Wonder Woman (USA) di Brian Azzarello

[Azrael]

A Q&A WITH WONDER WOMAN ARTIST TONY AKINS



Tony Akins is best known for his work on FABLES and JACK OF FABLES written by Bill Willingham. Now, he gives Cliff Chiang a breather as he takes over art duties for a two-part WONDER WOMAN story which begins on January 18th. I spoke to Tony about his art and getting the call to work on one of the most iconic superhero characters below.

Tony, you're drawing Wonder Woman issues #5 and #6. This is your first time drawing a DC Comics superhero comic book. What's it been like to be given the opportunity to draw such an iconic character?

TA: It's really amazing. It's also a little daunting. Amazons, in general, are heavy...and Diana is VERY HEAVY! It's akin to what an executive officer on a navy ship-of-the-line would feel when given the bridge while the ship is still in port and has to take out to sea. In your mind you know that what you are charged with is awesome, and will be awesome and you're in the chair because people believe in you. Still there's that little voice in the back of your head yelling, "Don't SUCK!"... which is one of my personal maxims, btw. If anyone can translate that to Latin, I'd appreciate it.

Brian Azzarello and Cliff Chiang have such a strong vision for the comic book. Was it a welcomed challenge to jump in?

TA: Is there another sort of challenge? I was in Seattle over the summer, was there to visit and to pursue a project with a publisher in the area but had extended my stay a week to avoid the miserable weather in the Midwest.

I was walking along Pike St. with my girlfriend when my phone rings...it's Jill Thompson calling and she wants me to call Brian, which I do. He lays the possibility of my contributing to Wonder Woman in my path and tells me what he has planned to do with the title. I'm interested but I say that I have to really consider the other job I'm after as I'm intending to take the Cascadia Run down to Portland, OR to try and seal the deal with this other series, you know? So as excited as I am about the possibility of working with Brian again, ducks need to be in a row...

So I am literally standing at a crosswalk while having this conversation, waiting for a light to change so I can cross the street when I hang up with Brian. I get the green light to cross... by the time I've reached to opposite side of the street the phone is back in my hand and I'm dialing him back because I've made up my mind that I'm on board with the Wonder Woman relaunch.

Who could say no?

Cliff and Brian's vision for the title is very striking, very deliberate, unique and independent. I believe I can compliment what Cliff is delivering to the title. The challenge for me is the genre; Superheroes. So... the challenge, for any artist worth their salt, means engaging the opportunity to grow and expand skill sets. Who would turn such a thing down?

How has your FABLES work influenced your art on Wonder Woman?

TA: It hasn't. These are two totally different arenas of the comic craft. I don't think I'd approach Wonder Woman the same way I'd approach Fables or Jack of Fables or Hellblazer. There are different dynamics that need to project from superhero page; the highly emphasized poses, aggressive posturing, you know...the standardized visuals that I will acknowledge but try to break and reset in my own strange way. I never said I was a conformist. Brian told me, directly, "This is a horror story...there're monsters in this series...this is all You." That's all I needed to hear.

Are you a long time reader of superhero comics?

TA: I was never a reader of superhero comics. I've read a few here and there over the years, a select few; Watchmen was the first superhero series I had ever followed monthly, and then more recently I followed, again monthly, DC's New Frontier over it's run. The New Frontier was iconic and completely electrifying... I remember reading the end of The Losers in the first issue, the very last page with those last two panels where John Clouds' grenade illuminates the silhouetted grave markers... wow...just, Wow. As I remember it now, I could feel the wave of heat and the shock of the blast. I know the cat remembered it too because I whooped and stood with the issue rolled in one hand smacking it into the other hand laughing and yelling, "This...THIS is a (freaking) comic book!" If I'm fortunate and clever enough, maybe I can bring that to the page and give the reader a similar effect. This is my hope.

Comic books for me, as a young person "under the influence", were CREEPY and EERIE, MAD and then Heavy Metal. As an adult, comic books became my profession, so I have to spend more time making them than reading them. I hope that would not cheat me of the state of the craft. If there is a series I hear about and that I need to read, I have friends that will lend me the titles. I trust their suggestions.

Are you a fan of Greek mythology? What are your favorite stories?

TA: Orpheus and Eurydice has always been a favorite of mine. The Artemis Mythology is terrific and I am fond of the childhood of Zeus in the cave on Crete and the by-products of that story like Aegis and Cornucopia. The loss of Argos, the watchman and how he was mourned and then celebrated. Then there's the mountains of paintings and sculpture of the Romantic Period inspired by all of this that I like to pore over...

Which of the Gods has been your favorite to draw? Why?

TA: Of course I'm going to be fondest with the Gods I create... but if there has to be a favorite among those that we've seen so far, it has to be "The Wax Child", or Hades. From "go" he was a little creep. Brian's initial direction on him was that he had to be a kid, like "Village of the Damned"...pale, mean, powerful. Horace Vernet painted a work called "The Dead Go Fast" and it's always been a favorite of mine. His other works are dramatic enough, but with this painting... he must have gotten into some bad Absynthe because it's brilliant. That's where my Hades comes from. That's the sepulchral king-child with his deadlights that I want standing in your thoughts at night...and, you're very welcome!
Wonder Woman finds herself back in London where you introduce a new character named Lennox. Tell us about your creative process. Do you have a sketch or two you can share with us?

TA: Sure. As you know this is a collaborative process between Brian and Cliff and I. For Lennox, Brian described the manner of Lennox, his powers and how he fit into the Wonder Woman scheme in London. Brian has an idea of the look for him, a Jason Statham type, but more of a bulldog, pug-nose tough. We wanted a "superhero" but sans cape, but a look that was still iconic. Lennox got his black top coat to serve as cape, and it's stylish. In leui of tights, he gets Bruce Lee 'Game of Death' trackpants; urban and definitely kick-ass. Beyond this, it's basically me drawing versions of Lennox and Brian saying "no" until he says "yes" and then I can stop. Lennox was the toughest chase of them all, but he was bang-on when he arrived.




Da Source

[Azrael]

WONDER WOMAN #8
Written by BRIAN AZZARELLO and CLIFF CHIANG
Art and cover by CLIFF CHIANG
1:25 B&W Variant cover by CLIFF CHIANG
On sale APRIL 18 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
To march on Hell itself, you're going to need some sensational weapons – and Wonder Woman intends to call in a few family favors to get them! Armor of Hephaestus? Check. The pistols of Eros? Check! But will any of it be enough to wrest an innocent soul from the grasp of Hades? And what does Hermes know that Diana doesn't...yet?

[Azrael]

Preview: Wonder Woman #5

Spiacente, ma non sei autorizzato a visualizzare il contenuto degli spoiler.

Spiacente, ma non sei autorizzato a visualizzare il contenuto degli spoiler.

Spiacente, ma non sei autorizzato a visualizzare il contenuto degli spoiler.

Spiacente, ma non sei autorizzato a visualizzare il contenuto degli spoiler.

Spiacente, ma non sei autorizzato a visualizzare il contenuto degli spoiler.

[Bruce Wayne]

Numero fantastico!

Spiacente, ma non sei autorizzato a visualizzare il contenuto degli spoiler.

Rivoglio Chiang ai disegni, però..  Dovrò attendere fino all'ottavo numero.

[Azrael]

Wonder Woman faces off against Poseidon in the latest issue of her self-titled series.
Some spoilers below.

The Good
Very early on in the fifth issue of Wonder Woman readers are made aware that the this idea of Diana being Zeus's daughter -- a demi-god -- isn't new. She isn't the only one out there and that it is likely others like her will seek her out, which is exactly what happens in this issue. Readers are introduced to Lennox within the first few pages of issue #5, and although he may appear to be Wonder Woman's age (based on his artistic portrayal and demeanor) he is in fact over eighty years old. Demi-gods clearly do not age. Or age very well, anyway. It seems that somehow (and it is not explained in this issue) Lennox knows more about Diana and the recent revelations pertaining to her father than she does. Lennox gives Diana some interesting information.

This issue is all about build up. The story is being told gradually, and I got the impression that Azzarello does not want to rush the events. The thing that really makes this book interesting is the fact that there is so much going on that we don't know about yet. For example, how did Lennox know to go to Diana? How did he know where to find her? What is the discussion that Diana must have with Poseidon and is she setting Hera up to fall at the hands of Zeus' brother? When you reach the last few pages you might notice a three-headed dog. Now, this is no ordinary three-headed dog; it's Cerberus. And wherever Cerberus goes, you know Hades can't be too far behind. But what's the connection here? Why is Lennox seeking Hades?

The best thing about this book is that the story is so mulch-dimensional; there's just so much happening and it will be interesting to see how it all ties together. I definitely get the impression that Azzarello is gearing readers up for some big surprises.

The Bad
I guess the first thing that came to my mind after reading this issue was "where did Eris go?" While the last four issues seemed very fluid, this one felt almost jarring. There's no transition from the events of the previous issues to the present one.

The Verdict
This issue is all about set-up for what is to come. Why introduce Hades? Where is Eris? Why does Diana want to meet with Poseidon? These are only some of the questions that readers will be left with following the end of WONDER WOMAN #5. Artist Tony Atkins takes over for Clff Chiang in this issue and I felt he did a fine job. Although his style is more animated and it's very different from Chiang's hard lines, the change is not so jarring. Very pretty issue. I definitely can't wait to see where Azzarello has in store for Wonder Woman.

4 su 5

Da CVine

[Azrael]

The world we live in is one in which most artists have to have a fill-in issue several issues into their run on a comic. It's an unfortunate reality, but if it's going to happen, it's nice when editorial is smart about it. "Wonder Woman" #5 is the perfect example of a smart fill-in issue.

With Zeus out of the picture, Poseidon makes his move, and Diana, rather than fight the angry god, turns his attention toward Hera in a clever bit of plotting that raises the book far above your typical "hero punches villain" trope.

Brian Azzarello's "Wonder Woman" has been smart all along, but what he does with Diana in this issue is so much better than we usually see in comics that it's almost alarming. For starters, Azzarello (and I'm sure Cliff Chiang, and for this issue Tony Akins) chooses to make Poseidon's physical representation a giant sea monster/fish creature, rather than the standard attractive, bare-chested "human" male with a trident and white beard. The sea monster incarnation is infinitely more interesting, as have all the ideas been for this book so far. In addition, once Poseidon shows up in London to fight with Wonder Woman, instead of just battling him, Azzarello's Diana turns Poseidon onto the trail of another god, effortlessly channeling his bid for power at someone else. It's clever and bold and exactly what I'm looking for, not just in a Wonder Woman book, but in any good comic.

If you have to find a fill-in for Cliff Chiang, Tony Akins is a great pick. He has a similar sensibility and thus the issue doesn't feel like a huge departure from what readers expect from the series. Additionally, thanks to series' colorist Matthew Wilson, the issue maintains the tone Azzarello, Chiang and Wilson have established thus far. Akins does a great job with the story and he seems to relay it almost effortlessly, easily maintaining everything great that has come before him. My sole complaint, which I admit is a rather large one, is that his Diana doesn't quite look and feel right. She's a bit inconsistent throughout the story and only really feels like Diana/Wonder Woman when she finally dons the costume. It's strange because Akins take on all the other characters, especially Zola and Hermes, are wonderful. It's almost as if he couldn't quite decide on what his Diana should look like and as a result she's almost a moving target within the book, none of them quite resonating. In all other ways, his art is a great fit, particularly when it comes to Poseidon and his bizarre and very literal cadre of seahorses.

"Wonder Woman" is the bright shining star of DC Comics' new 52. It's a book many had their eyes on thanks to such an innovative and bold choice of creative team; but it's also a book that had many fans skeptical given the troubled history of the book. It's nice to see such a fantastic payoff, with Diana again in a truly wonderful and well-considered book.

4 su 5

Da CBR

[maricomics]

Questa serie mi piace sempre di più, sono un pò indietro ma sto recuperando e sono sempre più entusiasta 

[Mr. Seven]

Gran bel numero! 
Anche a me Chiang manca, ma devo dire che Tony Akins fa un lavoro più che dignitoso. 

[Occhi nella Notte]

Gran bel numero! 
Anche a me Chiang manca, ma devo dire che Tony Akins fa un lavoro più che dignitoso. 

[maricomics]

Mi sto chiudendo con questa serie sempre più bella, secondo me la WW di Azzarello è la migliore da molti anni a questa parte.

[Azrael]

CHIANG-ing it Up: Cliff's New WONDER WOMAN Co-Writer Role


Wonder Woman #9 Cover

Da Newsarama

[Guardiano della Notte]

Com'è l'inglese di Azzarello qua?

[Bruce Wayne]

Com'è l'inglese di Azzarello qua?

Io lo sto leggendo in inglese e non ho particolari problemi..

[Azrael]

Preview: Wonder Woman #6

Spiacente, ma non sei autorizzato a visualizzare il contenuto degli spoiler.

Spiacente, ma non sei autorizzato a visualizzare il contenuto degli spoiler.

Spiacente, ma non sei autorizzato a visualizzare il contenuto degli spoiler.

Spiacente, ma non sei autorizzato a visualizzare il contenuto degli spoiler.

Spiacente, ma non sei autorizzato a visualizzare il contenuto degli spoiler.

[Murnau]

Ecco Cliff Chiang in versione: "cerchiamo di imitare Mike Allred e di farci colorare alla Frazer Irving".