ART BY SEARS: BART SEARS TALKS SABRETOOTH

[MattBrady]

He’s crashed Wolverine’s party on numerous occasions, so in a way, it only makes sense that Sabretooth gets his own limited series in October, when Marvel is celebrating Wolverine’s 30th anniversary. The five-issue series is written by Daniel Way, and illustrated by Bart (Captain America and Falcon) Sears.

The story revolves around, well, Sabretooth, obviously, who’s suspected of murdering an entire island full of people. Like virtually all career criminals, Sabretooth claims innocence, but that really doesn’t matter to the US military who’ve been ordered to bring him down once and for all. Issues #1 and #2 ship in October.

We caught up with the artist to talk about his involvement and approach on the project.

Newsarama: Let’s start with the obvious – how’d you get the gig? Were you sought out specifically for this project, or were you looking to move on from Cap/Falcon?

Bart Sears: Cap/ Falcon was always only a four issue thing... initially, they asked me to stay longer, thru #6 or #7, for some crossover thing or something, but then they wanted me to do a Hulk project with Peter David, which they stalled for some reason even before I finished Cap. Then they offered me Sabretooth. The revived Hulk project then went to Lee Weeks, and here I am.

NRAMA: From the outset, it seems that moving from something like Cap/Falcon to Sabretooth would mean that you could let yourself go a little, given the character’s nature. Looking at the art though, it seems/feels that you’re a little more restrained in your style. Was that your intent from the outset?

BS: I always try to approach each project based on what I feel the material needs. Dan's story was tightly constructed, and the script was pretty evenly structured. At first, I wasn't sure how to approach it - almost all the pages being 5-6 panels tends to bore me, but at the same time his writing was good, and the pacing made a lot of sense to me, so I didn't feel the need to move panels around and tinker with the pacing to make the story more exciting... and he had plenty of big shots in the right places... as I said, it was all already there. I hit on the idea to then keep all of the pages layouts exactly the same, dropping a panel as needed, or adding a standard inset panel when necessary. I think it works pretty well.

NRAMA: It certainly gives the series a distinctive look. What, artistically, were you looking to express by their use?

BS: The identical horizontal panels were my way to capture the feel of the story Dan wrote. They force the reader to view each panel, and challenge the artist - that would be me - to put all of the energy and excitement within a structured border, all the while retaining the readers interest…hopefully.

They also create a very steady pace to the story, a kind of beat that the reader becomes used to, and, when broken, like with a large panel or a splash, causes the reader to take more notice. That sounds lame... maybe a better way to describe it is like a drum roll, broken up with the crash of the cymbal. Hmmm…can't seem to express it correctly in words, but I think it’s there in the art.

NRAMA: How long does it take you to finish a page?

BS: Each page is different. I'm pretty fast normally, but outside distractions, kids, life in general, always trip me up. A page a day is a comfortable rate.

NRAMA: Speaking of your overall art approach, what are the keys, artistically to drawing Sabretooth? How do you draw it so readers come away with the feeling that he’s one bad ass mofo even when he’s standing still?

BS: Sabretooth is always ready to strike... even when he's lounging, the tilt of his head, or the placement of his feet, even the leer on his face, needs to scream "READY TO POUNCE!" He's a harsh, craggy type, long ropey muscle, yet has a sleekness to him, a real understated grace is evident in every drawing...

NRAMA: Looking at your imagery of Sabretooth specifically here – while he does look ready to pounce, he’s also got what’s become one of your stylistic trademarks – prominent musculature. When you draw, do you go from anatomy, or more in overall form and flow of the character and action, with anatomy, in some cases, being secondary?

BS: It all starts with structure, the underlying basic shapes that make up the figure, or anything you draw, for that matter. Form in space... There's a basic understanding of musculature over that, then my own, twisted form of heroic musculature that's developed in my work over the years... Then all of that must flow in motion, create the feeling of motion. Flow, everything must flow.

NRAMA: Well, speaking of heroic musculature, how much us too much?

BS: Interesting question... I hear tell most of my critics speak of my "overblown musculatures..." For me, depends on the character, more importantly, how I see that character. I'm not from the smooth, realistic school of comic art... I'm more of a meat and potatoes comic kind of guy. Heroes, to me at least, are bigger than life. Not me in spandex... not even Arnold in spandex. Bigger than life. That's what I draw. Maybe it's not what you'd see, if they were real, but how you'd remember them.

NRAMA: Moving away from the character for a moment, what’s the tone of the story, and how are you helping to express it in the art? A lot of the creepiness seems to be coming from the color, but how do you draw in a manner that sets the reader on edge a little, and give the feeling of a thriller rather than flat-out action-adventure?

BS: This is a dark, disturbing story, with a pretty rough ending. I'm glad I chose the consistent, simple layout for telling it. The sameness of the panels seems to create a safe, comfy feeling, which is constantly shattered by what's happening inside. The story is so powerful that bizarre, artsy page layouts would have detracted from the power of the story itself. I think the unchanging page layouts become kind of freaky on there own, by issue #4.

NRAMA: Did Daniel toss anything at you that was tougher than you thought it would be?

BS: No. I clicked with his writing style. I’d love to work with him again.

NRAMA: Well, conversely then, was there anything for you that was like falling off a bicycle?

BS: No. I try to approach each project differently... with a new style, new storytelling devices, whatever. I need to keep it fresh so I don't shut down, or lose my mind. On the other hand, I prefer long term projects, so that the characters become very familiar, and can then concentrate on other aspects of the art.

NRAMA: Speaking of long term projects, Sabretooth is five issues. Anything long term coming after that?

BS: We'll see... there are plenty of irons in the fire.

[AllAboutMe]

Bart Sears? Ugh. I was so glad when it was announced he was no longer doing Cap and Falcon. I don't know what the hell he was trying to pull off there, but it failed miserably.

[Tom Daylight]

The art looks great, except I'd forgotten Sabretooth ever even had a costume... and to be honest, it just looks silly...

[Monsterx7]

Bart is God!!! ( not really but i've been a fan of his for a long time and I just love his work) i'll buy the mini.

[IanZL]

Originally posted by Fetsur
The art looks great, except I'd forgotten Sabretooth ever even had a costume... and to be honest, it just looks silly...

I'm not a huge fan of it but I think it works better for him than Wolverine's does on him.

Sabretooth is crazy, I could totally see him throwing on his jumpsuit if he is just wandering around Canada for a week or something. If he is doing a job, or living it up easy he would wear his civies, but every-so-often he should break out the costume.

[andy smith]

The work looks great once again! I expect no less from Bart, he always delivers.
Combined with Mark Pennington's inks and Mike Atiyeh's colors this book looks great!

[Darkhawk]

The art does look good.
I remember Sears used to have that drawing piece in Wizard years ago

Other than Hulk, maybe he could do some Cable & Deadpool.

I hope weapon x is touched on a little in the sabretooth book.

[double_out]

"Maybe it's not what you'd see, if they were real, but how you'd remember them." Great quote.

I read the Cap/Falc books Sears did, and at first I didn't think it worked for that particular title... but I eventually got used to it and started to like it. It definitely has its strong points and looks like a good fit for Sabretooth.

[tomwe]

this is the perfect book for Bart's work. I too fall into the camp of not liking the look on CAF, but that splash page of sasquach (and the crazy perspective page earlier) are fantastic.

Count me in!

[JohnnyONeal]

What's working for me here is that Bart is using a more restrained, realistic style for the regular humans and his over-the-top, ridiculously muscled style on the superhumans.

The contrast is nice. It just gets a bit overwhelming when everyone's muscles have muscles, like in The First or Cap & Falcon.

[byoung2814]

This looks okay, but I still think some of the best work Bart Sears has done was on JLE - especially his Captain Atom. Just cool.


b.

[Tom Daylight]

Originally posted by IanZL
I'm not a huge fan of it but I think it works better for him than Wolverine's does on him.

Sabretooth is crazy, I could totally see him throwing on his jumpsuit if he is just wandering around Canada for a week or something. If he is doing a job, or living it up easy he would wear his civies, but every-so-often he should break out the costume.

Yeah but the coat and stuff, made him look kind of cool. This, I can't take him seriously.

[J.C. Bakken]

This looks a heck offa lott better then his CaF work. Joe Bennet works so much better there, but this seems to be the book that Sears will get his second breakthrough on. Or third. When I first saw that Lee Weeks was the choice for PAD's Hulk I thought Jippy. Also him is an underrated artist, that only get to few assingments. But with a style like this, Sears could deffinatly work for that book.

The story in itself also looks to be good. Normally I wouldn't consider a Sabretooth book, but when they say they want to bring him in for good, and with a Sears like this I'm inclined to try it out.

[Vyper]

Originally posted by andy smith
The work looks great once again! I expect no less from Bart, he always delivers.
Combined with Mark Pennington's inks and Mike Atiyeh's colors this book looks great!

With you there, Andy. The only nitpick I can find is Toothy's right knee on Page 5.

[Cliffy]

I didn't know it before The Path, but Sears is an incredibly thoughtful artist and his style, while certainly recognizable, is modified from project to project depending on the needs of the story. That's something that even many of the top tier artists can't say.

--Cliffy

[Mister Sinister]

If you want to see Sears at his finest, pick up some issues of his Justice League Europe from the back issue bin(they should only cost you a dollar each). Sears drew Captain Atom, Metamorpho, Flash, Power Girl, Animal Man, Rocket Red, and Elongated Man, better than anybody in the business has.

[saiyanspider]

Originally posted by IanZL
I'm not a huge fan of it but I think it works better for him than Wolverine's does on him.

Sabretooth is crazy, I could totally see him throwing on his jumpsuit if he is just wandering around Canada for a week or something. If he is doing a job, or living it up easy he would wear his civies, but every-so-often he should break out the costume.

I LOVE Wolverine's new yellow and blue costume

I miss the old brown and orange tho. I was hoping the new one would be colored brown and orange but it still looks good.

I want sabretooth in a new costume this one always looked like pajamas to me.

but I like it better than some of the crap he has been wearing.

I hope they increase his threat level a little it's like they forgot how friggin dangerous he is.

[saiyanspider]

Originally posted by Mister Sinister
If you want to see Sears at his finest, pick up some issues of his Justice League Europe from the back issue bin(they should only cost you a dollar each). Sears drew Captain Atom, Metamorpho, Flash, Power Girl, Animal Man, Rocket Red, and Elongated Man, better than anybody in the business has.

OHH MAN YES his work was sooo beautiful then!!!

[jediortiz]

Bart's rendition of Sabretooth looks killer!
www.tapthetalent.com

[Tonguedevil]

This looks and sounds great. I'll be getting this mini-series for sure, though I really wish it was set to be an ongoing title; I love these supervillain books.

I'm really liking the fact that Sabretooth is back in costume (Wolverine too), as I was growing quite sick of seeing Marvel's characters running around in "Joe Schmoe" street clothes all the time. I mean, if I want to see a bunch of people dressed in civvies, all I need to do is walk outside the freaking front door. Yay.

For me, comics (especially superhero comics) need to offer up an alternative to the repetitive, dismal normalcy of every day life, both in the stories they tell and in their limitless visual appeal as well.

Glad to see the costumes back. Hell yes I am.

[Ralf Haring]

Thank god Sears isn't illustrating TEMPEST FUGIT. I don't think anyone at Marvel realizes just how detrimental his art was to CAP/FALCON. If he had been doing the art on Mr. David's HULK issues, I don't think I would have picked them up. I jumped through hoops to justify picking up CAP/FALCON because Mr. Priest was writing it and had decided to drop the book after the first issue after seeing just how horrendous the art was.

There is just is no comparison between him and Lee Weeks. Anyone who wants a sneak at what his HULK might look like, check out BOILING POINT, the second collection of Bruce Jones' run. It's super-cheap as collections go, too.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...books&n=507846

As for this Sabretooth art....his right knee in that one pic looks like it's about to snap off and Sasquatch's arm looks like one of those post-liposuction fat people with the big folds of skin everywhere.

[FIG]

I'll be getting this Sabertooth comic since I'm a fan of Bart Sears. Personally though I think his best and most detailed work was when he was drawing X-O Man-O-War and then Turok. I purchased his Captain America run and liked it but I still think he needs to go with a thinner line and more detail like he did on Turok.

[Wrath]

Cap falcon was one of the worst drawn comics I have seen

This one looks a 1000 times better

I may pick this one up.

I still say Sears should be doing Silver Surfer or Thanos.

[Deadpoolandoggy]

Bart Sears stuff on Cap/falcon wasn't good at all, but his sabertooth looks promising...although (even though its a horrible series) his costume from idenity disc hisnt that bad looking <---and that is all I will say about that series.

[Kolimar]

I really like Sears, but his Sasquatch did look a bit odd.