This year at C2E2, I had quite a few opportunities to sit down with creators and chat about their current and upcoming works. Over the next few days we’ll be rolling them out for your enjoyment.
Up now, Chris Burham of “Batman INC” fame!
How exactly did you start working in the industry?
Chris Burnham: I was with a theater company called “The House Theater of Chicago” and I helped make an ashcan comic promo for them. They took 500 for advertisements, and I got 500 that I passed out to every publisher I could find at cons. People liked it, and I got some gigs. Everything I’ve done in comics since then, if you trace it back, is related to that.
Who are some of the artists that inspired you when you were younger? Are there any in particular you feel helped you become the artist you are today?
CB: Uh, all of em, ha ha. Frank Quitely for sure. Mœbius and Jack Kirby, who was amazing. Lots of old school manga like [lists several very quickly]. Ha, good luck writing all that. There was just so much of it that was good.
Do you feel there is anything that digital-based art can do that traditional ink and paper doesn’t match up to, or vice-versa?
CB: Some effects are easier digitally. It’s faster, too. I can do 3D art quicker. Sometimes it looks fake, but there are ways around that and the speed is just undeniable.
We live in a fairly connected world with social networking. DOes feedback (both positive and negative) with fans and critics through Twitter or other websites affect you?
CB: Yeah, I guess so. Some people busted my balls about sloppy inks not too long ago. The next thing I did after that was the WTF cover for Batman, and I inked that as smoothly as I’ve ever inked anything. I probably won’t ever do that again because it took forever, but I did it all because of one guy in Texas.
Often times, it seems art comes secondary to the writing for some fans and critics. Why do you think that divide exists?
CB: Because they’re douchebags. And you can quote me on that!
