Brandons's Column -01/10/03
Past Columns
12/11/02
11/27/02
Ben Templesmith has no idea who Styx is.
Granted, this fact has no bearing on his intelligence; he is poised to become one of the most complete visual storytellers the medium has ever seen, ala Dave McKean and Ashley Wood, as evidenced by his hauntingly amazing artwork in the runaway independent comic (and soon, movie!) sensation, 30 Days of Night.
It is, however, near impossible to imagine the prodigious Templesmith is unknowing of who, according to Adam Sandler in the movie Big Daddy, are the greatest rock group of all time. This impossibility is even harder to fathom, being as how his girlfriend’s name happens to be the same as a great Styx tune called Lorilie. “I don’t know who Styx is!” exclaimed the incredulous 24 year-old Australian native, not aware of the keen importance of what is undeniably one of modern American music’s most influential and important rock bands.
However, shortly thereafter, the bombshell just described was blown away by Templesmith’s announcement of this exclusive bit of comic gold: there is currently a sequel in the works to the pulse-pounding horror extravaganza, 30 Days of Night. “Steve Niles and I will be doing a six issue mini-series that will be out sometime next year,” revealed the artist during his recent appearance for ACTOR at Samurai Comics in Phoenix, Arizona. Asked why he felt there was more to tell about the events in Barrow, Alaska, here’s Ben: “It ends in a way that lends itself to finding out how several of the key characters and events pan out. Steve has a brilliant little follow up percolating in his head, lemme tell you. Plus, it means I get to do something for the coolest independent publisher out there, IDW. The story will pick up a little after the events in Barrow. Not directly after I think...but we'll see the ramifications of what that event had on several of the survivors, put it that way.”
For those of you that had a tough time tracking down the aforementioned three-issue mini-series 30 Days of Night, it’s an incredibly creepy horror story about vampires striking in Alaska just hours before the city would be without sun for 30 days.
One could order this splendid series in the limited-edition trade paperback, due out in January with a free autographed bookplate from Templesmith and writer Steve Niles here at www.samuraicomics.com, if one were so inclined...
Though Templesmith wasn’t at liberty to talk much about the plot of the sequel, he was candid about his enjoyment of co-creating the series with long-time comics scribe Steve Niles.
“Steve came up with the story,” he explains, “and I came up with all the character designs-Steve just chose the ones he liked. It was a lot of fun to illustrate such a complete collaboration. He writes it, then I draw it, then Steve goes back and reworks the script sometimes to better fit the art. Not al the time, but sometimes. Oh, and we discuss stuff all along the way. It's a very organic thing really.”
Mr. Templesmith is a new breed of artist-as opposed to the classic approach, which has consisted of a collaborative art team that can be 3 or 4 people, Ben himself is responsible for the entire artistic process, and is ridiculously proficient all media: acrylic and water painting, pencils, inks, textures, and colors. His favorite part of the entire creative process, as will be illustrated soon in Cal McDonald, a gritty crime-driven detective story penned by the aforementioned Mr. Niles, is the computer process in which he uses several programs (and tons of Photoshop) to texture and layer his art. Why the predilection for the computer stuff? And how does he make it look so damn lovely?
“How does an artist use a brush? It's not that easy to explain, same with computer work. That's actually about a 23 part question you know. Which I can't answer here really, and would change for every piece I do anyway!
Computers just give you a bit more flexibility, the chance to do some things you can't in the real world as such. They're just another tool though.”
As a member of the comics community, Templesmith has an excellent working knowledge of his peers, and cites mixed-media greats Ashley Wood and Dave McKean, his favorite artist, as a few of his influences. Templesmith made clear his love for McKean’s work, as he danced lustily around after the idea was suggested that he and a friend watch McKean’s hard-to-find short films. He then cemented his deep-rooted affection for the Sandman cover artist with a few flattering (read: PG-13, and remember, he’s got a girlfriend, fellas) words: “Dave McKean gives me an erection. I think it has something to do with the beard. Or it could be that he's also one of the industry's most mainstream artists...in the true sense, not the bastardized superhero term of 'mainstream'. Look at the sheer amount of work he has out there in the public eye.
And yes, his films were brilliant little pieces.”
A pretty rewarding career is what this fine young man has, yes? 30 Days of Night, Hellspawn, Cal McDonald, Fused, secret projects for big publishers...the guy is in demand. Oh, he’s aware of it too, but he stays humble and kind, and enjoys his job, as he should. “Well, not all the time,” argues Ben lightly. “The people I’ve met since starting work [have been the most rewarding experience to come out of working in comics]. Both on a professional and a personal level, have been absolutely amazing. That to me is the most rewarding aspect. To meet people who love the medium as much as I do, and think the same as I do too.”
How about getting to know the real man behind the soon-to-be superstar persona? Here’s Ben on:
The Crocidile Hunter: “[He’s annoying because] that's pretty much your only access point into what Australians are like over there really...I mean, it's him or Croc Dundee, eh? He's a moron and we're nothing like him really. I mean, what would it be like if all we knew about the US was from Steve Urkle? That would suck. That said, the Croc Hunter has made a ton of money. He's a smart guy. More power to him.”
What he wants his fans to know, and what he wants to achieve in comics: “Christ, I have fans?? All 4 of them need to know I value their readership! Hmm, as for the other bit... I think I'd like to eventually just work on something a little different...something a decade from now people might sit up and say ' hey, you know, that thing was something no one had done before. A tad ambitious I guess...I'll stick to just learning the ropes for now I think.”
Why he likes to flip everyone off: “Flipping off gets you many more facial expressions than a boring old happy snap-think about it. Smiling just because you're having your photo taken is a stupid and deceptive convention I think! They didn't do it in the old days you know. Think what we'd think of Lincoln if he was showing a big toothy grin instead of his more somber expression! The horror!”
What he does after his instant-coffee-laden 20 hour workdays: “I don’t know...I’m looking for a new hobby, I guess! I like traveling, spending time with loved ones, and just sleeping.
His first encounter with legendary underground cartoonist Jim Mahfood: “Jim Mahfood tried to kill me in LA! I’d just visited a comic shop after I went to meet with Sam Raimi’s guys and he almost ran over me and Steve Niles!”
On his future endeavors as a writer: “What people don’t know about me is that I’m top-schooled in English, so someday I would like to write my own stuff. Of course, I don’t get paid for that yet, so I’ll stick to the art for now.”
On working with ACTOR: Well, I was happy to help. Hope it made a little cash for them.
On Foster’s beer: “None of us drink that crap-you know that, right?”
All in all, Templesmith is proving to be an incredibly talented creator with an intensely bright future, and he’s also a great example of what’s right with comics and the people involved in creating them.
Now, if someone would only send him a copy of that Styx album...
Go look at these related spectacular websites for more:
www.templesmitharts.com (mmmm...mousepads and other cool stuff)
www.actorcomicfund.org (A Commitment To Our Roots is a great way to help retired comics creators make a living after comics and get forays into more paid comics work-find out how you can help)
www.steveniles.com (Check out what Steve’s got to say about these two’s next projects)
www.styxworld.com (Buy Ben a poster or something)
www.idwpublishing.com (30 Days of Night publishers churn out other cool stuff like Lurid)
www.spawn.com (Find out when the next issue of Hellspawn ships so you can order it from Samurai)
www.weapon6.com (It’s the guy who discovered Ben Templesmith! Read about the world-renouned graphic artist and former McFarlane art director Brent Ashe as he explains the difference between a “Hot Carl” and a “Cold Karl”. You might have to pay to find out about “Warm Karl”, though...)
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