First Comics News: Why do you love to draw?
Dana Black: Why I love drawing comes from my love of the subject matter – Star Wars, Comics, and Toys are all inspiration for me, and it’s just FUN for me!
1st: What was your first published artwork?
Dana: In 3rd grad,e I was in a Talented American Children book, but my first comics work was for Dark Horse’s Will to Power 6, Dave Johnson and I worked on a cover together.
1st: You worked on “Diversions # 21” doing the art for U.S. Flag, what characteristics did you try to bring out in him?
Dana: With the U.S. Flag, I wanted him to be the Ultimate American Boy Scout, down to earth and all about the virtues of not just being American but being human. It was a blast, and the original Donnie Page story was the genesis of all of it. 4 We’ve got
1st: Who is the villain U.S. Flag faces, and what powers or abilities did you illustrate?
Dana: Villains in the U.S. Flag story- a Nazi Scientist, a Werewolf Genera, a Lovecraftian Femme Fatale, and my version of Frankenstein’s Monster, but he’s not a villain,n so…
1st: Would you like to do more work for Blue Moon Comics?
Dana: I have lots more Blue Moon stuff planned! Lloyd’s given me a great amount of trust and freedom to tell the stories I want to tell, and I’m basically going down Blue Moon’s roster of characters, writing and drawing; a Guns & Rosa story, a Superhero Teamup, Kragor and Brick are all written and broken down, it’s just a matter of getting it all done. After that, I have a Minotaur anda Pulp Adventurer of my own that I’d like to roll out.
1st: What tips do you have for other artists just starting in the comic book business?
Dana: Number One Tip for any creator breaking in is draw, write, color, do whatever it is you do every day. Number Two: All Art is Hit or Miss. Some folks will dig it, and some just won’t.
1st: How important is it to be able to meet a deadline in the comic book business for an artist?
Dana: I’ve been lucky with deadlines, as I’m really just given a basic timeframe to get things finished, as a real deadline might freeze me up. There’s a pretty loose atmosphere with Blue Moon, and Lloyd knows that I’ll do my best work and that takes time. I don’t want to be that guy who derails a comic, so I try to work with folks like Lloyd, Dang! Comic, Lenovations Press, and Fresh Monkey Fiction understand that.
1st: You do commissions,s which one did you most enjoy drawing?
Dana: When it comes to commissions, I dig in deep to each character so that even if I’m not fond of a character – like Spider-Man or Punisher, say – I still draw them with the same excitement as when I draw favorites like Hellboy, Green Lantern, and Doctor Strange!
1st: You do commissions, which one did you most enjoy drawing?
Dana: Strangest Commissions are always from Foreign ‘fans’ – just imagine an orgy of a half dozen Zorros with Dracula in the middle. I did like 6 of them. Money talks.
1st: What will you be working on next, comic book-wise?
Dana: Next comic on the chopping block is getting a 17-page Kragor story I came up with done for Diversions 25, our big issue, and then right into the Blue Moon United Teamup 8 pager.
1st: If you could have one super power,r what would it be and why?
Dana: Instead of a Power per se, I’d either want Green Lantern’s Ring or the Eye of Agamotto! These are gifts where Creativity is the POWER behind each, which I think makes them the best characters in comics.
1st: What would you like to say to those who enjoy your art?
Dana: Beyond what little social media presence I enjoy, I pretty much live in a creative vacuum created by the Catskill area, so anyone following my work has my gratitude and surprise. I’m just getting started at 53, and I hope to continue making fun and thoughtful comics. — If I’ve forgotten anything or overlooked, or you’d like me to omit the ‘orgy’ part, let me know. Here are a few pieces of work I’m really proud of that I hope work for you.
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