IDWEEK: BILL SIENKIEWICZ TALKS 30 DAYS

[MattBrady]

by Chris Ryall

There’s really no way for me to describe artist Bill Sienkiewicz as anything but “legendary,” as much as that expression can make a guy feel old. But I thought the same thing when I first saw his art, too, on an early Moon Knight cover. It was one thing when Bill was doing his thing and being inked by guys like Bob McLeod, but when he started inking himself… and especially when he took over New Mutants and opened an entire generation’s eyes as to the potential of the comics medium, there was no better word that fit what he brought to this industry.

He’s also one of a short list of names that I just assumed, for one reason or another, I’d never have a chance to work with on an IDW book. Well, scratch this name from that list, because Bill’s joining Steve Niles on an all-new 30 Days of Night title that debuts this September: 30 Days of Night: Beyond Barrow. The story itself takes what’s come before and advances it in horrific new ways, so it only makes sense that Bill’s art would do the same.

Newsarama: Before we talk to you, let’s just all sit back and really think about how great it is that you’re doing this book. Everyone caught their breath? Good—let’s go. I’ll try not to let the awe I feel work its way into the questions to come.

Your style has evolved so much from project to project. Are you trying anything differently on this 30 Days book than what you’ve done before?

Bill Sienkiewicz: “Evolved” is a great descriptive choice for the process. Nearly 99.9% of the time, the particular piece I'm working on will decide the medium and method, in, or by, which it should be done, not vice-versa. Meaning it will do the courtesy, (so to speak), of letting me know what it needs to convey—emotionally, if not technically—what it's trying to say to the reader and the best way to convey it. I'm really more of the conduit, a collaborator, in the production. Any time I've tried to do it the other way around, to decide how I'm going to do any particular piece, to try to force a piece to be something it's not, it ends up in a fight with the piece with the piece usually winning—thereby showing me how little I ultimately know. That said, I do know that the art is at the service of the story, and works with it, occasionally as reinforcement, occasionally as a counterpoint. In the end, it comes down to the piece knowing what its needs are to do just that, and it knows it far better than I. That much, I do know. So that's the answer to your question: to continue to allow that “evolution” you mentioned to continue. To get out of the way in terms of trying to force a result. one can't force oak to be pine. It's a zen thing.

NRAMA: Now, you’ve done a lot of things in your career, but other than the Marvel version of Dracula, vampires seem to be a new subject for you to tackle. Do you look at what’s gone on before in the 30 Days books or just work out in your head how you’d like the characters to appear?

BS: Well, I actually did two portfolios of vampires years ago, published through Grafitti Designs, Bob Chapman's company. I don't think we did a large print run of either portfolio, so they're pretty rare. Also, I have around 40 sketchbooks I've filled since I first started art school in Newark, and over the years, vampires have appeared as a topic in the books in one form or another, from comedic, to sick, to just plain disturbing. Also, if you really think about it, a vampire is anything that drinks blood. Female mosquitoes are vampiric, as of course is the ubiquitous bat breed of infamy. Then there's the tick, the leech, just on and on and on. Nature is chockablock with vampires. So I'm just letting the vampires that I'm going to be doing, to “evolve” as well. It's a Darwinian thing.

I'm not going in the direction of any of the artwork in previous 30 Days books. This will very much be my own thing, whatever that turns out to be.

I have some pretty creepy ideas, though, that keep me awake at night. Not from fear, but from that adrenaline-based rush of discovery of a new breed. It's a great Rorschach test for Self-examination, at the very least. I'm definitely a bit “quirky.”

NRAMA: This is your first collaboration with Steve, yet so far, you both seem very much in synch. Is there more to come from the two of you after this series is done?

BS: Oh, we are definitely in synch. Steve is just so great, just so talented. He's a terrific person and a wonderful collaborator. He jazzes me up, encourages risk and the sheer enjoyment in creativity—and we've wanted to work together for a long time, since his "fly in my eye" days. This is just the beginning of what you'll be seeing from Steve and me, plus his fiancée, Sarah, besides being an absolute sweetheart, is also an incredibly talented artist. It's creative "one-stop shopping.”

NRAMA: What else is going on in the world of Bill Sienkiewicz right now? The desired shark-cage vacation will wait until after this book is done, right?

BS: God, I'm a busy little beaver, with all the endeavors and projects I've got on the board right now, either in film or comics, or in development, or in discussions, sketch form, or as ideas or glimmers of ideas.

In keeping with the topic of a previous question you asked, but beavers, to the best of my knowledge, are not vampiric, though the thought of them being so is alternately both silly and horrifying. What I mean, for all you claustrophobes out there, is imagine being knocked unconscious by a tree that's been gnawed through with pinpoint accuracy so as to perfectly determine the angle and trajectory of its fall, and then you're dragged, nearly drowned, for yards and yards underwater, and pulled up into hollow of the beaver's dam where you can't move, and are continually attacked, growing weaker by the day, desanguinated drop by drop and then left to rot once you're empty or dead, whichever comes first. They'd never find your body. The silly part is that it's a ____ing beaver. That's why most people don't take Monty Python's killer rabbit for what it really is: a cautionary tale of nature's true violence.

But I digress. Yes, my great white shark cage vacation will have to wait. Other sets of razor-sharp teeth have assumed a higher priority.

[Colonsus]

Best... artist... ever!!!

[mr_shushhh]

Them images above are pretty, looks like another book to add to my list.

[Heffaloo]

Bill Sienkiewicz is, hands down, my favorite visual artist (aural goes to Shirley Manson). Putting him on a book guarantees my money.

[comixcollctr]

Sienkiewicz is so perfect for this book.

[vicvondoom]

Sienkiewicz is an artistic God. A genius. Buying this for sure.

[comixcollctr]

.........and I want what ever he's been smoking.

[Bevbos]

Yeah, Bill Sienkiewicz, aside from having the most difficult name to spell in the comic industry, is probably hands down my favorite artist ever in comics. Maybe that's too huge a claim, but he's in the top 5, and that includes editorial cartoonists, comic strip artists, the whole shebang. Just a ____ing incredible artist and his breadth of knowledge comes across in this brief interview very well. I wish him a long life and many more projects to come. Who in the modern era can claim the distinction of such a personalized and evocative style? Jae Lee perhaps? Sienkiewicz cannot be duplicated and brings class to any project he touches. Just wish he got more prominent work.

[coredejour]

if you go back and look at his new mutants run, his artwork was ahead of it's time. it's only right that he be on this book. he did ive birth to a lot of guys that in the game now. i will not mention names but the purist know what time it is. kudos to mr. Sienkiewicz. as a kid i would practice forging my favortie artist signatures and his was definately one of them.

[tater_nuts]

Sienkiwics is one of the people that got me interested in comics both as a literary and visual medium. It began with Elektra: Assasin and Moon Knight. He's been one of my favorite artists since.

[Cap_America]

Cool stuff
(quote)

[Peasily]

Chris is absolutely spot on about Sienkiewicz's run on New Mutants being a major influence and inspiration.

[Lord MaGnUs]

I honestly don't give a ____ about 30 Days (it might be a great book, I just don't feel like reading it), but I am so getting this.

Sienkenwicz is a god, New Mutants was one of my favorite comics because of him.

[0ntir]

There is nothing anywhere, and no one like Bill Sienkiewicz!

He can mix Bluth-like fantasy, with Ramon Santiago faces, and Hieronymus Bosch nightmares, and still create a well-paced, flowing, sequential narrative. We don't get to see enough of his monthly work these days. Anything he does is very much welcomed, and long, long overdue!

[InBetween]

Here, here on all the great comments...
I bow down before thee, Mister S.

[Amoebas]

Aways liked him (and still think his run on Fantastic Four was one of the best artist runs on that title ever (and this was still during his Adams days)).
Moon Knight, New Mutants, Big Numbers, Stray Toasters, Spider-man, Elektra, etc etc.

Always excellent stuff.

[prolix]

I had the good fortune to speak at length to Mr. Sienkiewicz at a con in Dallas this year. While no amount of praise is too much (in my opinion) I would like to report that he is a down-to-earth decent fellow without a trace of the ego I know I'd have if I was that freaking brilliant!

[mousefolk]

If Ryall doesn't want to make Mr. S. sound old with "legendary" I think the term revolutionary is just as weighty and representative of his contribution to the medium.

xo,
Kevin

[biscuit022]

I remember the first time I saw a Bill Sienkiewicz comic as a kid. I didn't get his art, at all. Six months later I was buying everything Sienkiewicz I could get my hands on. One of my all-time favorties and while I don't care a whit about 30 Days, Sienkiewicz makes it a must have.

[Redmond]

Oh wow! I can't wait. My first Sienkiewicz was one of the Cloak and Dagger New Mutants issue. Then the awesome inks over Mary Wilshire. I always thought it was either really refined! I don't believe this will ship more than one issue though. If it does, I'll be thrilled!

[Lord MaGnUs]

Originally Posted by Redmond

Oh wow! I can't wait. My first Sienkiewicz was one of the Cloak and Dagger New Mutants issue. Then the awesome inks over Mary Wilshire. I always thought it was either really refined! I don't believe this will ship more than one issue though. If it does, I'll be thrilled!

Man, those issues with Rainhe's fairy tale... awesome...

[Blackbeard]

I've been a Sienkiewicz fan since Moon Knight, so you know I'm going to pick this up.

Cheers to IDW for getting Sienkiewicz to do a 30 DON book!

[FatFreeMilk]

My god - HIM on a 30 Days book? Way to get me back on a title/brand that I stopped collecting!