Jon Edwards Interview

CARTER'S COLUMN reports the arrival on board of a new lead pencil artist in the form of Jon Edwards for the forthcoming Brand of the Dragon epic.

Paul H Birch: The predictable opening question here; what comics were you into as a kid and what artists have influenced you?

Jon Edwards: I read the usual children's comics, such as The Dandy and The Beano; then became the proverbial Marvel Junkie - read loads of them, including picking up the old reprints of Marvel's stuff from the early 1960s onwards.

To me, Marvel Comics, circa 1965 - 72, was their golden age - classic Fantastic Four and Spider-Man - great stories and art created by seasoned professionals.

I count Jack Kirby and John Buscema amongst my biggest influences from that period, but there were also so many other greats then and later - Neal Adams, George Perez, Marc Silvestri, Jim Lee; the list goes on.

Later, I got into DC and read collected reprints of Alan Moore's and Frank Miller's stuff, amongst others, and then became a big Image fan. I also picked up collected editions of some of the great early Judge Dredd sagas of the 1980s.

Then I got more interested in independent stuff, such as the works of Charles Burns, Dan Clowes, the Hernandez Bros, The Luna Bros, and many more; but in recent times, Manga and, especially European comic books, have been a major influence, notably Moebius, Milo Manara, Masamune Shirow and Katsuhiro Otomo.

My favourite recent books have been The Walking Dead, and mangas Monster and Deathnote. But I've read so many comic books from Windsor McCay to Bryan Hitch, and of such varying subject matter, that my influences and interests within the medium are extremely broad.

PHB: You've previously had a career in music. What is it about comics you find appealing creatively or, potentially, financially?

JE: Money has nothing to do with it. To be able to get regular work to earn a living at something you enjoy is all I ask for. I started writing and drawing my own comics from the age of ten. Before that, I wrote fantasy/sci-fi stories for myself; then shortly after, I used drawing strips as a way of illustrating my stories.

It was always my intention to be a comic book illustrator, after art college but I got side-tracked into music, mainly as a studio engineer and some in-house composing for radio commercials for local radio in the Midlands. But I never felt quite at ease as an engineer, or even as a musician - I always saw myself more as a songwriter, trying to create something inventive in the studio.

PHB: Your publishing exposure is limited thus far, but where has your work appeared?

JE: Recently, in Polish anthology New British Comics #2 (yes, it's Polish yet showcases UK creators!), now-defunct trade newspaper Comics International, and a few years back, in BICS co-organiser Shane Chebsey's now-defunct CAOF (Comic Artists Of The Future) anthology, plus some other small-press anthologies here and there.

PHB: You've also a strip written by Jim Alexander due for the forthcoming Hardware series that I'm aware of. But what is it that you hoping to achieve coming on board as a pencil artist for the Carter's Column series?

JE: I'm simply hoping to get the work done! Ha ha! (note: this is humour!). Seriously, I would hope to create a new visual benchmark for the series and essentially just attract people's attention. I pour my heart and soul into every creative endeavour I do. To me, it's about the craft, of trying to get things right, and to do my very best. I'm giving the strip 500%!

PHB: Do you have any future plans, goals you would like to discuss?

JE: Like I said, my immediate goals are simply to get regular professional work. Beyond that, there are a few of my own ideas it would be nice to perhaps self-publish one day, but it's not my priority at this very moment.

PHB: Thanks for both your time and your talent, Jon!

For more information on Jon Edwards visit: http://facebook.com/MightyJonE