“Look at the way the rocks are coming up from the ground.”
For the masses, it’s just another comic book about 70’s superhero, Kamandi, one of the original DC Universe superheroes created by Jack Kirby who also helped create Captain America with Stan Lee. But for the then 8-year-old holding it, that book was so much more.
“That was the moment. The one that I discovered as a kid and decided I wanted to be a comic book artist,” said Bill Wylie, a comic book artist who worked at Marvel Comics from 1992-95.
With titles such as Web of Spiderman, Punisher, and The Secret Defenders in his repertoire, Wylie has had his hand in many popular Marvel comics.
There are many different jobs that contribute to the making of a comic book. Wylie is a penciler, a person who takes the scripts and creates the visuals.
“That’s what I think is the most interesting job in comics,” said Wylie.
He designs character looks and mannerisms. He also creates the action, drawing from real life in every aspect from fight moves to the specifics like how a tree splinters when falling to the ground.
Wylie has dozens of files with references from movies and magazines that he draws inspiration from.
Now living in Chandler, Ariz., Wylie is an instructor of comic book art at Glendale Community College and is about to give us a seriously cool lesson that will help anybody looking to get a start in or a boost in creating art.
He takes what looks like scribbles and turns it into remarkably detailed work. At first, it looks complicated, but it’s surprisingly simple to get started.
“The most important thinking to remember is that everything comes down to basic shapes. Cylinders, cubes, spheres,” said Wylie.
When he’s not teaching, he’s still creating. Right now, he’s working on a comic book series called Moses Militia. “Basically, inglorious bastards with superpowers,” said Wylie.
