Silver Surfer & The Vision

[chrismarker]

Have always loved both characters. Would love to see Adi's take on the Vision who I think has always been on of the most visually spectacular figures in all of the Marvel catalogue. I've seen some of Adi's takes on the Silver Surfer, and while I think there obviously great -- I don't feel like he's put a definitive touch on the character like he has with Iron Man.

[paintstain]

I have to say, I would love to see Adi render the Vision. One of my favorite characters when i was a kid. I think he's got a great sci-fi vibe that would be right up Adi's alley.

[chrismarker]

Can you imagine if Adi did a high-gloss cover of the Vision where it felt like a 3-d image coming out from the page? Who wouldn't get that?!

[Adi Granov]

I know next to nothing about the Vision. My knowledge of most American comics extends maybe the last 6 years. Aside from the stuff I read as a kid, Silver Surfer, Conan, Swamp Thing and Spiderman. It just wasn't the stuff that was easily accessible where I grew up.

[John Drake]

Well then you know he got ripped apart ;-)

Not to derail the topic, but what comics do you currently read? I thought Fell was awesome.

[Adi Granov]

Uh oh, I was just thinking about this and how I read more stuff now than I ever have. I've always been very specific about the quality of art in comics and would read only a few things that really caught my eye. But accross the board in the industry the level of art has just gone way, way up. I used to read mostly European stuff that is just not translated into English now and hence really hard for me to find and keep track of...

But to answer the question. I've recently really enjoyed the Fourty Niners (by Moore and Gene Ha), Daredevil (been reading that since Brian and Alex started) everything of the Authority recently-ish out (the Kev stuff, Human on the inside, and Revolutions), Ultimates, Supreme Power, Ex-Machina (always the first comic I read when I bring the pile home), Runaways, Desolation Jones... I also enjoyed Fell. I loved the Ultimate Fantastic Four Annual that just came out (I am a big Jae Lee fan and I love the Inhumans ultimate or otherwise). Oh, I really liked Justice #1 as well. Damn, so many titles... I am sure I am forgetting something too. Oh yeah, I love the Walking Dead but I buy that in trades since it seems to read much better that way.

[Brandon191]

Adi, did you read Batman: Jekyll & Hyde? It was written by Paul Jenkins and Jae Lee did a couple of issues along with Sean Phillips. I thought it was pretty good.

[John Drake]

Brandon: I read the first issue of that one, and though the art was great, I thought the story was kinda weak.

Adi: I never would've thought of you as a Runaways reader, hehe. I've been meaning to get Ex Machina after reading the first trade, but haven't gotten to it yet. Tony Harris is perfect for the title, and well BKV is just great. D. Jones is damn good too! Oh and anything by Ethan Van Sciver.

[Adi Granov]

Didn't read Jekyll & Hyde. Really like Jenkins too so I should check that out.

John, I really like Alphona's art a whole lot. I just finished reading the arch with the other artist and I have to say it did nothing but confuse me. But I have to say, while I really like BKV, especially on Ex Machina, I read Runaways mostly because of Alphona.

Oh, another title I've started picking up because of the art is Silent Dragon. Leinil Yu is awesome. The cover to #2 is some of the finest illustration I've seen in a very long time.

[John Drake]

You're right about Runaways, only Alphona can make it work. But I did prefer his style in the first Runaways volume, than the more angular one he's taken now. They're both cool though.

Leinil Yu is perfect for Silent Dragon and similar projects, don't know why they're using him on Hulk/Wolverine.

Adi, after Iron Man are you planning on working on a mini or an ongoing? I think your style works great with creepy stuff (apart from how it obviously works with tech stuff), like the scene with the Extremis infection. Seeing you work on a creator owned horror book with your imagination just let loose would be awesome.

[chrismarker]

Adi, I swear I'm not John! John, in case you didn't notice, I've been pitching horror for awhile to Adi! (LOL)!

[Adi Granov]

John, after IM I will do limited run projects, so either minis or oneshots, etc. I am not suitable for an ongoing for obvious reasons. IM was just a very special case. I am exclussive with Marvel so anything I do in the next few years will be for them, so no creator owned stuff yet.

I do agree that my style works rather well with horror imagery, but I have to say that drawing it makes me uneasy. I have drawn some stuff in the past that I made so horrible to look at I had to throw it away. There is a scene in Iron Man #2 where there is a woman with her face half burned off (on the TV news screen) that really didn't sit well with me and I dislike looking at it even now...

[John Drake]

Yeah, I guess that's when you know it's good horror. That scene in particular was pretty striking image, but in my opinion you pulled it off really well. It's not something we would like to see in real life for obvious reasons, but yet it works in this medium.

Are you interested in any special Marvel characters to work on? And hey, for what it's worth, I've always liked the concept of Iron Man, but with you on board it's the first time I've actually picked up an Iron Man comic and enjoyed the hell out of it. It's the kind of work that maybe old school fans aren't all digging right now, but it'll be something to remember in the future, trust me.

[chrismarker]

I know next to nothing about the Vision. My knowledge of most American comics extends maybe the last 6 years. Aside from the stuff I read as a kid, Silver Surfer, Conan, Swamp Thing and Spiderman. It just wasn't the stuff that was easily accessible where I grew up.


Where did you grow up, and study, if you don't mind my asking? I can't remember the exact date of the Vision's heyday (late 70's, early 80's?):I remember this classic episode with Ultron, where he captured the Avengers, who had a great line-up back then, with an on-going rivalry between Vision and Wonderman (there was a classic fight episode between them). But anyway, in the Ultron episode, the story line took a 180 degree turn, when Ultron discovered that the Vision and the Scarlett Witch were in love.

It struck me as really profound because the Vision is an android ("synthesoid"), and I rememeber being a kid at the time thinking, how could a robot fall in love? What did that mean love was? I didn't understand it but it intrigued me, even though I gues the idea can be traced back to Pygmalion.

[Adi Granov]

John, I like a lot of Marvel characters and depending on the angle a writer takes I'd like to work on quite a few. It's actually easier to pinpoint the kinda stuff I don't think my work would fit with...

But I have to admit, I would love to work on the Inhumans at some point, Black Bolt and Medusa have a special place in my heart. Silver Surfer too, but I kinda think that he works better as a supporting character rather than a leading one.

Chris, I was born and grew up in Sarajevo, Bosnia. I went to art school there and in Croatia. I also went to art school in Seattle after I moved to the US.

[John Drake]

I kinda agree about Silver Surfer. He worked great in the first Galactus story. But, there's always the chance of a writer with a great take on him that could make him quite interesting as a lead character. We'll see how JMS's prestige series turns out.

And I think the Inhumans are due for a new series ;)

[chrismarker]

[QUOTE=Adi Granov]John, I like a lot of Marvel characters and depending on the angle a writer takes I'd like to work on quite a few. It's actually easier to pinpoint the kinda stuff I don't think my work would fit with...

But I have to admit, I would love to work on the Inhumans at some point, Black Bolt and Medusa have a special place in my heart. Silver Surfer too, but I kinda think that he works better as a supporting character rather than a leading one.

Adi -- Black Bolt! -- man, if ever a character was made for you! Hey, Why do you think Silver Surfer works better as a supporting character? Is it that he's too powerful and that limits what stories you can tell? I kind of feel that his powers and the tragedy he's made to bear makes him too theatrical, so I would love to see a reworking of him; something "gritty and textured"!

Wow, you grew up in Bosina? So is English your second, third language? Man, that's impressive.

[paintstain]

Adi- I would love to see you work on an Inhumans piece. I think I've said before that your Inhumans covers are some of my favorites. Very fluid, active and beautiful.

Others on my Granov wish list:
- I'd love to see a UFF cover
- Deathlok
- X-Men, of course; plenty of sci-fi there to mine;
- Black Widow
- Captain America
- The Great Machine from Ex Machina
- Green Goblin
- Galactus
- Tony the Tiger

[Brain Warp]

I am exclussive with Marvel so anything I do in the next few years will be for them, so no creator owned stuff yet.


That's a bummer. I'd love to see more Necrowar. (maybe Marvel would pick it up) That was some stellar imagery, and really imaginative stuff. I thought a ton of your art was ripped off by The Chronicles of Riddick. I would sue.

Not so lucky was Universal Studios, which in 1996 was forced to edit the thriller 12 Monkeys to eliminate a scene that resembled a pencil drawing by architect Lebbeus Woods.

6th paragraph down.

http://www.forbes.com/business/global/2004/1018/019.html (http://www.forbes.com/business/global/2004/1018/019.html)

Yes, and BTW I too would like to see you draw - The Great Machine from Ex Machina, and Black Bolt. I loved your inhumans covers run.

[Mike Haseloff]

Adi, did you read Batman: Jekyll & Hyde? It was written by Paul Jenkins and Jae Lee did a couple of issues along with Sean Phillips. I thought it was pretty good.I've only gotten Lee's issues (the first three), and they're superb!