TERRIFIC'S MAN: MICHAEL LARK ON MR. TERRIFIC AND WORKING WITH CHABON

**MattBrady** · 10-03-2003, 04:28 PM

With JSA All Stars #7, Michael Lark enters rarified air – illustrating the first comic book work of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Michael Chabon in a Mr. Terrific backup story. Well, kind of a Mr. Terrific story…the 16 page story is more about Mr. Terrific’s brother, Ned.

Thanks to the near-deity status Chabon has attained in the comics industry both with the publication of The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay and its subsequent Pulitzer win for Best Fiction, virtually every door in the industry was open. Given Chabon’s love of comics Golden Age, editors who were editing a Golden Age-themed book (a.k.a. Pete Tomasi) had a slight upper hand. With JSA All-Stars, each issue of which features a story starring the current incarnation of a Golden Age hero written by Geoff Johns, and a back-up starring the original version, Tomasi was able to offer Chabon a story featuring one of his favorite heroes – the original Mr. Terrific.

As can be expected, when you’ve got a Pulitzer Prize winner writing, finding an artist isn’t the toughest challenge you’ll face all day. “I was contacted by editor Peter Tomasi quite a while ago, when the series was still in its formative stages,” Lark said. “He asked me one question: ‘Do you want to draw a story that is written by Michael Chabon?’ And of course I had to say yes. In some ways not the wisest choice I've ever made, considering that I was just getting started on Gotham Central and really had no free time to speak of, but it was worth it to work with Chabon.”

The story, as mentioned earlier doesn’t in fact, follow Mr. Terrific (a.k.a. Terry Sloane) through an adventure. Rather, it follows Slone’s brother Ned – a loveable loser who well…how would you feel if your brother was perfect at everything? Not really good, but perfect at everything he tried. You’d have issues too.

As such, the story has exactly one “super-hero” costume in it, for all of about three pages – and that’s just the way Lark likes it.

“I'd much rather do the ‘civilian’ stories than the superhero stories,” Lark said. “Not that there's anything wrong with superheroes - I love them. But I've said many times that I'd rather draw - or read - two people talking than two people fighting. There's so much more emotional depth, and it's just so much more interesting for me as a reader and an artist. So there aren't really any challenges for me in doing this type of work - it's what I love to do.”

That said, the heavy duty “civilian” nature of the story did take Lark aback a little at first. “I'd expected something along the lines of the ‘Escapist’ or ‘Luna Moth’ sections of The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay,” Lark said. “ What I didn't expect was something that read like...well, like a Michael Chabon story. But after I got over that preconception, I had a lot of fun with it. It's a great story, with a lot of humor mixed with poignancy.

“In fact, by the end, I started being afraid that I wasn't the right artist for the job. I'm not known for my humor comics! There were a few people that I could have seen doing a much better job than I did. But, so far, everyone seems to be happy with how I handled it, so that shows you how much I know.”

While Lark added a few panels here and there, and stretched the story out past its original page count, something that was a challenge was drawing Terry Sloane who, even in his civilian clothes is “Mr. Terrific.” For inspiration and a little guidance, Lark looked to the King.

Terry at a costume party in the only approporiate costume,

“I've always loved the way Jack Kirby handled scenes where a superhero was talking to a civilian - there's a definite distinction between the hero and the regular joe,” Lark said. “I really wanted to try to get that effect - Terry being larger than life, like a Greek statue come alive. Every hair in place, collar starched, pants creased. Then there's poor Ned. Hasn't shaved, hair a mess, bags under his eyes, skinny and small. Even when he's in the Dr. Nil costume, there's no doubt that he's not a hero - he's just a regular guy. Of course I'm not Jack Kirby, so I don't know that I got it, but I tried.”

And it worked – on his first full panel, there’s no doubt that Terry Sloane is Mr. Terrific. In all honesty, and geekiry, Chabon and Lark’s portrayal of Slone will make fans of the character wonder just how anyone, even the Spirit King, could’ve gotten the drop on him and killed him waaaay back in JLA #171 (1979 for those of you who want to feel old). And yes, the sequel to the story did come out post-Crisis, so Sloane’s horribly ignoble death stands as far as today’s continuity goes.

{ahem} back to Lark…

The artist freely admits that illustrating Chabon’s story comes with its own ego boost – something that he’ll still probably be talking about when he’s at the Comic Book Creators’ Rest Home, where one day, in the middle of conversation he’ll just interject something like, “Yeah, that’s just like drawing a story for a Pulitzer writer, isn’t it? Oh that’s right - you guys never illustrated stories for Pulitzer winners…” and with that, give a wry smile, and wheel himself off to sittercize.

Well, maybe not quite like that, but Lark did admit there’s a certain glow that he’s got, having drawn Chabon’s first foray into comics – and some of it is even non-fictional. “Actually, there's kind of a funny story about that,” Lark said. “When Peter Tomasi first contacted me, I just wasn't sure I would have time to do it, and I kind of hemmed and hawed about it. Then he told me that Chabon had asked for me to illustrate the story. Now that was an ego boost, so of course I stopped hemming and hawing and jumped aboard. ‘The Pulitzer Prize winner wants me do draw his story? How can I say no?!’

“But then this summer I finally got to meet Michael, and we later talked on the phone, and it turns out that he had never seen my work until after I agreed to do the story. So it appears that Peter was using that possible ego boost as leverage! Just a little insight into the crafty mind of an editor.

“But of course it really was quite an honor. The big ego boost didn't come until Chabon called me on the phone a few days after I finished the story to tell me how much he liked it. We sat and talked for a while, about favorite comics, old movies, and our kids. Chabon is a very nice, very down-to-earth guy, and it was a great conversation. So while I would never hold it over the heads of any of my colleagues as some may suggest, it was nice to be able to have that conversation and be treated as an equal by someone with his level of talent. I definitely won't ever forget that.”

Fazhoul · 10-03-2003, 04:38 PM

I've enjoyed Michael Lark's work ever since I first saw it on Superman: War of the Worlds Elseworlds book. The b&w preview art looks great but I'm eager to see the Mr. Terriffic story in color when the issue hits the stands.

Barry · 10-03-2003, 04:43 PM

The backups have been my favorite parts of the All-Star mini-series and Chabon's has obviously been the most highly-anticipated one for me. With Lark on pencils, it's should hopefully stand out as an instant classic.

BTW, Lark is on the money about Chabon. He's as nice and humble a guy as can be, considering the amount of accolades heaped upon him and his work. All well deserved, of course.

feisto · 10-03-2003, 05:30 PM

The back up stories have been great. I just looked at the preview copy of the Dr. Midnite issue. The "100 Bullets" guys stuff looks awesome.

shakey · 10-03-2003, 07:33 PM

The most frustrating mini series I can remember. The 1st chapters have been boring lackluster stories, but the 8 page backups have been awesome.

I'm a big fan of the regular JSA book, and have no problem with the newbie members, but really the back-up stoires are the stars in this book.

COREMARK · 10-03-2003, 10:30 PM

I have become a huge fan of Lark because of his stellar work over on Gotham Central, can't wait to pick up this issue of JSA All Stars.

DocBrass · 10-04-2003, 12:48 AM

Quote:

I have become a huge fan of Lark because of his stellar work over on Gotham Central, can't wait to pick up this issue of JSA All Stars.

If you've been liking his art on Gotham Central, check out Batman: Nine Lives and the 2 "Terminal City" series from Vertigo. Both are written by Dean Motter.

Nine Lives has this "film noir" look and read like Raymond Chandler. "Terminal City" was a cool, futuristic mystery series that needs to come back.

Zig Zag Wanderer · 10-04-2003, 09:56 AM

Agreed on Terminal City. Those minis were fantastic.

I'm really looking forward to the upcoming Chabon/Lark story.

Ace · 10-04-2003, 12:57 PM

Some of the main JSA All Stars stories have been better than others. I found the Hawkgirl one to be one of the most powerful single stories I've read all year.

Matt

Earth-2 Mike · 10-04-2003, 05:39 PM

Being that I'm a newbie to the boards and a newbie to Michael Lark's artwork, I'd like to mention that these preview pages remind me of Alex Toth's Zorro work, in terms of pacing, composition and even drawing ability. Foogin' great.

Kerouac · 10-05-2003, 05:34 PM

Quote:

If you've been liking his art on Gotham Central, check out Batman: Nine Lives and the 2 "Terminal City" series from Vertigo. Both are written by Dean Motter.

Don't forget Scene of the Crime: A Little Piece of Goodnight, written by Gotham Central scribe Ed Brubaker and drawn by Lark. Great story, plus openly Chandler-influenced (I believe Brubaker mentions it in the introduction of the trade) as well.

Matt

bookwyrm · 10-06-2003, 01:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kerouac
Don't forget Scene of the Crime: A Little Piece of Goodnight, written by Gotham Central scribe Ed Brubaker and drawn by Lark. Great story, plus openly Chandler-influenced (I believe Brubaker mentions it in the introduction of the trade) as well.

Matt

There's also Philip Marlowe: My Little Sister, a Chandler novel adapted by Lark himself. I haven't read it yet, but I saw it in a Barnes and Noble once and it looked really good. Being a huge fan of Lark's work now I really should pick it up some time.

Kerouac · 10-06-2003, 01:52 AM

Quote:

There's also Philip Marlowe: My Little Sister, a Chandler novel adapted by Lark himself. I haven't read it yet, but I saw it in a Barnes and Noble once and it looked really good. Being a huge fan of Lark's work now I really should pick it up some time.

Can't believe I own that book and forgot to mention it. lol

Matt

blackandwhite · 10-06-2003, 06:07 AM

chabon and lark?

terrific

Splash Page · 10-06-2003, 12:16 PM

I wanted to chime in to let anyone know who might be interested in owning a page of original art from Michael Lark's backup story with Michael Chabon, or from one of his other works, please drop me an email at splash.page@verizon.net

I am Michael's exclusive original art representative, and have a large variety of his art for sale on my website at www.splashpageart.com

We have pages from Gotham Central, Batman Nine Lives, both Terminal City runs, Scene of the Crime, Superman War of the Worlds, and Legend of the Hawkman among others.

While we have possession of the Mr. Terrific story pages, we will wait to make them available once the story hits the stores.

Thanks,