AARON LOPRESTI SIGNS EXCLUSIVE WITH DC

**MattBrady** · 11-30-2007, 11:08 AM

After helping to give the look to Planet Hulk and Ms. Marvel at Marvel for the past few years, artist Aaron Lopresti is packing his bags and moving across town. The artist and DC have confirmed that Lopresti has signed an exclusive with the company, and his first work (yet unnamed) will appear in early 2008.

We spoke with Lopresti about the move and why he opted to switch one company for the other.

“I’d love to give some juicy controversial tidbit about me leaving Marvel, but there really isn't any,” Lopresti said with a laugh. “I really like everyone over there that I worked with. David Bogart, Stevie Wacker, Mark Paniccia, Bill Roseman, and Chris Allo are all really good people and I have nothing but great things to say about all of them. That being said, I just felt like after four years I was spinning my wheels creatively and I needed a change of scenery. Marvel made me a pretty good offer to stick around in terms of a project but it just didn't feel right to me. I don't know that I can even express it clearly but I just felt I needed a different situation and different outlet.”

Lopresti’s last Marvel work will be February’s Ms. Marvel #24, and the artist expressed that his tenure on the title with writer Brian Reed was nothing but fun.

While he was naming names, Lopresti picked one out at DC to cite as the main reason for his move from Marvel to DC: Dan DiDio. “Not too long ago he got word that I might be looking for a new opportunity and gave me a call. We had several conversations and I was stunned to find out that we shared the same view of comics and how they should be done.

“Dan was actually using some of the exact same phrases I have used to describe comics and my feelings about the direction they are going. It was really exciting and refreshing. The grind of comics had really been bogging me down recently but after talking with Dan, I felt rejuvenated and enthusiastic for the first time in awhile. My good friend Mike Marts was also a great source of objective information and advice as I was considering my future options.”

And yes, for those keeping track in notebooks and spreadsheets, Lopresti has been at DC before this, though, if your memory is hazy on 1997’s Takion, he won’t cry too many tears. “After that I worked on the Plastic Man Special (my personal favorite), National Comics one-shot with Mark Waid, and my DC claim to fame is illustrating the lead story in the now infamous Elseworlds 80 Page Giant. I never got a comp copy of that, by the way!”

After the DC run, Lopresti moved to Tampa and worked at CrossGen up until the implosion of the upstart publisher. From there, Lopresti moved to Marvel, where here’s been since.

As for what Lopresti likes to draw – well, generally speaking, stuff no one ever seems to be publishing consistently: “Giant monsters, dinosaur adventure, jungle action, and anything even remotely resembling John Carter of Mars,” Lopresit said. “I’m really a Frazetta guy at heart, which is why I really enjoyed my Planet Hulk run and why you continue to see my name popping up on Red Sonja covers. So after exhausting those possibilities, I try and look for a character or series that best fits my particular skill set. What do people want to see me draw? Is it a project that is going interest a lot of people? Is it going to be fun to draw? The latter might be the single most important factor to me. People standing around talking about what they are going to do three issues from now does not interest me. It may be interesting to read, but it is not interesting to draw.”

So what does that mean in relation to his upcoming DC project?

“Well, I’m under the impression that it will be fun to draw and it probably fits within the context of what most people would expect me to be doing,” Lopresti said. “The project that I was offered was a #1 launch but that has since changed to something that I feel is even better. Obviously I can't say what that is at this point but I think it will be revealed sooner than later.”

That said, what would suit him at DC (and there may be a hint contained herein…)?

“I really like anything except tech loaded stuff,” Lopresti said. “I could see myself on Batman, The Creeper, Metamorpho. Plastic Man, Kilowog, something like Swamp Thing, Deadman (Neal Adams version), Uncle Sam (Reed Crandall version), Warlord, Fin Fang Foom vs. Gorilla Grodd Treasury Edition, the Spectre (Jim Corrigan only) and maybe even Superman in the right situation.”

Whatever his assignment, Lopresti said that he’s hoping to hang his hat at DC for the foreseeable future. “Stability is really important to me because I do have a family, but it is really going to depend on the opportunities presented to me as I move forward,” Lopresti said. “There are a lot of things I want to do and some of them are outside of comics, so it is very important to me that I am allowed to do projects that are going to help me be creative and do my best work, as well as continue to grow and improve as an artist and storyteller. I believe that is the environment that I am stepping into at DC.”

Carter101 · 11-30-2007, 11:25 AM

Freaking Awesome

NightRiver · 11-30-2007, 11:32 AM

Ah dam, his Ms. Marvel is the bomb! Sad to see him leave, but congrats and good luck at DC. Looking forward to his work there.

80Pork · 11-30-2007, 11:33 AM

No, this isn't awesome.

I love him on Ms. Marvel...and I only buy a few DC titles, so I probably won't have any nice Lopresti artwork anymore...

bummer...but best of luck, Aaron!!

razorwing77 · 11-30-2007, 11:35 AM

His work on Ms. Marvel is probably the best I've seen from him.

BubbaKanoosh · 11-30-2007, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Fin Fang Foom vs. Gorilla Grodd Treasury Edition

I would so buy that.

joefixit2 · 11-30-2007, 11:36 AM

bummer!!!!! I was hoping he would do some more Hulk stuff, maybe at least some covers on the Skaar book.

bcondray · 11-30-2007, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carter101

Freaking Awesome

I will just agree with you, sir.

VocalMan81 · 11-30-2007, 11:39 AM

Congrats DC. Batman and the Outsiders perhaps?

RichJohnston · 11-30-2007, 11:40 AM

Lying In The Gutters - November 12th

"I understand Aaron Lopresti is signing an exclusive deal with DC Comics."

DaVeO · 11-30-2007, 11:41 AM

How about Elongated Man and Sue: Ghost Detectives.

Crump's Brother · 11-30-2007, 11:43 AM

Just saw this guy's work in the Planet Hulk collection. Really great stuff.

DaVeO · 11-30-2007, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichJohnston

Lying In The Gutters - November 12th

"I understand Aaron Lopresti is signing an exclusive deal with DC Comics."

Toot that horn Rich, toot it for all it's worth.

As to the comment about Batman and the Outsiders. No way. The current art team is doing a fantastic job.

Innercaine · 11-30-2007, 11:46 AM

Great day for DC fans! Can't wait to see what he actually ends up doing!

What would people like to see him on?

SpyGuy · 11-30-2007, 11:48 AM

Personally, I'd like to see him on a new BLUE DEVIL or ZATANNA series (written by Paul Dini)...

sweetmisery · 11-30-2007, 11:49 AM

Good for DC; sad to see him leave Marvel(Ms. Marvel), now Im more curious on whos drawing Ms. Marvel than seeing what his work will be in DC.

80Pork · 11-30-2007, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Innercaine

Great day for DC fans! Can't wait to see what he actually ends up doing!

What would people like to see him on?

Teen Titans...that's one of the few DC titles I buy.

vbartilucci · 11-30-2007, 12:07 PM

Once again...join the conspiracy...good things happen to you.

In the interests of full disclosure, I'm only 98% sure he did this. I'm waiting for confirmation from him that it's his signature.

Grievous · 11-30-2007, 12:09 PM

DC strike again,

well done

LazarusMan · 11-30-2007, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 80Pork

No, this isn't awesome.

I love him on Ms. Marvel...and I only buy a few DC titles, so I probably won't have any nice Lopresti artwork anymore...

bummer...but best of luck, Aaron!!

I agree with this sentiment. It's the same way I felt when DC nabbed Kolins, Bagley, and McKone.

Good luck Aaron. You deserve it. Just sad that I won't really be appreciating your work any longer, at least, for the time being.

Vintage · 11-30-2007, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LazarusMan

I agree with this sentiment. It's the same way I felt when DC nabbed Kolins, Bagley, and McKone.

Good luck Aaron. You deserve it. Just sad that I won't really be appreciating your work any longer, at least, for the time being.

Hold up, Kolins is back at DC?