J.H.
Williams III has been working as a comic book artist since 1991.
He has drawn a lots of DC books like Batman, Batman Legends
of the Dark Knight, Green Lantern and The Flash.
He also co-created and co-plotted for its 10 issue run, Chase
for DC with D. Curtis Johnson and has realized a wonderful Elseworld
book dedicated to Superman named Son of Superman teaming
up with writer Howard Chaykin. Actually he is working on Promethea,
the Immaterial heroin created by Alan Moore for his ABC line. And
for his work on Promethea he has been nominated for an Eisner
award during 2000. Apart comics with a possible collaboration with
Marvel Comics, in JH Williams's future there will be television:
he and Chase writer D. Curtis Johnson are collaborating again on
a cartoon series named "Jimbo and Coatboy."
More info and news about JH Williams's projects can
be find at his site http://www.jhwilliams3.com
STARTING A CARRIER
ULTRAzine: When do you remember your first exposure to comics?
JH Williams: I’m not sure when my first exposure to comics occurred.
The thing I remember is that as a very young child I used to draw
comicbook heroes. I think that I used to do that not because I was
interested in comics but because the characters were colorful and
strange looking to me then.
ULTRAzine: When you have finally realized comics would be a carrier?
JHW: Actually I decided, when I was around age 11 or 12, that I wanted
to draw comics. This was primarily due to discovering some really
fantastic art in comics. I discovered artists like Michael Golden
and John Byrne. They were the first artists that made me realize
that somebody actually drew the comics I would read. Of course the
stories they drew captivated me as well. So I decide then that comics
is what I wanted to do and never changed from that direction. I
became very determined!
ULTRAzine: Which are your artistic influences?
JHW: I have many influences. Certain artists really do it for me.
I’m also influenced by film a lot.
ULTRAzine: Which artists you look to in these days? Or is a true fact that comics artists
don’t have enough time to read comics?
JHW:
Ha
ha. Sometimes I really don’t have time to read as much as I would like but I try
to read a lot of different types of comics. I
love comics. There are some really impressive artists and writers out there in this
industry. Far too many for me to list here but I admire them just
the same.
WORKING AS A PRO
ULTRAzine: You have worked on two modern icons like Batman and Superman: what do they represent
for you?
JHW: Exactly that, they are icons and you can’t help but feel something
for those characters especially while drawing them. They have a
great historical importance in the world of comics. When I draw
those characters my goal is to flatter them and do them justice.
I feel a sense of reverence towards those characters.
ULTRAzine: Apart your current works for the ABC line, you have
always worked in DCU. Do you like to go into other Universes or
the DCU is a comfortable place?
JHW: I think the reason I have done most of my work for DC is because
that is where I got my start. I do plan on doing something for
Marvel in the future. I also will be doing something for Humanoids.
ULTRAzine: Talking about Chase, your creation with writer D. Curtis
Johnson: which has been your feeling when the book closed? Will
we seen in the future some new Chase’s adventures?
JHW: Johnson and I were upset when chase had to be canceled but the
sales just weren’t there. We do feel though that the series was
gaining some momentum and if DC had allowed us to do one more storyline
I think that the series would have survived. There is definitely
the possibility that Chase will return. There are some plans afoot
involving Johnson and myself.
ULTRAzine: Image you can choose whatever characters you want: which will be your pick?
And why?
JHW: I would love to do a major run on Batman someday. I also would
love take a crack at Daredevil and Captain America or Nick Fury.
I can’t really tell you why, I just feel like I could do something
interesting with those characters.
JOURNEY INTO MAGIC
ULTRAzine: Let start talking about your work on Promethea. If
you have to present her - in these months in Italy will start a
bi-monthly book with all the ABC's series - what you'll say? Which
is for you the most important element of this new heroin?
JHW: I feel the most important element to Promethea is that the series sparks
the imagination. Also the elements of magic are very important as
well. These 2 things combined make for a very powerful and imaginative
story. There is a great sense of wonder when reading Promethea.
It does something to you when you read it.
ULTRAzine: In Promethea you are credited as co-creator (with Alan Moore): which has been
your contribution?
JHW: The main part of my contribution has been the visuals and designs.
I also have had some story idea input. Alan is very receptive to
any ideas on the story.
ULTRAzine: How is working with a world re-known comic master as Alan Moore? What you like
the most from his scripts?
JHW: I absolutely love working with Alan. It is definitely a dream
for me because he is my all time favorite writer. The thing I like
the most about Alan’s scripts is the detail. It inspires me to be
more detailed and thoughtful when doing the art.
ULTRAzine: The visual layout and design you have done for Promethea
are very original and powerful: how have you realized such visions?
Do you have put attention to some others works for inspiration?
I see a lot of Art Noveau in them mixed with the lysergic and psychedelic
manifestos of sixties-seventies!
JHW: Yes all of that is an influence but some of it comes from magic
as well. Also I really just let my imagination go when designing.
I feel sometimes it is best to just go with whatever comes to mind
at the moment of drawing the page. For me it is the best way of
letting the images be their purest. There is definitely something
magical about that.
ULTRAzine: Do you have some special Promethea project? or something
you dream to do with the character?
JHW: Actually no. We just want to see where the regular series takes
us. In lot of ways the series and characters write themselves.
So we are kind of along for the ride.
ABOUT COMIC ART
ULTRAzine: If you have to choose a comics book for a person who
never reads one and thinks comics are only teenager’s stuff, which
will be your pick? And why?
JHW: Promethea. I know this sounds like I’m beating my own drum but
I honestly believe that Promethea is beyond typical comics. Also
a lot of the European graphic novels from humanoids and other publishers
would be good choices as well.
ULTRAzine: In this period we have a lot of talking about the Web
as the new frontier for comics. Which is your opinion about?
JHW: I agree that the Web could be a great new frontier for comics. It definitely
has potential to reach a much bigger audience. But that is only
if you figure out a way for new people to look at the comics to
begin with. The Web isn’t going to magically make someone who has
never been into comics go to the Web and search them out. So there
is still a lot to solve here. But the Web has the potential for
new forms of comics. Which is very exciting. But also nothing can
replace the feeling of physically holding an actual book in your
hands and reading it.
ULTRAzine: Scott McCloud’s more fascinated idea is the possibility,
on the Web, to use a virtually “infinite canvas” in where the artist
can create free from the limitations of the page. Do you think it
could be an interesting project to create comics specifically for
the Web?
JHW: Yes I do. But I also feel that the limitations of the actual page can
inspire the artist to become more innovative, challenging the artist
to come up with new ways of storytelling. There is a lot to be explored
using the computer or the actual page. It just depends on personal
preferences or interests.
ULTRAzine: Comics on the Web could improve the comics language
and create a new way for visual storytelling?
JHW: Yes in some ways this is true. But I think that the Web will actually
end up leaning more towards animation than comics simply because
it is the next logical step from comics. So if you are working with
a digital medium like computers and the Web people are more likely
to go towards animation for the simple reason that they can now
do it relatively easy.
ULTRAzine: What do you think about the new on line cartoons -
for example the new Stan Lee’s characters or the series on icebox.com
which involved creators as Warren Ellis and Rick Veitch? Are they
in same way linked with comics or are only animation on the Web?
JHW: Actually I haven’t really taken a good look at what they are
doing. From what I understand is that Stan Lee media is doing Flash
animation. Therefore I think they are more interested in animation
than actual comics. It seems to me that they just want to get people
interested in their characters and are using technology to do this
instead of the printed comic. Which is fine if that is where their
interests are. Again it all depends on personal preference.
ULTRAzine: Is it possible to experiment in today comics field?
Do you think American readers has been educated to more sophisticated
comics than superheroes stuff or the general perception is comics
as child’s entertainment?
JHW: People outside the current comics readership really still think
that comics are just kids stuff. I really don’t know how to change
that perception other than some of the more sophisticated comics
becoming other forms of media such as film. For example Daniel Clowes’
Ghostworld is becoming a film. I think that this is great as long
as viewers of the film are clearly made aware of the original comic
version and in a way as to get them to be interested in the original
and that they might find something of value in it.
ULTRAzine: Which is your personal idea to improve the comics market
and escape from the crisis?
JHW: Advertising. There are all kinds of ads in the average comic for other
types of product. This could be done for comics in other types of
magazines outside of the comics industry such as music magazines
or entertainment magazines or even television. This would be expensive
to do right now but if there was a constant reminding presence in
the general public, I think it would pay off in the long run.
ULTRAzine: What will be the perfect comic for you?
JHW: One that would have worldwide recognition and stay in print for the rest
of my life.
[January 2001]
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