CANNON & KOI Aspen's Newest Big Gun - Most people by now have probably heard the name Koi Turnbull - the newest artist to join the Aspen studios team. But, for those of you that haven't, let us welcome you with a proper introduction. While Aspen has been quite busy lately with several projects for DC comics, other operations inside the studio haven't stopped. Hard at work on the upcoming Fathom spin-off mini-series, Cannon Hawke, Koi has been doing everything but relaxing since moving to sunny Los Angeles. So, I recently sat down with Koi over a cup of tea to get a few answers to some long over due questions. Q; Koi, quick now -- Define The Blue, The Black, and in four separate parts, the relationship to Aspen, Kiani and the events leading up to - just kidding. Let's try and make this a bit more of an easygoing interview. That way, by the time your tea is done, you can get back to your drawing board. To begin with, are you new to the comic industry? Fill us in on where your artwork has been seen before. KOI: I'm not totally new to the industry. I've worked some with both Marvel and DC comics. First with Marvel, then DC, and now Aspen. I had also done some background and assistant work with Walter McDaniel and Adam Pollina. How my style is right now, is pretty much a combination of both of those guys' influences on me. ROZ: What was your first published work? How did you feel about the final product when it was released? KOI: It was What If #112 from Marvel. I loved the storytelling and the design of the panels, but the actual drawing of it…… ehhh. I feel I could have done better on that end. I can see a lot of the problems I had back then, that are all worked out now. Even with this current Aspen work though, I'll look back in three months and see the things I could have done better. I'll always continue to try and learn to do things better. ROZ: Are there any other books you worked on that you're proud of? KOI: Young Justice #8 was a good book for where I was in my career. Another one, from a drawing perspective, was Purgatory #0. That one was fun because I finally got to draw women how I wanted to, and story wise, I got to move the camera around. Looking further back, the past book I'm most happy with was a book called ExParte from Lone Star Press. ROZ: How and when did you first meet Michael, Frank, Peter, and the rest of the Aspen crew? KOI: At the 2003 Wizard Chicago Con. I had gone there for work instead of fun, and was looking to get an assignment and build new relationships. I remember seeing the [Aspen] booth, and my first thought was, "Hey Aspen… nice booth," but not too much else. The last day I thought, "It couldn't hurt," so I showed my pages to Peter. He said some nice things, and then called Frank to come over to check it out. They liked my art more than I realized. At the time, I honestly wasn't familiar with Aspen studios. I knew of Michael Turner. I knew what work he did, but Fathom just wasn't a book that I checked out much. Later on that evening I saw Frank in the lobby and he said, "Koi, make sure you call me next Tuesday." Out of everybody there at the show, they were the only ones that actually expressed interest in what I could do. ROZ: What work did you show them? KOI: I brought black and white sample pages of art that I had just finished. Every convention I attended before that, I brought the same old stuff that I had done before. But, going to Chicago, I brought my newest work that was totally different from what I had ever done. I put a lot of time and effort into those pages, and I am here now because of it. ROZ: So after the convention how did things progress? KOI: I called Aspen and had a phone conference with Michael, Frank, and Peter. I thought in my head, "Wow, this is real." They asked me if I was interested in coming out to Los Angeles for two weeks, and I jumped at it. I never had an offer like that in my life. I figured that once I got out there, I would see something. What, I didn't really know… I'd never been, but had always wanted to go to California. I had no real expectations, but wanted to see the place where supposedly 'dreams and magic are made'. I just had this good feeling to go, because I didn't have anything to lose. ROZ: What was your first impression of everything Aspen had to offer? KOI: I thought it was the most unprofessional-- ha ha, no nothing like that! Actually, it was quite the opposite. I'm very interested in 'locals', and try to take notice of backgrounds, having to draw them and all. To me, I can tell what type of an environment a place has to offer by looking at what's lying around. You can get a good impression of how things are done with the way people treat the space around them. A mess can be a person's thoughts. I knew what type of people I would be dealing with by the way each person's spot was, along with how they presented themselves. Also, right when I got there, I just had the urge to draw. As soon as I could, I sat down and went to it. On a personal level, I met a bunch of cool people and got a really good vibe from everyone. There was a definite feeling of a great creative environment. I'm pretty quiet with people that I just meet, but I found good hospitality from the people I was staying with. We played football on the weekend, and went out to dinner as a group. I was however, prepared to go back home. But, like I said, I felt a good environment and so far I have not been let down. Each person showed me, in their own way, that they just want to be and do their best. One might come across some clashes because of that, but if you look at it as just two people that just want the best things, then that's actually a pretty good situation to be in. ROZ: Being the first new artist hired since Aspen studios started, did you find yourself with a lot of pressure placed on your shoulders? KOI: Uh-uh. No pressure. You just do what you got to do. I was prepared to go home, but I came out here to do well. I knew that the only person that could not get the job was me. I just told myself, the only person that's going to decide who is going to get this job is you. Do what you do best, and whatever happens, happens. ROZ: Has your approach to tackling storytelling and comic pages changed since you've been working in studio? KOI: There definitely was a change. Before I got out here, in terms of camera movement, I was only interested in just telling a story. The stories I was used to had more talking heads, so things tended to be more static. I could only move the camera in so many angles without losing the reader. Here, I feel the stories are more like big budget films, so the shots tend to be trickier. They have to be catchier to the eye to create the speed and drama that we are going for. Mike has helped me out with moving the camera to different levels and different perspectives, so that way its not just one bland page. It doesn't become just a flat page of panels. I'm having a lot of fun with figuring out and playing with the different shots. ROZ: What was your first assignment here at Aspen? KOI: This Cannon Zero issue actually. This was the first book that I started working on. I jumped on to the Cannon: Beginnings book, but this book was actually the first assignment given to me. It was also my first time learning the 'work in progress' with Mike, which is very hands on. He was there a lot, (even sometimes when I didn't want him to), but it was a learning experience the entire way. We actually sat down and created the story together. We decided what was going on the page and wrote where Cannon and Taras were going to end up. ROZ: Can you tell us some about this new Cannon project that you're working on? KOI: Well the Beginnings book leads more into the upcoming mini-series. The zero issue actually contains more of an underlying theme that we want to present throughout the books run. Cannon Hawke is going to be a mini-series, and then after six or so issues I might jump on another project for a while. It helps to keep the energy fresh, which I really dig. I get a chance to know the character, know whom they are, and what they are thinking. ROZ: How much did you know about Cannon Hawke? What have you learned about him now that you didn't know before? KOI: Coming into the project I didn't know jack about him! No, actually when I read the Fathom series, his character was the one that just drew me in. He was the character that had the most depth, the most mystery, and seemed the most adventurous. He has a lot of traits to him that deserve to be explored. We'll see in this mini-series just how important Cannon Hawke is to the Fathom universe. We'll learn what his motivation behind looking out for Aspen Mathews is, and what his involvement with both The Blue and The Black are. His role is in fact three parts: He is looking out for The Blue; the humans; and also The Black's interests. Through the course of the series, we'll see exactly what he is responsible for and we'll cover all the levels of his character. ROZ: What were the challenges you encountered when drawing Cannon and Taras? KOI: It's funny, because I immediately connected to Taras. Immediately, because a lot of the struggles he is going through, I feel I've gone through or know people who have. Taras represents a lot of what I went through when I was a kid. Knowing you can help people, but for some reason, your methods may not be the exact way that others see as the right way to go. That's how I see Taras. He's that misunderstood person. He has the best intentions, but not the best way of going about them. Now Cannon, Cannon took a minute because I had a lot of questions to who he was. I wanted to figure him out. In terms of his facial features, I had an idea of what Mike had, but I believe that if your going to draw something you have to put yourself in there somewhere. I didn't have a good connection to him, but when I understood the responsibility factor of being a diplomatic to three civilizations, I could relate that to my life. Whether with my family, friends, or in comics, the role to take is a very diplomatic one. Everybody from different parts of the world have different feelings that you get from stories, and as a penciler, just like a diplomat, you have to translate a story so that everyone can understand it. Cannon is a diplomat and has to use his words carefully, so that everybody can understand. It's going to be tough. I mean really tough, as you'll see in the series. A war could be caused over what he says. You're going to see just how hard it is. ROZ: How do you feel about drawing Cannon now? KOI: I like him a lot more now because I figured out how I want to represent him. I wanted to nail his look and how he carries himself, even his walk. Where someone would normally have their head down, he'll always have his head up. Keeping confident, and staying brave throughout things. His eyes, his smirks. I like him a lot better now, that I feel like I know him. ROZ: How does the way you first drew your pages of him compare to the pages you turned in this morning? KOI: There is a definite progression. You'll feel the character fill in the role of himself, just as I'm filling in the role of being this guy's storyteller. My approach to penciling has changed since moving here, and page by page I feel like I am learning something new. How I drew Cannon on page one of this book is different over what I just drew yesterday. I really enjoy the way I am progressing, and translating all the new things I've learned onto the page. Bear with me everyone, because you won't be let down. ROZ: We've covered the male characters. How do you feel about handling the art chores with Aspen Mathews, Kiani, and Akiko? KOI: Well, Akiko, I can't wait to delve into her character. She is going to be the main lady behind Cannon in this mini-series, even more so than hinted in past Fathom issues. Every man needs a good woman with him, and she is that woman. Akiko's part bookworm and a little bit of a tech nerd, but at the same time, she's not. She's interested in Cannon as more than just a coworker, friendship relationship. We'll see how she handles certain situations, and watch her develop into a very interesting character herself. Kiani is a strong female. If things aren't going right, damn it, she'll go out there and fix it! If she is given a task, she will go out there and get it taken care of. I like that about her. She has her own mind about how things should be done. Aspen I am still learning. I like to get into the minds of each character because I think that's the best way to give the character life. In other books, the penciler might have the person just sitting there, and there is no sense of life in them. With Aspen, I haven't had the opportunity to look at her situation or figure her out, but I am looking forward to getting that chance. Plus, I know Cannon and her will be crossing paths again. ROZ: Quickly, define Cannon Hawke for us. KOI: Confident, responsible, loyal, diplomatic, charismatic, and even romantic. He has the traits that can get the job done. I think readers will be able to relate to him because of these traits, and they will see him utilize them to the fullest. ROZ: Without sharing too much, give us a hint as to what we can expect in Cannon? KOI: You can expect some death defying adventure. Romance. Seduction. Yes, even some seduction. More importantly, you'll see another side of the Fathom universe because of Cannon Hawke's involvement in the three different parts of their world. Certain secrets that you won't find in Fathom, you'll find out here in this mini-series. Some very exciting things will be revealed. Cannon will be tackling a lot of the questions that readers have, and many that even Aspen in Fathom hasn't answered yet. So, this book is for adventurers that can enjoy a cross between the Discovery Channel, and that of a highly explosive action oriented blockbuster film. ROZ: Who are some of your favorite artists out there that you think are really carrying the comic art form forward? Who and what influence your artwork? KOI: I know you already know a major one. You're even writing his name before I say it aloud but, Carlos Pacheco. People who I feel care about the industry and not just in an artistic sense are… Pacheco, Bryan Hitch, and Brian Stelfreeze is another. Walter McDaniel showed me a whole other way at looking at comics. We could sit here forever saying names. Jim Lee, obviously. He's making some strong business moves, as well as doing amazing things in the books he's putting out. The David Mack's, and many independent level artists, I feel truly care about the industry and what they are doing. They're coming out on their own with new ideas and different types of books. Enki Bilal from France, who put out and sold 400,000 copies of a book in one month at 14.95, is someone to take notice of. I'm really into graphic novels, and I recently finished reading a book called BlackSad. Other people like Jack Kirby, Milton Caniff, Noel Sickles. Plus Rick Davis and Jackson Guice. They helped me out when I was fourteen years old, and they still help me out now, and I'm twenty-seven. ROZ: What published characters do you feel you identify with the most? KOI: I love Static, of Static Shock. I really feel like we're a lot alike. We both had [dread] locks too. I just recently cut off my own locks because of the environment that I live in now. Los Angeles is a new and different place, and I feel that I got the most out of my experience with my 'locks. ROZ: Besides comics, what takes up a lot of your time? What types of movies and music do you enjoy? KOI: I really love music. All kinds. I have XM radio and work to music everyday. I love R&B and the new soul movement going on. I like Jazz, Rock, Blues, and music with emotion. I also like influential movies. I loved Belly by Hype Williams, Love Jones, and Boomerang, which were all important films to me. ROZ: How does a regular workday go for you now since joining the Aspen staff? KOI: Well, when you're working on a professional comic book, doing a page in an hour doesn't impress anybody. Some days, it will be twelve or sixteen hours to get a page done. Lately, I have been on a seven a.m. to twelve a.m. kick. Seven in the morning until twelve at night, and if I can't get it done then, it carries over into the much later night. It takes a long time to get a good-looking page done. The bottom line, I expect nothing but the best out of myself. You could turn in a page in four hours, but people don't want that. I don't read books that look like they were done in four hours. I want passion behind the work, and for that passion to show up in the work itself. ROZ: What would you like fans to get out of your work? KOI: Emotion and Action. Both of those will be put in the book. Also, a sense of adventure. Those three go hand in hand and I feel really make a good comic book. When I'm done, you'll feel like you've traveled the world side by side with Cannon Hawke. ROZ: Any closing words? Anything you would like to say to aspiring artists out there? KOI: Work hard because, it does pay off in the long run. It does pay off. Spend a week on a page. Make the time and spend a week on that page and you'll eventually work out your kinks. When you hand in your samples, it should be the best work you can do. Speed will come with experience. ROZ: Finally, are you familiar with Tasseography? KOI: What the hell is that!? ROZ; You leave all but a teaspoon of tea and whirl the cup three times clockwise leaving the loose leaves on the sides of the cup, and then note the shapes that appear. What reading did you get? KOI: With the two spots there it sort of looks like… a smiley face.