MacDirectory magazine is the premiere creative lifestyle magazine for Apple enthusiasts featuring interviews, in-depth tech reviews, Apple news, insights, latest Apple patents, apps, market analysis, entertainment and more.
Issue link: https://digital.macdirectory.com/i/1176476
MacDirectory: What sparked your interest in comics? Charlie Adlard: One of my earliest memories was when I was about six years old - way back in 1972 - and my father bringing home a copy of the Mighty World Of Marvel #1 (a UK anthology reprint of classic early Marvel comics). I remember being so excited as he entered the living room with "something" behind his back. God knows why he thought THIS would be my thing… but it was the catalyst to everything that came after. At roughly the same time, I was introduced to the comic series Asterix, via my father [again!] regularly filling up at a petrol station where they had a promotion for the comic books. Of course I demanded he fill up at that station and no other, so I could keep getting more volumes. At that early age, little did I know that I was being fed US comic books from one side and French " Bande Dessinees" from the other. I s till have equal love for both countries comic output to this day… and remain a serious Asterix fan, to the point of being asked to contribute to the Asterix 60th anniversary book this year - a real honor! MD: And how about your drawing skills? When did that start? CA: I was drawing and doodling before these two momentous occasions in my "art" life, but those two incidents firmly put me on the path to where I am today. Over time, and since becoming a professional over 25 years ago, I've experimented with a lot of different techniques. From my default classic pen and ink style (The walking Dead), to charcoal and chalk on grey paper (White Death), to fully painted art (Judge Dredd and Armitage for 2000AD), to pure line work (Rock Bottom), through to digital art (Vampire State Building). MD: Which techniques do you feel most comfortable? CA: I jokingly say that I'm the classic jack of all trades - master of none type. But, I do think that's true. I do flit around a lot, but never settle down on one single way of doing things, which probably DOES mean I've never fully embraced one set technique, and therefore never become an expert at it. But, what that has given me, is the ability to always keep things fresh for myself - to always make the next day exciting, and to never fall into the trap of just churning it out. MD: Were there any moments that were challenging for you to draw? CA: The only time things went slightly stale for me was when I was "just" penciling The Walking Dead… the only time I was officially a "penciller" and not doing the whole thing. Something I was never comfortable with. It was done for time saving reasons and also gave me the time to do Vampire State Building at the same time. Now the series has finished (and I relished the return to inks for the final 72 page