eS ool ae UN AC ues ‘ Gey eA MM MOR ean etn en Te Si“For the Celebration of Comics” Senos Reavers Since 1998 Jon B. Cooke Enow/CRETONDERANER “Top Sal Productions Pusu ‘atc Eaon ‘George Khoury ‘Soh Assoewre Eaton Christopher Irving ‘AssouatEorom/CueFCOMESPONDO Chris Knowles ASsoCATEEDTOR Steven Tice THAScRBER Greg Preston (A Ponte Proroonieren ovine Eo David A. Roach Fred Hembeck Michelle Nolan ‘Joo McCabe Tie Oana OBA Crass oo ‘Arlen Schumer eAMascor ‘Woody 30. King (se Tue Sone “Dodo” Dave Mathews ‘coves agvist Darwyn Cooke wurmtopsheltcomicom Esfor JonBCooketea com Publisher saraeDteliscuth net mi Book rst 80204 Jn Bake = ‘4 romero Sn ‘A missed friend & fellow Cet “Archaic Al Cereinly one af he sadder eventsin recent memory was the very sudden denise of ALAN MEWETSON, celebrate eat? ‘wit ofthe Skywald “Horror Mood” black-white magazine line ofthe 70s For years, CBAIhad been searching forthe talonted scribe (wo had holmed the unforgettable Psycho ‘and Nightmare scream-fstsn the hopes af covering those Detadicals published by So Brodsky and israel Waldman, so we| ‘were daighted when the affaba author made aur acquaintance KE Fecent via the Internet. Immediately the enthusiastic writer ‘greed to participate ina number af projects with Ye Ed, including partcipaion inthe forthcaming RetroHoure book, ‘SWAMPMEN: MUCK MONSTERS OF THE COMICS (wiere he ‘wa to be interviewed about his warkanthe'7Ds revival f that, ran daday swamp craature ofthe fybooks, The Heap). Al ‘as ago to help promote his fortheaming Headpress book for next issue, 25 well as bo partof a future Comic Book Artist {Classe section devoted to his Skywadcomies (whi, fr the later, the writer/editor wrote us along and fascinating essay) Suddenly, wil he and Yo Ed were finalizing these projects, Al suffered 9 massive heart attack in hi Ontario home, We extend Dut deopest condolence to ATs wife, Michal, and CBAIs now proparng a spacial momaril section devoted tothe man for ur June issue (Vol 2.4), Testimonials and memories from "Archaic" Als peos andfans a weleame. Rest wel, Mr Hewetson. You are missed Geo. Woodbridge (CBA was also distressed to hear ofthe death in Jenumry of one af Med magarine's most accomplished artists, th indomitable George Woodbridge, Not fr his highly ilutrative syle, ‘George began his comics eaaer inthe mids working for ‘Marve/tas on various war and Wester sips, Westem Publications oo Lasse, ond Gibeton on their Worl Around Us Saris, before joining EC. Publications in 1853, According to ‘Maria Reiieloachs Competely Maa, the art was given enré at ‘th satel magazine by his childhood frond (and Mad actor), Nick Meglin, George would eventually become an authority ‘an historical end mitary costumes, iustrating @ number of seminal books on tha subject Godspeed, Gaarga Woodbridgs While the wider word may merely not thet te acclaimed carton- isouthr was creator of Srek!, CBA readers no doubt recognize ‘Wiliam Stig a being ono ofthe most erosive artists evr gra ges of The Now Yorks the magazine —to which he contbuted to for nearly 75 yearsl —he is most closely associated. An astonish inal talented artist, Wiliam mastered vtually any medium he woulé ‘ured his atenton to, suchas te gag cartoon, sculpting his idiosyncratic psychoanaljtical “syriblc™ drawings [a genre he was arguably the single — albert briliant— practioner, and even ‘hhlden’s books. But Ye Ea al best remember the guy for his sublime ality o connect with kids Eternally child, Stoig once remarkee, “Ive aay cespised old people. got angry at my {athor when he bogan to show signs of ago. thought, "Dh, come ‘on, cut tout” He was 95 years young wien he ced in OctoberCOMIC BOOK Ye Ed’s Rant Herocs & Knowles Knows Aeon of Flux 6 Khoury’s Land of the Lost Punishing Fury 2 Comic Book Chit-Chat Sparky's Legacy: Gary Groth on The Complete Peanuts 11 CBA High Five: Howard Chaykin's Top Five Illustrators 18 Shameless Hype: Plugging Ploog’s Abadazab 10 Don McGregor Fiding Shotgun 20 Irving on the Inside Lanc’s Lady 22 Incoming! Letters 0 Comment to CBA 24 Fred Hembeck Dateline: @*17# 26 To Be Continued... What's coming & George Khoury bio 112 Jay Stephens Sketchbook 27 ‘The Jet Cat cartoonist’s work on Teen Titans, Nickelodeon & more Darwyn Cooke New Frontiers 34 From Batman Beyond to Catwoman to The New Frontier, the brilliant “neweomer” gives us a comprehensive look at his life Dave Stewart Awash in Color 44 The young comic-book colorist on his impressive accomplishments. Mark Chiarello Comics By Design 68 We launch “Pop-Ed Pages” by talking to DC’s editorial art director Comic Book Artist Classic 47 Little Archie Color Cover Gallery 48 My Adventures with Little Archie: Gary Brown's Overview 49 Bob Bolling An Adventurous Career 52 The Little Archie creator/artist'writer on life with the puny redhead Dexter Taylor Taylor-Made Comics 64 The “other” great Little Archie artist on his long comics career [COMIC BOOK ARTIST push 108s yearby Top Shot Productions PO. Box 282, Marea, GA S081-282USA Jon 2. Cooke Esto Chis Stars & Bret Wertoc, Publishers. Etoile: PO. Bax 20, 3706 Kingstown Roa, WestKngson, Aicze zac US 0-79-69 + Fa 0172-1267 ema JenBCooke@sol can, Send svbecrtan finde te Top She NOT the elton fica. Sngle save: S10 pusipnd (S12 Canads, SiS elsewhero} Socssue subseripons: S50 US Meda ath US Prsty Rate $6950 Cand fir Moi SHDAU A Mal sawhere Al characters © the esperve copy holes. A matoral © th eestor les ators rote. A abo mar © thot respective athe. 2004 Jon 5 Cooks Cover stknoniedgran: Allcharsctrs 290th especie copighthalde Ft ring. PRINTED IN CANADA.Comic Book Chit-Chat Comic Book Anists shameless hype, capsule reviews, news briefs, minvintervews & other ephemera of note = Mareh 200 S&S parhay’s gacy ROT rrritery Preys EN © By Jon B Coone/TrawsomeeD ey STEVEN Tice Comic Book Artist: Did you eed Pasnits aati? Gary Groth: | iI remember reading he stip in thes, when I as a id, bt have to ‘dit that int have any greater impact on ro than any numbar of othr sips. Las eosutory comic stig reader a fi. just read anything fom Andy Capp (uich| distinctly remambar odd) to Dick Tracy Peanuts have ‘tw adit Peanuts diet have any greater impact an ma than mos ofthe othr stip readin ‘tha newspaper. (EBA: In 2tospect do you remember them ‘perhaps bttor than Andy Capp? (Gary: Wel i’ hard s3, because ve r-road anus since and have como‘ appreciaat sore, | wa lata bloomer in regards to Peanut, [At same point, recognized Peanuts was great sti, butin th same way | recognized tat about ‘tain etips which raw were gros but which | lint ive, without having tam becoming significant pat of ny iff you rad the inter iow ick Marschall and Idd wih Charles chal, in 1987 though pushed in the inal issue of Noma, 1/22, Jan intr 3, which we're repeating inthe ist volume of The Complete Panis ye'l notice | don't now shit abou the stip Al ofthe ques tions l asked Schule ate generic, or based onthe flow ofthe =. conversation. dda 0 prepared and vii siceniy tw prepared sponte nencly bese — | wasn't familiar e > @ enough withthe sip Ithink added alt of follow-upin the interview where | ‘rod to pin him down con many ofthe answers he gave, but | wast asking hin specie questions aout the stip. wos realy onlyin the ‘Ms when | nay went back and stat re-reading them that gained what aca my more mature appreciation ofthe sp (have avery itiosyneratic and unsystematie kindof eiscovery proces. art even say why started t re-read the material it justhappened tobe something | wanted todo at tha tine and as ttured out twas a propitious ime {doit Butpior to that, was really very dletenish in my appreciation of Schulz CBA: Obvious, the srg had ‘mainstream appeol anditwas very igh merchandlsed and feensed. Were you wary because of is Gary: You nean prior tothe 90? 1 think hat was part off dontthink deliterately avoided Peanuts because of that but think there wasa kindof subcon- Fantagraphics co-publisher Gary Groth talks about The Complete Peanuts much because ofthat ery instream popular, |wasjust into vat considered moe racial work inlo underground comix and alternative mater. hed ago trough that period before | could come out oft and go backend appreciate ferent kins of work ike John Stanley's Lite Lol For instance CBA: Other genres you had given attention to, letssay? Gary: Yeah, usually older work think you hit the nll onthe head: There was period probably inthe 70s and 0s where | just did't pay ate: ‘ion to Peanuts; because it did not represent any kindof edge forme. ftwes such an establishment stip, sucha heavily rerchandisd stip. (BA: Now that you've obviously had a chance to fook back att with mare informed orappreci tie eyes, are you suprised that such a subtle sip, a sr that rely del wit the angst of being och, became so successful? Gary: Well ooking overt | can sees mass appeal. thnk there ore these anomalies, where tolovingitvery uu ABOVE: Sots cover sign fort fist volume Peanuts 2004 United Festa12 "WiL! nene CONES YON 1 WATE Kim ost arists aciove popularity im not sure ‘oul name anyone off tho top of my head besides Schulz tit ocasionly happens. Thinks fora few seconds [admir Nabokov’ sewuly charged novel Lifais an example. Evaryane knows wht Loita means. Why the hall dd tharbookbosk out? {©BA: Loits was perhaps, maybe olon with Poanuts, vory much dt its time. Ieame out then Playboy was gaining popular, the Kinsey Repor fon human sexuality vas released. Maybe oartof Peanuts’ success was tod to the baby boom? Gary Tas ight hey both may have been at the gt lace atthe ighttin. | quess thas rue of almost evrything. tall depends on where and ‘when you ae (©BA: You went trough a certain pried of ‘adicalsm io your it. Did you loo at perhaps (tick an example) the naming of [Snoopy bid end) Woodstock, with a vy oye? Gary: Wel, rota the tine. That would have been what, 697 No, | was bss ignorant in 1968, would have been 15 and about socal and polical welts id’ know sit from shinaa, "dont barely heard of Woodstock (€BA: You woront going trough a latent hippy taga? Gary: No. You krow in another year or two, bby 1700r'71, | became a baatadhipny. fauchiooy. (EBA: Then your compton sted to ako place? faughs) Gary: Ys, | remember having arguments with any pares ever growing my hair ang. Or rather, just topped cuting it laughs missed Woodstock, | wesw or three years behind the curva. | became anare of Vietnam it later than slot of people and party because | was abautto be dated! (CBA: You had a father the itary right? Gary: Right (CBA: Vhacis abou Pants that makes fart? Gary | cde tremendous amount of research ‘on Schulz andthe sip before | did my 1967 interview, 5, looking overt al twas the depth ‘and the rosonanco andtho pain, think that stuck me most focefly about the sip. | was continualy amazed at how Schulz was able to ‘rete this i's work that repeated a handful of themes, yet each ime he tackled them, they had the seme resonance they had had in he previous incarnations, or he would actualy add to itn some inexplicable way. (CBA: For instance, what thames ae you talking about? Gary: Wel, ejection, of couse (CBA: Chae Brown’ rejection by the tle redheaded gir younean? Gary: Ys, an tat kind of heartbreak pplos to just about everybody Its so universal is banal but Schulz was abet transform what could ‘easily have been a cliché ina lessor aris hands into someting tly profound. Also, Lucy's rejacton by Schroeder. The alisnation inthe Sti also resonated uriversel. Almost every body (except people | realy ear’ stand have fet ‘themselves this sense of ain, this los, ths alien- ation int coninaly throughout theives, ‘then a eran prods in their ives, Dvioushy ‘thse footings were important to Sparky and the memories of alienation and rejection stayed with hi his enti ie, an nt just about the lite re headed girl. very artist ean depict pai, but he was able to universal itso eloquent, and with such compeling and iconic characters, that he was able oie that razors edge of berg «great artist and being a commercial att. don't know ifthat answers the darned quoston | (CBA: [think does aughter How about stylistically? Was his minimalist sy artistic? Gary: How can you imagine the sip boing raw in any other way? That subtle, gestural spproach had to have something toda wth haw wal be communicate all of his themes. He was “something of pionoer in that oducive te ‘hata lot of peopl wont onto abs, (©BA: Bur Scie’ syle is very cifcut to replicas, isntit? Gary: Wel thats wht | hear fom any number of ets, ie lan Brunet or Chris War. They justcant get that samme assuma thats tu, because that ine epresentshissgnatue. Tiss ‘ue of every line by any suparativ artist. Tare are artists with extraordinary ines, and hen ‘ore are atts wth ater strengs, who dant have thar same quality. Buitisimpossibito replicate tet Schulzlne, because it ie hand iting comes auto his being, cut of who he is and what he's experienced. ls notjusta matter oltechnique; its amate of form and content faring a perfect hola. The lini just oxcuists, and why it exausit, and why ifs exquisitely appropiate, sone of those mytais ofa. ues that’s party wat makes the stip as good asitis, because you can dssectit You canlook atthatline unt youll over, butyou sil cant ‘it figure out what makes it so expressive. And thats tue of thnk every great cartons, ike Chis Ware, Jaime Hernandez, ete, Tatlin just so disnetve and expressive. {©BA: Now since The Complete Peanuts is starting fom Year Gre, you must have loked at the development of his style. Is there areical shin the eoly yrs? Gary Well inpression is that his sle achieved maturity pretty quick. mean, the very earl sips ae obviously very ferent from what itbecame| dd stdy the sip ret closely six years ago, when |interiewed Sparky [The Comics Journal #200, Dec. Mand | havent gone back recent and looked over the whol 50 year, but Ith is approach and hs line does vole over the entire course ofthe 5 years. In ‘he fst yer, he achieves what we really recognize a the syle of Peanuts prety quickly. ‘mean, you can see tin the irsttwo years, wich represents the fst book, andy the end ot volume one, all the characters are pretty recogizbla, with he possible exception of Snoopy, who's slang on al furs, But you an see Schule igurngit al ut, yng ta dete rine where he's going to go and how hes gong to evove as an aris, how hes going to depict ‘thse ids. The st yer ors, there’ a crud to TOP: Te very fre Peantscomie sti, fiom Oeabes 2, 190. aurtesy of Fansgrphis Peanuts £200 Usted Fate Syiate. [ABOVE The “Yether"of Char Brown presi «18 photogs, eure of Kom Phmpuon and Fantagraphce.is an “old- school’ type of guy, the kind who still believes we need heroes. Whether he’s talking about artist Alex Toth or Hal Jordan, the cartoonists passionate out he subject nd nowhere fit moxe evident han in his curent on-going DC Comics sits miniseries, The ew From, pi eng oe cri fh Juste League of America iter and dan by Oacwyn. Tere, who cut is conic took teeth on various Catwoman series over te last ow years, as inlened via tlophone on Api 24, 2008, and Daryn copy ete he nal rans Comic Book Artist: What ear were you ‘bom, Danuyn? Darwyn Cooke: 1:62 {©BA: So you do go back! bt people ‘think you're usta new, young hotshot onthe scene, right? Darwym: i’ funny somtimes wien people meetie. ry to explain tht min my second le, my second caree. BA: Wel guess wel learn tail here, Where are you orginally rom? Darwyn: Toronto, Canada. Bom andraised CBA: Wha ind of chlo dl you have? ‘id you vein the city tse? Darwym: Only wien | was avery small chil \We moved out into the suburbs when | was in rade one twas avery pic! North American childhood from that era a suburban home, Lalo had wo younger brothers BA: Any sisters? Darwryn: No, mucho ny mothers chagrin Laughs) (CBA: What dd your nom do? Darwyn: She was really bright lady whe ‘would workwhen she felt ie ita took care of ‘the house when she et eit So fortwo years shed be home mating unches nnd keping house keeping eveything ong, then she get bored and say, "Wel Im gcing to go gat jb.” Sie did varius thing: office manage, restau ‘work, watever she fel ke ding GBA: Shevias an empowered women? Darwryn: Yes say alist totaly except ‘orher tachment tomy father, laughs) BA: But ove wil do tha? Daruryn: Yes My father was abit of rascal Fd sayhe wes her weakness. (CBA: What ci ho do? Darwryn: fi other vas 2 constuction worker most of his ie, and ended up cunning the urion, AGE! ordan ow Foner usraon fo Tipe mega, 202 @2004 DC Cons. PABEE ram oe) Matin Burrow the Batman Bayord ste sequence: Marian Manhunter (rom NFL “Heres of The New Frontier: Caowoman by Dan Ceoke iene and Doc Areas AU 22000 DC Cones. KUU Snowboard Sit advraing tasoaon by Dany for KUU Snonboae [7 C0004 te respective copyigt bolder Kis ‘rm Bstman eyod by le Maratan snd Daryn 208 DC Camis PAGE SE Fam top) Para a Day ‘by Stvon Mana dota fhe Slam rea clr gu (0) C204 DC Conia Spider Man's Tangles Web 211 ‘hy We) cover G20 Mars Chaactrs. ne: Sena pel drawing (Ua rom Batman Bayon by Broce Timm and Darmya: Dana Tan tom Baman Beyond by Shana Gnas and Dorm. AM €2004 DC Comics ABOVE: Green Lantern fom The New Foner. S200 DC Comics OPPOSITE PAGE The Sulie Squad tam The New Foner. ©2004 OC Comes. Al nages courasy af Dama Cooke(©BAs Dit toy sty togthor? DDarwvyme: Yes My ater passed away ew years ago, BA: Is the pocalarspoliog of your fst name something you wore bor into? DDarwyme Yes. That was one of my fates hngs | quass. There’ absolutly no reason for this at al Ho nover would to mo, eta, whyhe named me “Daryn” Then —Ithnkit was my 21s hirtday — he nally told ma. My father had a hard tna, ik ao of quy’s fathrs, showing any omotin, bute sad, “Tinow a guy in high school who had tht name. | didn realy know i very wll, but | dd inow he was the nicest porson evar matin my lito. Sa the rama stuck with ma.” So thet's na deep mystery behind BA: Thats pro nico, tough DDarwyns Yea i's grat sa nama you definitly have to grow no ©BAs Wha did you taka 2 ribbing fort? Darwyne Yeah, wel you know, whon yout a, if thre’sanching der. ent about you (@BAs You and/ shar, bases te fact nat only do we share tho same last ‘nama wth th same spline, frst and lst names consstmty misspold, which can bo milly anoying. So wton some aris gt real pisod off whon | misspell hor names, go, “C'mon, dude! Goa take it easy My ‘nama is Jon Goako, ynaw?™ laughter) Darwyns In sousedt it et this point that dogs evan register on rma anymore BA: | guess! should ask for my readers ite ro lated, but! now were not a5 my paternal grandistor was leptinate and [etton the doorstep of ‘fami called the Cookes. Were tere any creative ncn. fons nether fai? Darwym: Not ely. Tho clsestny moter side was I got somo croatty from my grandfather — her father — who Inever met. Apparent, he had quite a degree of craatve aby ©BAs Were you into the toppings of American pop culture? Darwyn: dt, very much, In Canada in the'8s anyway, we had very Fite accesso American culture. This was before cable and everthing, sowe gotone American TV stato, from Bufo, which we coud pullin on, ‘tho aol As mator of fact th fret thing my mothar says [was cloay enthusiastic about as achilé was the Batman TV show, She says thatit int matter what was doing, her responsibilty was to etme in ron ofthat television at 7.00 on Tuesday and Thursday nights, no mater what! > Vaugite| She says | would tak to her for tuo ays the schedule gt seremed vp. aughter (©BA: So for 1968 and 67 you wee a june fr Batman, i ye pick up American comic books as well? Darwym: Yes, we got lot of American comics up here. Lea tof people, sup pose, as child aved comis, but got away fom ‘the around nine or 10. wast ntl was 13, uess, when was visting some relatives for 3 couple of weeks and | was bored one day and ended up buying @ comic book I had been vary intatetodn artwork and human figure take itn th car with me and read when Im waiting to pick up Bobs wife] Mariae aftr work. {©BA: Gia, youre ou of school and you hit he sirets What was the firststop? Bobs Oh those were the worst years of my life. | oul’ get ab, Nobody ‘Wanted my work, Boston was ul of art students, | needed money. My father wes dead and itwas ust my motes, my sister, end I couldnt get ajob at artwork, ade outa portfolio andl used to go into Boston as alten as | could and go around tothe agencies, but no luck, | would meet other people ‘om Vesper George doing the same thing. Heras anintresting story. This girl named Barbara who was in our class and was she sexy — and she didnt meanto be sexy. This was one of ‘th few tines that smebedy realy was sexy natural but she couldn raw ata, Her art work wasnt ven average, So, ren into a guy and we ware talking and it tus out she was the oly one inthe class who got ajo. {©BA: She proboby had the right connections. Bobs You, she probably knew somebody. Anyway, drove a cain Brockton, a 12-hour day and Im justa ki. From 7.00 nthe morsing until 70, al night Tha’ along tne remember walking home and be tired and An fel ke drain or working up samples. Those hours were toolong, but finally got job working forthe stata. was iggng ditches and sweeping seats — all kinds of street work — and we warked near the Phymouth Rock area tere my ancestors fs cam, an here | am picking up papers around iymouth Rock. But ddr t have to wok every day sot ‘would allow me a day each week ogo into Boston and look fra job ‘inal got ob drating fora warehouse insurance conpany. Being an arts | was prety good at rain and leterng, and they hed my samgles.So, got jb dating We'd itn this big, raft room and drat |i alight and thay iked me, The salary was good, but once a week, ‘woul go over the Boston Record-American at departnant and bg ten. | wanted to get onthe at staff and, ate th kd replaced lt, they hired ‘me because they were tied of me coming around. This gave mea job onthe ‘newspaper butat less money and worse hours — from 11 in the morning ‘ntl tight So, got to work th both shits the day sit and the night shift eared alot there abut commercial art ands the drawing, [as always running into guys wentto at school with and one day ‘meta quy named Caton Plummer He was looking at my stuff and he si, “You know, Hhnow a jb for you. just went for an interview witha guy ‘named George Shed he's doing a comic sip about the sea, an he oked at my work, bute said my work was too oose” Carton was avery good artis, but he aid work loose, So, he sai, “Here's his address, wy dont you ‘contact in?” So, ld | went over to se him And at that ine, | was interested in scuba and skinning, and | was doing some, so that wes good He kind of ied my work. I mean if you look a tno it was prety ba, ut anyhow, he hired me, He asked when | cul start Ithoughta couple of weeks, but he sid, see youcan get hee ina week, So, dd ‘We were working athis hore in Hingham [Massachusetts used to ‘rive to his house every day He ha tke a studio o a room there where we ‘worked on Marin Kee! He and hs wie and | would have story conferences, and we'd ak about story ideas andthe way we thought things should go, and | coud tel then he was having trouble with Post-Hall Syndicate This was oe of those sos that he salesmen actualy sod before Mt got gong They old a lot of papers Butthe strip wasnt ving up to expectaons and I could tet that. Days and weeks woud go bya things weren't going that good. o nally, we \wentinto se Bob Halln Boston, George and | wentin and he sad we otto do something. George hasbeen in Alana previously woking down, ‘thre with Ed Dodd [ark Tal and Eé was helping Georg onthe stip. ‘George had worked with Edo get Martin Kee! tated then he moved back {o Massachusets and hired me. Wel, the upshot of tis, Bob Hal said to setback to Anta and do what a Dod tls you todo. or yout out. TOP: EghLinle Ache covers drawn by Bob Blin. C2004 Archie Publications, ne be balNo Little Archie retrospective would be complete without a chat with the “other” great artist on that series, Dexter Taylor. Following creator Bob Bolling was no easy task, but Dexter made a superb impression. CBA interviewed the artist on June 22, 2002. Comic Book Artist: Win and where wore you born? Dexter Taylor: | as brn January 193, in Cana, Brent, Ontario (CBA: What about your pants? Dexter iy athor ad graduated fam the Massachusets Isat of Technology, hough he oul’ et ob at fist bute eventual found bin Canada, When Wold War To broke out was usta, andy mother’ want to stayin Cana, sce they both were Aneicans, soe West Pala 8 moved bac Massachusets dé alt of moving a i My father woul ge ajo ed that woul end soe get onthe and we'd move (CBA: Wen did ou discover you ad atl droning? Dexter itwasin fist grade. knee daving. met new kids and make fends, bt then ‘wo mav again so thnk sr f tured wad and spon more ine dain, | deur for anything {oot choel— tho schol nenspapers, the tom newspapers — Ii justdraw asmuchas | coul.! mean, s much as tey woud accept my ork. (CBA: In roving wp, what sort of cone books and cami sis dd you enjoy? Dexter: he, had great appreciation for Ash Gordonby Alex Raymon In Canad thoy ed the comic pages with King of th Royal Mounts, ke tat. ofcourse, | as abvay a Car Barks fan | dntinowif edi allo te Donal Duckbooks ea, ut | vas kd his stuf, And was a fan of Lit La by John Staley oa. {OBA Ate high schoo what art of waning rscookng di you have? Dexter: |wento the same school Bob Bling wet, Vesper Beare. sar sam concerned t did't help me tat much in cartooning. But what eal heed mein canoorng was when | got at Archie and | stared eating altos guys there. hough was good cartoonist before gtthe Jobat Arche btwn I got hee, fund peopl tee who were ven, very good (CBA: | sess working at Archie as on-theeb traning? Dexter: Yes, onthe wining thats ight CBA: Vesper George asin Boson? Deter: Thats ight tinkit wont ou of busines sortie in th ety 197s but at etme I wont it “ ws booming. Alte veterans were back rm Wari War Ti and going school on he Gi. = ‘od boy, ee thoy god! wasnt out tniontow Shanice tse DONO OLY} years aftr th war an wen saw Conducted @ Transcribed by some fhe work they were radu, f omaha tine cose ancy CYN YS LA XOWN used to periosially amaunce that only abou 10 porcant of all ABOVE: Recent photo of Deter Tyla taken by Gary Bown,z BUT ofthe people THOUGHT THANKS Dexter: | ould probs say it ‘who greduat- HI, GARY! YOU WERE FOR WRITING} was in 1985. | started doing work in sdgoieod ( IT WAS GREaT| GOING TO ABOUT ALL _/ Archies Joksbook, doing single intwartied \ AMEBTING SWRITE AZOUT\ OF US! age. thane at do But was You! ME AS A Super Duck Archies ue, ame to New Yorkand mat Bob White, Bob had gone to Vesper aorge,to, and thay had you sgn some= ‘hing thet allowed thom Ite schoo to withhold certain portion of your artwork that got graded in school And they withheld ‘lot of Bob's work because hh was proty god, evenin those days CBA: How cd you ‘moot Bab White? Dexter: [was ate placo in New York onco and thay mentioned the name Bob White [How many oople do you frou with he nama Bab White) | found out he went to Vesper Gaorge, she became e friend of mina. Bob was working at Archia atthe ima and, at one point, thera wes ob opanngto da work on anew comic book ealed Archie's Mechanics. Wel cid shnk| could get the jo, but Bob White old mato coma down andl di. | showed my work to [Archie itr] Hay Storton and ho tke tome fora whi. id think | had the job bt Bob Whta wert in and realy cd sling job on me, and | gotthe jb. | stared working and at ft, | think Hary though | couldn do anything Tight Butthoykopt me on Eventual, Invoto this try for Sypar Due, and ary was talking to ‘me aboutit nd ask, “Did you copy that from somewhoro?” | said, "Na." He sits vory good story” Iwas nator that. (@BA: Wha did you do on Archie's Mechanics? Dexter: did some of the atorng and pasto-ps, and tho coloring | put ‘tho book togother. Of cours, twas with the hop of tha edtor We had 2 spacial adtor on Archo' Mechanics who was from Popular Mechanies ‘and was hired r tat book. So, ha ddit now any mare about comic books than dd but we mudd through. Unfortunately they sent tio a cheap primer up in Hlyoko, Massachusots. The stuf camo back and tha loak of ‘the hook wasn' vary good. Ale, thore was alt oftyaa inthe beok and kids dontwanttowede trough al hose words BA: Did you coninue to work at Archi aor that? Dexter: Yes, ey decided to keep me on and lite by ile I got beter. Evarybody at Archie — and | man overytody-— helped ma. You montonod (ar il Vigode are. He was one of thosa who gave me hal. CBA: Bob Boling bad told me te same thing, When he fst started thee, ‘he was inexperienced and averaneptchod into show hi things. Dexter: Yes, infact Bob alrady ad experience working ona comic sip. ‘Marin Kee! wes put out by Post Hall Seat. The guy who was te head of Pos Hall was super salesman and got tino alt af nawspapers. Post Hall sent George Shedd and Bob down to work with Ed Dod of Mark Trail, Ho was shoving them howto writer a goed continuity comic stip and all butthere was a stowtall fect and too mary newspapers dogped it. {CBAs When you got out of schoo dit you decide you wanted todo work ‘ona comic stip or comic books? Dexter: 0h, cher one. Asa matter of fact i think | could do anything else, (©BAs So, hot was something you abveyswented to do? Dexter: 0h, loved cartooning since | was in ist rade twas usta {quostion of how good you wore. Lito ssid tho Arcio artists ike Goorgo Froase, Harry Lucey, Bob Montana and allthe est ofthe guys el helped me. ‘And it by lite | got better and beter. Bob Boling was aby hel tome, (CBA: ia else id you do at Archie during the early years? ‘TOP: From th coloction of Gary Brown. a Dextor Taylor ongial! Art ©2008 Daxtr Taylor Charactors ©2004 Arche Pb far dont i rhs ni oe 48. Caacrs C20 ch Picton, mg ABOVE RIGHT: SPORTS STAR! AND THANKS FOR BEING okabook was sling very well and they used ‘ohide my workin the idl ofthe book. And then, Hany tra ty Super Duck and he tikad it Ani dil Super Duck for awhile BAS Wen did you start working on Lia Archi? Do you remember vhon the first story was? Dexter: No, | dont remamber the st ‘ona. woul say ithad 1 be 185 0°57 when | first started doing wark for Lilo Archie As said, was strong on dots, £0 ‘wrote a story and Bob Boling helpad me. also panciaditand Bob White inkod (and whon | say, “Bob White ined,” I mean he also would correct ita log or arm wae rat, he would inktin correct, dd eno ortwo Lf chi tris le that andthe | caught on {©BA: Dil you ink your own stovos efter tat, oa thre ink yourpencis? Dexter No, not inthe bogining, kod inking my work bacauso, by that ‘ima had gottan better and | was ding sity goo ob {€BA: Wore you wrtng your itl Archie material str that? Dexter: Yes, ve alaays been ableto wrt, bt! iked penciling to. So thay lot mado both {@BA: Js hora ana tae comes easiar for your wring or drawing? Dexter: No, bocause sometimes you think of andes end you say “Hey, ‘his is areat” button you mito th sory and ifs nts arat | now when | have a good story and wien font I know tat much Sometimes it comas ot great and other times it doesnt. sive 100 percent on every story do Thats one ofthe things thet Bob Boing taught ma, He ssid ‘Whether you get five cents forit or $50 ra piece of art, alivays do your best Because you dont dot 2 WE'RE THE MUSIC a soneonaoksoisgonaiy | NF Greg RENOWN CYNS: n it fn crawloveryouarddos | Se *Re ty oe beter et any tat Krnle Jagan] butwhen you do your best work, youve ‘what you're doing and ove what 'm doing. CBA: Tel me about your wile ond fami. Dexter: | net Jackin 1955 and we got mated in 57 We had four childrenAuougt He Hyeraes. at Ne \" she inluses 5 trat recalls the es g \greale accel, 2S ‘ A oe ch artistic Mi create enttiusiasit 3 ; pubister i £ ihe Wihsera of the ry Gals. - yeruiewed U8 {editor (Tank was inte rt H Pe, wh ~ : + peep tiaueribet "> ° By) cleplione J Comic Book Artist: her ae you orginal fom Mark? ‘Mark Chiarello: | was bor and gra up in Freehold, New ‘Jetsey, nome of Bruce Springsteen... and proud oft (CBA: iho yar were you bom? ‘Marke: | vas boron Halowean in 1980 and was your absolutely average, suburban American ki. watched Batman {tha Adam West one) on TY, collctod bassball cards and Wacky Packs, ane slayed vith Gi, Joa end Hot Whats Were your parens creative? wo per My dad was an execu fr Foré Motor mom was a house. They abways looked atme a bocauso | warted obo an ast unt in the"Bs, sot ajob with Disney. Then al ofa sudden they understood the hole ais thin, EBA: Hat, to mute you got a paycheck? fauahtar] ‘Marks Prtty much, Wel America embraced Disney, because very Sunday night you'd watch The Wonderful Word of Disnoyon TY, 9 thoy finaly realized that mayb I actualy could make a ing at art BA: Do you have brothers ond sisters? ‘Mark Yos, nave two cldar brothers One surgcon and the cater works for Ford Motor Company. (CBA: Dit shy aver show any creatva inclinations? ‘Marke: Absoltoy oon fm tha onk creative perso inthe any, (CBA: Were you road 0 ot a aid?‘Marke No, no ral. now read to mks over ight and love it but my ‘aronsrally didnt read to me, Wo had ‘books around, btn nt realy BA: Did youvvatch alot of vlevsion? ‘Mare: | watched a ton oT. 14 been a ‘TV reak or much afm. watch very Fite now, bu find mys very nostalgic forthe shows we all watched hen We ‘wore Kids: The Munsters, Bata, The Brady Bunch F Troop BA: Ary parca afiy for The Tight Zone? ‘Marke: 0h, absolutely The Tight Zone, along withthe normal stu The Od Couple, The Bob Newhart shaw, Mary Tiler Moare CBA: Dirk Shadavs? ‘Marke: Dark Shadows vasa prety awful show T4come hame fom school and ty to wate i, but ‘teal kindof sucked, because all us kids wanted to see monsters. You might see someting cool on od Safin’ Night Galery, you might actualy soe a ‘monster. But on Dark Shadows, ou had tc wit way toa lang for it (CBA: You watched the New Yor Cy TV stavons? WPL, WOR and Metromedia? ‘Mire: Suto! ould wate the Yarkews on channel 1,the 430 movie on chanel 7, and The Mion Dol Movie on channa (CBA: When did you fst start raving? ‘Mare | quose | alvays have and was ays tho best aris th cass all through grade school and high school Then | gto college, | went io Pat insite and alla suddon Iwas just another au ust anothor art Iwas prety depressing (CBAs Did you araw for tho high schoo yearbook and school projects? ‘Marke: Oh yah, ll at tt. (©BA: Did you lke tho atonton? ‘Marie: No, {realy don ko obo onstago in any way or bo tha focus of anything. t embarrasses me tbe inthe public eyo. CBA: Butdo you gat some saistection cut of tha people you adnice and promote andar rionds wih, that they got tho attonion? ‘Mare | ove tho fact that so many of my finds aroin tha ‘comics business and thy'a bg suporsars and are oxremely popula Evory now and then, | got bit envious and | wish it wore ‘mo sometimes, but foe! Hk m doing an important ing being & “babndshe-scones” guy at DC. sa itelancas out (@BA: So do you have an incnaion to sie out on your oun or keep developing? vans : ea gn‘Marke: The worst pat of my eis the daly bit ghin my hea: Should 1 be on staff? Should | be a freelancer? Should | go back to drawing? | think Ti doing valuable work at and realy ike there. There are alt of great oople'm working wth, but go, are’ supposed tobe an ari How ‘cme m nat ding ry own stuf? There's just nt enough tine inthe doy to do both, so unfortunatly my artwork has had to take the backseat. (©BAs But you've sneaked some projets in here ard there ight? ‘Marie Forte frst ve yers at 0, I could do both. I woulé do freelance work onthe weekends; some covers, trading cards, the BaonarvHoudnboo, stu ike that, but just found itimpossible, lbacause have twins at hme; that takes ‘up quite abit of tne. There's only so ‘much you can do. twas har for me to comply tion my arto for few years, but really atthe point now of having to get back it Sonething inside me is pushing me back Som ‘wing io igure out how to cormitto sumo studi tine imate point where want to seeitcan get a project going that | nud lol chip away a, ovr the ‘course a ayearor we, Iwas areal ‘Marval fan when twes ki. Those are the characters fram my childhood that | justiove refused to read aC comic ok a i, Such we tha mentality that ‘Stan Lee foisted onus all. So about va years ago, put togather a projact, a crossover DC/Marva projec, Batman ght al of Spider-Man’ vilains You know Mysterio and the Lizard, the Fhino, Doe Ok Everybody was rely jazzed to doit at both OC and Marl, ‘ot then alt of tnsion betwoon OC and Marvel are, soit wes ‘ton the back burner frail (©BA: That was something you would wnt and draw? ‘Marks Joph Loo was going to writ forme. | wa gong to paiatit Hopeful, hen the climates aie better Between the two companies, can jump back t (CBA: Whar was heist comie you eal reading? ‘Marks It 382 Spider Man conic. | dort remember the number GMT Simply as 30 excuse w gine sare TV BA: A Sve Sho nfo Dit Sitar on? Ita and ot Marke Notes « fartxies, John Romita. It was eaten toward th end of omits un. Rata became schidhand hao, otto comics hardeora inthe earls, Ronita had come off th bao, Gi Kane dd a fow issues, and tron ‘though tho Ross vy) Andru years, a, CBA: You must KS have had some Se exposure "cones in the ‘ts hon you were growing right? Make Not hock of ‘let. Baman on TV was ‘a monstrous big thing for clus kids, and watching tho a ua Marvel cartons — Spider-Man, Fotasic Four, athe Marvel super heroes — those awful cartons wih the teat theme songs. Thats what Pants the seed, but din’ striking at and buying comic books ui {goin sight grade and hgh schoo, (©BA: But when you bought Topps Wacky Packs and things ike tha, od you key inate art? (Maric Oh the aroorkwas realy portant to me, bt ddthave he rea: izaon atthat point at someboy actualy panto ot dew these things | tow wi Wally Wood vas oan ofthe gars ‘wo di the Mars tacks cards anda that col Topps stuf But bought ital, woul buy product ‘rom Topps and nat realize Jack Davis was his aol artist wo was doing ist naw tere as some coo artist doing CBA: Did you read Mad mapazine? Marke Yes. remember reading a couple and being sruck by Mort Drucker’ artwork. He was one ofthe first atts whose name lade a mental not of EBA: Wire you apt active kid? Were you socal inthe neighborhood andi ateics? ‘Marke | playodbasoball rom do ‘il dusk inthe summer ike every the i, but as vith many comic book artists and ‘ites | spent most of my time my ‘oom éraning or reading Science-cton BAs IVasseonce-ftin big wis you? ‘Marke: Ys, though tlaison was the biggest thing th ‘mo. Columbo, Tha Nigh talker Hil trot Blus..aleison was evening! (CBA: So what were you caning you weren't that keyed with comics? ‘Marks (ot of sports su. | was a really bg bassbal fan Kep in mins, baseball as sil the National pasime wien | was a kd guys ike Wile ‘Mays and Hank Aaron Rabat Clariant, ard Tom Seavar war sil paying. But comics? No, not unl startod reading tham asa teonager. CBA: Were you an avid basebal card collector? ‘Mark: 0 God, yoah | sil collac thom ab Itwes areal kick for mo, in the ery 0s, wien | otto produce a setofmy oun basebal cards, The ‘Stars ofthe Negro Leaguo set. Thats ana of tha points 'm vary rcud of BA: Wes that or Ecipso? ‘Mark: Yes, that was Eciose can tellyou, they were a heck of ltof fun towark for... NOT! Vaughear, BA: Wore these painted potas or photographs? ‘Marke Thoy wor fully painted portraits ofthe old Nogo Loaqua players — Satchol Page, Josh Gibson, et. —a vary good buy of mine, Jack Moral, wrote the bios onthe back The set was realy well-ecsved Playboy ddan tile on them, ae well as The New Yor Timas. (©BAs Did you oi th project? ‘Marks Yos. twas absolutely my ida, hired Jack t do the wring and | patital together (@BA: Had you atvays recognized that, bore Jacki Robinson black ‘basobal payors wore not appreciated? What was your mative to do the sat? ‘Marks Jac vas up by th Basoball Hall of Fama, in upstate Naw Yor, in CCoapestown, Wa go a couplaoftinas a yer Everyone certainly knows Mickey Marie andJoe DiMaggio and Babe Ruth. But than whos his ou, Judy Johnson? Or who this guy, Cool Papa Bll? Iwas ust suprisod there ora guys in tho Hall of Fama realy did't know of very wall So researched te Negro Leagues, and i's emeined a topic of inerest for motors dey. BA: What mado you pick yp an Amezng Spidar Man comic book? ‘Mark: ‘high schol buy guy named Frank Aatonides, was hardcore DC fan. thnk. through hi, | ust stated picking up comics. Anothar fend, Mike was real into Mave, specically Spider-Man. Frank and | would slayshavo egumants about Marval vrsus DC. rfusod to lnk at TOPINSET: inthe Ms Mark sik scaoned > shit ith Bary Windsor Smite dint natin ony to Get dessin down bythe ati, 2004 BS. r i s : L E