Ben Templesmith - 5 Quick Questions

Ben Templesmith is an Australian graphic artist best known for his work in the American comic book industry - most notably Fell with writer Warren Ellis, published by Image Comics, where he helped pioneer a new format for commercial comics, and 30 Days of Night with writer Steve Niles published by IDW Publishing which has since been turned into a major motion picture of the same name. As well as being nominated for multiple Eisner Awards four years in a row for his comic work, 2005-2008 as well as a 2008 International Horror Guild Award for Wormwood: Gentleman Corpse. He has also created book covers, movie posters, trading cards, and concept work for film.

He agreed to answer 5 Quick Questions.

1) What would you say is your greatest achievement in comics?
Getting published and for some strange reason, continuing to have people pick up the books I do. Yes, I still consider that my greatest achievement.

2) Who was your favorite writer or artist that you worked with & why?
Would have to be Warren Ellis, as I'm not in awe of many people, but grew up on his Transmet...and he still writes some great work so was a complete fanboy time for me to do FELL with him.

3) What character you have never worked .., would you like to do & why?
I'm not a huge fan of working on corporate characters that much, or just other people's stuff...but if I had a chance, it' probably be to explore more Mad Max in his world. ( Yes, Mad Max needs to be in comics and I want to draw them! )

4) Who are your influences?
Coffee. Travel to some of the great cities of the world. Childhood book illustrators such as Victor Ambrus, also guys like Ralph Steadman and of course, for comics, Ashley Wood, Mike Mignola, Paul Pope, Jim Lee etc.

5) What hero or villain would you like to change if you could and why?
Well, I think I speak for most of the human race when I say I would have had Jar-jar Binks garroted at birth. For obvious reasons. But then, I wouldn't have written him in in the first place.

I'd give the Reavers, from the old X-men, their own villain series when they were down in Australia. I'm a sucker for cyborgs. Read more...

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Joe Benitez - 5 Quick Questions

Joe Benitez (born May 21, 1971) is an American comic book artist. He is co-creator and penciller of Weapon Zero, published by Top Cow Productions. Other titles he has worked on include The Darkness, The Magdalena, as well as work for DC Comics.

He agreed to answer 5 Quick Questions.

1) What would you say is your greatest achievement in comics?
Creating Wraithborn and seeing it go to print was to me my greatest acheivement so far.

2) Who was your favorite writer or artist that you worked with & why?
I have to say Walt Simonson was my favorite.

3) What character you have never worked .., would you like to do & why?
Spiderman ,who doesn't want a crack at him.

4) Who are your influences?
in no particular order Michael Golden,Todd Mcfarlene, Wilce Portacio,Art Adams,Jim Lee, Marc Silvestri,Walt Simonson,Rob Liefeld,Geof Darrow,Masamune Shirow,J.C. Leyendecker,Alphose Mucha,H.R. Giger,Barry Windsor Smith...

5) What hero or villain would you like to change if you could and why?
I had an idea for a Batman redue, just to do it. Figured it would be fun. Read more...

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Todd Nauck - 5 Quick Questions

Todd Nauck is an American comic book artist and writer. Nauck is most notable for his work on Young Justice and his own creation, Wildguard.

He agreed to answer 5 Quick Questions.

1) What would you say is your greatest achievement in comics?
Breaking into comics! This can be a competitive industry.

2) Who was your favorite writer or artist that you worked with & why?
I've had the pleasure of working with many talented people. But I would say Art Adams. He did a variant cover to my WildGuard: Casting Call mini-series. He was very cool and did a beautiful job. (Like he could do anything less!)

3) What character you have never worked .., would you like to do & why?
I'd love to work on Fantastic Four or X-Men. These are characters I've been following since I began collecting comics as a kid. And I love team books!.

4) Who are your influences?
My earliest influences were Arthur Adams, Alan Davis, Rick Leonardi, Walt Simonson, and Mike Zeck.

5) What hero or villain would you like to change if you could and why?
Bart Allen aka Impulse. I'd like to make him alive again. The character is too unique to keep dead! And besides, can you really "kill" a speedster? Read more...

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