PHIL HESTER TO APPEAR ON EXTREME MAKEOVER: HOME EDITION

[MattBrady]

by Daniel C Hartman

Phil Hester is a renaissance man. Not only is he known for his penciling prowess, but he’s gained quite a reputation in recent years for his work as a writer also.

Hester, who is drawing Marvel’s upcoming, The Irredeemable Ant-Man, and is the acclaimed scribe of The Coffin, can now add interior designer to his ever growing resume.

It’s something the Iowa native didn’t know he would be doing until recently when he was contacted by producers from the ABC television program, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, which is in the midst of tour of all 50 states.

Hester shared with Newsarama just what brought the show to his home state.

“A farm family's home burned to the ground, and in an effort to keep the farm (not easy these days under normal circumstances), they lived in tents and campers. When the show learned one of the boys in the family was a comic book collector they contacted Scott Wirth and the Iowa Comic Book Club (who really went above and beyond) for ideas about how to make his room special,” Hester said.

“Scott mentioned I lived nearby and that it would be cool to have a real live comic book artist help design the room. Jinnie Choi, one of the shows producers, called me up. We shot some ideas back and forth and away I went!”

Hester said that when the show got in contact with him, things begin to come together very quickly.

“I think they contacted me about ten days before the completion date, but most of our time was spent shooting ideas back and forth. I didn't actually get on site and down to business until the Thursday before the Sunday reveal,” he said.

As to why he got involved with the show with his busy schedule as both a comic book creator, and as a father of two, Hester said his reasons were both personal and professional.

“I can really identify with the kid, I was that kid- a comic book collector from a very rural, somewhat isolated part of Iowa. Comics were a refuge for me. I thought it would be a good way to foster his interest in the hobby and also good exposure for my work specifically and the industry in general. Plus, it was fun,” he said.

The family of the boy that the show is designing the room for lives on a farmstead about six miles outside of the small town of Gladbrook, Iowa and about a mile outside of the town of Lincoln, Iowa, which Hester described as “really, really small.”

One thing that Hester said he noticed during his experience with the show, is that everyone involved with it were all business.

“I spent a lot of time working with the producers, like Jinnie, and some behind the camera artisans like Nancy Hadley, who is a super talented - and a good friend of DC editor Joan Hilty,” he said. “The on camera person I worked with most was Paige Hemmis, the designer with the pink gloves, for all you regular viewers,” Hester said. “I also did on-camera segments with Preston and Ty [Pennington, the show’s star].”

Hester said the thing that surprised him the most, was the amount of actual work done by the stars of the show.

“They really got involved in even the smallest details. Paige was especially interested in our project and really took a hand in getting it done,” he said.

Did the comic creator share any screen time with the aforementioned Mr. Pennington though?

“He came in for a little on camera thing while I was working in the room. Of course, once they edit it together all you'll probably see is the hot dog package-like back of my neck for five seconds.”

Hester said that his time working with the cast and crew was fun, but it was hard work too. So he got a little bit of help from some friends.

“I was there about three days, but they were grueling days. Once I got on the site I realized it was more than a one man job, so my cartoonist pals came to the rescue. Brook Turner (with whom I'm doing a book called Golly! for Markosia) and Aaron Gillespie came out Friday and Saturday to pitch in. We had a blast, but rarely did we leave before one a.m.,” He said.

The show and Hester also got help from some of his friends behind the scenes too to replace the comics that the youngster lost in the fire.

“On top of what we did on site, we, along with the ICBC, put the word out to local retailers who almost unanimously offered to help. Krypton Comics really went out of their way to deliver all the way from Omaha. Spud's Emporium out of Ottumwa really did a lot, too. I'm sure the ICBC has a better record of who pitched in. I don't want to leave anyone out.”

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition can be seen Sunday nights on ABC at 8 pm. The episode featuring Phil Hester is scheduled to air on November 5th. Check your local listings for the “Kibe family/Iowa” show, or www.abc.go.com/primetime/xtremehome/index.html for more info on upcoming shows.

[skinnyboy23]

That's great.

[Ye Olde Iowa]

I've said it before and I will say it again, Phil is one of the nicest guys in the industry. I've had the pleasure to meet him twice (once at Wizard World Chicago where he did an awesome sketch for me and once when he came and spoke at my town's library) and he is honestly one of the most down to Earth people I've met in the comics industry. He took the time to chat with my girlfriend and I for quite a while at WWC as he worked on other sketches, and we both came away really impressed (especially after meeting some real jerks). It's really not surprising that he would help out on such a great cause.

I'm glad to hear that others rallied around helping out the family member that lost his collection. Much like the situation with Lea Hernandez, its amazing to see the comics community come together.

I look forward to seeing Phil on EM:HE in November. Way to make Iowa proud!

[KyleV]

That's awesome.

My girlfriend actually works on the show in post-production -- I'll tell her to push for more Phil Hester screen time when they edit it!

[Kolimar]

Originally Posted by skinnyboy23

That's great.

I couldn't agree more.

[NightRiver]

Thats awesome. I watch EM:HE everysunday to unwind. Yes, I watch a show that turns me into a crying wussy to unwind.

I knew that sooner or later there would be a comic book them room. Congrats to Phil and crew, ill be looking forward to the episode.

[avengingtitan]

I dont usually watch this show but I'll be sure to mark it on my calendar.

[Thomas Rhymer]

Phil Hester. I'm still missing this guy's work on Green Arrow. The art never reached his level again. (Sigh) Nostalgia!

He nearly caused me to add a Marvel title to my pull list (Ant-Man), but ... I just have to economize.

[Kolimar]

Originally Posted by MattBrady

Hester, who is drawing Marvel’s upcoming, The Irredeemable Ant-Man, and is the acclaimed scribe of The Coffin, can now add interior designer to his ever growing resume.

Comic book creators and their work in other fields. What do you think?

[connorfan]

This is really cool, I've never seen the show but if I can I'll watch this one. Phil Hester is a cool cat.

[tiso_spencer]

I'll watch it for sure on Nov. 5th.

[Spaz_Monkey]

So awesome for Phil. His work on Green Arrow made him one of my favorite artists in a loooong time. Sheer awesomeness. And now, all the things he's doing for this kid? You just can't beat that.

Keep up the good work Phil, on and off the page!

[GOSD]

Originally Posted by NightRiver

Thats awesome. I watch EM:HE everysunday to unwind. Yes, I watch a show that turns me into a crying wussy to unwind.

I knew that sooner or later there would be a comic book them room. Congrats to Phil and crew, ill be looking forward to the episode.

You big sissy.

Phil, you're a classy guy.

Thanks for representing us well.

[Bane122]

Wonderful news. What time does the show air?

[xmen510]

This is cool. I will definately watch this episode.

[dchart1]

Originally Posted by Bane122

Wonderful news. What time does the show air?

Bane, you're in the Eastern time zone I presume, so 8 pm your time and for the Westcoast. For those of us in the Central and Mountain time zones, it's on at 7pm on Nov. 5th and on ABC.

[Mike Thompson]

Great job, Phil. It's very nice to hear about good things like this.

[Ken B.]

So shall we expect to see a Green Arrow, Nightwing or Ant-man on the wall?

Nice job Phil. It's a good show and it'll be nice to see a comic person on it now.

[Mike Bullock]

Way to go, Phil!

[O.J. Flow]

I don't think I can watch an episode without at least one time or another getting choked up.
Can't wait to see this!

[Disco Cookie]

This show makes me want to stick daggers in my eyes. Maybe it's an American thing but it all seems so fake and over the top to me. Anyone read how they choose families for the makeovers - they literally have a wish-list of ailments and tragedies and if you meet their criteria, you're in. It's Touched By A Home Renovator...

But Phil Hester rocks and despite my misgivings over the show, I'll have to keep an eye out for this episode. Miss him on Green Arrow. Miss him on Nightwing.

[Book of GOB]

I met Phil (and Brook Turner) at WWChicago this year, and this doesn't surprise me a bit. They are great, down-to-Earth guys.

I've had the very cool pleasure of having Phil's art grace the cover of a book I worked on (Markosia's Smoke & Mirror). That was cooler to me than seeing my own stuff in print. Great job, Phil. I'll be tuning in on Nov. 5th.

-Shawn McGuan

[1logan]

That really is cool!

Hester would be a great artist for a ROM Spaceknight revival.

[EMeadow]

Ok, now I'm waiting for ABC to give Phil Hester an exclusive play or pay contract.

First he's on Who Wants to be A Millionaire, now he's on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.

GET HIM A SUPPORTING ROLE ON BOSTON LEGAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[majorjoe23]

Whoa, when was Hester on Millionaire?