UP & COMING: MING DOYLE

[MattBrady]

by Chris Arrant

While some of us may be delighted by the biggest and the most popular in the world of comics, we all realize that for every popular book, writer or artist there has to be a beginning. While there are many ways to success with each story finding its own route, there is one attribute that can be found in each one: talent. Up & Coming is a regular feature at Newsarama.com that seeks out the next generation of comic creators and profiles them today.

Currently working as a freelance magazine illustrator, artist Ming Doyle has taken the first steps into a career in comics with a short in TOKYOPOP's Threads Of Time Vol. 8, and work in several upcoming anthologies. She's also gained some acclaim online for a series of fan fiction comics showing her true fan colors as a fan of DC Comics.

For more, we spoke with her by email.

Newsarama: Thanks for talking to us, Ming. Let's start with your credentials – what comics have you got published in comics so far?

Ming Doyle: Not a lot. I did a backup feature for Tokyopop while I was still in art school which was a fun exercise in using way too many speed lines, and last year I came up with a short gag comic for Sina Grace's indie series Books with Pictures about a girl's quiet passion for imported sequential smut.

NRAMA: On your website you've got a series of comic fanfictions that are hilarious. What prompted you to do these?

MD: Oh, jeez. Some of the comics like Why Kids Love Green Arrow and Making Bizarros are more fanthropological pieces inspired by actual events than fanfictions. The former concerns my first (successful) trip to the New York Comic-Con with Brandon, where we met a kid who could only have been more emphatically, vocally supportive of Green Arrow if he was preparing to renew his vows to the man on the occasion of their golden anniversary. The latter is a verbatim exchange between Brandon and myself during a telephone conversation concerning Bizarro's ghastly origins.

We seem to find ourselves in all manner of nerdy situations. I haven't even drawn the encounter I had with a self-proclaimed "paranormal investigator" who was moonlighting as our cashier on a late night action figure run to Toys 'R' Us last Halloween! I was dressed as Batgirl at the time.

Lunky Beefhead is my only humorous comic featuring actual DC characters as themselves, but I've got a lot of love for it. I've got a lot of love for Clark Kent. I sympathize with his plight. Not his orphaned alien messiah plight, but his awkward around people sometimes plight. There's a lot to admire about the big galoot in free trade slacks with an earnest appreciation for semicolons.

NRAMA I see that you also have stories in two upcoming anthologies. Can you tell us about that?

MD: Sure! Both anthologies are being published by Image and should be out this summer. I handled full art duties on writer Tim Daniel's piece for PopGun Volume 2, a kind of freewheeling "mix-tape" anthology on the theme of not having a common theme. Our piece is therefore rather aptly entitled "Loner," and it's basically a spooky tone poem touching on love, estrangement, isolation and the endurance of a human spirit caught between classes at an average American middle school.

I also recently wrapped up pencils and inks for "The Waitress" by Rantz Hoseley in the Tori Amos-inspired Comic Book Tattoo (colors by Mark Sweeney, with Rantz pulling double duty as editor for the anthology proper as well). That'll be out in time for the San Diego Comic-Con.

NRAMA: Sounds like you just wrapped that up. What are you working on now?

MD: In terms of comics, a Western piece for another Image anthology, Outlaw Territory, and maybe a little something for Secret Identities, "the Asian American Superhero Anthology."

NRAMA: Ultimately, what do you want to do in comics?

MD: Draw superheroes a bunch! A few people have said that my style might be too "unique" for mainstream art, and I can appreciate where that viewpoint's coming from. But too unique for a billionaire in armored long johns, a woman made out of clay or anyone who's green or blue? Maybe, but I tend to think that their strange pulp and sci-fi roots are what helped many comics become so popular in the first place. Weeding out the weird can sometimes have the unintended consequence of killing what made them interesting at all.

That being said, bring on the Strange Doctors of Fate and the occult, the stage magicians, cranky underwater monarchs and mythological creatures. I'd love to develop or work on a miniseries dedicated to any of these lesser known distinctive dressers.

And like most other artists, I want to do covers. Preferably for one series over a sustained run. Nothing's more fun than building up a character's iconography and visual lexicon.

Ultimately, I want whatever I make to be good. I'm afraid I usually appreciate quality over quantity, which makes me think I should stick to the shorter, more self-contained stuff. Cool as he is, I couldn't get up and draw Batman every day of my life. I could, however, get up and draw him every day for a year.

And then there's original work, but I'm still figuring that one out.

NRAMA: Did you go to school any for comics, or art in general?

MD: I did. I actually took a beginning illustration course at RISD's summer program with Lucy Knisley back in high school, though neither of us ended up going there for college. I earned my BFA from Cornell University last year with a dual concentration in painting and drawing, and that's certainly informed my comics work. Since it was a fine arts program we didn't have classes in color theory or perspective or anything so useful as that, but we did do a lot of life drawing and were required to take at least five art history courses as part of our academic curriculum.

I also met one of my closest friends there, pop culture artist and enthusiast Brandon Bird. He's a great enabler when it comes to being a comics geek.

NRAMA: What do you do for a living now?

MD: Mainly freelance illustration for magazines, personal commissions and the occasional storyboarding or concept job. I love doing editorial work and covers even when the turnaround is just a matter of days. The pressure makes for a totally action-packed adventure, and I enjoy distilling a story or article into one singular image.

For more on Ming Doyle, visit her website at www.mingdoyle.com.

[UltimateMatt]

Wow, cool style. Very unique.

[Charlie Hustle]

I see a lot of variety in the way she draws figures and faces. Clearly she should be banned from comics.

[Corey Dalton]

Ming is a tremendous talent deserving of wider recognition, so kudos to Newsarama for recognizing her! Her redesigns of classic superheroes for the excellent Project Rooftop site (www.tencentticker.com/projectrooftop) are always amazing. And check out the art gallery for my recently completed young adult book (www.tilliemcgwinn.com) for an example of some non-comics work, too. Her depiction of my character Eve knocked my socks off.

[Mark Cardwell]

A friend of mine sent me a link to the great illustrations Ming did for Mike Moorcock's new Elric short in the 85th(!!) anniversary issue of WEIRD TALES, and I became an instant fan. She's great!

P.S. Get well soon, Mike.

[RantzH]

Ming well and truly rocks. I felt very blessed to have her draw The Waitress, 'cause I know she's going to be a monster in this nutty biz. Great to see the 'rama give her props.

[Xero]

Ming's stuff is simply amazing, and her story about the Batman Animated series and its influence on her is great. Been a fan ever since I saw some of her work on Project Rooftop.

I'd like to see her do a Sandman series, or something for Zuda.

[Mundungus]

I love her already. Her personality, perspective, and art style make for a great package.

I can't wait to see more work from her.

[capsulezone]

It's great to see Ming Doyle being featured here in Newsarama! She's a very exceptional artist, and I hope DC or Marvel will hire her in the near future!

[chrishaley]

It's always so amazing and exciting to me when I see someone that not too long ago I was talking to on LJ suddenly being featured on Newsarama.

Ming is an incredible talent and I'm sure there are nothing but good things headed her way in the future.

[gwangung]

In terms of comics, a Western piece for another Image anthology, Outlaw Territory, and maybe a little something for Secret Identities, "the Asian American Superhero Anthology."

Whoa. Utterly cool.

Gotta keep an eye out on her....

[Royal Nonesuch]

How awesome! I remember seeing her work on Project Rooftop, and was hoping to see her do some professional comic book work. I'm thinking she'll end up on a project for one of the big two sooner rather than later.

[GrifnSabine]

A friend of mine sent me a link to the great illustrations Ming did for Mike Moorcock's new Elric short in the 85th(!!) anniversary issue of WEIRD TALES, and I became an instant fan. She's great!

MIng's Elric illustrations are awesome! WEIRD TALES has been getting a bunch of great art lately, like Steven Archer's new Cthulhu series.

[tdaniel]

Now I can finally say, "I knew her when!"

Talent and brains in abundance, beauty too! Well she's better looking then Bendis anyway...and when folks say comics could use more females, I would think more accurately comics just need more people like Ming. What is unbelievable concerning Ming is “a few people have said that my style might be too "unique" for mainstream …but too unique for a billionaire in armored long johns, a woman made out of clay or anyone who's green or blue? Weeding out the weird can sometimes have the unintended consequence of killing what made them interesting at all.”

Exactly. The fresh perspective or new artistic slant can breath much needed life into decaying icons and typically serve to bring new readers into the fold because of the visual interest inspired by the particular artist. Essentially, artists like Ming are the very lifeblood of comics (new writers as well).

I am very proud and happy to have had the immense pleasure to work with her on Loner. She literally plucked images from my head and made them come to life with absolutely stunning beauty and authentic clarity. For more of Ming’s work on Loner coming up in the newest volume of Popgun – go here:

http://www.hiddenrobot.com/LONER/

Thank you Newsarama for being the first to shine the spotlight on a new major talent.

[breakfast]

Whoa, I always see her stuff on LJ. It's great seeing her recognized, I hope she maybe finds her way into one of the big two.

[Predabot1]

Wait... wait.. So, she's done some fan-comics with parodies of super-heroes and stuff like that, outside of her professional work?

Is that what those are, and the mentioning of Clark Kent plight etc?

I'll admit.. I am shameful... because I only skimmed trough the article.

Eh, whatever. Put her on Supergirl. She seems like one of the right girls for the job. And put James Robinson on scripting-duties.

I truly believe that Supergirl needs a female artist, just a feeling I have.

[PulpTone]

As others have already said it's great that Newsarama has spotlighted Ming's work. She's just an amazing illustrator that, in my opinion, isn't too "indie" for the "mainstream". And if she is well it's a loss to many many comic titles.

Fantastic work as always. Can't wait to see what she does next.

[MisterBlank]

Wow, i'm so glad i checked out this article.
Someone sent me the link to Ming's "Why Kid's love Green Arrow" short a while back and i remember that it absolutely made my day when i finished reading it.
I then checked out some of her other art work and was just blown away by it. Then i, like a fool, closed the window without thinking and couldn't remember the name of the artist for the life of me.
But now, thanks to this article, I have rediscovered Miss Doyle and will certainly remember to bookmark her website this time around!

That said, I would LOVE to see Ming drawing almost any book at Marvel or DC... or heck, any publisher for that matter.

I bet I sound like a blithering weirdo now.

Anyway, i look forward to seeing more of ming's work in the future!

[Paul M.]

Ming once wrapped me up in a blanket and saved me from a burning building.


She's pretty awesome.

[STL]

Very unique style. I like it. Real sense of atmosphere

[beta-ray]

Looks good! Hope to see more in the future.

[dryponder]

Ming's just the best! Over at P:R, we are consistently blown away by her incredible art and designs.

[Union Jim]

LOVE that Iron Man picture. The other stuff is awesome too, very distinctive, but that Iron Man pic is amazing!