Home > COMICS > [WWC] BILLY TAN AND MATT BANNING TAKE OVER ART ON 'NEW AVENGERS'
[WWC] BILLY TAN AND MATT BANNING TAKE OVER ART ON 'NEW AVENGERS'
Tan and new Marvel-exclusive inker Banning talk about their upcoming work on the series!
By Rachel Molino
Posted 6/29/2008
Announced at Wizard World Chicago, artist Billy Tan (Uncanny X-Men) and newly Marvel-exclusive inker Matt Banning (Superman/Batman) are teaming up to take over on Brian Bendis' New Avengers with issue #44. We tapped the twosome to hear their approach to fleshing out Marvel's mightiest team, who they may be drawing with things getting so Skrully, wrinkly chins and going green.
WIZARD: Do you like drawing Skrulls? How do you go about making their faces distinct from one another (in Skrull form)?
BILLY TAN: Skrulls are pretty easy to draw. For the most part, I gave them a generic skrully face with the exception of a few Skrull characters that play slightly more prominent roles.
What's your approach to drawing the different humans that Skrulls masquerade as? If a Skrull can be as good looking a human as he or she wants to be, does that make them all totally hot?
TAN: Well the trick is to stay true to the character whom the Skrulls masquerade as. That way you won't know who is a Skrull. Check out New Avengers #44 and you'll see what I mean. I guess the Skrull could be totally hot as long as they never ever change back to Skrull. Does that make them human then? Hmm... that's still kind of sick.
Can we expect more big, group fights? What's your approach to drawing them?
TAN: I'm almost certain that we would. It's Bendis' book that we are talking about after all. I haven't drawn one yet but when it comes, my approach is to draw one character at a time.
What character have you been most excited about bringing to life?
TAN: I was excited to get a second chance to draw Spidey. I didn't do him justice in Marvel Knights due to time constraints I had with the book. This time around I have more time to get a better feel of him.
What do you like about working with Brian?
TAN: He is simply a brilliant writer and a marvelous storyteller. I am truly excited every time I read his plot and can't wait for the next one to come. I love the fact that I am one of the first to know what's going to happen in the next issue.
What do you like about working with Matt Banning?
TAN: Aside from [the fact that] he's an excellent inker, one of the best around, it's nice to work with people you've known for a while.
How long will your run be? Is it indefinite?
TAN: I'm not sure. I definitely would like to stick around for a little while if my superiors permit.
What are you excited about or have been looking forward to most on this run?
TAN: I'm real excited about working with Brian on the new arc and take the New Avengers on their new journey. You never know what's around the corner waiting for them.
How is this different from drawing the X-Men? Do you take a similar approach?
TAN: Pretty much the same but hopefully better and more polished.
WIZARD: What are you doing differently between you and Billy, in terms of fleshing out the Avengers?
MATT BANNING: When I came onto the book Billy and I talked about incorporating some of the brushier feel to the artwork that he'd already started adopting with New Avengers #41. So with my first issue which is #44 I've been following his lead and coming with some new tricks to incorporate into the art as well. We're still playing with this direction and fine tuning it, so I think it'll be interesting what we finally end up with.
What characters have you been most excited to work with?
BANNING: Brian has stacked the book with so many great characters it's hard to pick, but I love his take on Luke Cage–I used to read Powerman & Iron Fist–and I'm as curious as the readers are as to how Clint Barton came back from the dead.
Do you like working with Skrulls?
BANNING: At first I was a little unsure as to whether I'd like them or not, but the way Billy's been drawing their expressions is just cool! There's something about those chins that I'm having a lot of fun with as well, call me strange!
What are some of the challenges of inking a title like this that's going to have a lot of big group fights?
BANNING: It's been an adjustment for me coming off a title like Superman/Batman where I'd have 5 panels a page and at most a figure or two in each panel but I've settled down into a groove now and it's just a matter of sitting down and doing it. Patience is the key.
Can you tell me anything about the most challenging panels you've worked on so far?
BANNING: I think the most challenging panels so far were a double page spread with 22 panels on it. This was a little intimidating at first just because of the amount of panels and it was one of the first pages I did for the book. I was still warming up but I believe in trial by fire, so all I could do was just dive in!
What's it like going exclusive?
BANNING: It's great! Going exclusive allows continuity to my work in terms of being able to plan with Marvel what's coming up because they know I'm going to be around and they want to place me on projects that are beneficial for the company and I. It also allows me to work instead of being on the phone looking for the next assignment. I also don't have to worry about certain business issues and can focus more on the work on my table.
What do you like about working with Billy?
BANNING: I've known Billy for a long time and he's just a stand up guy all round! On the professional side he's always hit his deadlines and gives me room in the artwork to contribute to the look of things which scratches my creative itch. On the personal side he's just one of the best natured guys in the biz!
