SHAWN CRYSTAL INTERVIEW
Marvel released a two issue Deadpool story with pencils and some inks by Shawn Crystal. We recently got a chance to do an interview with Shawn about his time on the book and what’s coming up in the near future for this talented artist/SCAD professor.
1. Can you give our readers a bit of background about yourself and how you came to Marvel’s attention?
My comic’s career started about 10 years ago. I penciled a mini series for Wildstorm, “Resident Evil: Fire and Ice.” From there, I dabbled in comics, worked in animation, concept art, and teaching. Since the Resident Evil job, I had been working to get my comics career off the ground. I attended many conventions where I met many artists and editors. I met Marvel Executive Editor, Axel Alonso. He liked what I was doing, and said he would like to work with me, but the project had to be right for me. When the new Deadpool series took off, the annual seemed like the perfect job for my style and me. It all just took off from there. I feel so lucky to be working with Deadpool, he’s such a fun character to play with.
I also have a few Graphic Novels in the pipeline with Oni Press.
2. How do you mix your time teaching with the time needed to draw comics?
This is the great riddle of my life. It’s hard, REALLY hard. I have a wife (Stephanie) and two children (Zoe and Zac) also. So I am constantly trying to balance Family, teaching, and comics. My life has become a giant game of Tetris. As hard as it is, everything is going great and I’m as happy as can be. I just hope i can maintain my sanity!
3. When doing the art for these two issues did you and Daniel Way collaborate on the story a lot or was it sort of a more traditional writer/artist type deal?
Dan and I have actually been friends for many years, and have been trying to get something going for a while. This was a really great opportunity. These two issues weren’t tied into anything, so Dan really had the freedom to do almost anything. We talked, and shot some ideas around, and he came up with the pirate idea. I flipped. Deadpool as a pirate, Hell yeah, I’m down. Dan really let me build the visuals for the story before he wrote anything, the character designs and props. After that, he scripted it, and I got busy drawing. FULL INTERVIEW HERE
1. Can you give our readers a bit of background about yourself and how you came to Marvel’s attention?
My comic’s career started about 10 years ago. I penciled a mini series for Wildstorm, “Resident Evil: Fire and Ice.” From there, I dabbled in comics, worked in animation, concept art, and teaching. Since the Resident Evil job, I had been working to get my comics career off the ground. I attended many conventions where I met many artists and editors. I met Marvel Executive Editor, Axel Alonso. He liked what I was doing, and said he would like to work with me, but the project had to be right for me. When the new Deadpool series took off, the annual seemed like the perfect job for my style and me. It all just took off from there. I feel so lucky to be working with Deadpool, he’s such a fun character to play with.
I also have a few Graphic Novels in the pipeline with Oni Press.
2. How do you mix your time teaching with the time needed to draw comics?
This is the great riddle of my life. It’s hard, REALLY hard. I have a wife (Stephanie) and two children (Zoe and Zac) also. So I am constantly trying to balance Family, teaching, and comics. My life has become a giant game of Tetris. As hard as it is, everything is going great and I’m as happy as can be. I just hope i can maintain my sanity!
3. When doing the art for these two issues did you and Daniel Way collaborate on the story a lot or was it sort of a more traditional writer/artist type deal?
Dan and I have actually been friends for many years, and have been trying to get something going for a while. This was a really great opportunity. These two issues weren’t tied into anything, so Dan really had the freedom to do almost anything. We talked, and shot some ideas around, and he came up with the pirate idea. I flipped. Deadpool as a pirate, Hell yeah, I’m down. Dan really let me build the visuals for the story before he wrote anything, the character designs and props. After that, he scripted it, and I got busy drawing. FULL INTERVIEW HERE
DEADPOOL ARTIST SHAWN CRYSTAL MAKES RARE INDIANA APPEARANCE
Indianapolis Newest comic book store The Hero House is proud to announce Shawn Crystal ( artist on Marvel Comics' Deadpool series) will make a rare Midwest appearance to sign autographs, and meet with fans on November 6th and 7th.
He will be appearing as part of The Hero House grand opening celebration which will include a storewide sale on all back issues and Graphic novels.
The Hero House specializes in Comic Books, Movies, Anime and related merchandise and is located in historic fountain square.
Shawn Crystal has been the artist on Marvels red hot Deadpool , the Resident Evil comic from Wildstorm Comics series as well as an upcoming stint on Marvel Team up.
Whether you're a fan of Deadpool the comic character, or enjoyed Ryan Reynolds turn as the “Merc with a Mouth” in the Wolverine movie, or maybe a budding comic artist seeking advice and tips you're encouraged to come out and meet this superstar artist.
The Hero house is located at 1112 prospect St Indianapolis IN. You can reach them with questions and details at 317 636 7990.
Grant Morrison: Final Crisis Exit Interview
Final Crisis #7 is out!Matt Brady sits down with Gran Morrison to ask him some lingering questions, and give him a chance to explain some of the trickier aspects of the story to date. As always, Morrison’s answers were educations in and of themselves.
:::Spoiler warning :::READ THE FULL INTERVIEW HERE:::Spoiler warning:::
Steven Grant Sounds Off of Diamonds New Rules for Small Publishers
"I see Diamond has changed its rules again. Game over for the direct sales market. Of course, anyone with half their wits should have seen this coming about the time Diamond shut down their competition and became the effective sole distributor to the sole real market remaining for comic books in America. You may not have heard the story, but here's the short version: by the early '90s, there were two major comics distributors in America, Diamond and Capital, and a handful of smaller ones." READ IT ALL HERE
Jonathan Hickman Interview by Geoffrey D Wessel
Jonathan Hickman is one of the hottest, and most acclaimed, newcomers in recent years. First gaining notice by being the runner-up in Comic Book Idol 2004, Hickman's debut work The Nightly News won him a legion of fans, including the likes of Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Millar. Now Hickman turns his attention to Nick Fury in Marvel's highly anticipated "Dark Reign" title, Secret Warriors. Geoffrey D. Wessel talks to Hickman about secrets...and lies.
READ IT ALL HERE
Diamond raises order threshold for publishers
In a move that will have a significant negative effect on small publishers Diamond has increased its minimum purchase order for comics from $1,500 to $2,500 has generated a lot of discussion on the Web, with speculation on where the dividing line might fall. The distributor also will eliminate its Previews adult supplement in printed form, but continue to offer it as a PDF to retailers. READ THE FULL STORY HERE
El Scoob Has the Green Lantern Script by Mark Gugenheim and gives a spoiler free review of it here!! READ IT NOW
Hero House Exclusive Interview with Ghost Rider creator Gary FriedrichCLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL INTERVIEW
Created in 2003 by “Y: The Last Man” comics scribe (and “Lost” television series writer) Brian K. Vaughan, the teen superhero series “Runaways” is on its third volume (with a film also in the works). It's counted authors like (Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator ) Joss Whedon among its authors over the series’ celebrated run. Issue #11 kicks off a new story arc by writer Kathryn Immonen and artist Sara Pichelli.
“‘Runaways’ has always hit me like the best of the teen TV shows,” said Lowe of the inspiration for his musical contribution to the series. “It’s got it all: making out, poor decisions, and angst. Sure, they have super powers, but that’s not what it’s all about. So I tried to write a song that felt like something that would be played on ‘Gossip Girl’ or ‘Ugly Betty.’”