MOTOR CITY COMIC CON: Interview with artist Ethan Van Sciver

Ethan Van Sciver is one of the most well-known artists in comics. Known mostly for his work on Green Lantern, Mr. Van Sciver has also worked on book such as Superman/Batman and The Flash: Rebirth. Mr. Van Sciver was nice enough to lend me some of his time at the con to let me ask him some questions I have been wondering and fanboys have as well.

Tommy Zimmer: Where did you grow up?

Ethan Van Sciver: I grew up in Camden, NJ, and now live in North Carolina.

TZ: When did you begin drawing?

EVS: I have been drawing since I was a little kid to make kids laugh and pass the time. Adults told me I was good, and when adults tell you that, you tend to want to continue on doing that.

TZ: What was your first big project?

EVS: My first big project was Cyberfrog published by Harris Comics. I do that for a few years, and I realized I wanted to work at DC. All the artists I admired worked there. So, I sort of realized that after awhile.

TZ: What was your first DC project?

EVS: My first book was Impulse, a book about Flash’s nephew Bart Allen.

TZ: Did they come to you to do it? Or did you come to them?

EVS: I came to them. I decided Impulse was the best book for me to break in on. I sent them art samples, and they loved it.

TZ: When did you begin working for DC Comics?

EVS: 1997 is when I began.

TZ: When did you meet Geoff Johns?

EVS: I met Geoff when he was doing Stars and STRIPE. We became friends, and eventually worked on a book together called Flash: Iron Heights.

TZ: When did you begin work on Green Lantern?

EVS: It was 2004 when I first began working on it. Geoff and I formed a partnership. Geoff was assigned to write the book, and it was determined I would be the best to draw it.

TZ: How did you want to draw Hal Jordon?

EVS: I wanted him to look traditional minus the haircut, and to recall to all the readers that the suit is made of energy.

TZ: How did you begin work on The Fury of Firestorm?

EVS: I had some ideas with the Firestorms being analagous to nuclear arms proliferation. They wanted to make sure my attitude was backing the direction of the book, and I also became the co-plotter.

TZ: Why did Gail [Simone] leave the book?

EVS: Gail left because of adapting to the story being told.

TZ: What does Joe Harris bring to the book?

EVS: Joe gets it.

TZ: What do have coming in the Green Lantern Annual you are working on with Geoff Johns?

EVS: It concludes Black Hand’s story, and starts Geoff’s new story.

TZ: What do have coming up?

EVS: I am working on a DCU original graphic novel with Gail Simone, and Geoff says he has some more stuff for me. It’s good to be open and flexible.

Thanks Mr. Van Sciver, and to all readers tune in the rest of this week as I post more interviews from MCCC.