Off the Record...

If DC Comics has a big-time project, artist Ethan Van Sciver is their man. Providing stunning artwork for GREEN LANTERN: REBIRTH and FLASH: REBIRTH, kicking off the SINESTRO CORPS WAR and designing for BLACKEST NIGHT, has earned Ethan the reputation for being a big-time artist. Ranked as Wizard Magazine's #1 Hottest Artist, Ethan took a little time to chat with CBEtc on bringing back iconic characters from the dead, his influences and his theories on covers, design and story telling...

CBEtc: It is pronounced "Sky-Ver." When you are introduced at shows or signings, do they usually get your name right?

EVS: By now, most people pronounce it correctly.  A small peeve that I have is when people call me "Sciver" instead of "Van Sciver"  (Two words, one last name) but I don't really care all that much either way.

CBEtc: When we last met (February of 2008), rumors were flying of your and Geoff Johns "secret project" and you couldn't really comment. Was it difficult keeping FLASH: REBIRTH a secret? When did you start working on the project?

EVS: It was difficult, but I buttoned it for the most part.  It was very exciting to be a part of it, and finally have this wish fulfilled, to bring back my favorite superhero.  Geoff wrote the first scene back in April or so, and then we were given the go ahead to get going on in some time in November of 2008.

CBEtc: Congratulations on FLASH: REBIRTH being such a hit! Currently, issue #1 has sold out twice and is going to a 3rd printing. Plus, the series has been extended from 5 issues to a 6 issue mini-series. Why do you think it has been so well received?

EVS: The Flash has always had an eager audience, and people remember Geoff's run on it fondly. They'll always turn out for good Flash stories.

CBEtc: Barry Allen sacrificed his life to save the Multiverse in CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS back in 1985. While being teased at returning a few times, it has taken over 24 years to finally bring Barry back. In comics, it seems dead characters seem to return in a couple of years, if not months, after their apparent death. Why do you think it has taken so long to bring Barry back?

EVS: Because Wally West was a worthy substitute, and Barry died a noble and heroic death. It wasn't time to bring him back until now.

CBEtc: Without getting into trouble and giving anything specific away, what can fans expect from FLASH: REBIRTH?

EVS: Pure evil, pure heroism, new characters, new costumes, and a bright new future.

CBEtc: On the cover to FLASH: REBIRTH #2, you do a very nice tribute to a classic Flash cover. With issue #3, we get to see a Flash versus Superman race (at least that is what the cover hints). While this series is about establishing Barry Allen in the present, will there be any other tributes or nods to the past we can expect?

EVS:  Oh, if you only knew!

CBEtc: With working on bringing back characters you grew up reading (like Hal and Barry), is there a sense of wonder, joy, pride, in being involved?

EVS: More so than usual, yes.  Drawing comics is always that way, but GREEN LANTERN: REBIRTH and FLASH: REBIRTH are career high opportunities that I cherish.
 
CBEtc: With FLASH: REBIRTH, was it your idea to design a different look for each speedster's use of the Speed Force?

EVS: No, the Speed Force doesn't respond to a Flash's personality the way the Green Lantern rings do.  It's only lightning and electricity, drawn from interesting points on their costumes.

CBEtc: Speaking of design, in GREEN LANTERN: REBIRTH, you created a new look to the Green Lantern's chest symbol, where it glowed in front of them. Is it an honor to see other artists drawing them in the same style?

EVS: Sure! I wish there'd be more variety in the way the other Lanterns use their rings as well, but at this point, with a Corps full of different aliens, that'd be a lot of hard work. I'd probably do it anyhow, though!

CBEtc: For DC's upcoming event BLACKEST NIGHT, you are providing the variant covers for the entire series. But, in a way, you are also the designer for BLACKEST NIGHT. You designed the various Lanterns' costumes, rings and symbols that will be appearing in the mini-series (Yellow, Red, Blue, Orange, Indigo, etc.). Along with writer Geoff Johns, you also helped create some of the characters (Abyssma, Antipathy, Saint Walker, Karu-Sil, etc.) and how they use their powers (Red Lanterns vomit blood on their victims). Plus, you drew the BLACKEST NIGHT teaser story at the end of GREEN LANTERN #25 (with the fists punching out of the graves) and you are drawing the various "The Dead Will Rise..." house ads found in most of the DC comics this month. Is this the most involved an artist can be with a series without actually getting billing?

EVS: I suppose so!  I don't mind all that much, I'll be happy if this project utterly clocks Marvel this summer, like I think it will. It didn't need to be me that did all of that design work, it could have been anyone. But I think it was a good idea that it all came from one source, so that the basic rule book of design was consistent. From there, it allows the imagination of future artists on Green Lantern to soar, and still remain familiar for fans.

CBEtc: Your ads for BLACKEST NIGHT featuring Earth 2 Superman, Aquaman, Firestorm and Martian Manhunter as Black Lanterns certainly have fans excited. Are you working on any other ads (and can you tell us who they are)?

EVS: I'm done with all of those ads, so I don't know when or if they'll be used. Could be.

CBEtc: Out of the various Lanterns you and Geoff developed (Yellow: Fear, Red: Hate, Orange: Greed, Blue: Hope, Indigo: Compassion, Star Saphire: Love, Black: Death), which do you relate with the most?

EVS: I don't relate to any of them, but I think the Red Lanterns are awesome.

CBEtc: Over your 15 year career, you've done a ton of covers. Do you prefer that line of work or is it simply a good way to keep busy in between regular projects?

EVS: Covers are okay. I'm not much of a cover artist, but I try to put a small gag, or something interesting in them that'll draw attention. 

CBEtc: Any gags you care to share?

EVS: Take a good look at the variant cover for WILDSTORM's CLAW #1, and tell me what you think is going on there.

CBEtc: What makes a good cover?

EVS: In general, covers should pose a question or mystery that forces a buyer to pick up the book and flip through it. If you can get someone to say, "What the...," you're halfway to a sale.

CBEtc: Are you especially proud of a particular cover?

EVS: No. Some have worked well as iconic pieces, GREEN LANTERN: REBIRTH and the FLASH: REBIRTH #1 cover was particularly successful, because it was exciting. But I just try to keep moving forward.

CBEtc: The cover to GREEN LANTERN #5 has to be one of my favorite covers of all time. The Shark swimming away with Hal's lantern, as he floats face down with a bloody hand has me both horrified and fascinated at the same time. I can't take my eyes off of it, despite the terrifying image.

EVS: Cool, thanks. That was a fun one.

CBEtc: I first noticed your work back in '94, with your creation "CyberFrog." To me, your early work was very reminiscent of Todd McFarlane's style.

EVS: McFarlane was a huge influence, not only in my drawing style as a young man, but in my realization that I wanted to make comic books my career. 

CBEtc: Whom are the most common names people tell you your work looks influenced by other artists?

EVS: These days, people tell me I draw like Perez or Bolland. Both are flattering.

CBEtc: What do you think stands out in your style?

EVS:  I have no idea. Lots of detail, lots of information, I guess.

CBEtc: Do you enjoy sketching a character and trying to create different designs? Or, is it more fun laying out a book and being a story-teller?

EVS: Figure drawing isn't my strong suit.  I love creation, and I love story telling.  My drawing abilities have improved rapidly over time, and god willing, they'll continue to improve, but I know that as a fan myself, someone who focuses too much on any one principle of comic book art will fail to interest fans.  Experimenting with telling the story is where it's at for me.

CBEtc: What was the weirdest sketch request you ever had at a convention?

EVS: I drew someone's girlfriend as a Green Lantern in Atlanta last year.  It wasn't "weird", but it was different from the norm.

CBEtc: There have been several items that feature your art or design that leap off the comic page, such as T-Shirts, posters, statues and action figures. From a Batman Black and White statue, to several series of figures based on your Green Lantern and Superman Batman runs, to high-quality book ends with Hal Jordan and Sinestro facing off, it must be pretty cool to see your images in 3D.

EVS: Sure!

CBEtc: Do you own any of the merchandise yourself?

EVS: Most of it, of course. They're good enough to send things to me at DC Direct, if they are somewhat related to my work.

CBEtc: What did you do before you broke into the comics industry?

EVS: Lots of odd jobs. I worked as soon as I could, at 12 or 13, with paper routes. By the time I was 16 or 17, I was getting paid to draw and design, from caricature stands at the mall to neck tie designs, to illustrating children's books.  

CBEtc: There's a debate on who said this first, Mark Bagley or Cully Hamner, BUT... both have said to be successful as a comic book artist, you need to be two out of three things. Those three things are: a very nice guy; a really good artist; and a really fast artist. You could be a really nice guy and a really fast artist, but you don't really have to be that good. You could be a really good artist, and a very fast one, but you don't have to be that nice. Or you could be a really good guy and a good artist, but not be that fast. Which two do you think you fit the best?

EVS: Right now I'm a nice guy who draws well.  I'm trying to get faster so that I can be a jerk, though.

CBEtc: What do you like to listen to when you're working?

EVS: I like movies and television, especially old stuff.  I bought the entire run of WHAT'S MY LINE? on dvd, all 544 episodes, so I listen to those in the background while I draw.  I'm also becoming a fan of old Firing Line shows with William F. Buckley.  It's interesting to listen to social and political discussions that took place in the 1960's and 70's, and  realize how similar the talking points are now to then. 

CBEtc: What's your next project after FLASH: REBIRTH and BLACKEST NIGHT?

EVS: Can't say yet.  I have a few very nice options, but I'd really just like to focus on finishing REBIRTH successfully and in a timely fashion.

Okay, now is the time for "2099" portion of our interview. This is where we ask you 20 questions in 99 seconds. It's basically an "either/or" type of response, but you can answer whatever first pops into your head.

Interiors or Covers:  Interiors.

Who would you rather team up with - Hal and Barry or Halle Berry: I'd rather team up with Naomi Watts and King Kong against airplanes.

Late night or early day:  Late night.

Play with toy or keep in box:  Buy two!

Fly or drive:  Drive.

Red Lantern or Star Saphire: Red.

South Park or Simpsons: Neither.  Eh, classic Simpsons.

Cell phone or E-mail: Email.

Sleep in or make deadline: Make deadline, then sleep in.

Growing up in South Jersey, Eagles or Giants: Phillies.

For backgrounds - interiors or exteriors: Exteriors.

First print or trade paperback: Trade Paperback.

Harder to draw - Red Lanterns Vomiting or Flash Lightning:  Lightning.

Mac or PC:  Don't know! Whatever I can use.

Star Wars or Star Trek: Star Wars.

John or Paul: John.

Squeeze from the middle or at the end: Middle.

Lou Ferigno or Adam West:  Ferigno, I guess. 

Buffy or Vampirella: Vampi.

Locked in a room with Atrocitus or Nit-picking Fanboys: Lock both of them together!

ART CREDITS (chronological order with most recent listed first)
*Interior art unless otherwise specified

Blackest Night #1- (Designer, Variant Covers)
Flash: Rebirth #1-current
Nightwing #150 (Variant Cover)
Greatest Hits #1 (Variant Cover)
Superman / Batman #50 (Cover)
Justice League of America #20 
Justice League of America #17 (Cover)
Titans #1 (Variant Cover)
Countdown to Mystery #8 (Cover)
Countdown #28 
Green Lantern / Sinestro Corps: Secret Files #1 
Tales of the Sinestro Corps: Superman Prime #1 (Cover)
Tales of the Sinestro Corps: Cyborg-Superman #1 (Cover)
Green Lantern Sinestro Corps Special #1 
Flash: The Fastest Man Alive #9-11 (Covers)
The Programme #1 (Variant Cover)
52 Aftermath: The Four Horsemen #1-6 (Covers)
52: World War III #1-4 (Covers)
52 #39, 43
Nightwing #127 (Cover)
Wetworks #1 (Variant Cover)
Superman / Batman #28-30
Superman / Batman #27, 31 (Covers)
Claw the Unconquered #1-2 (Variant Covers)
Green Lantern #6, 14-16 (Covers)
Green Lantern #1, 4-5, 9, 25
Green Lantern Secret Files and Origins 2005
Green Lantern: Rebirth #1-6
Flash #212-214 (Covers)
Batman / Catwoman: Trail of the Gun #1-2
JSA #59-64 (Covers)
Common Grounds #2 
Aquaman #8-9 (Covers)
Hawkman #13 
Weapon X: The Draft - Wild Child #1 
Wolverine #179 
X-Men: Millennial Visions #2 
New X-Men #117-118, 123, 133
New X-Men #125, 128, 130-131, 134, 146 (Covers)
Flash: Iron Heights
Heroes Reborn: Remnants #1 (Script, Inks)
Austin Powers Special Edition
Young Justice Secret Files #1
Secret Origins 80-Page Giant #1 
Impulse #59-62, 64-75 (Covers)
Impulse #41, 50-58, 63
Flash 80-Page Giant #1 
Cyberfrog Vs. Creed #1 (Script, Pencils, Inks)
Cyberfrog #1-4 (Script, Pencils, Inks, Letters, Cover)
Vampirella Strikes #2 
Vampirella/Shadowhawk Creatures of the Night #1 (Inks)
Hall Of Heroes Presents #2, #0 (Script, Pencils, Inks, Letters, Cover)