2004 Comic Book News Archives
December 17, 2004: Matthew Clark Talks About Drawing Superman
"Adventures of Superman" artist Matthew Clark, spoke with The Pulse about his work on Superman now that he's been at it for some time. Here's an excerpt from the interview...
- Q: How do you get over the intimidation factor of staring at that blank white page and having to just get started on the drawing of such an iconic figure?
A: I put myself in the best headspace I can. I don the Ipod and depending on the type of page will depend on the type of music. A fight page will be music with some crunch, Velvet Revolver or Chemical Brothers, Filter or Crystal Method. A quite heads talking page will be Sinatra or Martin, Sammy Davis or Tom Jones or a book on CD. A Funny page with Mxy will be the Simpson Soundtrack's. A heroic page with Superman, the soundtrack to Superman the movie or other heroic orchestral music, the guys at the studio have caught me humming the Superman theme on more than one occasion. My workspace at Mercury Studio has everything to make me feel comfortable to work, lots of toys, comic and art, model cars and reference. My space was the envoy of everyone for the past year now I've got David Hahn muscling in on the coolest space. I spend on average 15 hrs a day there including weekends. I don't work at home. I start with the page usually the hardest in the book and do that one first, then the rest get easier.
Q: About how long did it take for you to feel comfortable working on the world of Superman?
A: The world itself was the easiest to get comfortable with; the opening six pagers did that. I knew after drawing them how my approach to Metropolis would be and what real city I'd use as a template. Chicago has everything Metropolis has plus a kid growing up in Kansas wanting adventure in the big city would more than likely head to Chicago, plus I like the architecture. Superman took three issues just figure out my approach on him, and then three more to work out a stylization where the character started to seem natural. Now I concentrating on loosening up on the figures, my work is stiff in places something Eddie Berganza and I have been working on. Clark I knew from the get go, I knew exactly what he'd wear and look and walk, While Clark and Superman are the same person I draw the same body type. Clarks clothing is a lot of vertical line sweaters and shirt, verticals play a trick on the eyes and make things seem smaller. And the hairstyles are way different. Perry was easy. Jimmy was also, although I make him cooler than anyone, it was time. Figure he woke up one day and became tragically hip. More Kenneth Cole and GQ, less bow tie and nerdy. Can't have two nerds working in the same place.
Q: You also told us before drawing the S was going to take you some time ... how quick can you draw the "S" now?
A: I can whip it out in about a minute or two, just took some practice and time to figure out what I wanted it to look like, I mixed the classic "S" (the 2 fish theory) with a movie "S" and then made the shield bigger that anyone else drawing it... Love that big shield.
2004 Comic News
Listed below are all the Comic News items archived for 2004.- January 9, 2004: Three Different Supermen in 2004?
- January 10, 2004: Jim Lee Interviews Lee Bermejo
- January 10, 2004: Jim Lee Interviews Brian Azzarello
- January 12, 2004: Three Supermen Rumor False
- January 21, 2004: Art Adams Signs Exclusively to DC Comics
- January 21, 2004: Pre-Order CGC 9.8 NM/MT Grade Copies of First Jim Lee Drawn Superman
- January 23, 2004: Julie Schwartz in Hospital Again
- January 29, 2004: Price Rise for Superman Comics
- February 3, 2004: Superman/Batman vs Aliens/Predator
- February 3, 2004: Newsday Publishes History of Comics Article
- February 3, 2004: Alex Ross Interview
- February 4, 2004: Superman to Sport Painted Cover by Matt Wagner in May - (Updated with Images)
- February 8, 2004: Julie Schwartz Dies
- February 10, 2004: Comic Art Exhibition at Mizel Center for Arts and Culture
- February 11, 2004: Superman Comics Back to Press for Second Printing
- February 11, 2004: Milligan Talks “Kid Amazo”
- February 12, 2004: Jim Lee Talks Superman
- February 22, 2004: Sold Out “Godfall” Issues On Sale for $10!
- March 2, 2004: “Superman: Godfall” Continues to Sell Out at DC Comics
- March 3, 2004: Superman in Wizard #150
- March 7, 2004: Jeph Loeb Talks New Supergirl
- March 11, 2004: Mark Waid Says “Birthright” New Official Superman Origin
- March 16, 2004: Artist Ian Churchill Signs Exclusive Contract with DC Comics
- March 16, 2004: DC Staff and Talent Head West for Wizard World LA
- March 17, 2004: Ivan Reis Talks “Action Comics”
- March 18, 2004: Jeph Loeb Talks “Superman/Batman”
- March 18, 2004: DC Comics Rushes Sold-Out “Superman/Batman #8” Back to Press
- March 18, 2004: Kryptonian Translation of “Superman/Batman #8”
- March 21, 2004: DC Panel at Wizard World LA
- March 23, 2004: Chuck Austen Talks “Action Comics”
- March 24, 2004: Eddie Berganza Talks About Superman in 2004
- March 25, 2004: “Godfall” Continues to Sell Out at DC Comics
- March 26, 2004: Kurt Busiek Talks “Superman: Secret Identity”
- April 2, 2004: DC Unveils New Collected Editions
- April 5, 2004: DC and DF Present Signed Superman Comics for June
- April 11, 2004: Brian Azzarello Talks Superman
- April 13, 2004: “Superman/Batman #8” Second Printing Sells Out at DC Comics
- April 18, 2004: “Superman/Batman #8” is Diamond's Top-Selling Comic fo March!
- April 18, 2004: Stuart Immonen Talks “Superman: Secret Identity”
- April 19, 2004: Alex Sinclair Talks “Superman”
- April 20, 2004: Ivan Reis Signs Exclusive Deal with DC Comics
- April 21, 2004: Jim Lee and Michael Turner Take the Cover Challenge on “Superman/Batman #10” and “Superman #205” [Updated with images]
- April 22, 2004: DC Comics Rushes “Superman/Batman #8” Back to Press
- April 22, 2004: Jim Lee on “Superman” and Life Advice
- April 27, 2004: Gene Ha and Arthur Adams Talk Superman Covers
- May 11, 2004: Chuck Austen Talks “Action Comics” and “JLA”
- May 18, 2004: Dexter Vines Talks About Inking “Superman/Batman”
- May 26, 2004: Rags Morales Talks “Identity Crisis”
- June 8, 2004: Chuck Austen Talks “Action Comics”
- June 9, 2004: Comic Book Idol - Round 2
- June 15, 2004: DC Comics “Ask The Editors” Online Letter Columns
- June 21, 2004: Stan Lee Writes Superman for Julie Schwartz Tribute Issue
- July 8, 2004: Joe Casey Talks Superman
- July 9, 2004: Kim Howard Johnson Talks “Superman: True Brit”
- July 25, 2004: San Diego Comic Con Superman News
- July 28, 2004: Grant Morrison's Return to JLA
- August 16, 2004: “Superman/Batman” Panel at Wizard World Chicago
- August 31, 2004: Rick Veitch Answers Questions About “The Question”
- September 20, 2004: Greg Rucka Talks “Adventures of Superman”
- September 22, 2004: DC Sends “Identity Crisis #1” for Second Printing
- October 5, 2004: Comics Gaining Educational Reputation
- October 19, 2004: Scott McCloud Talks “Superman: Strength”
- October 19, 2004: DC Comics Pay Tribute to Christopher Reeve
- November 4, 2004: Rags Morales to Pencil Adventures of Superman #636
- November 11, 2004: David Goyer to Write “Superman/Batman”
- November 12, 2004: Superman Colorist Appearing at Comic Expo
- December 16, 2004: Chuck Austen Leaves “Action Comics”
- December 17, 2004: “Superman/Batman #13” Takes Top Spot on November Sales Chart
- December 17, 2004: Matthew Clark Talks About Drawing Superman
- December 20, 2004: Changes for Superman in 2005
- December 21, 2004: New Creative Team for “Superman” Comic
- December 21, 2004: “DC All-Stars” - DC's Answer to Marvel's Ultimate Line
- December 22, 2004: Grant Morrison Talks About “All-Star Superman”
- December 22, 2004: John Byrne in New Creative Team for “Action Comics”
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