RYAN OTTLEY ON DEATH GRUB & INVINCIBLE

[MattBrady]

by Benjamin Ong Pang Kean

If there’s one word to describe the artistic talent of Ryan Ottley, it’s “invincible”.

Affectionately known as “Uncle WYA” to fellow professionals and fans, Ottley first broke into the comics scene in 2002 when he debuted his first webcomic, Ted Noodleman: Bicycle Delivery Boy.

His work on Ted Noodleman (and many short stories in the Digital Comics Presents anthology) caught the attention of then up-and-coming comic book writer Robert Kirkman and Ottley was then offered the job of penciling Invincible, where he took over the penciling duties from series co-creator and artist Cory Walker. Since assuming art duties with issue #8 in November 2003, Ottley has never looked back. Together, he and Kirkman have chartered new territories and new frontiers with the fan-favorite Image Comics superhero title.

With the landmark issue #50 hitting stores soon, we wanted to chat with Ottley for an update on Invincible. But first, we sat down to talk about 24 Hour Comics Day and how he managed to create a brand new comic called Death Grub, which is currently being solicited for release in May from Image.

Newsarama: Hey, Ryan. How did Death Grub come about?

Ryan Ottley: Well, 24 Hour Comics Day only comes once a year and I wanted to try my hand at doing my own little story. So I got together with a bunch of other artists at a local comic shop here in Salt Lake City and we all worked on our own book. The only thing I wanted to write about was a big giant grub that ate people. Thought it sounded cool.

And my ideas went from there. It was a good experience as I don't write at all so this was new to me. Really enjoyable stuff but man, it really was draining to be forcing your mind to come up with something that quick and then drawing it all.

NRAMA: So, this book was done within the 24-hour time span?

RO: Yes! Except the cover, of course. And the Grayscales were added later by Cliff Rathburn.

NRAMA: How many issues is it going to be then? Just a one-shot? Or a limited series?

RO: Oh, it's just a one-shot.

I don't have time to do much on the side because of Invincible. But I had to do the 24 Hour Comics [Day], so a quick one-shot is all I have time for right now.

When I say I had to, I mean I really wanted to. It's a nice change to do something entirely on my own and let my mind wander.

NRAMA: Was a deal already made prior to the 24 Hour Comics Day event to publish Death Grub once it's completed?

RO: Not at all. I didn't even have a name for it until about half way through. I was just doing it for fun. I sent it to a few people to show it off, someone ended up showing it to [Image Comics publisher] Erik Larsen and he liked it and asked me if I'd let them publish it. I was just going to put it in a sketchbook but printing a single comic seems like a better way to go. I'm pretty stoked about it. It definitely gave me a little more confidence that maybe I can do my own stuff on the side someday.

NRAMA: You only managed to complete 20 pages within that 24 hours, right? Will the one-shot have more pages when it hit stores this May?

RO: 21 pages

NRAMA: Okay, 21.

NRAMA: And the story’s complete in just 21 pages?

RO: I couldn't make it to 24. I wanted to.

NRAMA: So, it's a complete story in just 21 pages then?

RO: Yes, it is.

I wrapped it up quick at the end. It' not perfect at all, I hope people don't judge it against my monthly stuff. It's just a nice quick romp through my mind.

NRAMA: Last year's 24 Hour Comics Day wasn't your first, right? You'd attempted it once before in 2005. How many pages of art did you complete then?

RO: I did 22 pages, I think. I could be wrong, it could've been 20. It was a Ted Noodleman story. Actually it was a few stories. I couldn't stick to one story that year.

I also tried it in 2006 but I just drew Invincible pages. I did 8 Invincible pencil pages for issue #37 and went home early so for 2007 I wanted to do my own thing.

NRAMA: Cool. What was the inspiration for Death Grub? Was it something that you've had in the back of your head for some time already?

RO: I knew I wanted an otherwordly-type of story, kind of sci-fi-ish. And it had to have a grub in it somewhere. That's all I came into that comic shop with in my mind to start working on.

NRAMA: Do you see it made into a series of mini-series or an ongoing someday? Or is it just a one-shot, something that you wanted to get it out of your system, to prove to everyone that you have it in you, that you could also write?

RO: I don't know. I have thought about maybe doing more with it, because there are some things I definitely liked about it. It has some fun ideas I could maybe expand on. But no plans yet.

I did want to get something out of my system for sure. I was dying to do something like this for a while. I can't wait to do more. But no, I still don't believe I can write. But I can make up weird crap, crazy fight scenes, odd creatures, and throw them all together and call it a story. I honestly don't think I can sit down and type a story out. I do it all in thumbnail sketches.

NRAMA: All right then. Who's this dude on the cover with the needles on his arms?

RO: That is the nameless hero. And those things on his arms are injections that give him certain powers like the ability to survive the vacuum of space for a time. He has a whole pouch full of them that allow him to do different things when needed. He gets out of a few predicaments thanks to those suckers.

NRAMA: Sort of like your version of Batman?

RO: Batman does that?!? Dammit. But no, he's nothing like Batman.

NRAMA: But Batman has those gadgets stuff in his pouch.

RO: Oh! Ha! Yes.

NRAMA: And speaking of superheroes, Invincible was supposed to be sporting a new costume and heading into a new direction with issue #51 this month, right? But only #48 hit stores this month. Can you give our readers an update on all things Invincible at this point in time?

RO: Yes, I can!

I gotta say, I was done with my art for issue #48 last year. I don't know what took so long but there was problem after problem with that thing. #49 is done. I'm working on #50 right now. And #50 is an extra long issue. I got tons of pages to work on for this one. Cory Walker has a 12 pager so the other 36 pages are all me and I also get inks from the radical Cliff Rathburn for part of the book. And so far this issue is great. I love where Robert is going with this thing.

And speaking of Cliff Rathburn, he also did the colors for the Death Grub cover and the interior grayscales. The dude is so multi-talented, it's sickening. He's also drawing Brit and grayscaling The Walking Dead at the same time he's doing all this other work.

I'm worried people are going to want 4 or 5 issues of Invincible a month now that they see I can do a whole issue in 24 hours. Guh! But it is a different style though. Much quicker and sketchier.

NRAMA: On the Death Grub cover, there's also something that looks like a reptilian/alien-looking tail in the background? That must be the "death grub" and your hero is trying to escape from being eaten alive?

RO: Yes That is the death grub.

This cover is drawn from a scene in the book. The death grub is going to a different planet and the hero was hitching a ride on his back but he gets left behind on an asteroid and has to figure out how to get out of that pickle.

NRAMA: That's just a scene from the book?

RO: Pretty much, yeah.

NRAMA: You managed to do this and more (of the death grub going around eating people) in mere 21 pages? All within 24 hours? So, what else could readers expect to see in the one-shot?

RO: Yep, all in 24 hours. More to see in this one-shot? Let's see, we got monster chicks, crowd swallowing, fight scenes with some near fatal karate moves, and fun.

NRAMA: A little something for everyone then. What other projects that you've got in the pipeline?

RO: No projects other than full time on Invincible, trying to get this book back on time.

NRAMA: Your plan for this year's 24 Hour Comics Day?

RO: I might do 24 Hour Comics Day again but really, I'm not sure. It's pretty draining and nerve racking. Too many amp energy drinks can make you feel horrible too, so I wouldn't recommend that.

We'll see. I might want to do it again closer to the 24 Hour Comics Day.

NRAMA: Time to go back to drawing Invincible now?

RO: Yup, back to issue #50.

NRAMA: What page are you working on now? C'mon, tease a little…

RO: Well, I'm working on the back-up right now. It's not part of the regular story. It's a 14 pager that Cliff will be inking. After that is done, I'll get to the regular story. I hope that makes sense. I doubt Robert would want me to get into specifics about what the back-up is, and who it's all about. Robert did post the first page on his website. It' has a younger Brit in it. So that's going to be awesome. Fans are gonna love this story.

NRAMA: Any chance of seeing the death grub in the Invincible pages?

RO: Ha! Funny you would say that.

NRAMA: I take it that it's a yes then?

RO: The current issue, #48, has death grub as one of the monsters controlled by Doc Seismic. A much smaller version, of course.

[Bill_Nolan]

Ryan is awesome. I'm really looking forward to this. Lots of fun energy in these 24-hour comics.

[CaptainTemerity]

24 Hour Comics Day is such a trial to get through, I admire Ryan for not only getting as much accomplished as he did, but also having enough of a coherent story to make it worth publishing.

I'll be checking this out!

[Blackbeard]

Ottley's awesome. I'm definitely picking this up... no doubt about it.

[Jason Copland]

Great looking stuff, Ryan!

[Tycarian]

Very cool to see a professionals stab at the 24 Hour Comic challenge. It's quite a challenge. I did it the year before last, and felt kind of the same way afterward...glad I did it, but no real need to do it again the following year. But I'll probably take a stab at it again in the future.

Ryan's stuff looks strong.

Some tips for anyone planning to do the 24 Hour Challenge in the future:
-Use some 9 x 12" bristol board or smaller comic paper...don't try to work on standard size comic art boards...you'll never finish in time.
-Try to find a comic shop that is sponsoring the event. It definitely helps to do it in the company of other artists, and you can't beat a comic shop in terms of reference material. Believe me, hour 18-19, you'll need some inspiration.
-Don't spend more than an hour on any one page...that includes penciling, inking AND LETTERING. Otherwise, you'll never finish.
-Two words: Red Bull

My stab at the challenge: http://www.clovenhand.com/webcomics/...-24-hour-comic

[PatrickWedge]

I'm onboard for this. Ryan's art is amazing. Great to see some pros taking up the challenge.

[titorini]

Is anyone else kind of disappointed to hear he's still in the middle of working on Invincible 50? I was hoping it would be out pretty quick.

[exultant801]

Originally Posted by titorini

Is anyone else kind of disappointed to hear he's still in the middle of working on Invincible 50? I was hoping it would be out pretty quick.

hopefully he will get back on track pretty soon. i have a lot of faith in him from his run of about 30 consecutive issues out pretty much on time.

love 'im!

[Grendel]

Dude, ryan has done alot of covers recently which may have set him back and I dont mind the wait for the issues being that everyone looks better and better. Cant wait for the grub.

[Nat Gertler]

It's good to see Ryan sharing this work with the world. There's a lot of fun stuff that gets created on 24 Hour Comics Day -- and this is a case where someone didn't even fully meet the challenge (by ending up with fewer than 24 pages), but like most folks who attempt it, got something out of it nonetheless (in this case, a publishable comic book in less than a day.)

And for those who say it's good to see a pro's work on the 24 Hour Comics Challenge, be sure to check out our books 24 Hour Comics, 24 Hour Comics All-Stars, and the 24 Hour Comics Day Highlights books for 2004, 2005, and 2006. There you'll find 24 hour comics (and quality noble failures) by Scott McCloud, Neil Gaiman, Paul Smith, Sveltana Chmakova, Frasier Irving, Lea Hernandez, Sean McKeever, Faith Erin Hicks, Tone Rodriguez, Chris Eliopoulis, Zander Cannon, Josh Howard, Christian Gossett, and more.

[Moris]

I've run out of ways to say this so here it goes:

I love you, Ryan Ottley. I love you.

[AlexLothos]

Very cool looking. Sounds fun!

[InBetween]

Sign me up for anything Ottley...

[Ed E]

Not only is Ryan extremely talented he's one of the coolest and nicest artists in the business. Count me in on anything WyA, too!