Troy Boyle
11/18/2007

WHAT IS YOUR BACKGROUND? HOW DID YOU GET INTO PENCILING?
I have extensive classical training in painting, drawing and design. I attended Transylvania University where I took instruction from world-renowned painter, Jack Girard. In addition, I hold a degree in graphic design and commercial illustration from Gateway College. All the education and training aside, however, I’ve always been able to draw. Call it a gift or a curse.

HOW ABOUT YOUR INFLUENCES?, WHO HAS HAD THE MOST IMPACT ON YOUR WORK? WHY IS THAT? Like a lot of artists, I’m influenced by everything around me. Those artists who’ve inspired me the most would probably be Frank Frazetta, Bernie Wrightson, John Buscema, and the Golden Age masters like Alex Raymond and Wally Wood.

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST MAJOR PROJECT AND WHAT ARE YOUR REMEMBRANCES ABOUT THAT PROJECT?
It seems like such a long time ago, now, but my first major project was “Nuance,” an anthology comic self-published by Tyim Courts in Cincinnati, Ohio. When I see that stuff I cringe, but hopefully, you can detect a glimmer of professionalism.

WHAT WAS THE FAVORITE PROJECT THAT YOU WORKED ON?
I’d have to say The Return of Happy the Clown, from Caliber Press. Picking up where David Mack left off, I brought more of a sense of realism and weight to the character.

IF YOU HAD TO BE LABELED WITH ONLY ONE PROJECT YOU WORKED ON, WHICH WOULD IT BE?
I hope that the project I am most associated with is still to come. Otherwise, shouldn’t I stop now?

YOUR DREAM PROJECT WOULD BE?
To adapt the classics of Science Fiction into comics. Clarke, Asimov, Heinlein, Dick, Farmer and Silverberg…just so many great stories – and virtually none of them have been made into comics!

WHAT ADVICE WOULD GIVE YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE JUST STARTING OUT? ANY TIPS FOR THE UP AND COMERS?
Just keep doing it. You will eventually get published…even if you never make a dime.

FAVORITES

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE ANIMATED MOVIES AND/OR TV SERIES?
Even though I’m not much into anime, I loved Akira. Iron Giant was awesome too.

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE LIVE ACTION MOVIES?
Wow, so many. 2001, The Andromeda Strain, Phase IV. I’m into what they used to call HARD Science Fiction.

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE TV SERIES?
Star Trek TOS and Heroes. That’s pretty much it. I don’t watch a lot of TV.

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE BOOKS?
I love Sci-Fi from the 50s through the early 80s. Name an author. Zelazny, Harrison, Asimov, Clarke, Heinlein, Aldiss, Poul Anderson, CJ Cherryh, Marion Zimmer Bradley they’re all awesome.

WHAT ARE YOUR ALL TIME FAVORITE COMICS?
Again, I was always drawn to the older style of storytelling. My uncle had a Phantom collection. I read every one like it was church.

HOW ABOUT THE CURRENT SET OF COMICS - ANY FAVORITES?
There are very few realists out there but I like Erik Larsen’s work and also Brian Denham.

THE COMIC INDUSTRY

WHAT ABOUT COMICS, OR THE COMICS INDUSTRY DO YOU NOT LIKE, OR DISAGREE WITH? WHY?
Oh, like everyone else, I miss the days when you could buy a comic for a quarter at every gas station and drugstore in America. Distribution has destroyed the industry.

ARE THERE THINGS IN COMICS TODAY THAT FEEL ARE MISSING? A GENRE, A STYLE, ANYTHING?
Realism. I want light, shadow, anatomy and perspective to be accurate. As a foundational springboard, that is the way to tell a compelling story. Neal Adams and Jim Aparo told some of the best stories ever seen in comics. We need that level of knowledge back. Not just what’s cool. Do I sound like a fogey?

WE AT KOMIKWERKS DIG SUPERHEROES JUST FINE, BUT WE ALSO FEEL THAT THERE IS ROOM FOR MORE NON-SUPERHERO GENRE COMICS. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT? WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE AND WHAT CAN BE DONE TO GROW READERSHIP FOR THAT GENRE?
Any story that can be told in a visual medium can be told in comics. I disagree with the notion that only some stories should be told in this medium but not that medium. I’m all for de-regulation.

NAME A COMIC CREATOR OR TWO THAT HAS WORKED IN THE INDUSTRY FOR AWHILE THAT YOU THINK SHOULD BE MORE WELL KNOWN.
Who but historians and dealers knows Alex Raymond anymore? Raymond is foundational. His Flash Gordon compositions are Art with a capital “A.”

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THE CURRENT POPULARITY OF LIVE ACTION MOVIES BASED ON COMICS?
Like any other endeavor, some of them are good and some of them suck. I’m waiting for the great leap forward on comic movies. We need one to come along that’s not just eye candy, but that has a compelling story like Citizen Kane or the Godfather.

DIGITAL AGE

THE DIGITAL AGE IS CHANGING THE WAY COMICS ARE MADE AND DISTRIBUTED FROM SALES ON AMAZON TO PRINT ON DEMAND TO CREATORS BEING ABLE TO PUBLISH AND COMMUNE ONLINE. DO YOU SEE THAT AFFECTING YOUR WORK?
Yeah. Definitely. It means people are going to see my work! That’s why we do this: to communicate. I think it’s wonderful.

AS THE INTERNET CONTINUES TO BECOME A STRONG DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM FOR INDEPENDENT ARTISTS, DO YOU THINK THAT WILL OPEN UP THE DOORS TO NEW TYPES OF COMICS?
The only problem with the Internet as a delivery medium is that no one wants to pay for it.

DO YOU FEEL THAT THERE ARE NOW TWO TRIBES OF COMIC BOOK CREATORS; THOSE WHO EMBRACE DIGITAL CREATION AND DISTRIBUTION, AND THOSE THAT DON’T IN MUCH THE SAME WAY MUSIC LISTENERS RUSH TO DOWNLOAD TO A TUNE OR INSIST ON PURCHASING A DISC? WHY?
Sure, there are always going to be Luddites but digital production is just another tool. The paint and canvas don’t make art by themselves and neither do computers.

RIGHT NOW DIGITAL COMICS OFFER MORE DIVERSITY THAN PRINT COMICS. DO YOU THINK THIS IS BECAUSE THEY DON’T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE BOTTOM LINE THE SAME WAY ART FILMS AREN’T MADE FOR THE MASSES?
It costs 2-3,000 to print your own comic (black and white), or you can upload a color comic with any content you want for free. You do the math.

DO YOU THINK THAT THE BIG COMPANIES WILL PUSH INTO THE DIGITAL WORLD MORE?
Not unless a better model for income can be found for the Internet.

MOST AMERICAN READERS ARE INTO COMICS FOR COLLECTING AND NEED TO TOUCH A COMIC BOOK TO ENJOY IT. HOWEVER A SUCCESSFUL ONLINE COMIC CAN HAVE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF READERS. IS THE FACT THAT ONE IS FOR SALE GIVE IT MORE JUSTIFICATION AS BEING SUCCESSFUL?
No, it doesn’t make the comic more successful but artists have to pay the bills. Do we want all of our artists to have day jobs and create art for free? I think that the quality of work produced will inevitably suffer.

WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE PERFECT MARRIAGE BETWEEN PRINT AND DIGITAL COMICS?
Pay sites where you download the comic for 3.00, or read it once for .99.

QUICK HITS...

DO YOU LIKE YOUR PEANUT BUTTER SMOOTH OR CRUNCHY?
Cruncy.

ARE YOU AN AMERICAN IDOL WATCHER OR NOT?
Guilty.

DO YOU REGULARLY READ ONLINE COMICS?
If I run into one.

DO YOU READ THE COMIC STRIPS IN THE NEWSPAPERS?
Not in a long time, I’m afraid.

LITTLE YELLOW BAT-SYMBOL OR NO LITTLE YELLOW BAT SYMBOL?
I like the BLACK bat symbol…

THING YOU’D MOST LIKE TO SAY TO STAN LEE?
Save this industry before it’s too late.

PLEASE TELL US ABOUT YOUR UPCOMING PROJECTS, AND SHAMELESSLY PLUG YOURSELF AND YOUR FRIENDS...
Watch for my contributions to Negative Burn…and look out for the Director’s Cut of YOUNG DRACULA.

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