Draw! #17 Spring 2009 (magazine review).
I have to confess that all I know about Scott Pilgrim is that a film was made about him saving the world and still haven’t seen it. Editor Mike Manley interviews his Canadian comicbook creator, Bryan Lee O’Malley, before his creation got to that status. It’s pretty obvious looking at his art that he is very much anime influenced in his stylised work. Although it’s not my personal taste, ‘Draw!’ didn’t shirk from looking at all manner of art styles.
Manley’s interview with comicbook artist Guy Davies, who was working on ‘B.P.R.D.’ for Mike Mignola, is literally shoptalk as they discussion art techniques and equipment. With the latter, it’s interesting to note that any pen, brush, pencil and ink they like, is invariably bought in quantity before it runs out of stock and the new versions aren’t quite as good as their preference. Even if you work digitally, there is still a need to doddle or mix media and if you are or becoming a pro, having the right equipment you like makes a lot more sense breaking in something new.
Oddly, the real nugget is Mike Manley’s solo ‘Comic Art Bookcamp’, looking at how the likes of Jack Kirby, John Buscema, Alex Toth, Frank Robbins, Mike Mignola, Al Williamson and how they approach the comicbook page. It’s also interesting to note that Manley is also another Andrew Loomis luminary. Another reason to pull Loomis’ books if you are getting serious about improving your art.
These early issues of ‘Draw!’ teach so much.
GF Willmetts
December 2020
(pub: TwoMorrows Publishing. 82 page illustrated magazine. Price: $ 9.95 (US). ISSN: 1932-6882. Direct from them, you can get it for $ 6.95 (US))
check out websites: www.TwoMorrows.com, www.draw-magazine.blogspot.com and www.penciltopencil.com and https://twomorrows.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=98_59&products_id=732&zenid=a3cc8c2b2b7b81d326ed3ca2873a85de
