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BY JENNIFER M. CONTINO Artist Cliff Richards is returning to familiar territory by working on an issue of the Greg Rucka penned post-Infinite Crisis series Checkmate. He described the job as a "piece of cake" and gave us some teasers on his future projects, one of which, Mars Attacks, might interest all the sci-fi fans in the house.
Richards said he enjoys doing fill-in issues. It's a nice change of pace and gives him a chance to play in several universes, instead of working in just one corner of the comics world. "I love working on fill-ins for my friend editors at DC Comics," Richards said.
"I like working in different styles," he continued. "I like working on a variety of books. I think the great deal is the variation of the characters, genres, and stories. It makes me have much more fun than working several months with the same thing time after time."
Checkmate was a project the artist didn't think long about accepting. "I said 'awesome' when I was called to work on this issue of Checkmate," Richards said. "I love everything about spy stories and it fits me like a glove. It's too easy working with Greg. He writes the story so well and that makes my job a piece of cake. Plus the contrast between politics and superheroes in Checkmate is great!"
"When I worked on the OMAC Project, I learned of Checkmate," Richards continued. "Most of the main characters here were in that book. So, it isn't hard to work on a project I know so well, although I haven't followed it in the Crisises."
The first two issues of Checkmate were drawn by Jesus Saiz and Richards said DC wanted him to try to create his fill in issue similar to the style Saiz established. "Editor Joan Hilty wanted something like what Jesus did on the previous issues," he said. "It wasn't hard to draw what she wanted. I like working with lots of dark shadows and that's what Jesus was doing."
"I enjoy working in various styles," Richards continued. "So when an editor asks me to do something special, I have no trouble - I'd rather have lots of fun doing something different from my other jobs. This issue was really enjoyable to work on. I think when an artist loves his work, the readers will enjoy it too."
Richards is a lifelong fan of comic books. He grew up reading and enjoying superheroes, but never dreamed he'd be working on them one day. "I never thought I would be one of their artists," Richards said. "So you can figure out how I feel about working in today's market: it's like living a dream come true. I really love what I do. It makes me the happiest man in the world. I hope to be a comic book artist the rest of my life. I hope to be drawing 'til the last day of my life."
"I’m already working on a new project named Mars Attacks," Richards continued. "Mars Attacks is an adaptation of the movie with the same name, published by Trepidation Comics. It tells the story of three friends fighting for their lives when Martians invaded Earth - lots of dark shadows and bloody carnage."
Richards' Checkmate issue # 3 is in stores this month. Keep checking back for more details on when Mars Attacks will be invading comic shops.
Posts: 21381 | From: PA | Registered: Aug 2002
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Art suggestion: white-out that damn eye patch on Green Lantern.
It looks stupid and cheesy, like the dread Aqua-hook. This does not give depth or character to Alan Scott (he doesn't need it). It looks like a cheesy swipe from Nick Fury.
An eye patch behind a frickin' domino mask. Lame.
Story suggestion: Give Alan Scott his cajones back. There's no way he would simply accept his subordinates slaughtering people. A HERO like Scott would simply do the mission himself--the RIGHT way.
Scott's just being used as the foil for a bunch of cliche tough-talk posturing (the cornerstone of this book's characterization).
I love the decision to use Alan Scott outside the JSA. But this book is off to a weak start in his case.
He's a HERO. Let him act like it.
Posts: 922 | Registered: Sep 1999
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Great Work there. It reminds me of Deodato.
-------------------- I never was a Space Ranger -------------------------- ...circus showing and as he watches the 12 year old on the trapeze, turns to his date and says "Yea, I've had my eye on him for awhile." eww Posts: 1243 | From: Calgary, Alberta, Canada | Registered: Aug 2001
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