2019 Comic Book News Archives
December 2, 2019: Exclusive Interview with Comic Book Artist Joe Staton
By Michael MorenoSuperman Homepage reporter Michael Moreno caught up with artist Joe Staton recently and asked him all about his career in comic books, working for DC Comics, and specifically his time working on Superman related characters.
Joe Staton, started working for DC Comics in the mid-1970s, having already worked for Charlton, Marvel Comics and Warren Publishing. The Inkpot Award winning artist worked on many Superman projects, including "Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes," "Justice Society of America," "Batman and Superman Adventures: World's Finest," and "Superman & Bugs Bunny".
The Superman Homepage would like to thank Joe for agreeing to do this interview, and for fitting it into his busy schedule.
Q: How long were you a cartoonist before you started working with DC Comics and on Superman? When were you first commissioned to work on Superman?
A: I think I've always been a cartoonist but I started actually working in comics in 1971 for Charlton Comics. I was working on All Star/JSA for DC in 1977 and 1978. That would been my first chance to draw Superman. That was the Superman of Earth II, who was the original Superman from the 1940s. Our take on the Siegel and Shuster character. I think I came to working on the "contemporary" version of Superman in the late 70s and early 80s when I did several issue of DC Comics Presents, the Superman team-up book. I think was Marty Pasko who wrote the team-up with Sgt Rock and Easy Company, really nice inking by Jack Abel. It's hard to figure how you can make that team-up work but the story was actually very nice, with nice characterization of Superman. Another issue I liked was a cross-over with Dr Fate that Denny O'Neil wrote. It's always fun to have Superman cope with magical characters like Fate and this one had pirates as well. One footnote here is that E. Nelson Bridwell was actually editing the book at the time. I had swiped a nice pirate's coat from somewhere that I liked a lot. Nelson was a stickler for accuracy and objected that the coat was off by a century or so, so I had to change the coat.
Q: You had worked on the four issue mini series comic "Superman and Bugs Bunny" in the early 2000s. What was it like working with both DC Comic's number one superhero, Superman. and Warner Brothers favorite rabbit Bugs Bunny? Is it a team up that you would like to work on again in the future?
A: Ah, a trick question. I really liked the idea of the crossed realities. Unfortunately, working with constant interference from Warners wasn't much fun. It was really hard on our editor Joey Cavalieri who was running interference.
Q: You worked on "Superboy and the Legion of Superheroes". What was it like working on not just one, but multiple different superheroes?
A: Of course, I had that run on the JSA, so I had experience organizing sets of several characters at a time. One problem is that I like to bring in a lot of body language and postures to get the feeling across and it would get complicated. And I'm afraid I would lose track of details on that many costumes. I think I remember correctly that we got letters complaining that I would sometime put the wrong boots on characters.
Q: Your time working on Adventure Comics was during a different era. How have things changed in the comic book world since your time working on the series?
A: Things have changed a lot in all sorts of ways. The technology has changed tremendously, newsprint and hand-done 4-color seps have been replaced by slick paper and Photoshop. Cons were just getting going good in the 70s when feedback was basically a matter of letters to the editor. The era of the giant superhero movies was off in the future. Artists and writers usually had to live near the NY offices of the publishers. Now they live all over the world.
Q: What was it like working on the DC Special #29?
A: I really loved this project. How can you not love a job where you have the chance to draw the original Superman catching a Nazi A-Bomb before it hits the White House? Paul Levitz really got a chance to show off with this one. He was very deep into history and was able to work in real world history with FDR and practically every superhero around in the 40s. FDR was a great comics character. The Spectre got to be really terrifying showing Nazis the face of horror. Paul pulled it all together. I got to draw sorts of period things and think I did a really good job. Bob Layton was doing the Wally Wood-influenced inking that suited the period nicely. Anthony Tollin kept it clear with his colors. Yeah, I like that one. (Okay, we did have a few mistakes. Alan Scott did break a wooden door. Hawkman had the wrong headpiece. Anyway, it was fun.)
Q: Are there any super hero team-ups with Superman that you would like to work on in the future?
A: It would have been fun to do an adventure in space with Superman and the GL Corps.
Q: Over the years, Superman has incorporated various members into his Super family. One of which is Power Girl. What has your experience been like working with this superhero?
A: Yes, I came in very early in Power Girl's life. My understanding is that she was made particularly sexy and busty to please Wally Wood, the original inker. However, she also has to be treated as a serious hero as well to work. So there's a balance to the character. I particularly like the backups in Wonder Woman, where she teamed up with the Huntress. I'm pleased to see that she is still around.
Q: Do you have a favorite Superman comic or Superman-related comic that you've worked on? If so, what is it and why?
A: I've always been at home with animated-style characters and I did a couple with Superman that I thought worked well. There was the World's Finest, adapting the animated version of Superman and Batman's first meeting. I especially liked the version of Lois Lane in that story. I also liked the Superman Adventures Annual from 1997 which featured lots of magic, with Zatara and tons of Monsters, all animated style.
Q: Do you have any advice for those who would be interested in becoming a cartoonist and would want to work for the comic book industry? Do you have any advice for those who will one day work on Superman?
A: I guess the standing advice is to be flexible. The skills necessary for a comic book artist transfer well to storyboards and character design for tv and movies and game designs. Try to keep your identity but be able to do it all. If you're working on Superman, I'd say respect him.
2019 Comic News
Listed below are all the Comic News items archived for 2019.- January 14, 2019: “Action Comics #1000” Tops Sales Charts for 2018
- January 17, 2019: Brian Michael Bendis Talks About Aging Jon Kent/Superboy
- January 18, 2019: ‘DC Primal Age' One-Shot Now Available at Target Stores
- January 20, 2019: Walmart Customers Outraged Over Violent Superman Comic Book
- January 21, 2019: Tom King Responds to Complaints About Walmart Superman Comic Book
- January 23, 2019: Was Walmart “Superman 100-Page Giant #7” Story Too Violent? (The S Files)
- January 24, 2019: Fan Reactions to the Ageing of Jon Kent/Superboy - Poll Results
- January 25, 2019: DC Comics Announces Free Comic Book Day Offerings
- January 31, 2019: Paying Tribute to Retiring Comic Book Legend George Pérez
- February 2, 2019: Preview Marv Wolfman's Unpublished Superman Story
- February 5, 2019: Marv Wolfman Talks About Writing Superman
- February 13, 2019: DC Dubs 2019 “Year of the Villain” with Special Offering on FCBD
- February 17, 2019: Where is “Doomsday Clock #9”?
- February 18, 2019: DC Comics Set to Announce Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen Comic Books
- February 20, 2019: Bendis Reveals His Plans for the DCU's Two Superboys
- February 28, 2019: Jump On Board the Superman Comics Books with “Superman Vol. 1: The Unity Saga: Phantom Earth”
- February 28, 2019: Current Comic Book Enjoyment - Poll Results
- March 10, 2019: Frank Miller's “Superman: Year One” Cover and Release Date
- March 11, 2019: DC Announces New “DC Super Hero Girls” Graphic Novels
- March 13, 2019: Black Hammer/Justice League Comic Book Crossover
- March 14, 2019: Best Current Superman-Related Comic Book - Poll Results
- March 15, 2019: DC Announces “Superman: Year One”
- March 18, 2019: “Super Sons: The Polarshield Project” Official Trailer
- March 18, 2019: DC Zoom and DC Ink Titles Debuting October 2019
- March 20, 2019: Superman Writers Panel at ITHACON 2019
- March 28, 2019: DC Launches New “DC Super Hero Girls” Digital First Series
- April 3, 2019: Take a Look at the “DCeased #1” Variant Cover by Inhyuk Lee
- April 6, 2019: DC's Walmart Stories Coming to Comic Book Stores
- April 11, 2019: “Year of the Villain #1” Spotlights the DCU's Most Notorious Evildoers
- April 12, 2019: DC Writers Discuss Upcoming Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen Books
- April 18, 2019: Fan Anticipation for “DCeased” Comic Book Series - Poll Results
- April 25, 2019: “Doomsday Clock #10” Delayed
- April 25, 2019: Fan Anticipation for “Lois Lane” and “Jimmy Olsen” Comic Books - Poll Results
- April 26, 2019: “Doomsday Clock - Part One” Coming in October
- April 29, 2019: DC Announces New BATMAN/SUPERMAN Monthly Series
- April 30, 2019: First Look at DC Zoom's “Dear Justice League” Book
- May 9, 2019: Fan Reaction to “Doomsday Clock” Delays - Poll Results
- May 15, 2019: Frank Miller and JRJr Discuss “Superman: Year One”
- May 20, 2019: Preview Pages for “Event Leviathan”
- May 23, 2019: “Justice League” Comic Book Gets New Logo
- May 29, Read a 3-Page “Krypton” Digital Comic - “Tales From The Phantom Zone”
- June 10, 2019: Interview - Marc Andreyko Talks About “Supergirl #31”
- June 11, 2019: Bendis Excited About Superman/Supergirl Crossover
- June 12, 2018: “Lex Luthor: Year of the Villain” One-Shot Coming in September
- June 13, 2019: DC Announces “Legion of Super-Heroes: Millennium” Comic Starting in September
- June 13, 2019: Fan Reaction to “Heroes in Crisis” - Poll Results
- June 14, 2019: Sneak Preview: Batman and Superman Unite to Uncover the Secret Six
- June 14, 2019: Trailer - “Superman: Year One”
- June 17, 2019: Superman Joins the Military in “Superman: Year One” Preview
- June 22, 2019: DC Comics Unites All Publishing Under One Banner
- June 26, 2018: First Look at “Lois Lane #1” by Greg Rucka and Mike Perkins
- June 27, 2019: DC Announces More Pages for “Zero Hour 25th Anniversary Omnibus”
- July 4, 2019: Fan Ratings for “Superman: Year One #1” - Poll Results
- July 10, 2019: Gene Luen Yang Talks “Superman Smashes the Klan”
- July 14, 2019: Ryan Sook Updates Superboy's Costume for “Legion of Super-Heroes: Millennium”
- July 17, 2018: “Dear Justice League” Graphic Novel Now Available for Pre-Order
- July 18, 2019: Why Don't You Read Comic Books? - Poll Results
- July 19, 2019: “Doomsday Clock #11” and “Batman/Superman #1” Delayed
- August 2, 2019: Superman Battles Dark Shazam in Sneak Peek at “Batman/Superman #2”
- August 9, 2019: “Superman #14” and “Supergirl #33” Cover Changes
- August 14, 2018: DC Announces Dark Multiverse Versions of “Infinite Crisis” and “Blackest Night”
- August 15, 2019: Six DC Heroes Become Corrupted by The Batman Who Laughs
- August 21, 2019: “Jimmy Olsen” Creative Team Discuss Their Zany Comic Book Series
- September 6, 2019: Superman #17 Removed From “Year of the Villain”
- September 11, 2019: Bendis Talks “Event Leviathan” in New Interview
- September 15, 2019: Superman's Secret Identity: Revealed?
- September 17, 2019: Steve Lieber and Matt Fraction Jimmy Olsen Interview
- September 17, 2019: Robert Vinditti to Helm New “Superman Giant” Series
- September 20, 2019: “Svengoolie Meets the DC Universe” This October
- September 23, 2019: Gene Luen Yang to Celebrate Superman Smashing the Klan
- September 26, 2019: “Tales from the Dark Multiverse: The Death of Superman #1” Preview
- October 3, 2019: Advanced Preview (with Spoilers) of –DCeased #6“
- October 4, 2019: New –Ultimate“ DC Universe Timeline Redefines Continuity
- October 10, 2019: Advanced Preview of –Tales of the Dark Multiverse: Blackest Night“
- October 11, 2019: First Look - –Legion of Super-Heroes #1“
- October 16, 2019: First Look - “Justice League #35”
- October 18, 2019: Bendis Talks About Revealing Superman's Secret Identity
- October 24, 2019: “Superman Smashes The Klan #1” Fan Rating - Poll Results
- October 26, 2019: First Look - “Tales from the Dark Multiverse: Infinite Crisis”
- October 31, 2019: Superman Fans React to Secret Identity Story - Poll Results
- November 6, 2019: Is Superman's Secret Identity Reveal the End of Clark Kent?
- November 6, 2019: First Look - Cruel Superman Featured in “Green Lantern: Blackstars #2”
- November 9, 2019: “K-Metal from Krypton” Restoration Project
- November 14, 2019: Brian Michael Bendis Talks About the Conceit of Secret Identities
- November 14, 2019: First Look - Superman's Secret Identity Reveal Press Conference
- November 15, 2019: First Look at Pages from “Superman #18”
- November 15, 2019: Video - How to Draw Superman
- November 22, 2019: First Look - “Doomsday Clock #12”
- November 22, 2019: First Look - “Year of the Villain: Hell Arisen #1 (of 4)”
- November 22, 2019: First Look at “Legion of Super-Heroes #2”
- November 26, 2019: First Look - “Action Comics #1018” and Beyond…
- December 2, 2019: Exclusive Interview with Comic Book Artist Joe Staton
- December 5, 2019: Walmart “Crisis on Infinite Earths” 100-Page Giant
- December 5, 2019: First Look - “Legion of Super-Heroes #3”
- December 5, 2019: First Look - “Young Justice #12”
- December 6, 2019: First Look - “Superman #19”
- December 12, 2019: Script to Page - Superman #18
- December 12, 2019: “Supermen: Behind the Cape” Biography Graphic Novel
- News Archive Contents page.
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