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Spider-Man

ProFile: Ron Randall

by Palle Schmidt 1 Comment

ProFile-Ron-Randall

Ron Randall has been drawing comic books and graphic novels and storyboards for over thirty years. He has worked for all the major comics publishers in the United States, including Marvel Comics, DC Comics, Image, Dark Horse and IDW on properties as varied as Spider-man, Supergirl, Predator and Star Wars. His own science fiction adventure series Trekker is his signature project. Ron is busier than ever these days, producing new Trekker stories, serialized at www.trekkercomic.com and in print through Dark Horse Comics as well as serving as artist on several other comics projects and various commercial clients.

What made you decide to work in the medium of comics?

I read comics as a little kid, like everyone did back then. But when I met a buddy back in second grade who was already an active “fan”, who follows certain artists and books, I suddenly realized that people actually did this for a living. From then on it was on my short list of careers. It was comics artist or jet pilot. I started drawing my own characters and stories then and never stopped.

What part of the process is the most challenging or frustrating to you?

Hm. Right now, it’s the coloring on Trekker. Color is a whole new world for me. I have a pretty good sense, usually, of the feel I want the colors to have and the color choices. But I know there is so much I don’t know about color and digital techniques that I feel I could always to better and more with that step of the process.

If you could give one piece of advice to an aspiring comics creator, what would that be?

Keep drawing. There is no set way to get into the business, no formula or process that works for everyone. You find your own way. And the one thing that works is to keep at it.

Filed Under: Pro Tips, ProFile Tagged With: Dark Horse, DC comics, IDW, Image, Marvel Comics, Predator, Ron Randall, Spider-Man, Supergirl, Trekker

Can Marvel do no wrong?

by Palle Schmidt Leave a Comment

marvel_s_the_avengers__age_of_ultron___banner_i_by_mrsteiners-d74vpuj

When I was growing up, the superheroes I knew where two-dimensional four-color characters in comic books. The live action superhero was the cartoony Batman TV show but even as a kid I realized the tackiness of it. It wasn’t until Tim Burton’s 1989 movie Batman that it felt like they at least tried to take it seriously.

Kids today have a much wider access to the characters in both comics, movies and computer games that let you fill the shoes of your favorite heroes. And it’s not just because CGI has improved that the movies have gotten better. It’s because really smart people are involved in making them, from script to screen.

Getting Christopher Nolan on board for the Batman trilogy was no doubt a smart decision. But no sooner had the Dark Knight died (at least that’s my interpretation) before DC Comics dropped the ball again, leaving the field wide open for Marvel to score big with Guardians of the Galaxy – a completely left field choice that won over even the harshest critics.

While DC seems to alienate fans with their new dark and gritty reboot of Superman and the casting of Ben Affleck as Batman, Marvel keeps surprising us with smart and funny movie versions of fan favorites. Apart from the third instalment that is widely regarded as a misfire, the X-Men movies have been pretty great, both faithful to the comics and smartly adapted for the big screen and a wider audience.

In the original X-Men from 2000, there is a great line where Wolverine bitches about the costumes they are prompted to wear in the final confrontation. Cyclops replies: “What would you prefer, yellow spandex?” A great tongue-in-cheek reference to the costumes of the comics, which undoubtedly would have looked ridiculous in the movie, and a great example of fan service while still having the guts to change things for the better.

The strategy has often looked far from obvious. From Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man to the complete surprise hit of the almost unknown Guardians of the Galaxy, Marvel have taken bold choices both in casting and in characters, and pulled off the impossible of bringing together a band of heroes from different movies in The Avengers. They have managed to make us all interested in less known characters, at least from a non-fan perspective, and seamlessly woven together intricate plotlines while juggling dozens of characters at the same time.

This week the news that Marvel have cast Benedict Cumberbatch as Dr. strange and new movies will feature heroes such as Captain Marvel and Black Panther. And at the same time this new clip and trailer from the upcoming Avengers: Age of Ultron aired, sending chills down my spine – and I don’t even know who Ultron is! Didn’t know I cared!

From my perspective it looks like Marvel can do no wrong and it even made me want to read some of the comics again. What do you guys think? Excited for the future of superhero movies? Or just sad that no one knows these blockbuster franchises are based on comics?

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Age of Ultron, Avengers, Batman, Ben Affleck, Benedict Cumberbatch, Black Panther, Capatain America, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Christopher Nolan, Cobie Smulders, Cyclops, DC comics, Dr. Strange, Elizabeth Olsen, Guardians of the Galaxy, James Spader, Jeremy Renner, Joss Whedon, Man of Steel, Mark Ruffalo, Marvel, Marvel movies, movies, Paul Bettany, Robert Downey Jr., Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson, Spider-Man, Stellan Skarsgard., superhero comics, superhero movies, superheroes, Superman, The Dark Knight Rises, Thomas Kretschmann, trailer, Wolverine, X-Men, Zack Snyder

ProFile: Erik Larsen

by Palle Schmidt Leave a Comment

ProFile-Erik-Larsen

Erik Larsen has been writing and drawing Savage Dragon for the last two decades. Before that he worked on Spider-Man. He likes Savage Dragon better.

What made you decide to work in the medium of comics?

I’ve drawn comics since I was a kid. I grew up reading them and I’ve never wanted to do anything else.

What part of the process is the most challenging or frustrating to you?

Deciding what ideas to pursue over others. There are so many options and choosing the best one is always a challenge.

If you could give one piece of advice to an aspiring comics creator, what would that be?

Your job is telling a story. Clarity is key. Don’t think it has to be perfect. But if a choice has to be made of being clear or clever–clear is the way to go. Your goal is to have readers understand what’s going on.

– More about Erik Larsen at savagedragon.com

Filed Under: Pro Tips, ProFile Tagged With: comics, creativity, Erik Larsen, idea generation, Image Comics, improving as an artist, making comics, Savage Dragon, Spider-Man, storytelling, tips for making comics, workflow, Writing

Tom Lyle and his Inner Voice – Comics for Beginners podcast episode 11

by Palle Schmidt 1 Comment


We’re often told to listen to the voice inside ourselves. But what if that voice is preventing you from working on the thing you love most? This morning I went back to the New York Comic Con to talk to Tom Lyle (tomlyle.blogspot.com), comics artist known for his work on Spiderman and Batman & Robin and teacher at the Savannah College of Art & Design (https://www.scad.edu/). And I was surprised and encouraged by the fact that this 28-year comics veteran also hears voices. So it’s not just me!

Give it a listen and leave comments below.

Tom Lyle signing for one of his long time fans at NYCC 2013
Tom Lyle signing for one of his long time fans at NYCC 2013

Filed Under: News, Podcast, Pro Tips Tagged With: Comic Con, creativity, critique, improving as an artist, learning, making comics, mind hacks, New York Comic Con, NYCC, pro tips, productivity, Savannah College of Art & Design, Spider-Man, storytelling, tips for making comics, Tom Lyle

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