SMALLVILLE PROMOTION: DERENICK ON DC'S SMALLVILLE

[MattBrady]

One of DC’s Smallville comic residents makes a move in November as artist Tom Derenick moves from the back to the front, taking the seat as the new lead story penciller for the tie-in comic with issue #5. Newsarama caught up with the artist for his view of Superman’s hometown through The WB’s lens.

“Basically, it all started back when I started doing some fill ins on the Superman books,” Derenick said in regards to landing the job. “[Editor] Tom Palmer Jr. asked me how I was at drawing likenesses because they were going to be doing a Smallville series. I told him I was decent at it - I used to do portraits a lot back in high school then did a three issue Star Trek assignment several years back for DC and after that I did part of the first and I think only VIP comic for TV Comics, I think. Been a few years, can't remember.

“Anyway, I'd done Likeness work before so Tom told me to work up some character sheets for Clark, Lex and Lana and I hate to say it but I sort of hack them out at the time, I was squeezing them in around the Superman work and I guess I figured they were good enough. They weren't and I didn't get the book.”

Superman Group Editor thought there was potential there, though, and asked Derenick to give likenesses another try, and got him onto DC’s Birds of Prey tie-in one-shot with editor Lysa Hawkins. When the television series based on the DC comic turned out to have six viewers and The WB killed it, Derenick figured he was done with the likeness game, officially, although he still dabbled.

“Just for the heck of it I worked up another Smallville sheet [at the top of this story],” Derenick said. “Tom liked it and started using me for the backup stories on the Smallville comic. The first one I did was a story about Chloe's summer internship at the Daily Planet. I thought it was pretty cool the way they decided to fill a gap in the TV show's continuity instead of just doing the freak of the week type of stories you can fall into with this kind of book. It helps a great deal that Clint Carpenter and Mark Verheiden [the comic’s writing team] work on the TV show at the same time, they can better work it into continuity because they know what's coming up.”

Following his first back up story, Berganza put Derenick in touch with people from the Smallville series itself, thinking he’d be a good match for a specific need that had arisen on set. “They needed some interior art for the prop comic books that Ryan was reading in the Ryan episode,” Derenick said. “I ended up doing three pages of the Warrior Angel comic and although it did appear on the show, it was in a shot that was too far away for anyone but me to recognize it, but still it was a fun thing to say I did something on the TV series.”

Derenick’s Smallville path continued following Warrior Angel, as one of Smallville’s editors, Michael Hall asked Derenick to produce an illustration for a mug Hall was planning to give the cast and crew as a Christmas gift. “It was a wrap around shot of the meteors just about to hit the water tower in comic book style,” Derenick said. “It turned out pretty nice - I still have a couple of them myself. Michael asked me if I'd be interested in doing another one this year so I may be doing it again.”

On the comic book front, Derenick continued with the backups, illustrating a story for the Lex Luthor story which just came out, as well as one for the September issue that will be on stands shortly. As Derenick explained it, the Luthor story gave him a chance to use his distinctive “shaded pencils” technique again.

“We were doing a flashback where we see Lex's mom for the first time,” Derenick said. “I thought the shaded approach worked well with the story and Tom made a good choice in having me do it that way – it definitely made it clear we were flashing back. And Clint told a really touching story between Lana and Lex.

“Speaking of that – and perhaps a heads up to the fans of the series who maybe haven’t picked up the comic yet, something I've noticed as I've been working on the book is that the stories have been becoming more important to the continuity of the show - they aren’t fluff pieces,” Derenick continued. “They feel like they fit in the TV continuity and they’re helping to develop the characters more than just having Clark just save someone who got powers from kryptonite poisoning. I really believe they got it right as to what a book like this needs to do if it wants to work.

“Anyway, In September I do another backup story, this time with Mark Verheiden. The Story centers around Detective Phelan, the Metropolis police detective that found out Clark’s secret in the first season. I want to say for the record, it’s really cool working with both these guys. They’re both really giving me an opportunity to push myself with these stories. I’ve always had a tendency to wing it when it comes to things you should use reference for and with these stories I’m learning the importance of using reference properly. You have to on a book like Smallville because the look for so many things have already been established in the show. If you wing it, things aren’t going to look right.”

And then comes issue #5 in November. “Tom emailed me one day and asked if I’d be interested in the lead spot and I said yes. I’ve been enjoying working with these guys quite a bit, Clint and Mark are doing a lot of fun things with this book which is very important when working on a book that involves drawing likenesses, ask anyone who’s worked on one and they’ll tell you it’s not the easiest type of book to do, but if you have really fun stories to draw, which they’ve been giving me, you don’t mind the likeness work. It also helps when you’re a huge nut for the show, which I am.

“Plus it’s really cool to tell people outside the comic industry I draw the Smallville comic and they actually know what I’m talking about.”

In terms of a teaser, Derenick said that the lead story in issue #5 fills the gap between the season two finale and the premier of the third. “When I read the script for it I couldn’t believe how cool it was and has even more of a feeling of importance than anything done so far in the book,” Derenick said. “Just to give you an idea. I was asked recently if I could do a piece of art for a promo for the new season of television series because our comic ties into what they plan to do this year and they wanted to cross promote. Unfortunately, there wasn’t enough time for me to get a piece done and get it to them in time for the shoot but God - that would have been cool. I was told, however, that they might try a similar thing down the road so we’ll see.”

Derenick also had a quick message for those who may have written him off based on his earlier work – as with very nearly everything and everyone, the more you do something, the better you get. “I think people are going to notice that I’m becoming more polished than the last time they saw me,” Derenick said. “I think a lot of people think I just fell of the map since January but I’ve been working on a project that’ll be out probably early next year and while I’ve been doing it the level of detail in my work has increase quite a bit. I’m a big fan of both Claudio Castellini and Bryan Hitch and I think people will start to notice that my work is gradually moving in that direction. They’re both incredible artists and I’d never compare myself to either of them but I think you’re going to start seeing similarities in what I’m doing.

“Action Comics #802 was on the early end of this and I was very pleased with the response I got from a large percentage of the Superman fans so I think I’m finally on the right track especially since this is a direction I’m comfortable with, it doesn’t feel forced at all. My biggest priority is that I’m capable of monthly work even with the increased detail and I’m happy to say I still am. Hopefully a year from now I can still say that after I’ve cranked it up a few more notches. Either way Smallville’s turning out to be a fun ride and I hope fans will take it with us.”

[Duke Jupiter]

Have to admit I've not been blown away by Derenick's work in the past. However, I think he's doing a really good job with these SMALLVILLE pages. It'll be interesting to see how his work progresses on this title, and maybe bring some of that back to the DCU later on.

[Gregg Cummings]

Originally posted by Duke Jupiter
Have to admit I've not been blown away by Derenick's work in the past. However, I think he's doing a really good job with these SMALLVILLE pages. It'll be interesting to see how his work progresses on this title, and maybe bring some of that back to the DCU later on.

Derenick's super hero work has been weak to say the least (Ultimate X-Men, Superman). These pages are off-the-script! He has captured the likeness of the actors perfectly.

[SpyGuy]

Good for Tom Derenick! His work on SMALLVILLE has been spectacular and I wish more people would pick up this comic instead of blowing it off as a cheesy TV tie-in. Perhaps making the series monthly (cutting the price to $2.50 and number of pages to a standard 22) would help?

[JohnnyONeal]

I think the key to this kind of book is a relationship with the writers of the show, so that the comic can complement and expand upon on the series rather than basically repeating storylines we've seen before.

Another way to combat the "been-there, done-that" vibe of the Smallville comics would be for DC to expand the "Smallville Universe" by writing stories about a before-they-were-heroes version of other recognizeable characters (Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, maybe Green Lantern). Content like that would feel new and add magazine-like length to match the magazine format.

Anyway, the art looks good, and I'll pick up issue #5 now that I know it's part of Smallville "continuity" instead of an inconsequential filler story.

[Gear]

Anyone know where Tom might sell some of his original artwork? My wife would love to have a page with Lex on it. I'd prefer to buy a page with Lana on it too!!!

-Jeff

[Somebody]

I thought this was a mini - has it been turned into an ongoing now?

[Ned Leeds Jr.]

Originally posted by Gear
Anyone know where Tom might sell some of his original artwork? My wife would love to have a page with Lex on it. I'd prefer to buy a page with Lana on it too!!!

-Jeff

Send out an e-mail to cotgreen@aol.com and let them know that you dig Tom's work. If he has anything avaialbe they can get back to you with that info.

Ned

[Gregg Cummings]

Originally posted by Gear
Anyone know where Tom might sell some of his original artwork? My wife would love to have a page with Lex on it. I'd prefer to buy a page with Lana on it too!!!

-Jeff

Try the art of TOM DERENICK.

[SuperChris]

Well, this is great news in my book! Tom's been doing some wonderful work on "Smallville" and this promotion is well deserved. Congrats Tom!

I also hope this interview encourages some folks to pick up the book. Not just for Tom's beautiful artwork, but also for the stories. One thing Tom really got across was that this isn't solely an attempt to "cash-in" on the show's popularity. They're doing some great stories that do "count" in terms of the show's continuity. It's also a nice thick book which I always like. I'd recommend it not only for fans of the show, but any Superman comic fans.

Back to Tom though... I'd really like to see him take on one of the regular Superman books. His work on Action #802 was excellent. Some of the best work I've seen in the core titles in the last year or two (and that's saying something since they're all good artists). Track down that back issue if you don't already have it.

Cool trivia bit about the Warrior Angel comic too. I'll have to remember that one so I can impress my friends at parties.

Gregg -- thanks for posting that link. I'll have to check it out, maybe he has some pages from Action #802 available. I can't afford splash pages, but hopefully he has some panel pages for sale.

Somebody asked:

I thought this was a mini - has it been turned into an ongoing now?

They did that one-shot first. I guess it did well, since they later started an ongoing using the same format (multiple stories each issue, articles and interviews about the show, episode guides, etc.). They only do 6 issues a year (instead of 12), but I'm pretty sure it's ongoing.

-Chris

[Zig Zag Wanderer]

I'm unfamiliar with the comic, but I did want to say that that it is some nice artwork. Very good job catching the actors' likenesses.

[Royd]

Just to add to Ned's good suggestion, Comics on the Green is a comic shop which is owned/operated by Dave Romeo who is a good friend of Tom's and who has handled the sale of his original work. Dave and Tom are both excellent fellows and I'm sure Dave will try and help out with any requests for Tom's original art.

I'd also like to say that I think Tom is an excellent choice for the book given his ability to create believable likenesses of actors and his rendered style is very sweet. As a good mate, I'm biased but I really do believe that Warm regards,

Royd
http://www.comicartfans.com/GalleryDetail.asp?GCat=111
http://members.lycos.co.uk/liroyd/ (Visit here to see some lovely original comic art by Tom Derenick and many others)

Originally posted by Ned Leeds Jr.
Send out an e-mail to cotgreen@aol.com and let them know that you dig Tom's work. If he has anything avaialbe they can get back to you with that info.

Ned

[phoenx]

Cool. Can't wait.

[superman63086]

Hey, great art, love your stuff and cant wait for the comic keep it up and I'll put you on the favorites list next to Ed McGuiness. Not that Im comparing you. Thanks for the interview and do him justice.

SUPERMAN

[drake]

I would love to do a cover painting for the Smallville comic book.

[superman63086]

Hey drake if you did that I would love to see you paint for the comic. And I hope you try to get their attention because you have some excellent talent.

SUPERMAN

[drake]

Thank you for the comment. Getting comments like that does help with inspiration to keep at it!!

[superman63086]

No Problem drake and if you hit it off, remember dont forget the little people. And keep me in mind for stories I'm an avid writer and I have some great stuff up my sleeve. If you would like to talk you may e-mail me at superman63086@yahoo.com.

SUPERMAN