Chatting with Joe Eisma
Welcome to a very special Why I love comics in which I get to talk with good friend Joe Eisma and enjoy what was definitely a fun interview. We talk about everything from Dummies Guide to Danger to Serpo and even cover his brand new We the People (pictured below) . So, let's jump right into the interview!
Eric: You ready for the most commonly asked question in any interview joe?
Joe: Absolutely. haha
Eric: How did your career in the comic industry start?
Joe: I answered a myspace bulletin Jason Burns posted in late 2007, when he was looking for artists. He offered me a tryout for A Dummy's Guide to Danger: Lost at Sea, and it went well enough that he and Viper offered me the gig. I've been drawing comics ever since!
Eric: As well as the start of a great friendship correct?
Joe: Indeed! Jason and I developed a strong working relationship, and eventually we became good buddies. I was even in his wedding earlier this year.
Eric: So is it safe to say you were a big comic book fan as a kid? Did you always have inspirations to become an artist?
Joe: I was a huge comic fan as a kid. I bought them off the rack before I even learned to read, just to look at the artwork. In elementary school, I drew on the back of worksheets and by age 12, I knew I wanted to draw comics for a living. It took me awhile to get there, though!
Eric: Any artists that you really look up to in the industry?
Joe: My earliest inspirations were John Byrne, Marc Silvestri and Alan Davis. These days I really admire Steve McNiven, Frank Cho, Joelle Jones, Becky Cloonan and David Lapham, among others.
Eric: Have you had the chance to meet any of the people you look up to at any cons?
Joe: A few here and there. Another of my favorite artists is part of the local Dallas scene here--Kristian Donaldson. He's a real cool dude and we've chatted over the years at conventions and creator get-togethers. Having him say some kind things about my art really put me on cloud nine.
Eric: So, going back to your first big break, what were you working on before hooking up with Jay and Viper?
Joe: I was working on several stories that for whatever reason, just weren't coming together. It was real fortuitous timing--Jason looking for artists; I had hit a wall with what I was working on and really needed something new to push me out of the rut I was in.
Eric: I t seems to me that you like working with guys named Jay by the way, as I believe the only other writer I've seen you work with is Jay Farber of Dynamo 5
Joe: Indeed--it is an odd coincidence! Jay Faerber was great to work with--I've only worked with him twice, but they were great experiences. I've been a fan of his since his Generation X days in the '90s. And. I actually broke the trend of working with 'J' writers this year!
Eric: Yeah, the big mysterious project which I assume you can't talk of yet?
Joe: Well, I can mention some tidbits. It's a story written by Nick Spencer, who recently scored a hit at Image with his book Existence 2.0. This story I'm working on with him is basically 'Runaways' meets 'Lost.' Beyond that, I don't want to spill anymore--but it's one of the most fun scripts I've ever drawn.
Eric: I love Runaways! I think I remember us having a discussion about the series once. Is that a book you could ever see yourself drawing?
Joe: I would love to! Runaways is one of my all time favorite series. Vaughan and Alphona really knocked it out of the park.
Eric: Agreed completely. So, when it came to Dummies Guide to Danger you were coming on to the project after another artist had done the first series. Was that intimidating at all?
Joe: Yeah, it really was. Ron had really created that entire world from the ground up, and it was my task to pick up where he left off. It was really intimidating, but overall, it was a lot of fun. Jason's script was just so out there that I was able to just let go and have fun with it!
Eric: Another one of Jay's scripts intrigued me as it seemed to be heavily researched. I'm speaking of course of Serpo. How was the process for that one?
Joe: The experience on Serpo was the polar opposite of Dummy. Jason was brought in to develop that one by the production company that owned the property, and he in turn brought me in to draw it. We were essentially hired guns, whereas with Dummy, we basically had free reign. There were a lot of contributions editorially from the producers, and of course, the story itself was more serious in tone, so I de-emphasized the humorous aspects of my work for that story. It was a great experience to follow up such a farcical story like Dummy with a sci-fi drama like Serpo.
Eric: I think the thing I've always enjoyed about Dummies was the fact that it was set very much in the real world but we have this dummie who may or may not be alive (which your art definitely shown through presenting). Did Jay's scripts ever hint about the truth regarding the character? Or, are you as in the dark as us as readers?
Joe: Honestly, I'm in the dark. I even talked to Jay about this last week at SDCC, but he just laughed at the question. For Lost at Sea, I just played it as Alan being nuts, and Bloomberg's voice being a figment of his imagination.
Eric: Yeah, Jay never gave me a straight answer either. We should just annoy him about it for ever and then maybe he'll tell us.
Joe: Yeah really!
Eric: So is there a type of book tone-wise or maybe genre-wise that you'd love to get your hands on as an artist?
Joe: My all time favorite comic is Excalibur--the series Marvel put out that was essentially the X-men abroad. I know that Captain Britain's most recent series was just cancelled, but if they ever bring it back, I would love to draw it one day. Beyond that, I want to do a noir book one day, and an all ages book. (I've got to have something that my son can read..haha)
Eric: I can see you on all of the above sir. But this week we have your big superhero book coming out: We the People which seems to be a possible ongoing. How excited are you to hear the reaction from people?
Joe: I'm very excited! This is my first foray into the realm of superhero comics (even though none of the characters have super-powers). Jay and I are very proud of the book, and it's got some of his best dialogue that I've read. We also have another Dummy's Guide alumnus along for the ride--colorist Giuseppe Pica, who really turned this into something special.
Eric: I have to hand it to Jay for a comparison, He's the James Robinson/BKV and your'e the Tony Harris here. They feel believable and real. It must have been a lot of fun working on the character designs and really making them come to life?
Joe: Thanks! It was a lot of fun designing the characters. Jason's favorite ended up being Adir--he even told me he wished he could have his jacket. Talia was fun to draw as well--since Serpo was such a predominantly male cast, it was nice to have a female lead in this one. And with Xavier, I got to bring back some of the exagerration in his expressions and body language that I had used in Dummy's Guide.
Eric: Adir was my favorite too, though Xander being the smartass really worked well. It's great seeing your style evolve over time
Joe: I appreciate it. As an artist, you hope your skills grow and not stagnate! Plus, I always try to change my style slightly with each new story I draw.
Eric: Which you can easily tell as you follow your career. Well as I follow it. So what are you enjoying comic-wise? Movie-wise? And TV-wise?
Joe: Comics I dig these days are the recently canceled Captain Britain and MI-13, Wolverine: First Class, X-men: Legacy, Captain America and Young Liars. TV, I'm digging True Blood, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Curb Your Enthusiasm. I don't get out to the movies too often (the joys of having an 11-month-old), but I did see the most recent Harry Potter film and really enjoyed it.
Eric: Very cool and if it's not putting you on the spot too much, who would you love to work with writer-wise?
Joe: Not at all! I'd love to work with Brian Wood, Matt Sturges, Chris Yost & Craig Kyle, Brian K. Vaughan and Garth Ennis, to name a few.
Eric: I'm sure you will one of these days bud. I can see you being put on Marvel's young gun list. Finally though, plug away Joe. Tell the readers what to pick up and when and what you have coming up :)
Joe: We The People is in stores on August 5th from Outlaw Entertainment, and then my contribution to Dynamo 5 #25 will be in stores in late September from Image comics. They're fun comics I hope people will check both of them out!
Eric Ratcliffe is a young writer/pop culture journalist/interviewer currently working on pitching a project named the Hunter chronicles. When not reading his weekly stack Eric can be found watching dvd's, playing on his 360 (gamertag: Zack Hunter) or just surfing online trying to find a scoop or two. Brand new to the Comic Related family, Eric is a fun new voice. Eric shops at TJ's Collectibles. Visit them on the web at www.tjcollect.com!
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