LiamBradley
Tuesday, August 04, 2009, 08:56 PM
Over the past couple of months I've became familiar with the work of Charles Paul Wilson III. Charles is the penciller for Th3rd World Studios' new comic, The Stuff of Legend. I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Charles about his work on Stuff of Legend, and many other things. Charles' work is some of the best artwork I've seen in comics in recent years. Have a look at some of this stuff and tell me it isn't incredible?
Liam Bradley: Before we get all interview-y, could you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Charles Paul Wilson III: Okay, my name's Charles. My favorite television shows are Wings and X Files. I like taking short walks on the beach so I don't get too dirty, and I've been afraid of the ocean ever since I saw Jaws. I like working when it's raining and there are thunderstorms outside, and I like cheeseburgers and fried chicken. If we were ever faced with apocalyptic doom, I prefer zombies over nuclear war or robots.
LB: What are your origins? How were you first introduced to comics?
CPW: In 1987 I was in an annex shop at Beale Air Force Base in California. I had two bucks in my pocket and comics were 75 cents, so I picked up Superman #23 (Mignola on pencils), a soda pop and some candy bars and sat outside the shop and read it. From then on I was hooked! From what I remember they got random issues of comics in so I'd pick up a different title each visit. Captain America, Batman, Spider-Man, Armor and Classic X-Men. I sneaked them into my text books and brought them to school every day. My original Superman #23, complete with a tack hole top-center, is long gone. Fortunately though, my awesome girlfriend, Stephanie, surprised me with it for Christmas/Hanukkah last year and it's sitting comfortably on my wall!
LB: When did you first decide you wanted to be a comic book artist?
CPW: Hmmm... There were various times in my life when I thought it would be neat to take part in the creative process involved in making comics. I was grounded a lot when I was kid (bad grades and the usual mischief - we were all there, I'm sure), and one of the things that occupied my time was copying drawings out of comics. Batman Death in the Family was a popular one for me, alongside John Byrne's X-Men. Eventually I arrived at The Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art where I had plenty of time to explore the making of comics from the inside out. It was there I was able to establish a familiarity with the craft and come to the complete understanding that drawing comics was something that I could definitely do if I applied myself. Before that, though, it really seemed out of reach. A pipedream, really.
LB: Who are some of your major influences?
CPW: There are so many artists out there that have a huge impact on my work in some way or another, depending on my state of mind as I learn new things. Some of them visually, while others have an important influence on me when it comes to both their art and thoughts on the craft itself. Kevin Nowlan is and always will be my greatest hero in the comic industry, and I draw inspiration from his work on a daily basis. Norman Rockwell is an all-time favorite as well. I became familiar with Joe Kubert's work while I was at his school, and his stuff always makes me want to march right into my drawing room and draw comics. James Jean is a super favorite, as well as Havard S. Johansen, Gabe Bridwell and Fernando Ruiz.
LB: Who is your all time favourite comic book character?
CPW: All time favorite? From growing up to now, I've got two: Superman and Wolverine (Patch). Superman's character has always played an important role in my life growing up. He was a character of moral discipline and fair play. Wolverine, on the other hand, felt more unrestricted when it came to following those moral guidelines. He still always did the right thing, but he smoked cigars, drank and clawed people up along the way. Both characters always found themselves in the thick of things, despite their abilities.
LB: Least favourite comic book character?
CPW: Cyclops from X-Men, but not because I dislike him. He was always at odds with Wolverine. I remember him best from the John Byrne Classic X-Men days. He'd show up and I would think, Oh, great. Here comes the jerk. Let's see what he has to say. Hopefully Wolverine punches him in the face!
LB: What do you enjoy most about reading comics?
CPW: From a reader's point of view, I like to be entertained just like anyone else. Books, movies, comics - whatever the medium, and considering the cost to experience a lot of these nowadays, I'd like my money's worth. Comics provide written story plus visuals for established atmosphere, stuff I've loved since I was a kid. I'm in it for the good time.
From an artist's point of view, I enjoy a well-crafted comic. From the thought that went into the cover, to the writing translated through artwork, colors, lettering and overall story.
LB: What are some titles you're currently reading?
CPW: Tough to say given how little time I have to catch up. I'm about ten issues behind with Walking Dead, I love B.P.R.D. whenever I get a chance to read those, and I enjoy the new Batman and Robin. Daredevil's always been a favorite, the recent issue of Captain America was good and Andy Kubert's Batman is really cool. Mike Raicht's Creature Feature books are really awesome. I had fun reading those.
LB: If you could work on any comic book you wanted, what title would you opt for?
CPW: That's tough, because at some point I would want to draw almost every title under the sun. One day I want to draw Droids, the next I want to draw the Hulk smashing stuff, and the next I might want to draw Batman and Robin beating up thugs. If there were titles starring The Green Goblin or The Joker I'd definitely want to be in line for those. I love drawing villains.
LB: You're currently laying down some of the best comic artwork I've ever seen, on Th3rd World's The Stuff of Legend. How did this come about?
CPW: Wow, that's incredibly nice of you to say! I first met Mike Devito, publisher for Th3rd World, back while I was in school (his brother was in my class). Mike's always been a great guy and a professional. A little while back he looked through my online portfolio of work and based on some of what he saw of my pencil work he thought I might be a good fit for The Stuff of Legend. I'd met Mike Raicht once before, although I hadn't met Brian Smith yet, and the project they had created seemed like it was almost specifically designed just for me. Or, at least, it was exactly what I had wanted. I sent in conceptual designs for the characters, fingers crossed they'd like 'em, and since then I've been having a blast working with everyone on the project.
LB: What's it like working with Th3rd World?
CPW: Mike Devito and Jon Conkling are really cool guys. They're really fun to hang out with and discuss projects and they don't screw around when it comes to making comics. It seems like they're willing to break their backs to make things happen, and you can't help but admire that. They're the real deal. The writers, Mike Raicht and Brian Smith, are also really cool as well. Lots of thought went into this project from their end, and it's one of the many aspects of the project that I can embrace and appreciate.
LB: Is The Stuff of Legend your first published gig?
CPW: It will be my first published gig where I do all of the interiors and covers. I've done pin-up work and anthology stories for Dave Newbold's Gloom, FutureQuake's Wicked magazine, Imperium Comics' Trailer Park of Terror and Th3rd World's Space Doubles.
LB: If you could have any superpower you wanted, what would you pick?
CPW: Super Speed. Imagine how much more drawing I could do if I had that. I wonder if I'd even be able to handle it responsibly.
LB: What's next for you?
CPW: More Stuff of Legend! Raicht and I also have a small project in the works for one of the high profile companies that I'm excited about but can't really reveal just yet, I think, and Devito and I have some cool ideas for the future as well.
LB: Finally, Charles. Do you have any words of wisdom for any artists out there looking to get published work?
CPW: What little authority I have on the subject, I can only say every artist has to figure out what they're really in it for and what they're willing to do to achieve it. Don't quit when it gets hard and people tell you no. More than likely there are going to have to be sacrifices made, but if you find you're built for this and you're willing to work towards it you will persevere, whether it comes to publishing your own work or as work-for-hire.
Liam Bradley: Before we get all interview-y, could you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Charles Paul Wilson III: Okay, my name's Charles. My favorite television shows are Wings and X Files. I like taking short walks on the beach so I don't get too dirty, and I've been afraid of the ocean ever since I saw Jaws. I like working when it's raining and there are thunderstorms outside, and I like cheeseburgers and fried chicken. If we were ever faced with apocalyptic doom, I prefer zombies over nuclear war or robots.
LB: What are your origins? How were you first introduced to comics?
CPW: In 1987 I was in an annex shop at Beale Air Force Base in California. I had two bucks in my pocket and comics were 75 cents, so I picked up Superman #23 (Mignola on pencils), a soda pop and some candy bars and sat outside the shop and read it. From then on I was hooked! From what I remember they got random issues of comics in so I'd pick up a different title each visit. Captain America, Batman, Spider-Man, Armor and Classic X-Men. I sneaked them into my text books and brought them to school every day. My original Superman #23, complete with a tack hole top-center, is long gone. Fortunately though, my awesome girlfriend, Stephanie, surprised me with it for Christmas/Hanukkah last year and it's sitting comfortably on my wall!
LB: When did you first decide you wanted to be a comic book artist?
CPW: Hmmm... There were various times in my life when I thought it would be neat to take part in the creative process involved in making comics. I was grounded a lot when I was kid (bad grades and the usual mischief - we were all there, I'm sure), and one of the things that occupied my time was copying drawings out of comics. Batman Death in the Family was a popular one for me, alongside John Byrne's X-Men. Eventually I arrived at The Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art where I had plenty of time to explore the making of comics from the inside out. It was there I was able to establish a familiarity with the craft and come to the complete understanding that drawing comics was something that I could definitely do if I applied myself. Before that, though, it really seemed out of reach. A pipedream, really.
LB: Who are some of your major influences?
CPW: There are so many artists out there that have a huge impact on my work in some way or another, depending on my state of mind as I learn new things. Some of them visually, while others have an important influence on me when it comes to both their art and thoughts on the craft itself. Kevin Nowlan is and always will be my greatest hero in the comic industry, and I draw inspiration from his work on a daily basis. Norman Rockwell is an all-time favorite as well. I became familiar with Joe Kubert's work while I was at his school, and his stuff always makes me want to march right into my drawing room and draw comics. James Jean is a super favorite, as well as Havard S. Johansen, Gabe Bridwell and Fernando Ruiz.
LB: Who is your all time favourite comic book character?
CPW: All time favorite? From growing up to now, I've got two: Superman and Wolverine (Patch). Superman's character has always played an important role in my life growing up. He was a character of moral discipline and fair play. Wolverine, on the other hand, felt more unrestricted when it came to following those moral guidelines. He still always did the right thing, but he smoked cigars, drank and clawed people up along the way. Both characters always found themselves in the thick of things, despite their abilities.
LB: Least favourite comic book character?
CPW: Cyclops from X-Men, but not because I dislike him. He was always at odds with Wolverine. I remember him best from the John Byrne Classic X-Men days. He'd show up and I would think, Oh, great. Here comes the jerk. Let's see what he has to say. Hopefully Wolverine punches him in the face!
LB: What do you enjoy most about reading comics?
CPW: From a reader's point of view, I like to be entertained just like anyone else. Books, movies, comics - whatever the medium, and considering the cost to experience a lot of these nowadays, I'd like my money's worth. Comics provide written story plus visuals for established atmosphere, stuff I've loved since I was a kid. I'm in it for the good time.
From an artist's point of view, I enjoy a well-crafted comic. From the thought that went into the cover, to the writing translated through artwork, colors, lettering and overall story.
LB: What are some titles you're currently reading?
CPW: Tough to say given how little time I have to catch up. I'm about ten issues behind with Walking Dead, I love B.P.R.D. whenever I get a chance to read those, and I enjoy the new Batman and Robin. Daredevil's always been a favorite, the recent issue of Captain America was good and Andy Kubert's Batman is really cool. Mike Raicht's Creature Feature books are really awesome. I had fun reading those.
LB: If you could work on any comic book you wanted, what title would you opt for?
CPW: That's tough, because at some point I would want to draw almost every title under the sun. One day I want to draw Droids, the next I want to draw the Hulk smashing stuff, and the next I might want to draw Batman and Robin beating up thugs. If there were titles starring The Green Goblin or The Joker I'd definitely want to be in line for those. I love drawing villains.
LB: You're currently laying down some of the best comic artwork I've ever seen, on Th3rd World's The Stuff of Legend. How did this come about?
CPW: Wow, that's incredibly nice of you to say! I first met Mike Devito, publisher for Th3rd World, back while I was in school (his brother was in my class). Mike's always been a great guy and a professional. A little while back he looked through my online portfolio of work and based on some of what he saw of my pencil work he thought I might be a good fit for The Stuff of Legend. I'd met Mike Raicht once before, although I hadn't met Brian Smith yet, and the project they had created seemed like it was almost specifically designed just for me. Or, at least, it was exactly what I had wanted. I sent in conceptual designs for the characters, fingers crossed they'd like 'em, and since then I've been having a blast working with everyone on the project.
LB: What's it like working with Th3rd World?
CPW: Mike Devito and Jon Conkling are really cool guys. They're really fun to hang out with and discuss projects and they don't screw around when it comes to making comics. It seems like they're willing to break their backs to make things happen, and you can't help but admire that. They're the real deal. The writers, Mike Raicht and Brian Smith, are also really cool as well. Lots of thought went into this project from their end, and it's one of the many aspects of the project that I can embrace and appreciate.
LB: Is The Stuff of Legend your first published gig?
CPW: It will be my first published gig where I do all of the interiors and covers. I've done pin-up work and anthology stories for Dave Newbold's Gloom, FutureQuake's Wicked magazine, Imperium Comics' Trailer Park of Terror and Th3rd World's Space Doubles.
LB: If you could have any superpower you wanted, what would you pick?
CPW: Super Speed. Imagine how much more drawing I could do if I had that. I wonder if I'd even be able to handle it responsibly.
LB: What's next for you?
CPW: More Stuff of Legend! Raicht and I also have a small project in the works for one of the high profile companies that I'm excited about but can't really reveal just yet, I think, and Devito and I have some cool ideas for the future as well.
LB: Finally, Charles. Do you have any words of wisdom for any artists out there looking to get published work?
CPW: What little authority I have on the subject, I can only say every artist has to figure out what they're really in it for and what they're willing to do to achieve it. Don't quit when it gets hard and people tell you no. More than likely there are going to have to be sacrifices made, but if you find you're built for this and you're willing to work towards it you will persevere, whether it comes to publishing your own work or as work-for-hire.