We decided to interview SPSM Story Card artist extraordinaire, Dean Kotz and now you can read all about him!
Be sure to check out Dean’s awesome work over at http://www.deankotz.com/ , follow him on IG at https://www.instagram.com/deankotz/ , and be sure to buy multiple copies of Warlord of Mars Attacks out now from Dynamite Entertainment.
On to the interview!!!
DUG: Tell us about your current projects.
DEAN: On the racks right now is Warlord of Mars Attacks with writer Jeff Parker for Dynamite. I’m a HUGE John Carter fan and Jeff came up with a really fun story tying the two properties together. Lots of widescreen action and alien destruction. In the works is Butcher of Paris for Dark Horse with writer Stephanie Phillips and colorist Jason Wordie. It’s a true crime/horror miniseries about real life serial killer Marcel Petiot in occupied Paris. Issue #1 will be out in December. I’m also drawing Gods and Gears for Alterna Comics. My pal Ryan Winn is writing and coloring the book. It’s an all ages adventure story about two boys dealing with time travel, jungle magic, and ancient aliens. And it’s on newsprint!
DUG: What was your process working on the story cards?
DEAN: Ben sent a spreadsheet breaking down the card titles, descriptions and game play. After I read each one, I would immediately do a quick sketch of the first image that popped in my head. I’d redraw it a few times to make sure the action was clear/easy to understand. Then, I’d redraw it tighter and focus on the comedic elements by adding little sight gags and humorous expressions. Once Ben approved the tight pencils, I’d go in and ink the drawing with markers and brush.
DUG: What is your favorite story card?
DEAN: I really like the simplicity of “Year One”. I think everyone has fun watching those bumbling first attempts at superheroics. And the old school masked burglar cracks me up.
DUG: Who are some of your artistic influences?
DEAN: Walter Simonson, Howard Chaykin, Jose Louis Garcia-Lopez, Robert Fawcett, and Bernie Krigstein.
DUG: What were some of the earliest comics that got you to start collecting?
DEAN: My first comics were hand-me-down ’70s horror comics from my older brother. Charlton titles like Creepy Things and Ghostly Haunts and EC reprints. I would buy whatever Marvel titles I could find at my local grocery store and drugstore, mostly Alpha Flight, X-Men and Star Wars. Eventually I found an old magazine shop that sold back issues and became obsessed with Roy Thomas and John Buscema’s Conan the Barbarian.
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Come back soon for the rest of the interview in Part 2!
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