Matthew JLD Rice is the artist working on the Helen Killer mini-series currently published by Arcana Comics. After reading the first issue of Helen Killer, I found the artwork exceptionally well done, and it suits the era that the main character from the mini-series Helen Keller is from. After reviewing the first issue, I came to the conclusion that I wanted to know more about the artistic approach to the mini-series so I asked the artist behind it all.
How did you end up working on this project?
RICE: I met Andrew Kreisberg while working at David E. Kelley Productions and when I learned of his background writing for "The Simpsons and "Justice League Unlimited" I figured he might know of some routes into the comic book industry, or at least be a fun guy to talk to. I was floored by his JLU episodes and his "Boston Legal" scripts were always impressive. When we started talking about actually doing a comic series together, I knew that I was game for whatever he might have in mind.
Did you have to do a lot of research for this title?
RICE: OH YEAH! I typically do a decent amount of research before tackling a project, but I can usually fake a lot of things that I see on a daily basis. But to draw the world at the turn of the 20th century requires paying attention to even the smallest of details. That was such an amazing time in history that I felt I couldn’t do the setting the proper amount of justice that it truly requires! Perhaps in a sequel...
What were your favourite scenes to draw?
RICE: Obviously the fight scenes were a blast to do, but I think my favorite moments were with Leon Czolgosz and any time that "Phantom" would show her creepy, little self.
What has been the hardest thing for you to draw in this mini-series so far?
RICE: I think any time that I needed to show a wide, establishing shot of an exterior proved to be particularly challenging, simply for the fact that I had to work from what few photographs I could find of that era. Being the perfectionist that I tend to be (when I have the time), I knew that these shots were key to knowing where our characters were at and NOT drawing them simply wouldn't do the story justice. I'm always up to the challenge of drawing what is scripted. What prompted the decision to keep this mini-series in black and white instead of colour?
RICE: We all felt that the look of the book needed to feel very "period" and the fact that I can't color to save my life probably added to that decision. I tend to see my work more in black and white anyway so I'm pleased as can be with the final result.
What materials do you use to draw with?
RICE: I have a .09mm mechanical pencil for roughing things out and then I get tighter with a .05mm lead for the key details. Then I use my favorite UniBall Vision pens (in various tip sizes) to lay down my initial ink lines and a Micron Pigma .005 for really small detail work. I also thicken my lines and fill in blacks with a brush pen (can't remember the brand) and fill in large black areas with Higgins Black Magic ink and a Windsor Newton brush of various sizes.
Who are your artistic influences?
RICE: Oh boy- Lately I've been enraptured by the work of Paul Pope (the energy he captures is amazing!) and Eduardo Risso (his line drawings and page compositions rock!) more than anybody else. Mike Mignola, Frank Cho, Doug TenNapel, Darwyn Cooke and Jae Lee’s "Dark Tower" stuff are all up there too. And the writing of Joss Whedon, Robert Kirkman and Brian K. Vaughan are all greatness as well.
Do you have any upcoming projects you'd like to let the reader know about?
RICE: I wish I did! I plan to get several of my own written and/or drawn projects rolling soon. I have been offered some illustration work for a small horror novel publisher (Bad Moon Books) and I also have a never-ending feature-length digital film that I’ve been working on with my buddies in our snippets of free time! (type in "The Great American No-Budget B-Movie" on YouTube for our trailer) If I have anything to do with it, my work on "Helen Killer" won't be the last you see of me! Too many stories to tell, too little time...
Thank you very much for taking some time to do this interview, it's very much appreciated. I look forward to seeing more of your fantastic artwork and other projects in the future. Keep an eye out for the next part - an interview with the writer of the Helen Killer mini-series - Andrew Kreisberg.
How did you end up working on this project?
RICE: I met Andrew Kreisberg while working at David E. Kelley Productions and when I learned of his background writing for "The Simpsons and "Justice League Unlimited" I figured he might know of some routes into the comic book industry, or at least be a fun guy to talk to. I was floored by his JLU episodes and his "Boston Legal" scripts were always impressive. When we started talking about actually doing a comic series together, I knew that I was game for whatever he might have in mind.
Did you have to do a lot of research for this title?
RICE: OH YEAH! I typically do a decent amount of research before tackling a project, but I can usually fake a lot of things that I see on a daily basis. But to draw the world at the turn of the 20th century requires paying attention to even the smallest of details. That was such an amazing time in history that I felt I couldn’t do the setting the proper amount of justice that it truly requires! Perhaps in a sequel...
What were your favourite scenes to draw?
RICE: Obviously the fight scenes were a blast to do, but I think my favorite moments were with Leon Czolgosz and any time that "Phantom" would show her creepy, little self.
What has been the hardest thing for you to draw in this mini-series so far?
RICE: I think any time that I needed to show a wide, establishing shot of an exterior proved to be particularly challenging, simply for the fact that I had to work from what few photographs I could find of that era. Being the perfectionist that I tend to be (when I have the time), I knew that these shots were key to knowing where our characters were at and NOT drawing them simply wouldn't do the story justice. I'm always up to the challenge of drawing what is scripted. What prompted the decision to keep this mini-series in black and white instead of colour?
RICE: We all felt that the look of the book needed to feel very "period" and the fact that I can't color to save my life probably added to that decision. I tend to see my work more in black and white anyway so I'm pleased as can be with the final result.
What materials do you use to draw with?
RICE: I have a .09mm mechanical pencil for roughing things out and then I get tighter with a .05mm lead for the key details. Then I use my favorite UniBall Vision pens (in various tip sizes) to lay down my initial ink lines and a Micron Pigma .005 for really small detail work. I also thicken my lines and fill in blacks with a brush pen (can't remember the brand) and fill in large black areas with Higgins Black Magic ink and a Windsor Newton brush of various sizes.
Who are your artistic influences?
RICE: Oh boy- Lately I've been enraptured by the work of Paul Pope (the energy he captures is amazing!) and Eduardo Risso (his line drawings and page compositions rock!) more than anybody else. Mike Mignola, Frank Cho, Doug TenNapel, Darwyn Cooke and Jae Lee’s "Dark Tower" stuff are all up there too. And the writing of Joss Whedon, Robert Kirkman and Brian K. Vaughan are all greatness as well.
Do you have any upcoming projects you'd like to let the reader know about?
RICE: I wish I did! I plan to get several of my own written and/or drawn projects rolling soon. I have been offered some illustration work for a small horror novel publisher (Bad Moon Books) and I also have a never-ending feature-length digital film that I’ve been working on with my buddies in our snippets of free time! (type in "The Great American No-Budget B-Movie" on YouTube for our trailer) If I have anything to do with it, my work on "Helen Killer" won't be the last you see of me! Too many stories to tell, too little time...
Thank you very much for taking some time to do this interview, it's very much appreciated. I look forward to seeing more of your fantastic artwork and other projects in the future. Keep an eye out for the next part - an interview with the writer of the Helen Killer mini-series - Andrew Kreisberg.
-
Sponsors and Ads
-
Browse Archives
-
Contributors
