Questionable Comics is a series where Dan Hill surveys professionals from every corner of the comics industry about their methods and experience. First up this week is seasoned comics veteran Duane Swierczynski, who has bylines with basically every major comics publisher and has most recently been doing work for Archie’s Black Circle imprint and just released a new novel, Revolver, out now from Mulholland Books.
What current projects are you working on?
Comics: The Black Hood, for Archie/Dark Circle [which just started season two, the first issue of which came out last week]. New novel: Revolver, for Mulholland Books. Also working on a creator-owned comic I can’t talk about a yet, as well as a movie treatment I can’t talk about yet, and TV pilot that was just optioned — but alas, I can’t talk about that either. (I suck at this whole “talking” thing, don’t I?)
Use one word to describe how you work.
Mayhem.
What’s your workspace like?
It’s literally an alcove in my bedroom. I work at a standing desk (after hearing friends rave about them). My walls are covered with these gorgeous maps of Philadelphia from Eyes Habit, and they’re a constant source of inspiration. (I’m a map nerd.) I work on a Mac, but also keep a bunch of notebooks, Post-It pads and a mug full of pens and markers handy on my desk. The mug was stolen from McGlinchey’s Bar back in 1993 and they still don’t know.
What do you listen to when you work?
Most often, when I’m deep in writing, it’s movie soundtracks (most recently: Morricone’s Hateful Eight, David Holmes, Cliff Martinez, Tangerine Dream). But I’ll also put on songs with actual words. Lately I’ve been listening to a lot of Bowie (like the rest of the world), Ween, Cage the Elephant and Prince’s last one (HITNRUN Phase Two).
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
Writing = ass + chair (courtesy one of my favorite writers, Joe Lansdale). Of course, I don’t use a chair much anymore. Fuck.
How do you get into writing mode?
Usually there’s a deadline breathing down my neck, so I just open the Word file or Final Draft file and just plow ahead. I’ve learned to stop worrying about nailing down a perfect line; I know I can always go back and fix it later (which I end up doing dozens of times). The goal is to keep moving forward, until I have anywhere between 1,000 to 2,000 words of prose, or a half-dozen comic script pages. Sometimes I can do this in an hour or two. Sometimes, it’s a day-long process.
A page from issue #11 of the new Black Hood series
Full script or Marvel Method?
Full script. I’m ashamed to admit, I really don’t know what the Marvel Method is (despite working for Marvel for a bunch of years.)
What’s the one thing you wish you could improve about your work?
There are so many things, it’s impossible to narrow it down to one. Every time I stand at my desk, I try as hard as possible not to suck.
When’s the best time to work?
Since I started doing this full-time, I work during the day, normal business hours (and often weekends, too). But when I had a day job, I used to be a night owl. And there was something magical about being up late, when the rest of the world is sleeping, and cooking up all kinds of weird stuff.
Who do you consider to be inspirational creators in your field (classic and modern)?
I like to fill my bookshelves with books that inspire me, so as I look around the bedroom I see a lot of Harlan Ellison, James Cain, Patricia Highsmith, Fredric Brown, Ed Brubaker, Raymond Chandler, Trevanian, David J. Schow, Warren Ellis, James Ellroy, Quentin Tarantino, Robert Sheckley, Philip K. Dick, Jean-Patrick Manchette, George Pelecanos, Neil Gaiman, David Goodis, Charles Willeford, Richard Matheson… I could go on and on, for days on end. And I’m sure I would leave out someone vital.
Brittany Peer is an up-and-coming colorist who has been turning in credits for Boom! and has contributed to Paul Allor’s Past the Last Mountain while working alongside star colorist Tamra Bonvillain.
What current projects are you working on?
Currently I am coloring Boom!’s Jonesy and assisting Tamra Bonvillain.
Use one word to describe how you work.
Diligently
What’s your workspace like?
Organized and open for the most part. I recently moved so it’s not cluttered yet! Although my filing cabinet has turned into a cat bed.
What do you listen to when you work?
I switch between watching shows on Netflix and listening to Spotify. A lot of my work music is upbeat or dramatic cinematic to keep me going! Sometimes I’ll listen to audiobooks if I’m having trouble concentrating though.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
Work in RBG and convert to CMYK. I tend to use effect layers quite a bit so when I was solely working in CMYK, those effects would either wash out or not show up how I wanted them to. By working in RGB, I can almost guarantee that what I’m doing will look how it is meant to once converted. Check contrast by occasionally filtering to black and white. Also, as a last minute check, change the background in photoshop to black to do so as well and change it to white to make sure your colors are vibrant and the page isn’t too dark.
How do you get into colouring mode?
I kind of always am, but if I’m having a difficult time staying focused or starting I’ll do a quick warm up or write a little to get my mind on task.
Brittany Peer joined the new series Jonesy with issue six.
What’s your favourite colour?
Seafoam green. Somehow never got sick of the color despite growing up near a beach where it was used everywhere along with Coral. Despite it being my favorite, I tend to mostly wear blues.
What’s the one thing you wish you could improve about your work?
I’m still learning so there’s a lot I’d like to work on haha. I tend to work with a lot of vibrant color pallets so getting more experience with muted or limited pallets is one of my goals.
When’s the best time to work?
Whenever I am awake. My schedule gets pretty wonky when I’m on a deadline, but I prefer starting to work in the morning when I can.
Who do you consider to be inspirational creators in your field (classic and modern)?
I’m terrible with names so the list may be short, but I find so many talented colorist inspiring it’s hard to keep track of them all! Tamra Bonvillain, Jordie Bellaire, Rico Renzi, Matt Wilson, Nick Filardi, Kurt M. Russell, Paul Reinwand, Elizabeth Breitweiser, and so many more.
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