is artist Ray Bonilla, and we owe him a huge debt. Ray, good lookin’ out, pal.

Second, that's David on the right undoubtedly enjoying an adult beverage. On the left is his friend and former student, Greg Manchess. Titans, they are.

Podcast Episode 181 :: ERIC FORTUNE

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The fortunate son makes his debut on SiDEBAR (okay, that’s a little too cheesy even for me).

Former illustrator and now fine artist Eric Fortune stopped by to hang out with us and we’re happy that he did. We’ve known this young lad for a couple of years now, so it was 'bout time. Eric is an Ohio-based artist and a graduate of the Columbus College of Art and Design (CCAD). He tells us in the interview that being an Ohio resident has had its unintended perks. Over the years, he’s become friends and colleagues with two other local guys, who at one time, were his artistic heroes: Chris "C.F." Payne and John Jude Palencar. Payne is the dean of illustration at CCAD where Eric received his BFA, and Palencar has been a visiting speaker and lecturer at the school (both are awesome, by the way).

Take a looksee at Fortune’s beautiful and ethereal paintings and we’re sure you’ll agree with us when we say, "they are the stuff that dreams are made of". Gorgeous!

And check him out on-line at his blog and website, or at Muddy Colors, the art blog he contributes to with other lauded painters like Justin Sweet, Greg Manchess, Jesper Ejsing and Daniel Dos Santos (just to name a few).

Yeah, it’s like that.

- SWAiN

**As fate would have it, we recorded our talk with Eric the day after legendary illustrator and designer Ralph McQuarrie passed away. At the end of the episode, there's an Easter egg discussion between us on the life and career of McQuarrie. It wasn't something we really prepped for, but it was from the heart.

Podcast Episode 180 :: The Return of Bookshelf Babble-On

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Welcome to the return of Bookshelf Babble-On. It's been right at a year since we've done one of these and it feels good to get back. On these episodes, we do what the title suggests — run off at the mouth. But for good reasons! We each pick a book off our shelves and do a quick, little mini-review. Very laymen in approach, but we try to keep it interesting. Check it:

Swain’s pick was Kent Williams’ Amalgam: Paintings and Drawings 1992 - 2007. If you know me at all, you know there is a certain brand of painter I adore, and Kent fits that bill in spades. He’s one of the Fab Four (he was college roommates with George Pratt, John Van Fleet and Mark Chiarello), started out in comics, and has since became a fine artist and part-time teacher. Amalgam was published in 2008 and collects about 15 years worth of personal work by Williams. It’s a beautiful book that definitively showcases his visceral and provacative approach to picture-making. And it was well worth the three years I waited for it to be discounted on-line before buying it. Hell, I’m patient if nothing else!

Dwight’s weapon of choice was a graphic novel called Transient by our friend, Justin “Coro” Kaufman. Coro is the co-founder of ConceptArt.Org and Massive Black Inc, but is also a brilliant artist in his own right. He’s been a guest on the esteemed SiDEBAR microphones before, and during our chat with him, he spoke at length about the process of making Transient. The book wasn’t finished yet, but he had us salivating with descriptions of the tale and teaser images. Well, our appetites have been satiated. Transient is here, it’s hot, and Dwight Clark has it. And Coro’s work on the story is quite good both as writer and artist. We highly recommend you put your eyeballs on it. Go here, true believers.

Closing it out is Adrian with a collection of art by Spanish artist, Sanjulian. If you don’t know Sanjulian’s work, you need to. Truly, one of the best painters and illustrators of the last 40 years — be it fantasy or any other genre. Adrian snagged his pick recently at a local comic convention here in Atlanta, and is to be applauded for doing so (it's amazing). The book was put together by European publisher, Glenat, and it's all in French. But we'll be the first ones to say that great art surmounts all language barriers. In other words, we feel Sanjulian! This tome (named after the artist) covers everything he excels in — fantasy, adventure, romance, horror, sci-fi — everything. Sanjulian’s name gets compared to guys like James Bama and Frank Frazetta during our discussion, and that is not hyperbole. He’s that good. Check his stuff out wherever you can.

- SWAiN

Podcast Episode 179 :: English 101 - Legendary Illustrator MARK ENGLISH Holds Class

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We used the word "legendary" in the tagline on this one, and for good reason. Mark English has earned it. After years of brilliance in his chosen field, and after influencing an incalcuable number of younger artists — it applies. Period.

Mark is someone who has been on our radar for a very long time. Dwight and I (and now, Adrian) delayed asking him on the podcast until now because we wanted to make sure that we were ready for such a talk. That our collective skills for gab were up to the task. That (and this is being completely honest), that we wouldn't sound like three chickenshit art nerds with nothing of substance to say to an artistic hero. After all, Mark is someone who entered a field where guys like Austin Briggs, Al Parker and Bernie Fuchs were already doing it real big. And he not only held his own with those fellas, but made his own mark (no pun).

Over his career, clients like RCA Records, GE, Ford Motors, Redbook, McCall's, TIME and Sports Illustrated were all well served by English’s talents. And he went on to receive hundreds of awards for his work, at one point being the most awarded illustrator in the history of the Society of Illustrators. Also important to note, in 1983, Mark was elected to The Illustrators Hall of Fame in New York alongside venerated predecessors like Maxfield Parrish, N. C. Wyeth and Frederick Remington.

Nowadays, Mark is retired from the illustration game. After three decades of knocking them out of the park, he decided to start painting for himself. And yes, he kicks ass at that, too. Have you seen his personal work? Geez.

We hope you enjoy our interview with the legendary Mark English. Again, he’s earned that title.

- SWAiN

**Mark will once again join the students and staff at Illustration Academy this summer for four weeks of intense "arting" and visual literacy. It’s all going down in Kansas City, MO, so click the link above for more details.

And below are some examples of Mark's current work. The fine art painting he's been doing since he retired. Check out how he employs seemingly random patterns and colors to create very distinct figures and landscapes.

Podcast Episode 178 :: Who Supports 'BEFORE WATCHMEN'?

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... and other news.

It’s generally not like us to be so topical on our discussion shows, but the Gary Friedrich matter and the announcement of Before Watchmen brought out some pretty ripe opinions. I think everyone who reads comics and/or is interested in them as a hobby has at least heard about both situations.

Marvel Comics counter-suing Gary for $17K is just plain sad to hear (although for the most part, we get it). And DC finally pulling the trigger on new Watchmen stories after 26 years sounds abysmal. Not to mention the whole "Screw Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons! We're gonna retain this IP at all costs!" attitude.

But hey, who knows? Dan DiDio and company might come up with some fun stuff. I’ll never know because I won’t be reading any of it. Not sure any of us will. So, there you go!

Hope you enjoy the jaw-jackin'. We did.

- SWAiN

Podcast Episode 177 :: Storyboard Artist WARREN DRUMMOND Does It with Stylus

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BFAM: Brother From Another Mother. It's a crazy little term somebody came up with to describe a person that you have SO much in common with, you MUST be related. THIS guy is one of those guys.

I first “met” my pal Warren Drummond via this podcast in early 2010. Well, I should clarify that. While he and I have become the best of buddies over the last two years, I've still never met the guy in person (due time). Warren was a listener to the show, wrote us a very kind note, and has been a friend and supporter of SiDEBAR ever since. The three of us owe him a debt of gratitude for being the hook-up on several terrific interviews we conducted.

Over time and many emails and phone calls, I've come to find out a few things about my boy, Warren — so, here goes. He's a former New Yorker, a long time comic book fan, a dedicated family man, and he’s worked the last 12 years as an L.A. based storyboard artist. And if you take a look below, you'll see just how strong his kung fu is (that joke will make more sense after you hear our talk). Warren has boarded over 60 feature films with some of the biggest names in Hollywood, and yet — he remains a humble, decent person. See, Hollywood doesn't corrupt everybody (ha).

Our conversation with Mr. Drummond covers quite a bit as far as his background, his opinions on freelancing in the film business, his complete love of martial arts, and his true calling, writing.

- SWAiN

Straight from IMDb: Analyze This, Major Payne, School for Scoundrels, Mr. Woodcock, Antwone Fisher, 2 Fast 2 Furious, Evan Almighty, Lackawanna Blues, Rush Hour 3, I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry, You Don't Mess with Zohan, Mr. Popper's Penguins, The A-Team, X-Men: First Class, and The Amazing Spider-Man (2012). I know, right?

Podcast Episode 176 :: PHIL HALE

 

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Making the transition into a new phase of our lives is always a challenging proposition. Even in our professions, attachments get made, bonds are formed, and none of these connections are easily severed. Sometimes, it can take years. Ask Phil Hale.

Phil worked as an illustrator early on in his young career, and that wasn’t something he set out to do. After being mentored by his friend, artist Rick Berry, moving the paintbrush for art directors just sort of happened. A “validation thing”, he says in our talk. And yet, it didn’t go unrewarded. His clients, we’re sure, must have been happy with his work. They continued to give him assignments. And his name became a very popular one amongst art collectors as well as fans. But in his time doing illustration, Phil grew weary of it and longed for other things.

Over the course of the next decade or so, his career focus shifted from working illustrator to working portrait painter. As it turns out, Phil comes from a long line of artists, specifically portrait artists, on both sides of his family tree. And his own work in this field received international notoriety in 2007, when he was commissioned by the House of Commons to paint a portrait of (then) Prime Minister, Tony Blair.

These days, however, if you wanna see a new Phil Hale image, don’t look for it on a book cover or in some portrait gallery. Your best bet is to seek out his next gallery show either here or abroad. Phil has fully and finally returned to personal work and he’s all the better for it. In a recent email exchange I had with him, he did share that while his exodus from illustration has been on-going, he still loves it. But judging from the breadth and depth of his personal work, clearly, he’s right where he should be.

Hope you enjoy the interview.

- SWAiN

*Our conversation with Phil covers some of his background, his friendship with Rick Berry, his thoughts about picture-making, and his plans to attend Spectrum Fantastic Art Live! this summer as one of its special guests.

The image above is an old fave (Swampy), and the one below is an example of Phil's newer work.

Podcast Episode 175 :: CHRIS SAMNEE

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Pronounced like "Omni".

It’s 2012, so I’ll let you all in on a little SiDEBAR secret. Most of the blog posts we write as companion pieces to the podcasts are written ahead of time. Not all, but most. I can’t speak for Dwight and Adrian, but for me, I sometimes get an angle on a guest or topic that I think will be interesting, and I try to run with it. Doesn’t always work out, but hey, where there’s a spark, there could be flame, right? So, here’s what I have to say about today’s guest, Chris Samnee, and how I think things will go with him. 

I first heard Chris' name a few years ago on the Around Comics podcast. He was probably drawing Capote in Kansas at the time. Then, in early 2009, I attended the very first C2E2 in Chicago, ran into Sal and the AC gang on the floor of the con, and Sal showed me a commission he’d just gotten from Samnee — who was in artist alley. It was an awesome little piece with this serious chiaroscuro thing going on. Very noir, very well composed.  I hightailed it over to Chris’ table, never said hello (asshole), and after rifling through his originals, just fell in love with what I saw. His stuff was reasonable, too. 

Since C2E2, Samnee has gone from working on smaller projects to working very much in the mainstream. He did a great job on Marvel’s limited series, Thor the Mighty Avenger (2010), with Roger Langridge and Matt Wilson. And he just finished up on the monthly series, Captain America and Bucky, with Ed Brubaker, Marc Andreyko, and Bettie Breitweiser (both the Thor and Cap projects were just in time for the films).

All of this means Chris' star is most certainly on the rise with fans and art nerds alike. Which is a good thing.

So, how do I think the interview with him is gonna go, you ask? Quite well. Chris Samnee is a young guy, seems pretty laid back, and his work oozes a love for his job. I suspect we’ll hear that much of what he’s learned about drawing and mark-making, he learned by observing and self-educating. I think we’ll hear some classic comics names as well as a few names from his youth as influences. And I think we’ll get an inkling from the conversation that even bigger things are on the horizon for this remarkable talent. And that, too, is a good thing. 

Listen in and find out if my powers of prognostication are on or off. As I said earlier, I’ve been wrong before. 

-SWAiN

**Below are a few of my favorite Samnee one-offs.

Podcast Episode 174 :: The Year in Booty (2011)

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2011. The year that was. And yes, there was some phat booty. We acquired tons of comics, OGNs, trades and artbooks over this past year. The goodness flowed freely! Somebody came up with the idea of us celebrating our year's take on the show (me), so here we are. Don't judge us too harshly.

We also cover some highlights and memorable moments on this one. 2011 was not without its peaks and valleys. For the most part, though, it was all good. 

A sincere thank you to every single person who downloaded an episode this year. Thank you to every guest who came on with us this year. Thank you to everyone who followed us on various social media, or took the time to drop an email or comment on our blog. All the great discussion, laughs, and plain old camaraderie were very much appreciated. Thank you to all the convention promoters who extended us courtesies.

And last, but never ever least, an extra special thanks to our sponsor, GRAHAM CRACKERS COMICS, for eternally being the best damn sponsor around! What's up, John?!

We hope your holidays have been fantastic so far, and here's to an awesome 2012!

-DWiGHT, SWAiN & ADRiAN (The Three Amigos)

 

Podcast Episode 173 :: HOWARD CHAYKIN Revealed

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Howard V. Chaykin.

Comic book writer/artist. Illustrator. TV writer/producer. And eternal digressionist. OK, I made that last one up, but it aptly applies. He’s quite the talker.

I’ve been a fan of Chaykin’s ever since I was a teenager. I met him in person briefly at a comic book convention here in Atlanta back in the 1980s. He was there with his then-wife, and it was during the apex of American Flagg! fever. I didn’t really talk to him. I just sort of stood back and watched him interact with fans. He was gregarious, very professional, and very direct. The exact impression of him I had gotten from his print interviews.

Before that con, I had just started following his work after having read several of his graphic novels: The Stars My Destination, Empire, The Swords of Heaven, The Flowers of Hell. All of them were full color, mixed media, and very sophisticated stuff. Some of the first works of their kind here in America.

I proceeded to pick up loads of his comics later on (though I wasn’t a Star Wars guy, per se). I did, however, become a complete fiend for Flagg!, The Shadow, Blackhawk, and so on.

Going back to Howard’s interviews for a minute — as a kid — I'm pretty sure I read them all. At that particular time in my youth, I found him to be a fascinating figure in comics. And not just because of the material he was working on. As a person, he seemed to be well read, had an acerbic wit, and was opinionated as all get out (I related strongly to that last one).

Plus, from where I sat, Chaykin came off like an adult. Once he stepped up as writer and artist on his stuff, it became glaringly apparent that he wasn't guided by a 14 year-old's idea of heroism and benevolence. His work was layered with themes like politics, sex, death, betrayal, and guilt. And usually at the center of it all, was a protagonist with questionable motives and feet of clay (just like in real life). This was completely diametric to my pals and I who, back then, well — we were still very much into punching and saving the day!

The other thing about his interviews that intrigued me were these little tidbits he would drop. Things about himself, his background and his profession that he never really expounded upon much until recently. Chaykin has always been a good soldier when it comes to promoting projects (an aspect of his professionalism that I’m sure his publishers adore). Yet I’m quite certain his comments in print have gotten him as much buzz as the work he creates.

And that’s why we chose to call this interview Revealed. The goal wasn’t to be sensational or provocative — in fact, not at all. We genuinely love Howard’s stuff, but were curious if the perception that many fans may have of him is at all accurate or justified. And frankly, he surprised us.

After nearly four decades in the business, you won't find a smarter writer or more graphic designer of the comic page than Howard Chaykin. However, the meat of our discussion with him today reveals more about his background, the person he is, and more importantly, the professional that he is. I, myself, find those things almost as interesting as the stories he tells. And I hope you do too.

- SWAiN

Podcast Episode 172 :: JOE PHILLIPS

 

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Like the legendary hip-hop group, Whodini, said back in 1984, "Friends, how many of us have them?" I've got a few. And you're about to meet one of them right now.

I first got to know Joe Phillips years ago, 'Nation. I won't embarrass him or I by telling you how many years — just know it was a lot! We were both drawing at the time. I clearly remember Joe, me and four other buddies sitting around on his living room floor drawing. And drawing. And drawing (though I've since become more art lover than art maker).

Even then, Joe was really good and already an entrepreneur in his own right. He had his own small comic book company, his own characters and super team — the whole nine. We were all like, “Daaamn!”.

Fast forward a few years, and Joe's working in comics full-time. A year after that, he co-founds a very popular Atlanta-based art collective, Gaijin Studios. Oh yeah, and he starts ballin' outta control (my words, not his).

He's penciling tons of mainstream comics (Green Lantern, Justice League, X-men), doing crazy trading cards, and straight makin' bank. It was the well-documented era of the early '90s known as 'The Speculator Boom'. And of course, it didn't last.

But Joe did.

He and I fell out of contact by that point. And as he shares in today’s interview, he ended up leaving the studio and starting anew by “going west, young man”. Over the course of the next decade plus, it was t-shirt designs, an apparel company, a magazine, illustration work, animation, calendars, and yes, some comics here and there. Dude kept busy!

Now, all the stuff that happened in between the highs and lows (there was a lot) kinda gets covered in our conversation with him. Kinda. Our chat with Joe was very much just that — a chat. Old pals reconnecting. It's not in any way formal, so do your best to keep up.

I saw Joe again recently for the first time in about 15 years. It was at this year's Dragon*Con. And it was all good. Obviously, we'd both changed a bit, but he seemed to be enjoying his time back home.

I told him right there on the con floor, that while I had proudly followed all of his successes from the sidelines — the comics, The Heretic, the Joe Boys stuff, the national ad campaigns — I never stopped thinking of him as anything other than my boy. That same talented, but humble kid sitting on the living room floor drawing and cracking jokes. 'Cause in my mind, that's where it all started.

Friends. How many of us have them, indeed.

- SWAiN