Ethan Van Sciver - 5 Quick Questions

Ethan Van Sciver is an American comic book artist, best known for illustrating a number of DC Comics titles, including Green Lantern.



Van Sciver's entry into the comics medium-proper came when he was 19 years old, and created, "a horrible little character called Cyberfrog." Cyberfrog was written and drawn by Van Sciver, and published by Hall of Heroes, and later, Harris Comics. He has contributed to a number of high-profile series for both Marvel Comics, and primarily DC Comics. Titles include his own Cyberfrog and such titles as X-Men, The Flash, Green Lantern, and Batman.

Van Sciver's first major work was on the Impulse series for DC Comics with writer Todd Dezago. Van Sciver recalled that Paul Kupperberg offered him a fill-in role on Impulse, with the chance to try and save the title. Van Sciver recalls, "we did save the book for a while."

Many of Van Sciver's most notable works have been produced in collaboration with writer Geoff Johns. In 2004, Johns and Van Sciver brought Hal Jordan back to the DC Universe as Earth's main Green Lantern officer in the six-issue miniseries Green Lantern: Rebirth, before the duo re-launched the Green Lantern title itself with a new volume. Van Sciver's work on the Green Lantern mythos helped explain and retcon many elements of the Green Lantern story which some fans and writers found nonsensical, such as the reasons of the power rings uselessness against the color yellow, and Hal Jordan's transformation into the supervillain Parallax.

In 2007, Johns, Van Sciver, Dave Gibbons and Ivan Reis produced the eleven-issue Sinestro Corps War across the two Green Lantern monthly titles, the second part of a mooted trilogy of Green Lantern tales. This story launched the Sinestro Corps, the antithesis of the Green Lantern Corps, led by rogue Green Lantern Sinestro and his Qwardian yellow power ring. The series set the stage for a complete overhaul of the Lantern Corps, and introduced the emotional spectrum of power which provides energy to many different color variations of power rings.

He agreed to answer 5 Quick Questions

1) What would you say is your greatest achievement in comics?

Anyone's greatest achievement is to actually break into this industry and stay gainfully employed. Which I've done, and for 15 years now. They haven't gotten rid of me yet, these bastards.

2) Who was your favorite writer or artist that you worked with & why?

Geoff Johns, because he's always good. You can rely upon his instincts and the script he's given you, and all that's left to do is interpret it properly.

3) What character you have never worked .., would you like to do & why?

That I've never worked on in any capacity? Barbara Gordon's BATGIRL.

4) Who are your influences?

John Byrne, Jon Bogdanove, Todd McFarlane, Dale Keown, Brian Bolland and Bernie Wrightson. Those are the guys that made me want to draw comics.

5) What hero or villain would you like to change if you could and why?

Any changes I made to any characters would be to redirect them back towards what I believe the original intent of the creators were. And there are a few like that. Plastic Man is tops. Read more...

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Kurt Busiek - 5 Quick Questions

Kurt Busiek is a comic book writer notable for his work on the Marvels limited series, his own title Astro City, and his four-year run on The Avengers.



Busiek grew up in various towns in the Boston area, including Lexington, where he befriended future comic book creator Scott McCloud. Busiek didn't read comics as a youngster, as his parents didn't approve of them. He began to read them regularly around the age of 14, when he picked up a copy of Daredevil #120. The first part of a continuity-heavy four-part story arc, Busiek was hooked by all the history and cross-connections with other series. All through high school and college, he and McCloud practiced making comics.

During this time, Busiek also had many letters published in comic book letter columns. In fact, as a fan, Busiek originated the theory that the Phoenix was a separate being who had impersonated Jean Grey and therefore Grey had not died – a premise which the editorial team later used in the comics.

During the last semester of his senior year, Busiek submitted some sample scripts to editor Dick Giordano at DC Comics. One of them turned into his first professional work, a back-up story in Green Lantern #162 (Mar. 1983).

Busiek has worked on a number of different titles in his career, including Arrowsmith, The Avengers, Icon, Iron Man, The Liberty Project, Ninjak, The Power Company, Red Tornado, Shockrockets, Superman: Secret Identity, Thunderbolts, Untold Tales of Spider-Man, JLA, and of course the award-winning Marvels and the Homage Comics title Kurt Busiek's Astro City.

In 1997, Busiek began a celebrated stint as writer of Avengers alongside artist George Pérez. Pérez departed from the series in 2000, but Busiek continued as writer for two more years, collaborating with artists Alan Davis, Kieron Dwyer and others. Busiek's tenure culminated with the "Kang Dynasty" storyline. In 2003, Busiek re-teamed with Perez to create the JLA/Avengers limited series.

In 2003, Busiek began a new Conan series for Dark Horse Comics but has since moved on.

In December 2005 Busiek signed a two-year exclusive contract with DC Comics. During DC's Infinite Crisis event, he teamed with Geoff Johns on a "One Year Later" eight-part story arc (called Up, Up and Away) that encompassed both Superman titles. As well, he began writing the DC title Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis and wrote from issues 40-49. Busiek was the writer of Superman, and was replaced by James Robinson starting from Superman #677. Busiek is currently writing a new weekly series at DC called Trinity, starring Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman. The weekly features a 12-page main story by Busiek, with art by Mark Bagley, and a ten-page backup story co-written by Busiek and Fabian Nicieza, with art from various artists, including Tom Derenick, Mike Norton and Scott McDaniel.

He agreed to answer 5 Quick Questions.

1) What would you say is your greatest achievement in comics?

Probably ASTRO CITY. But I'm very proud of MARVELS, ARROWSMITH, SUPERMAN: SECRET IDENTITY and others, as well.

2) Who was your favorite writer or artist that you worked with & why?

There's no way to answer that. The best artist to work with on one book might not be the best guy for another. So I'm happy to have worked with Alex Ross, Brent Anderson, George Perez, Stuart Immonen, Carlos Pacheco, Mark Begley, Neil Vokes and lots of others, but couldn't choose a favorite.

3) What character you have never worked .., would you like to do & why?

It used to be Kamandi, but I think I've figured out a way to scratch that itch in a different kind of project. So I don't know. I've written a ton of characters. Maybe the THUNDER Agents?

4) Who are your influences?

In comics, Jack Kirby, Archie Goodwin, Steve Englehart, Len Wein, Steve Gerber, Frank Miller, Leonard Starr, Milt Caniff, Will Eisner and more.
From outside comics, Edward Eager, Lawrence Block, Andrew Lang, William Goldman, Robert Towne and lots more.

5) What hero or villain would you like to change if you could and why?

I'd like to do a big sorta-Elseworlds Legion of Superheroes project someday. Does that count? Read more...

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Ty Templeton - 5 Quick Questions

Ty Templeton is a popular Canadian comic book artist and writer who has drawn a number of popular mainstream titles, TV-associated titles and his own series.



Ty first received attention for Stig's Inferno (Vortex Comics), now a cult favorite, which detailed the journey of its lead character into Hell in a parody of Dante's Divine Comedy.

He has gone on to do titles for Marvel Comics, DC Comics including Batman Adventures, The Simpsons for Bongo, and many others. He also created his own graphic novel, Bigg Time, published by DC Comics' mature readers imprint, Vertigo. He is currently editor of an independent Canadian comic company, Mr.Comics and teaching courses at Max the Mutt Animation School in Toronto.

He agreed to answer 5 Quick Questions.

1) What would you say is your greatest achievement in comics?

I doubt I could bring it down to one moment or thing I've done. Working with Curt Swan as his inker was an unparalleled thrill when I was younger. Writing/Drawing the Simpsons comics lately is a similar thrill, but what about my issue of the Spirit? Or working on a project with Alan Moore? Or my first Eisner Award? Contributing to Mad Magazine and being told by the editor I'm a member of the gang of idiots? Travelling through Europe with Neal Adams? Hanging out with Jack Kirby in San Diego fifteen years ago, or going to Seaworld with Stan Lee? Helping Dan Slott or Mark Waid with scripting problems? There's no way to pick just ONE!

2) Who was your favorite writer or artist that you worked with & why?

Oh, wait! I think I answered that in the previous answer. It's probably Curt Swan. He was THE artist for Superman when I was a kid, and it was like "official" Superman work when you're working with the master. Though working with Denny O'Neil is a similar thing, and Denny wrote the SPIRIT issue I drew. Of all my collaborators, I work with Dan Slott the most, so obviously, he's the creator I'm happiest to work with. (By now, Dan and I have done dozens and dozens of things together)

3) What character you have never worked .., would you like to do & why?

Right now, I'd love to do a LASER CATS comic, or a King of the Hill comic, simply because no one's done them. Up until about two months ago, I'd never worked with the Star Trek characters, but I'm currently doing JUST that. I've never worked with the original Captain Canuck, at least not officially (though I've consulted on some Capt. Canuck things), and probably would enjoy it.

4) Who are your influences?

Wally Wood. Harvey Kurtzman. Neal Adams. Harvey Kurtzman. Will Elder. Harvey Kurtzman. John Buscema. Harvey Kurtzman. Jack Kirby, Stan Lee, Alan Moore, and did I mention Harvey Kurtzman?

5) What hero or villain would you like to change if you could and why?

If I could change one hero of villain? I'd give Nick Fury back his cigar, and I'd probably un-kill Marvel's "WASP", who died last month, and I already miss her. Read more...

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Paul Kupperberg - 5 Quick Questions

Paul Kupperberg is a former editor for DC Comics, and a prolific writer of comic books and newspaper strips.



Paul Kupperberg was born on June 14, 1955 in Brooklyn, New York, and entered the comics field from comics fandom as had his brother, artist and writer, Alan Kupperberg. Kupperberg (with Paul Levitz) produced the comics fanzine The Comic Reader between 1971 - 1973, and Etcetera between 1972 - 1973.

Since then he has written an estimated 600 comic book stories, primarily at DC Comics, for the Julius Schwartz edited Superman, Action Comics, Supergirl, and Superboy titles as well as the new Doom Patrol, Vigilante, Green Lantern, The Brave and the Bold, Showcase, Superman Family, House of Mystery, Weird War Tales, Justice League of America, Ghosts, Star Trek, Aquaman, Adventure Comics, The Savage Sword of Conan, and many others. Kupperberg created the comic book series Arion Lord of Atlantis (1981-1985), Checkmate! (1988-1992), and Takion (1996). He wrote the syndicated Superman newspaper comic strip (with Jose Delbo) from 1981-1985 and the Tom & Jerry newspaper strip from 1990-1991.

He agreed to answer 5 Quick Questions.

1) What would you say is your greatest achievement in comics?

Lasting over 30 years in comics is pretty impressive, but I guess I'd have to go with creating Arion Lord of Atlantis. He seems to have made the most lasting impression.

2) Who was your favorite writer or artist that you worked with & why?

I worked with so many of my childhood heroes, including Curt Swan, Carmine Infantino, Kurt Schaffenberger, Gil Kane, Jack Kirby, Bob Oksner, Don Heck, that it's hard to say. I would suppose it's a toss-up between working with Curt Swan (on Superman), Carmine Infantino and Gil Kane. And Kirby. And Oksner. Heck...oh, crap. I can't pick just one!

3) What character you have never worked .., would you like to do & why?

I think I've worked with pretty much most my favorites, but I would like another crack at Captain America (I did one fill-in, in the 70s, that was awful).

4) Who are your influences?

In comics: Arnold Drake, Len Wein, David Michelinie, Will Eisner. In prose: F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, Frederick Exley, Jack London


5) What hero or villain would you like to change if you could and why?

These days, I'd change them all: back to who they're really supposed to be because everybody's managed to muck up just about every character.

Check out Paul's own blog at kupperberg.blogspot.com Read more...

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Larry Hama - 5 Quick Questions

Larry Hama is a Japanese American writer, artist, actor and musician who has worked in the fields of entertainment and publishing since the 1960s.



During the 1970s, he was seen in minor roles on the TV shows M*A*S*H and Saturday Night Live, and appeared on Broadway in two roles in the original 1976 production of Stephen Sondheim’s Pacific Overtures.

He is best known to American comic book readers as a writer and editor for Marvel Comics, where he wrote the licensed comic book series G.I. Joe, A Real American Hero, based on the Hasbro action figures. He has also written for the series Wolverine, Nth Man: the Ultimate Ninja, and Elektra. He created the character Bucky O’Hare, which was developed into a comic book, a toy line and television cartoon.

He agreed to answer 5 Quick Questions.

1) What would you say is your greatest achievement in comics?

Bucky O'Hare

2) Who was your favorite writer or artist that you worked with & why?

Wally Wood. He was the best. Neal Adams and Michael Golden come in at a very close second. Woody and Carl Barks were my favorite artists when I was a kid.

3) What character you have never worked .., would you like to do & why?

Uncle Scrooge. I've answered this question a zillion times.

4) Who are your influences?

Bernie Krigstein, Wally Wood, Neal Adams, Joe Kubert, Russ Heath, Will Eisner, Jim Steranko, Hal Foster, MC Escher, Milton Caniff, Reed Crandall, Jack Cole, Walt Kelly, Marge, Moebius, Jack Davis, Will Elder, Harvey Kurtzman, John LeCarre, Charles Dickens, Edgar Rice Burrough Read more...

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