Comic Artist - Michael Lark

CBR News Comic Brief reports that Michael Lark has what nearly every wannabe comic artist wants: a job with Marvel. But the plum job hasn't just fallen in his lap. Lark has built a reputation over years, developing a unique style that has been likened to 'Film Noir' classics, working on major projects for DC/Vertico including Batman and Superman titles, notably Gotham Central Its worth noting that Gotham Central wasn't exactly a chartbuster, and many of Lark's other projects have been somewhat obscure. My point here is that excellence can have its own rewards, and that you don't have to compromise. Michael Lark clearly things deeply about his work and is interested in the subtle problems of storytelling and communication in the comic book art form.

He is also open to developing new techniques, as he explains to Jennifer Contino (in an article that aspiring artists shouldn't miss) at The Pulse. Lark notes the difference between imitation and influence, and explains how he learns from other artists, trying to understand how they work: 'Why did they put a black there? Why did they use a brush rather than a pen? Fine artists often attempt to copy/reproduce the work of their precessessors for much the same reason - not to pass of as their own, but to try to get into the head of the artist and learn from that experience, so that you can then apply that thinking to your own work.'

In one interview he comments that he prefers to draw 'two people talking than two people fighting'. He enjoys dealing with emotional depth rather than superhero stunts - I'm not sure how this will impact on his work with Marvel's Captain America - perhaps he is looking for new creative directions? He does mention work on a 'notorious villain', so perhaps that will see him in working in his classic gritty style.