First Comics News: Could you tell us a bit about yourself?
Dana Black: Sure! Born and raised in Upstate New York’s Catskills – ‘Star Wars’ happened in ’77 when I was 5 and couldn’t sit still in class, so my teacher sat me down saying “Draw your two favorite things”; Darth Vader fighting a T-Rex. Things haven’t changed much. Always into the Arts: music, acting, writing, with Comics always a focus. Attended various College Art programs and got my first professional Comics jobs in 1994 for Dark Horse Comics. After a long time doing tons of other things and doing periodic comic work, I’m finally focused on Interior Comic art and writing stories, hopefully creating some fun characters and comics people will dig.
1st: Are there any comic book projects you’re currently working on, and if so, could you tell us about them?
Dana: I’d love to! Right now, I’m waiting for DIVERSIONS No.19 to come out from Blue Moon Comics Group. A Night Spider tale that I wrote and drew myself, which was a fun way to get my toes wet after so long. I’m writing and drawing a U.S. Flag story for Blue Moon, and then writer/publisher Lloyd Smith and I will follow up with KRAGO, a fun Barbarian tale! After that, it’s hard to say. In the meantime, I’ve got covers and pinups coming from about a dozen indie companies and a couple of covers for Barry Reese’s LAZARUS GRAY novels! And Toy Design for Fresh Monkey Fiction, can’t forget to mention that!
1st: What was that first professional job for Dark Horse in 1994, and how did you land the gig?
Dana: Interesting story! I met Dave Johnson in 1994 at a Convention just after he’d left Atlanta’s Gaijin Studios, and worked alongside Dave for a short time, where I penciled the WILL TO POWER #6 cover and Dave inked it. Traditionally, the Penciler signs first, but we realized just before we sent the cover in that it would say BLACK JOHNSON, and hey, Kids might read this !! Haha.
1st: Who do you list as your artistic influences?
Dana: My first few years reading comics, I read anything John Byrne and George Perez did, and luckily, The Fantastic Four and New Teen Titans gave them plenty of work. Discovering Michael Golden was mind-blowing, and still, I’m in awe of his work. George Freeman, Mike Mignola, Bill Willingham, Howard Chaykin, Matt Wagner, but the real HUGE influences are Gaijin Studios – Jason Pearson, Brian Stelfreeze, Adam Hughes, Dave Johnson. I absorb good art, and I’m constantly studying and learning. I can talk about influences and art I love all day.
1st: What drives you to make comics?
Dana: My drive comes from pure love of the medium. I believe it’s the best way to tell stories and have that audience interaction. The potential for comics has never been greater, and there’s so much great work out there now that’s inspiring even more artists and storytellers. Comics are ALIVE and well,l and I believe more in what I’m doing than ever before.
1st: Anything else you’d like to add, Dana?
Dana: Well, I have an Agenda when it comes to the comics I want to make. It has to be FUN, it has to have some personal CONNECTION with readers, and it has to be with people I admire and respect. I’ve got a lot planned, and I just really want the love I have for Comics and the Craft to show. I’m not here to get rich or famous, I’m here for FUN and the pursuit of becoming a better storyteller.
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