Ex-Marvel artist: Despite characters’ movie fame, print still struggles
As the artist of popular Marvel titles such as “Captain America” and “Master of Kung Fu” some decades back, American illustrator Mike Zeck has witnessed growth and change firsthand in the comic book industry.
He helped introduce some changes himself, as penciler of significant projects in the 1980s, including the gritty “Punisher: Circle of Blood” miniseries; the acclaimed “Spider-Man: Kraven’s Last Hunt” arc; and the superhero team-up book, “Secret Wars.”
“It’s difficult to ‘plan’ success. While working on those projects, we had no way to predict how successful they would eventually become,” Zeck told the Inquirer in an e-mail interview. “I was lucky during my time at Marvel to work with the right writers at the right time. [Those] projects are still being discussed today and reprinted—which is gratifying.”
Zeck will be one of the guest artists in the AsiaPop ComiCon from
Aug. 26 to 28 at SMX Convention Center. He currently illustrates for toy companies.
“Around 15 years ago, I transitioned from the editorial side of the industry to the licensing/merchandising side,” he related. “That consisted of creating art for many of the DC Comics style guides and toy art for, among others, Mattel and Fisher-Price. That came with interesting challenges, as much of that art is produced digitally.”
Zeck, who also worked on covers for “Batman” and “G.I. Joe,” said that despite the mainstream recognition of comics characters through hit film adaptations, it hasn’t done much for comic books.
“Regarding the fan base for the actual comic books, it’s much smaller today than in the ’80s. The success of the movies seems to have a small impact on many comic book titles,” he said. “The large fan base is still out there, but comics conventions are benefiting more than publishers.”
These, he emphasized, owe a lot to the live-action movies. “These are great times for fans, guests and vendors. Multiple conventions on any given weekend fill up with fans of all ages, families and cosplayers, just as they did in the ’80s—then fueled by the comic books, now fueled by the movies. This has prompted me to jump back on the convention circuit after a long layoff.”
Among the action films and shows that Marvel has produced, Zeck has favorites: “The ‘Captain America’ movies. As a fan, Captain America was one of my favorite heroes,” he stated. “As a pro, I was lucky enough to be able to draw the character in his own title and elsewhere. I think the films have captured the essence of that character perfectly.”
He liked the latest version of the Punisher, played by Jon Bernthal, too: “I enjoyed his appearance in the second Netflix “Daredevil” series and think it’s a step in the right direction for that character.”
For those aspiring to become comic book storytellers, he advised: “Have a backup plan. Only a handful of aspiring comic book artists will actually break into the industry. Sad but true. That diploma or degree may be a lifesaver later in life!”
He added, “It’s not as easy to break in and, once you’re in, it isn’t as easy to make a good living [out of it]. It’s unfortunate that, given the popularity of the characters, the ‘print’ end of the industry still struggles.”
