BY JENNIFER M. CONTINO It's going to be quite the culture shock for the Invaders when they are whisked from the past to the present Marvel Comics Universe. What will happen when those war torn heroes come face-to-face with the hard-nosed Avengers? In the pages of Avengers/Invaders from Alex Ross, Jim Krueger and Stephen Sadowski, that's just one of the subjects being explored. Sadowski said he was "very excited" to become a part of this project. But just how does he regard these heroes? How did he get to know them?
THE PULSE: This seems like such a cool idea: taking the Invaders from their WWII prime and having them meet the modern Avengers. How long did it take you to say "yes" when you heard this concept?
STEPHEN SADOWSKI: Well, I was originally kept slightly in the dark about it, being offered 'something' by Nick Barrucci and Dynamite (who is packaging the deal) that I would 'like'. Once he finally was able to tell me what it was, I was floored. Avengers has been my favorite Marvel comic for years and I was enjoying all the 'Disassembled/New Avengers ' stuff at the time ... it was VERY exciting!
THE PULSE: How big of a fan are you of the Invaders? I know you have a great appreciation for the Avengers ...
SADOWSKI: Well, I never really took to the Frank Robbins Art of the original run, but I always liked the team members themselves. I've always liked the 'sidekicks' and these were Marvels only ones! The WWII stuff didn't appeal much to me as a kid. I always wanted them to come into the modern day ... and look now get to draw them doing just that!! Whodathunkit!?
THE PULSE: How did you get to know these characters artistically? The Avengers have been rendered by hundreds of comic artists, but only a fraction of that number have drawn the heroes of the Invaders as a team....
SADOWSKI: I just started drawing and see what came out. I am using the same approach I do ALL my work. Just try to draw them as best I can, and do them justice. It was challenging working on say, Human Torch as there isn't a set idea of what he looks like facially in public consciousness, like say Wolverine or Spider-Man is. Once I saw Alex's sketches, it was also a little helpful in finding the character. But I also didn't want to just COPY what Alex has drawn. That kind of pressure would freeze me up. I used it as a launch pad, and just went with my instinct. I hope people dig it!
THE PULSE: Which members of the Invaders are flung through time to the present? I know Captain America is being used -- we've all seen the promos -- and I know the original Human Torch is a favorite of Alex Ross and Jim Krueger ...
SADOWSKI: It's the CORE group of 5 . Cap, Torch, Namor, Bucky and Toro. Union Jack and Spitfire are also in issue #1. I know there are plans for MANY more guests' appearances. So, you never know who might pop up! I'm personally hoping to see The Whizzer and The Destroyer. Hell, throw the whole Liberty Legion in there!
THE PULSE: Which member of the Invaders are you having the most fun rendering in these pages?
SADOWSKI: This is gonna sound so lame, but it's usually whoever I'm working on at that moment. It has been a blast working on them all. I suppose if I HAD to pick, drawing the Torches has been fun. Working out the flame patterns and stuff ... it's just so visually appealing.
THE PULSE: Which member of that team is the toughest for you to illustrate? What's making it such a challenge?
SADOWSKI: I guess Bucky and Toro, maybe? Drawing teens has always been a bit more difficult for me, and especially not really getting a CLEAR definition of his age. Sometimes Bucky has been shown to be looking 12/13 and more recently nearer to 17/18. According to the present Brubaker revisions Buck is a bit more of a hard-ass. So it's a bit of a challenge mixing in the 'Golly, Cap" Bucky, with what we are being told now. I am surprised though, at how much fun I am having drawing him, now. I think knowing what he will 'become' has made it THAT much more interesting to draw.
THE PULSE: Which members of the Avengers are going to appear in these pages? There are so many heroes who have been Avengers through the years ....
SADOWSKI: We are primarily working from the present day MIGHTY and NEW Avengers teams. Although I know there are plans for MANY more characters to appear, so ... I dont want to give away any of the surprises!
THE PULSE: This tale is supposed to be in current continuity. How much is going to be revealed to Captain America about his recent "fate"? Will the Avengers be taking care not to "spoil" anything that's still going to happen in the Invaders' lives?
SADOWSKI: Well, that there is a BIG part of the story. How WILL Cap take this information about what to expect in the future. How will Bucky or Namor see their future selves ? Needles to say, these are all interesting questions to see resolved!
THE PULSE: I imagine there might be some culture shock for all teams involved. What are you doing art wise to make the Invaders distinctive from the Avengers or are you drawing them in the same style so it seamlessly flows together?
SADOWSKI: I think it would be pretty jarring if the Invaders were to be drawn in a different style than the modern Age heroes. I am just drawing them as realistically as I can, keeping in mind that these characters are from a different TIME. I'm keeping in mind a sense of complete confusion. I don't want ANY of the Invaders to seem too comfortable in where they are ... hopefully some of that body language will come across...
THE PULSE: How long are you in the '40s during this story? How much research did you have to do for the art to look authentic to that time period?
SADOWSKI: Without giving away too much there is an opening sequence in WWII that I did some research on. I rented a specific episode of Ken Burns: THE WAR to help me with setting a specific scene, but I didn't want to get TOO bogged down in the 'accuracy' of the scene ... as long as it FEELS right, is what i think is most important.
THE PULSE: This is one of the highest profile projects you've worked on ... how does it feel to be involved in something of this scope?
SADOWSKI: It honestly is a really bizarre mix of absolute fear and excitement. It's always nice to be working on something that will be looked at by a lot of people. With that
ALSO comes MORE potential for negative reactions and criticism. All I can say is that I am doing my absolute BEST and I know I am doing the very best work I have ever done!!
THE PULSE: What kind of extra pressure - if any - do you feel working on this that you haven't experienced in some of your other projects?
SADOWSKI: Well, I think the biggest pressure is what I put on myself to just do as good a job in as timely a manner as I can. It's a huge undertaking for me, and it doesn't help that I have Alex Ross involved. Alex is a major influence of mine, so collaborating with him in a manner is both daunting and exhilarating.
THE PULSE: You've collaborated before with Jim Krueger and Alex Ross, how does Avengers/Invaders compare?
SADOWSKI: Mostly just the scope of this project. It's also SO MUCH fun to be working with him and The Avengers in the Marvel Universe proper. I love seeing his takes on these characters, tweaking them as only Alex can. Absolute pleasure.
THE PULSE: What do you think it is about these twelve issues that is really going to make this twelve-part story stand out in comic fans minds?
SADOWSKI: I hope it will be a really fun action/adventure story with some fun questions brought to these characters that we maybe haven't seen before. It's also great to have a full 12 issues to tell the story in a manner that isn't rushed or too compressed. There's some great scenes for these guys that we haven't seen too much of ... hopefully people will like what we are doing with it!!
THE PULSE: This project was announced almost a year ago. How far ahead in the art are you? When the first issue comes out, what issue will you be working on? Do you foresee any delays in the release of these issues?
SADOWSKI: I should be working on issue 4 or part of 5 when the first one hits. While you can never FORSEE delays, I certainly aim to make sure there aren't any!
The first issue of Avengers/Invaders should be in stores this May.
Posts: 20801 | From: PA | Registered: Aug 2002
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Looks great. I loved Frank Robbins' Invaders though. And yes, bring in the Liberty Legion!
Posts: 40 | From: Texas | Registered: May 2002
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What artist could live up to those awesome Alex ross covers? Sadowski can. I loved Frank Robbins' approach to the Invaders, but I'm glad Sadowski is doing it his way. His are was stunning on JSA and it looks like he's taken his pencils to a new level. (Those pencils!) I'm glad Marvel's given him an excellent inker and colorist. This is going to be some good stuff.
Posts: 12 | From: West Hollywood | Registered: May 2002
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quote:Originally posted by Rob Helmerichs: Why is this a Marvel/Dynamite co-publication?
As I understand it Dynamite is serving as a agent/packager in much the same way that an agent in the movie business would package a group of actors for a film project. Now of course this begs to question why Ross and company needs Dynamite to seal the deal in the first place but they're in there nevertheless.
Posts: 1837 | From: U.S.A. | Registered: May 2000
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