An Interview with Patrick Zircher, by David "DragynWulf" Wiltfong ComicBoards Exclusive! Q: What made you decide to become a comic artist? A: When I was very young, my grandmother gave me Amazing Spiderman #66. I remember it had Mysterio on the cover. I loved it. When I realized comics came out every month, I was ecstatic. By age seven, I was, as Stan Lee might put it, "hooked on the high-flying superheroic adventures" of the Fantastic Four, Thor, Avengers, the Incredible Hulk, and whatever else I could get my hands on. With "Sofa change" and allowances I also bought the Justice League, Flash, Legion of Superheroes, the Brave and the Bold, and several other DC titles. These comics fueled my enthusiasm for drawing. After high school I had my share of dead-end low wage jobs but never stopped drawing. One day I just took it more seriously and started sending portfolios, LOTS of portfolios, to editors. Q: Where did you get your start and what events lead you there? A: Which start? I have to smile because I've never been able to define it. I was doing spot illustrations for role-playing games shortly after high school. Then came a lull. Then a very limited amount of work with smaller comic companies (Eclipse, Blackthorne, Hot). Then another lull. Then several books for Caliber Press and Now Comics. About that time I met Brian Augustyn at the San Diego Comic Con. He was editing for DC at the time and offered me an assignment. Then came yet another lull. Then Tom Brevoort gave me a shot at the New Warriors. The desire to draw, and also avoid manual labor, led me to every one of these events. Q: What is your first published work and who was it for? A: The Kid's Page for the Piqua Daily Call. That's a small town paper in Ohio. I was about eight years old and it was quite a confidence booster. I honestly don't remember which professional assignment came first. Where the big leagues are concerned, it would have to be a very ugly Flash story in Justice League Quarterly. Q: You are currently working on Marvel's Thunderbolts and have 6 issues already released. Are you enjoying it so far? A: Definitely! I'm working with talented, thoughtful creators. There's so much going on in the book and the Thunderbolts are intriguing characters. It's always interesting. The first several issues have not been like other stories in the series, having shifted their focus away from the core characters, so, as the main characters re-emerge, I feel like I'm just getting started. Q: You have worked with Fabian Nicieza before at Acclaim when he was your editor on Solar. How is working with him different now that he is the writer instead of editor? A: I no longer have to address him as "Master Nicieza, Acclaimed and Exalted Editor". Hah-hah-hah! No, really, Fabian is a wonderful, down-to-earth guy in both his functions as an editor AND a writer. We work more closely now but in each situation he has encouraged me to collaborate freely and openly. Q: This is your second time following Mark Bagley's work on a comic. The first being New Warriors and now the Thunderbolts. How does this make you feel? A: From the perspective of drawing the book, I don't mind at all. This question does make me wonder if there's a value judgment based on the order in which artists appear in a series. Many talented artists have come aboard titles well after the books have been launched. Mark Bagley and I have similar though not identical approaches to drawing comics. We both feel that the story is important and should not be undermined by pin-up art. We both know when to "turn it up". We also both know that following his run on two books is probably a coincidence. Speaking of coincidences, its greater than just following Mark. Fabian Nicieza, colorist Joe Rosas, and editor Tom Brevoort all preceded my work on both New Warriors and Thunderbolts. Q: You have worked for Marvel, DC, Harris and Acclaim and with characters such as Iron Man, Nightwing, Solar, Birds of Prey, Spider-man, New Warriors, Doctor Strange, Star Trek, Lady Death/Vampirella (crossover), and the Thunderbolts. Which character or characters did you enjoy working with the most? A: When the opportunity, brief as it was, to draw the Flash and Dr. Strange arose, I was VERY excited. I had already drawn some well-known characters in the Green Hornet and in a Star Wars comic but they were the properties, at the time, of small comic companies. The Flash and Dr. Strange were the first major DC and Marvel characters I had a crack at. Assignments with Superman and other famous characters have come along since, all of them just as exciting, but because the Flash and Dr. Strange preceded them, I'll always remember that work. Q: Which comic did you enjoy working on the most? A: Honestly, and presently, Thunderbolts. I'm more confident about the work -- consequently, I'm challenging myself more. But, hey, there was an issue of Iron Man featuring Warbird that was great fun, too. Q: Which comic have you felt that your work, as an artist, has developed more and why? A: Green Hornet, Vampirella, Nightwing and the Thunderbolts. Green Hornet was my first extended run. You learn quickly when, for the first time in your life you're drawing all day-- every day. Vampirella and Nightwing improved the realism in my drawings. And Thunderbolts has reminded me once again that comics are about MORE than realism. Q: Who are your influences as an artist? A: There are hundreds of artists that have, directly or indirectly, influenced me. For every one I'll mention there are 30 others whose work I revere as well. That said, here's 10 (and each one of them made me fall in love with comics): Neal Adams, Gil Kane, Jack Kirby, John Romita Sr., Jim Aparo, John Buscema, Gene Colan, Joe Staton, George Perez, and John Byrne. Q: Do you read comics and if so, which ones do you read? A: Mostly graphic novels and of all types, superhero, european, manga, whatever looks appealing. The Marvel Masterworks and Essentials, and the DC Archive Editions, are mana from heaven. I read as many books of 'speculative' fiction (science fiction, fantasy, horror, some crime) as I can find time for. Q: Getting back to the Thunderbolts, which character do you enjoy drawing the most? A: Strangely enough, it's the civilian identities of Songbird and Mach-2 -- Melissa Gold and Abe Jenkins. There's something about the former Citizen V, Dallas Riordan, that I like too. Q: Which Thunderbolt is the hardest for you to draw? A: Fixer. Tech. Tech. Tech. My fantasy is for him to become the next Silver Surfer -- except for a little shine, he'd be fairly featureless. Q: Are you planning to visit any Comic Conventions in the near future? A: Yes, but I want to be a guest! Spread the word. Q: Usually if an artist works on a "Bad Girls" comic, they tend to get stereo-typed by fans. What are your thoughts on this since you have drawn both Lady Death and Vampirella in the past? A: A friend pointed out a message board on which someone had posted that I was currently 'somewhere' drawing soft porn! If this is a result of having drawn Vampirella, then I'm nonplused. Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issues have more nudity than Vampirella. The person who posted the porn comment was promptly corrected by another 'poster' -- and who ever that was, thank you. Not long ago, at a small convention, while signing Vampirella comics, I was asked to take them off the table and put them out of sight. I am bemused and often amused by people who see murder and mayhem as more wholesome than sexy girls. Vampirella was a very positive experience. The assignments helped to improve my rendering of women. And Vampirella fans are wonderful. They are very devoted to the character -- and they pay handsomely for original art:) Thanks for taking the time out to answer these questions. I look forward to seeing more of your work on the Thunderbolts in the future. Thanks for your interest and support. See you on the boards! Place to discuss the interview: Thunderbolts Message Board ComicBoards.com: Your place to discuss comics!