Post by wenxina on Feb 3, 2010 10:04:33 GMT -5
Hey all!
Rules are simple: Maximum of three (3) questions per member until I submit your questions to Jeanty. I will post a note to let you know when I send off questions to reopen the floor. As always, there is a possibility of a delay, so thanks for your patience. Keep it clean, keep it civil. Simple right? Entries are welcome until I post a closing post. ALL QUESTIONS THAT MAY SPOIL TWILIGHT'S IDENTITY FOR THE UNINFORMED MUST BE POSTED IN SPOILER TAGS[/SIZE][/B].
Anyone who's reading this and not a member, I'm accepting questions at wenxina@slayalive.com. Feel free to send me your questions and I'll add them to the queue with credit to you.
Alright... GO!
1. AndrewCrossett: There's a star in the upper left corner of the Twilight symbol. Is that supposed to represent Venus, the "evening star," which also symbolizes women?
Georges: Nope. That emblem is important and it does represent something which will come around in the last arc written by Joss.
2. bamph: This new arc from Brad Meltzer is very superhero centric. As an artist who has worked in the superhero genre, most recently on the Manhunter co-feature in Batman: Streets Of Gotham, what has it been like bringing the extreme superhero aspects to Buffy in Meltzer's arc and have there been any challenges as a result?
Georges: It has been great to mix it up! Brad is a big comics fan as you well know, and he's a big Buffy fan, so a comic about Buffy almost begs the superhero element. I know Brad has been loving his run in this season. And he's gotten some meaty stuff to write about! The only real challenge that I kept running into was how to make these characters feel real while they are stepping into this superhero element. Willow was a problem like that for me in the beginning. It was established that she has really grown into her Wicca powers but I tried to stay away from making her look too cartoony or comic book-ish when she's doing her thing. It has been real important to me to make sure these characters have a sense of realism while they are going through their adventures.
3. bamph:
Georges: It's a nice close up of his face, so it's pretty prominent. I spent a lot of time and a lot of faces trying to get that right. What I like most about that issue is that you find out when Buffy finds out. It would have been an amazing reveal, and still will be to those who haven't seen the spoiler. It's such a shame. It would have become the page that went down in Buffy history with its reveal. I'm still upset that it got leaked.
4. bamph:
Georges:
5. wenxina: Hey, is that Scythe gonna show up again anytime soon?
Georges: It will. More about that later.
6 moscowwatcher:
Georges: There's gonna be a whole lotta both. I don't want to spoil it, but you might want to bring a rain coat...
7. moscowwatcher:
Georges: That is a good question. He is called Twilight for a reason...
8. woundeddwarf: I have a question about the rectangular text boxes on some of the pages. The boxes are outlined in different colors and I want to know if the different colors are used as a way for the reader to know which character the text inside the box is associated with.
Georges: That is right. When you have a lot of characters in a scene and there's a lot of talking, (like in most Buffy stories) it gets hard to keep track, so you have to color code.
9. AndrewCrossett: Buffy's outfit in this issue seems to be based on Jenny's from "The Doctor's Daughter" Doctor Who episode. Any particular significance to that choice, or was it just a tribute?
Georges: I was wondering if anyone would notice. Yes, it is a direct homage to the Doctor's Daughter! When I saw that episode I was 99% sure that Russell Davies, a huge Buffy fan, made her very Buffy-like to pay homage. SO I was just returning the nod. I'm so happy someone noticed! She doesn't have the most distinct costume! Major points for you, Andrew!
10. wenxina: Okay, I know you're in the biz and all, but when Brad Meltzer said that he wanted that "death trap" machine thingamajig, did you know exactly what it was that he was referencing, or did you have to do a lot of research for that?
Georges: What death trap thingy? I referenced a lot for that issue but I don't remember that.
11. wenxina: Your work in this issue was particularly good, the best from you in a while (yeah, I said that last issue, but then I read this one). Has the pacing been a little more relaxed (considering that the script for #35 wasn't in yet as of a couple of weeks ago... is it in yet? Yes, sneak question!) to allow you do spend more time on each issue lately?
Georges: I wish! I am on the same hectic schedule as before. If the work looks better, I don't know what to say. Maybe there was something more from the inker or colorist? I have been pouring my heart into these last issues. I hope it's coming across. Also, I think I'm at that point where I'm pretty comfortable with drawing most of these characters. Just as we get to the last issue of Season 8 I will have nailed it their likenesses! Doesn't that always happen?
12. bamph: The new issue has lots of comic bookish moments and geek nods. Was there one you enjoyed the most?
Georges: I was really geeking out when I read the script! It was such a joy to read what Brad had written. Brad's a great writer, but also when he was writing the Buffy scripts he wrote it more as if he was talking to me specifically. A lot of writers do that when they know who they're working with, and a lot of his writing was more for me and as a result, very funny. There wasn't one thing that stands out, maybe the nod that he did to Kitty Pride where Buffy doesn't understand her power. That was nice (because we all know Buffy and Kitty's relationship).
13. bamph: Your covers for this whole arc are homages to famous comic book covers.
Action Comics #1 for #32
Amazing Spider-Man #289 for #33
Action Comics #568 for #34
Uncanny X-Men #138 for #35
Do you have a personal favorite? Which was the most fun to draw and the hardest or most challenging?
Georges: They were all fun to draw, but I guess I would have to say the first one is my favorite purely for selfish reasons. Issue 32. That Action Comics homage has a cameo on the cover of me, Joss and Scott Allie, the editor. I just got the idea to put the 3 men who have been on this book since the beginning. Thinking about it now, I should have put Brad in there too, and the Assistant editors who also work on this book, maybe the next one.
14. bamph: I asked this of Scott in his chat that's occuring right now but I want your thoughts too since you debunked it through wenxina and it was someone claiming this to be your work.
Back when the shows were on the air we had foilers(fake spoilers) that fans put out there but I think this was the first time that we had something like this with the comics.The exception being the authorized foiler page of vamped faced Angel that Brian Lynch had Franco Urru draw and release to hide the surprise that Angel would be revealed as human in Angel:After The Fall.But that was put out by the publisher to hide a story point from leaking early.
Can you give your thoughts on someone putting out that fake page and claiming it was drawn by you and what was your reaction when you found out about it from wenxina?
Georges: I thought it was great. As an artist I'm totally into that 'flattery is the most sincere form of compliment.' Just the fact that someone put that much work into it impresses me. As a fan I picked up on it right away as being an image from Season 7's second to last episode “End of Days”, so right away I knew I hadn't drawn it and just forgotten. While I use references, I try not to trace anything directly from the show.
15. wenxina: Do you intend to make any more cameos in the series? I'm of course referring to your cameo (and Joss and Scott's too) in the #32 variant.
Georges: I don't like to do that too much because then it becomes expected and then you feel obligated to do that, and I never want to take the reader too far out of the story. If you have to stop every issue and do a “Where's Waldo?” that becomes stagnant. I'm not against doing it and I do put things in from time to time as you well know, but it's more when inspiration hits rather than getting a new issue and asking 'where can I put stuff?' I like keeping it organic. Joss is even more so iffy about that sort of thing. While he's not against an homage he doesn't want the book to become a parody of itself. I remember back in the first issue cover with Buffy fighting that monster with teeth, I had put on Buffy's shirt the Serenity ship marking. Joss allowed it but said not to do that too often, which I can understand. That, and one of the characters reading a Fray comic, are the only things that I really thought Joss would veto.
16. wenxina: Heard you turned in all the covers for the rest of the season. Is there a particular one that you're really proud of? And this one is an off the cuff question... can we see it? Unfinished or otherwise?
Georges: I haven't finished all the covers yet, but I'm close and I want to really thank Dexter Vines, the inker on most of my covers for doing me a huge solid and inking them when asked. I think issue 36's cover will be one fans will either praise or bash. It's an homage cover, but not to comics.
17. wenxina: Now that you've started on #35 (perhaps completed?), can you tell us which of Brad's issues have you enjoyed illustrating the most? Why is that?
Georges: I like them all. Really, it's all one big story the issues that Brad is doing so I never really looked at them as single entities. I will say I am really proud with the way Issue 33 and 34 came out artistically. It was good story telling and I feel like I really amped up an already good script to a point where you the reader will enjoy the visuals. And #35 should be done in the next couple of days).
18. wenxina: Are there any conventions that you'll be at, or plan to be at this year?
Georges: I will be hitting as many as I can. I'll be finishing my tour on Buffy by the end of the summer so I will be doing more shows come the fall. But more recently I will be attending Mega Con down in Orlando Florida in March, along with the Phoenix show in May. Check my site from time to time to see updates on Conventions: www.kabalounge.com
19. wenxina: Speaking of conventions, which ones do you enjoy more than others, and why?
Georges: I love all the shows. I really like talking to the fans, not because I need the praise but because I'm a fan too and it's always nice to be around your own kind. Starfury is a company that does shows in the UK and they have been amazing! Definitely the shows I have partied the most in! Dragon Con is a great show because it has a little bit of everything as well as a strong Buffy presence. Maybe that's a question I can ask all of you? What are the best cons to do from a Buffy slant? Let me know and I'll try and get booked there!
Rules are simple: Maximum of three (3) questions per member until I submit your questions to Jeanty. I will post a note to let you know when I send off questions to reopen the floor. As always, there is a possibility of a delay, so thanks for your patience. Keep it clean, keep it civil. Simple right? Entries are welcome until I post a closing post. ALL QUESTIONS THAT MAY SPOIL TWILIGHT'S IDENTITY FOR THE UNINFORMED MUST BE POSTED IN SPOILER TAGS[/SIZE][/B].
Anyone who's reading this and not a member, I'm accepting questions at wenxina@slayalive.com. Feel free to send me your questions and I'll add them to the queue with credit to you.
Alright... GO!
1. AndrewCrossett: There's a star in the upper left corner of the Twilight symbol. Is that supposed to represent Venus, the "evening star," which also symbolizes women?
Georges: Nope. That emblem is important and it does represent something which will come around in the last arc written by Joss.
2. bamph: This new arc from Brad Meltzer is very superhero centric. As an artist who has worked in the superhero genre, most recently on the Manhunter co-feature in Batman: Streets Of Gotham, what has it been like bringing the extreme superhero aspects to Buffy in Meltzer's arc and have there been any challenges as a result?
Georges: It has been great to mix it up! Brad is a big comics fan as you well know, and he's a big Buffy fan, so a comic about Buffy almost begs the superhero element. I know Brad has been loving his run in this season. And he's gotten some meaty stuff to write about! The only real challenge that I kept running into was how to make these characters feel real while they are stepping into this superhero element. Willow was a problem like that for me in the beginning. It was established that she has really grown into her Wicca powers but I tried to stay away from making her look too cartoony or comic book-ish when she's doing her thing. It has been real important to me to make sure these characters have a sense of realism while they are going through their adventures.
3. bamph:
Angel's reveal as Twilight is coming next issue and Scott Allie said it happens on page 12. What was it like for you drawing that page knowing how much it will mean for Buffy fans?
Georges: It's a nice close up of his face, so it's pretty prominent. I spent a lot of time and a lot of faces trying to get that right. What I like most about that issue is that you find out when Buffy finds out. It would have been an amazing reveal, and still will be to those who haven't seen the spoiler. It's such a shame. It would have become the page that went down in Buffy history with its reveal. I'm still upset that it got leaked.
4. bamph:
This is sort of a follow up question to one I asked last month. Last month I asked about Buffy leaning into Angel more than Spike in issue 3 and whether this was setup for Twilight being revealed as Angel since it would hurt Buffy so much.
You replied that it was more aesthetic and not really a setup per se and that in your opinion," it's no secret that Buffy loves Angel more than Spike so having her lean into him just made more sense."e
Now in his interview last month at CBR about Twilight's identity being spoiled, Joss confimed he has plans for Spike and most are assuming he'll be showing up before season 8 is over possibly in the final arc. Without getting into spoilers for any upcoming appearances or plotlines in the comic. Based on your viewing of the show only, how do you see Spike's role and relationship with Buffy in comparision to Angel's role and relationship with her plus last month you talked about the challenges of drawing Angel, do you see similar challenges coming in having to draw Spike?
You replied that it was more aesthetic and not really a setup per se and that in your opinion," it's no secret that Buffy loves Angel more than Spike so having her lean into him just made more sense."e
Now in his interview last month at CBR about Twilight's identity being spoiled, Joss confimed he has plans for Spike and most are assuming he'll be showing up before season 8 is over possibly in the final arc. Without getting into spoilers for any upcoming appearances or plotlines in the comic. Based on your viewing of the show only, how do you see Spike's role and relationship with Buffy in comparision to Angel's role and relationship with her plus last month you talked about the challenges of drawing Angel, do you see similar challenges coming in having to draw Spike?
Georges:
Was that a question or a dissertation? Okay, let's see if I can get some of this. Spike and Angel's relationship with Buffy resonates on two different levels, I think. Let me make it simple. Angel is Home and Spike is the Cabin in the Wood (How to you like that plug?!) Angel is where Buffy lives but there are times when she just has to get away to the Cabin for a while, y'know to clear her head, or when she's not feeling right about herself. That's what I think, anyway. Also, you assume Spike is coming to Season 8 and further assume that I've drawn him.....
5. wenxina: Hey, is that Scythe gonna show up again anytime soon?
Georges: It will. More about that later.
6 moscowwatcher:
In the upcoming issue have you tried to depict Angel as Buffy's nemesis or as her sweet romantic love? Were you drawing your inspiration from Angel scenes or Angelus scenes?
Georges: There's gonna be a whole lotta both. I don't want to spoil it, but you might want to bring a rain coat...
7. moscowwatcher:
Is the surrealistically orange coloring of the sky on several battle panels in issue 30 an aesthetic choice or a necessity to keep Twilight on the battlefield without making him go poof?
Georges: That is a good question. He is called Twilight for a reason...
8. woundeddwarf: I have a question about the rectangular text boxes on some of the pages. The boxes are outlined in different colors and I want to know if the different colors are used as a way for the reader to know which character the text inside the box is associated with.
Georges: That is right. When you have a lot of characters in a scene and there's a lot of talking, (like in most Buffy stories) it gets hard to keep track, so you have to color code.
9. AndrewCrossett: Buffy's outfit in this issue seems to be based on Jenny's from "The Doctor's Daughter" Doctor Who episode. Any particular significance to that choice, or was it just a tribute?
Georges: I was wondering if anyone would notice. Yes, it is a direct homage to the Doctor's Daughter! When I saw that episode I was 99% sure that Russell Davies, a huge Buffy fan, made her very Buffy-like to pay homage. SO I was just returning the nod. I'm so happy someone noticed! She doesn't have the most distinct costume! Major points for you, Andrew!
10. wenxina: Okay, I know you're in the biz and all, but when Brad Meltzer said that he wanted that "death trap" machine thingamajig, did you know exactly what it was that he was referencing, or did you have to do a lot of research for that?
Georges: What death trap thingy? I referenced a lot for that issue but I don't remember that.
11. wenxina: Your work in this issue was particularly good, the best from you in a while (yeah, I said that last issue, but then I read this one). Has the pacing been a little more relaxed (considering that the script for #35 wasn't in yet as of a couple of weeks ago... is it in yet? Yes, sneak question!) to allow you do spend more time on each issue lately?
Georges: I wish! I am on the same hectic schedule as before. If the work looks better, I don't know what to say. Maybe there was something more from the inker or colorist? I have been pouring my heart into these last issues. I hope it's coming across. Also, I think I'm at that point where I'm pretty comfortable with drawing most of these characters. Just as we get to the last issue of Season 8 I will have nailed it their likenesses! Doesn't that always happen?
12. bamph: The new issue has lots of comic bookish moments and geek nods. Was there one you enjoyed the most?
Georges: I was really geeking out when I read the script! It was such a joy to read what Brad had written. Brad's a great writer, but also when he was writing the Buffy scripts he wrote it more as if he was talking to me specifically. A lot of writers do that when they know who they're working with, and a lot of his writing was more for me and as a result, very funny. There wasn't one thing that stands out, maybe the nod that he did to Kitty Pride where Buffy doesn't understand her power. That was nice (because we all know Buffy and Kitty's relationship).
13. bamph: Your covers for this whole arc are homages to famous comic book covers.
Action Comics #1 for #32
Amazing Spider-Man #289 for #33
Action Comics #568 for #34
Uncanny X-Men #138 for #35
Do you have a personal favorite? Which was the most fun to draw and the hardest or most challenging?
Georges: They were all fun to draw, but I guess I would have to say the first one is my favorite purely for selfish reasons. Issue 32. That Action Comics homage has a cameo on the cover of me, Joss and Scott Allie, the editor. I just got the idea to put the 3 men who have been on this book since the beginning. Thinking about it now, I should have put Brad in there too, and the Assistant editors who also work on this book, maybe the next one.
14. bamph: I asked this of Scott in his chat that's occuring right now but I want your thoughts too since you debunked it through wenxina and it was someone claiming this to be your work.
Back when the shows were on the air we had foilers(fake spoilers) that fans put out there but I think this was the first time that we had something like this with the comics.The exception being the authorized foiler page of vamped faced Angel that Brian Lynch had Franco Urru draw and release to hide the surprise that Angel would be revealed as human in Angel:After The Fall.But that was put out by the publisher to hide a story point from leaking early.
Can you give your thoughts on someone putting out that fake page and claiming it was drawn by you and what was your reaction when you found out about it from wenxina?
Georges: I thought it was great. As an artist I'm totally into that 'flattery is the most sincere form of compliment.' Just the fact that someone put that much work into it impresses me. As a fan I picked up on it right away as being an image from Season 7's second to last episode “End of Days”, so right away I knew I hadn't drawn it and just forgotten. While I use references, I try not to trace anything directly from the show.
15. wenxina: Do you intend to make any more cameos in the series? I'm of course referring to your cameo (and Joss and Scott's too) in the #32 variant.
Georges: I don't like to do that too much because then it becomes expected and then you feel obligated to do that, and I never want to take the reader too far out of the story. If you have to stop every issue and do a “Where's Waldo?” that becomes stagnant. I'm not against doing it and I do put things in from time to time as you well know, but it's more when inspiration hits rather than getting a new issue and asking 'where can I put stuff?' I like keeping it organic. Joss is even more so iffy about that sort of thing. While he's not against an homage he doesn't want the book to become a parody of itself. I remember back in the first issue cover with Buffy fighting that monster with teeth, I had put on Buffy's shirt the Serenity ship marking. Joss allowed it but said not to do that too often, which I can understand. That, and one of the characters reading a Fray comic, are the only things that I really thought Joss would veto.
16. wenxina: Heard you turned in all the covers for the rest of the season. Is there a particular one that you're really proud of? And this one is an off the cuff question... can we see it? Unfinished or otherwise?
Georges: I haven't finished all the covers yet, but I'm close and I want to really thank Dexter Vines, the inker on most of my covers for doing me a huge solid and inking them when asked. I think issue 36's cover will be one fans will either praise or bash. It's an homage cover, but not to comics.
17. wenxina: Now that you've started on #35 (perhaps completed?), can you tell us which of Brad's issues have you enjoyed illustrating the most? Why is that?
Georges: I like them all. Really, it's all one big story the issues that Brad is doing so I never really looked at them as single entities. I will say I am really proud with the way Issue 33 and 34 came out artistically. It was good story telling and I feel like I really amped up an already good script to a point where you the reader will enjoy the visuals. And #35 should be done in the next couple of days).
18. wenxina: Are there any conventions that you'll be at, or plan to be at this year?
Georges: I will be hitting as many as I can. I'll be finishing my tour on Buffy by the end of the summer so I will be doing more shows come the fall. But more recently I will be attending Mega Con down in Orlando Florida in March, along with the Phoenix show in May. Check my site from time to time to see updates on Conventions: www.kabalounge.com
19. wenxina: Speaking of conventions, which ones do you enjoy more than others, and why?
Georges: I love all the shows. I really like talking to the fans, not because I need the praise but because I'm a fan too and it's always nice to be around your own kind. Starfury is a company that does shows in the UK and they have been amazing! Definitely the shows I have partied the most in! Dragon Con is a great show because it has a little bit of everything as well as a strong Buffy presence. Maybe that's a question I can ask all of you? What are the best cons to do from a Buffy slant? Let me know and I'll try and get booked there!
