As I have made no secret of, I am a huge fan of comic art and the different books that feature it. Some of my prized possessions are the art books of Alex Ross, Mythology (his collection of DC works) and Marvelocity (his collection of Marvel works). Most recently I added a book by Dan Panosian (Urban Barbarian Collected Works), and John Buscema’s Marvel Heroes Artist’s Edition. So, when it was announced that Clover Press and Marvel were partnering on some art books featuring more of their talented artists, I was there.
Starting off with two books: The Marvel Art of David Mack and The Marvel Art of Alex Maleev. The Kickstarter on both of these amazing books started on June 20th. Because of my excitement for these new books, I was fortunate recently to have the opportunity to sit with both of these talented artists to discuss their comic beginnings, some of their early work and most importantly, their new featured art books. So, let’s welcome David Mack and Alex Maleev to GVN’s Talking Comics.
The Beginnings
GVN: Thank you for sharing a bit of your time Gentlemen. Let’s start with a quick bit of your art backgrounds. Starting with you David. When did you take an interest in comic art and whose work inspired you to embrace that possibility?
DM: Thank you. As a child I read an issue of the Frank Miller / Klaus Janson Daredevil series. It had a big effect on me. A few years later I found the next issue and I was then mature enough to see the intelligence behind the visual design and storytelling. I then read an interview Frank and Klaus did in The Daredevil Chronicles about the creative choices they make in storytelling. They also cited Will Eisner as an inspiration, so I ordered his book as a kid called Comics & Sequential Art. I studied as much as I could, including the works and creative ideas of Alan Moore, Bill Sienkiewicz, and began creating my own comics as a kid. It was a joy to later write a Daredevil Story with Klaus Janson and Bill Sienkiewicz on art. Bendis and I co-wrote it, and we got to work directly with creators who educated and inspired us since we were kids.
GVN: Same question Alex, what inspired your love of art and eventually comic art?
AM: Growing up in communist Bulgaria was hard to be a fan of comic books. There just weren’t many of those awesome stories behind the Iron Curtain. My grandma used to tell me this cool German series called “Die Digedags” until I could read them myself. And there was this other intriguing one called “Asterix and Obelisk” written in French. Unfortunately, no one in my family spoke French, so those comics remained a big mystery to me. Still, I couldn’t help but be fascinated by the pictures and would come up with my own stories every time I looked through them.
When I was in my early twenties, Bulgaria was finally free from communism, and I had a chance to study abroad. I had to decide between going to the Joe Kubert School in Jersey or the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna. Considering my eight years of art training and my focus on Graphic Art in Sofia Art Academy, I eventually chose to go to the United States.
In the fall of 1994, everything changed for me within a few months of arriving in the US. One of my teachers took me aside and told me something surprising: I was ready to dip my toes in the big business. They gave me a phone number, and a name of an editor and set me on a journey that would unexpectedly shape my future. So, on a trip to Manhattan, I dialed that number from a pay phone, clueless about what was about to happen. Little did I know that I was calling Valiant Comics. Eventually, I got an interview, and with my portfolio in hand, I walked into that office, completely unaware of the exciting voyage into the world of comic art that was about to unfold for me.
GVN: So, David, you have been excelling in comic art for almost 30 years. Including work not only for Marvel Comics but also title work for Netflix’s Jessica Jones and Marvel Studios Captain America and the Winter Soldier (Still one of my favorite Marvel movies). How did those two opportunities come about?
DM: Thank you! This year marks 25 years since I wrote my first Marvel story starting as writer on Daredevil (and created ECHO aka Maya Lopez in that story). And 30 years since I began writing and drawing my first successful creator-owned comic series called KABUKI (which is what got me the offer from Joe Quesada & Palmiotti to take over writing on Daredevil (after Kevin Smith).
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
I created the art for the main titles of the Captain America: The Winter Soldier film, when a designer named Erin Sarofsky asked me to contribute my pitch for the visual look of the titles. We had met at a Design event in Barcelona called OFFFest that we spoke at. She was sending some pitches for the titles for the film to the Russo Brothers. She asked me to contribute a visual pitch design also, and if mine was chosen, that we would collaborate on it. Luckily, they chose my concept, and I was able to create the art for the film.
Jessica Jones
For the Jessica Jones Netflix series, Joe Quesada told me that they were trying to have people create the titles “In the style of David Mack” in the feel of all the original Jessica Jones covers I created. So, he suggested that they have David Mack work on it. We were nominated for the EMMY for that titles sequence.
GVN: When you want “the style of David Mack,” what would be better than the man himself. Wise move on their part. This one’s for you, Alex. Your comic art has featured a mix of media to great effect. How much experimentation went in to decide what worked best for your work? The results were always spectacular.
AM: Thank you. I’ve been on a wild experimentation ride with various media for a good ol’ three decades or so, practically every single day. I’m like a kid in a candy store when it comes to trying out different techniques and materials. Sometimes, I stumble upon these magical moments when the paint and paper dance together uncontrollably. I am merely pushing paint and controlling the chaos on the surface as much as possible.
Back in the day, when I was studying at the Bulgarian academy of art, my jam was printmaking, especially lithography and etching. It was a lot of black and white action, my friend. Working without color made me hyper-aware of how light and shadow play around with form and texture. Textures and shadows are the secret sauce in my art.
Ah, and then there was Photoshop, my trusty companion since the mid-90s. When I realized I could marry the app and the tablet I grabbed one of the first Wacom Ciniq tablets on the market, desperate to speed up my process. Photoshop is like a superhero tool, helping me sketch out compositions and try different options. It’s the scaffolding on which I build my art. It’s like having a secret weapon in my artistic arsenal.
And when the pandemic hit, I took a deep dive into watercolors. For me it was like a soothing, therapeutic experience. Those watercolors are unpredictable when they touch water. They create these mind-blowing textures that keep you on your toes. Plus, mixing different hues adds a whole new level of complexity while keeping the art light and fresh. It’s like adding sprinkles on top of an ice cream cone, pure goodness.
Nowadays, I’m like a mad scientist, working with all sorts of mediums—gouache, acrylics, pencils, oils—you name it, I’ve got it. I’ve opened up Pandora’s box of techniques. Each one has its own quirky personality, just waiting to be discovered. It’s like having a bunch of wild party animals at my art studio, and I’m the ringleader trying to keep them all in check. But hey, that’s the fun of it, right? Life’s too short to stick to one boring technique. Gotta mix it up, keep things spicy. And that’s how magic happens.
GVN: Outstanding. So, let’s get to the reason we are talking (besides how cool it is for me). Coming soon to Kickstarter, Clover Press and Marvel are collaborating on some great books featuring some of their talented artists. Debuting with your books. So, here is the million-dollar question for the both of you, starting with you David. With such an expansive career of comic excellence, how did you decide what to include in The Marvel Art of David Mack? Did you get to choose what was included or was it a collaborative effort between you, Marvel, and Clover Press? Any regrets for pieces not included?
DM: I’ve been sending my choices to Clover Press, Hank and Robbie, and editor Chris Stevens (who invited me on this project) is also suggesting his favorite images, but also the best storytelling sequences from my interior art as well. And we choose our combined favorites and then we get MARVEL’s approval. We are also able to include a percentage of brand-new work which is also very exciting! So, there will be a lot of brand-new work in this book! As well as all the favorite covers. From early Daredevil, Jessica Jones and Echo covers to my work on the Winter Soldier Film, and TV work for Jessica Jones, and more!
GVN: Same question Alex. How did YOU decide what to include in The Art of Alex Maleev and do you have any regrets about things left out?
AM: Considering the fact I never had an Art Book, I had numerous drives loaded with scans of covers, commissions and sketches. However, I opted for works from the last few years. Although, I did leave room for some more familiar art from the last 2 decades. Regrets? Yeah, I am not seeing the million dollars in my account for answering that question.
GVN: [Laughing] So obviously, a wicked sense of humor is also one of your talents, Alex. As a fan of comic art and these types of books particularly, I am excited to see this project. In closing, please tell your fans where they can go to follow this project and what will your fans find in The Marvel Art of David Mack and The Marvel Art of Alex Maleev campaigns.
DM: Yes, please go to the KS page here for the art books: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/cloverpressart/the-marvel-art-of-david-mack-and-alex-maleev2-deluxe-books?ref=4ycv2e. They will be open to order soon, and you can get on the list for notifications at that page. There is the art book, which you can also order signed, and with a remarque drawing. And there are limited edition portfolios you can select, and prints, and even original art paintings!
Thank you both for your time and sharing with us about your careers and your upcoming books. I can’t wait to check them out. This campaign opened on Tuesday, June 20th. Be sure to check it out. Lots of extras, including sleeves, dust covers, and of course, outstanding art.
Senior Writer at GeekVibesNation – I am a 50 something child of the 70’s who admits to being a Star Trek/Star Wars/Comic Book junkie who once dove head first over a cliff (Ok, it was a small hill) to try to rescue his Fantastic Four comic from a watery grave. I am married to a lovely woman who is as crazy as I am and the proud parent of a 18 year old boy with autism. My wife and son are my real heroes.