10 Quick With Artist Ethan Van Sciver

Artist Ethan Van Sciver Sits Down For 10 Quick Questions

In case you haven’t heard, Ethan Van Sciver is one of the biggest artists in the industry. His work on Green Lantern: Rebirth, which brought Hal Jordan back to the Green Lantern role with Geoff Johns was absolutely amazing, and the two would team-up for another Rebirth in 2009: Flash: Rebirth, which brought Barry Allen back to his role as The Flash. But that’s not the only work he’s done for DC, his past credits also include Impulse, JLA, Superman/Batman and the Flash: Iron Heights one-shot which was also written by Geoff Johns. I was able to connect with EVS recently, and he agreed to do an interview, and here it is:

ACBB: Out of all the work you’ve done for DC Comics is there any specific project or characters you enjoyed more than any others?

Ethan: Some projects are bound to make you ecstatic, others bring you to the depths of hell! So there are definitely some that are better experiences than others. I really enjoyed, looking back, the Sinestro Corps one shot. I was very confident, and my ideas were crystal clear to me. So it was fun!

ACBB: Geoff John’s recently said about you, “Ethan’s a mad genius. He’s the kind of guy that gets deeper and deeper into the the mythology and the characters.” How deep do you like to get and what is it like working so closely with Geoff John’s.

Ethan: I wonder what he meant by “mythology?” If he means continuity, that’s more of his thing, because Geoff’s read every single DC Comics ever written. I want to find the common denominator between similar characters, and build from their core. Good characters have scattered bread crumbs behind them over the decades, in the form of clues and tidbits of story and fact. You can follow them back to where they came from, and re-establish the original creator’s intent. And 9 times out of 10, that works very well.

ACBB: Are there any specific titles or characters that you haven’t worked on but would like to?

Ethan: Specifically, nope. I can get interested and involved in almost anything though.

ACBB: What are some of your upcoming projects? Would you be willing to go back and revisit Green Lantern? Perhaps do an arc on the main series?

Ethan: All of my upcoming projects are secret and will be revealed at the pleasure of DC Comics! I will probably return to Green Lantern eventually though, even if it isn’t an arc on the regular book.

ACBB: Lot’s of people describe your work as “super-detailed”, but how do you describe your unique artistic style?

Ethan: It never feels super detailed to me. I don’t know how to describe it. I try to represent things as realistically as possible without it becoming to photograph-ish. I fall way short of realism, and there lies my style.

ACBB: You said once that growing up, you mainly read comics for the art. So, who are some of your artistic influences?

Ethan: Bolland, Byrne, McFarlane, Jim Lee, Bernie Wrightson, Jon Bogdanove, and on and on and on…

ACBB: Are there any writers you haven’t worked with but would like to?

Ethan: All of them and none of them. I’d like to work with everyone, but no one in particular right now.

ACBB: Your creation “Cyberfrog” had you pulling both artist and writer duties. Do you think you would ever step into the writing arena again?

Ethan: Yes, I’m starting to write a few things now.

ACBB: Your first work for DC was on Impulse as a fill-in in an attempt to save the series. What got DC to notice your ability, in other words, how did you break in at DC?

Ethan: Paul Kupperberg was editing IMPULSE at the time, and I’m not sure what he saw in my work. I drew some short stories for him, a couple of pin ups…I can’t imagine he thought I was the answer to the book’s problems. I think he just took a chance. And I’m glad he did.

ACBB: What titles have you been reading lately? Does anything in particular excite you when Wednesdays roll around?

Ethan: I look forward to Walking Dead, when it’s collected each year in hardcover. Other than that, I tend to read the books that my friends are working on. It’s less of an immersion in fantasy now, and more of a chance to enjoy the work of the real people I know who created the books. That’s the price of getting to do the thing you love for a living!

Well, that’s all for now folks! I want to thank Ethan Van Sciver for doing this interview and taking the time out of his busy schedule to do it. If you haven’t already, go pick up Green Lantern: Rebirth right now and check out his amazing work! That’s all for now folks!

–moyermason@yahoo.com

Tags: Ethan Van Sciver Green Lantern Impulse Interview