Broken Frontier

“I was very excited!” exclaims J. Scott Campbell, thinking back to the moment when industry-leader Marvel Comics offered him his own exclusive contract. “I’ve been a huge fan of all things Marvel ever since I can remember! And after ten years in the business, I’m thrilled to have some real fun with these characters I’ve loved since I was a kid!”

Campbell, the fan-favorite artistic force behind the ultra-popular GEN 13 and DANGER GIRL series, and the current project WILDSIDERZ, was roped into the Marvel stable by an offer he simply could not refuse: to work on a new, ultra-secret project alongside award-winning writer Jeph Loeb.

“That was a killer combination I just couldn’t say no to!” enthuses Campbell.

“I’m going to be working on my absolute favorite Marvel character right out of the gate. And I seem to also be getting quite a bit of creative input on the project, so I couldn’t be happier!”

The good feelings are mutual, when it comes to Campbell’s new partner, Jeph Loeb. “When I first came to Marvel,” explains the scribe, “Joe Quesada asked if I was interested in a certain character. I told him if we could get this ONE guy to draw it, I was in.”

“J. Scott Campbell has waited his whole life for this gig and I’m thrilled to be the writer who creates the story he’ll illustrate. We’ve talked about this project in general - too soon to talk about story - and, just as fans, we see the characters EXACTLY the same...as if we’re finishing each other’s sentences! Can’t wait to see what Jeff creates!”

“This is gonna rock!”

“Yes, Jeph and I have been brainstorming a lot about the overall tone we’d like to take with the series and which villains and guest stars we’d both like to see,” adds Campbell. “It’s in the very beginning stages right now, but I already love what we’ve been discussing!”

“I think the fans are in for a great ride!”

More details on the project to be revealed soon. Look to Marvel.com for all your super-heroic needs.

***

Fresh-faced writer and filmmaker Zeb Wells is a happy guy. He’s recently accepted an exclusive contract with Marvel Comics and is looking towards a bright and creative future with the industry giant.

“Axel took a chance on me and has always looked out for me.  Joe has always believed in me as a writer.  They’ve both pushed me to do my best work, and have put up with a lot of the growing pains of working with an inexperienced writer,” says Wells of his tutelage under Marvel professors and senior editors Axel Alonso and Joe Quesada. “On top of that, the Marvel Universe just feels like home.  In many ways the DC Universe is a place for mythic stories, where the Marvel Universe is a place to explore the sloppy imperfection of being human.  As someone with glaring imperfections and almost crippling flaws, I feel this is the place to tell my stories.”

“I didn’t see it coming at all, so it was very exciting, obviously.”

Wells, two-time winner of Wizard Magazine’s “Direct to Video” Contest, has been getting his feet wet in the Marvel Universe with work on SPIDER-MAN’S TANGLED WEBS, PETER PARKER: SPIDER-MAN, SPIDER-MAN: DOCTOR OCTOPUS-YEAR ONE, and NEW WARRIORS. He’s even dipped into the kid-friendly side of Marvel with MARVEL ADVENTURES: SPIDER-MAN and can currently be found putting words in the mouth of DOC SAMSON.

“Axel and I have been thinking of never allowing Zeb near Spider-Man ever again, just to see him cry!” chuckles Quesada, Marvel Editor-in-Chief. “But seeing how were just not that mean here at ol’ Marvel, we might consider letting him play with the webs again…maybe. If his adoring public demands!”

“Yeah, it's kind of weird that I'm still fairly green and have already gotten Spider-Man ‘out of the way’,” says Wells of his spider-obsession. “If I hadn't worked on him already,

I'd definitely be chomping at the bit to write him.  Axel once said that I have a tendency to write humorous stories with a heart of gold, and I think Spidey really let me indulge that compulsion.  I guess with Spidey well spoken for I'll have to develop some new tricks...”

There’s another recent project that Wells is also proud of. “FANTASTIC FOUR/IRON MAN: BIG IN JAPAN with Seth Fisher is unlike anything I’ve done, or seen done before.  It feels like an artistic success, as pretentious as that sounds.  And I’m immensely proud of the work Skottie Young and I did on NEW WARRIORS.”

“I feel like Skottie and I have just begun to tap what we’re capable of as a duo.  We both feel that there is so much more to discover and accomplish, and our plan is to work together as much as possible and shame whatever we’ve done together in the past.  I’d also like to do more stories geared toward the darker aesthetic I played around with in

SPIDER-MAN: DOCTOR OCTOPUS-YEAR ONE.”

Fans of that “darker aesthetic” may also be interested in a project or two that Wells would simply “die” for. “I have an idea for a Blade story I would literally give ANYTHING to write, and I think there’s something in Venom’s new status quo that could make great stories as well.”

***

Skottie Young, known for his unique and stylish art on NEW WARRIORS, HUMAN TORCH, ICEMAN, VENOM, SPIDER-MAN: LEGEND OF THE SPIDER-CLAN, and X-MEN UNLIMITED feels like he’s paid some dues with Marvel Comics…and now he’s going exclusive with the industry leader.

“I've been working with Marvel since 2001 and for them to offer me a permanent home for the next few years is exciting,” says he. “Knowing that I'm going to be doing projects with Marvel for the foreseeable future let's me put a little more energy into the creative process, and less on lining up my next project.  I'm looking forward to growing as an artist!”

Above and beyond comics, he has also been artistically involved with animation, toys, trading cards, and role-playing games.

When asked why Marvel is the type of company he can commit to, Young is quick to answer, and answer confidently. “There's plenty of reasons really.  There are some great characters at Marvel that I'd like to sink my teeth into, but mostly, working with (writer) Zeb Wells on a few more projects is what really hooked me in.  We had such a great time on NEW WARRIORS, and I just couldn't imagine not moving onto another project or company with out him.”

“Zeb and I really put our heads together and came up with a fun approach on that title.  I think the end result was exactly what we intended it to be.  This was also the first project that I controlled all of the art chores, pencils, inks and colors.  So, that was a fun challenge and a great learning experience.”

“And, like I said before, I've been working with Marvel for awhile already, so I feel comfortable with the crew up there.”

“The money is a nice touch, to...haha”

Marvel Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada has high praise for Young. “We’re probably overdue with showing Skottie how much he means to us at Marvel, but hey, better late than never! His work is a great example of the diversity in art styles we want to nurture here. He and it rock this House.”

Young is dreaming of future work, of course, and the vast library of Marvel characters. “First, I would give up a limb to bring back GENERATION X.  I'm not even kidding.  That book is the reason that I draw comics for a living.  It blew my mind.  Chamber, Skin, and the rest of the crew were so sick.  So, if I could just convince someone up at the House to throw me the keys that car, I could die a happy man.”

“Second would be Spidey and Venom.  I did a short run on Venom at the end of the last series and people seemed to like it.  I enjoy villains, and Venom is just nasty.  I think that is most def a character that I could try some new things on.  I'd love to start a new ongoing of Venom and just tear it up.  Or just get on Spidey book and flip it on its head.”

Still, for the present and immediate future, the young artist is pragmatic. “Now that the pressure of lining up new projects out in the world is gone, I can really focus on stepping up my game. NEW WARRIORS was a funny book, and the art matched that tone.  After working on that kind of art, I'm ready to get a little gritty, and dark.  I really want to deal with some heavier material.”

“I think that will help push me to find new places that I can take my art.”

***

Talented penciller Yanick Paquette echoes many other creators when he says that a Marvel exclusive fulfills a childhood dream.

“As a kid I always favored Marvel over DC,” notes Paquette. “But somehow, I’ve spent most of my professional life to this point at DC, greatly enjoying working on books like

TERRA OBSCURA and SEVEN SOLDIERS.”

“Still, my early days love for the X-Men was haunting me and when Marvel offered to join me in my dream and let me tackle these characters, I just couldn't resist.”

Paquette has worked for a bevy of comic book publishers, lending his unique, striking character work to such books as X-FILES, XENA, GEN 13, WONDER WOMAN, SUPERMAN, JLA, AVENGERS, and GAMBIT. He may be best known for his work on the aforementioned two volumes of TERRA OBSCURA, for ABC.

Marvel Fans looking forward to the upcoming universe-wide CIVIL WAR will find Paquette delineating CIVIL WAR: X-MEN.

Marvel Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada is happy to be part of completing on of Paquette’s professional goals. “Yanick’s a great guy, a fantastic artist, and someone who’s been toiling too quietly in the industry. He deserves to be up in the clouds with the rest of us at good ol’ Marvel…we’ll make a superstar outta him!”

The artist has previously stated that his three big art influences are Kevin Nolan, Adam Hughes, and Mike Mignola. “And many others from the old realistic school like Al Williamson and Hal Foster. I admire that old school a lot,” he adds.

Paquette is very optimistic about his new home at Marvel. “After years of drawing comics for a living, I’m going back to my childhood passion to renew my fervor and creativity for my work.”

Stay tuned to Marvel.com for word of Paquette’s newest Marvel Comics assignments.

***

Well-rounded artist Tommy Lee Edwards has sketched out an exclusive deal with the House of Ideas, industry leader Marvel Comics.

Edwards lush painted graphics and detailed illustrations have not only been admired by comic fans, but have also been devoured by followers of advertising, animation, movies, children’s books, magazines, and video games. In the comics world, his art has been glimpsed in and on THE QUESTION, BATMAN: GOLDEN STREETS OF GOTHAM, STAR WARS: EMPIRE, HELLBOY: WEIRD TALES, WHAT IF: DAREDEVIL, X-MEN, and X-FACTOR.

To coin a phrase, Edwards has “seen it all and done it all”.

In comics, I guess I'd have to say that I'm pretty proud of THE QUESTION miniseries I illustrated for DC,” he notes. “Rick Veitch wrote a great story and gave me the opportunity to really push the envelope in the realm of technique and storytelling.”

“Wow!” exclaims Marvel Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada. “Tommy’s been knockin’ our socks off in so many different mediums! Seems everywhere I turn, I see his gorgeous art...now, we got ‘im here at Marvel and our characters and covers have never looked better!”

“I feel great about the kind of work I'll be doing,” says the artist himself, commenting on his new contract. “And it also feels nice that people may actually see it. I was getting tired of putting my heart and soul into a project- only to have no promotion from the publisher, and no trade paperbacks. My deal with Marvel has the potential to be just the opposite. The other cool thing for me, is that the ‘exclusivity’ factor applies only to comics. It's important that I'm still able to work as an illustrator in the realm of movies, children's books, animation, and computer games.”

“I'm painting a pile of covers for DAREDEVIL right now,” he continues. “The main project I'll be spending this first year on is a five-issue series called BULLET POINTS. It's written by J. Michael Straczynski, and involves a huge chunk of the Marvel Universe. Some of the main characters are Reed Richards, The Hulk, Iron Man, Peter Parker, Steve Rogers, and Doctor Strange.”