Enjoying The Ride — Discussing ‘Knight Terrors: Green Lantern’ With Artist Mario Foccillo

Italian artist Mario Foccillo is having a moment. After having drawn a number of covers for DC – including several variants for Batman vs. Robin – Foccillo has done his first interiors for Knight Terrors: Green Lantern. In the backup story, he has the opportunity to draw a lot of Sinestro. In a Comicon exclusive, Foccillo describes his artistic style, his emotional response to learning he would be drawing an interior story and his reaction to Jim Lee liking his work.

Tom Smithyman: You have drawn covers for DC before, but you’ve never been asked to draw an interior, much less one that is part of the publisher’s big event. What went through your mind when you found out you would be drawing Knight Terrors: Green Lantern?

Mario Foccillo: When I received the email from my editor I couldn’t believe it. It was incredible! Making my debut as interior artist on a DC summer event? Is he serious?! lol

Right after that, I started to be excited about this book and started drawing sketches over sketches. At night, I literally couldn’t sleep waiting for the morning to arrive and start drawing my own story!

These are those once-in-a-lifetime chances – something you dream about when you are an aspiring comic book artist. I was ready to have fun and give my best!  I thank DC and my editor for this opportunity and believing in my art.

Smithyman: Are you a big fan of Green Lantern and Sinestro? (If not, I’m sure you are now!) What is this story about and how did it challenge you creatively?

Foccillo: Yes, I’ve read almost everything about Green Lantern since Rebirth! I think the character has some of the best mythology out there.

My favorite run is the Geoff Johns one from Rebirth until the Sinestro Corps war. They had some great stories and amazing artist taking turns like Carlos Pacheco, Ivan Reis and Pat Gleason.

As far as Sinestro goes, we are now bounded forever! You have to know that I love villains who are evil not just to be evil, but have an ideology and a motive behind their own bad deeds. Bad guys who are leaders, monarchs, emperors etc. like: Magneto, Doctor Doom, General Zod, Darkseid and Sinestro obviously!

In Knight Terrors all characters fall asleep and face their own worst nightmares and fears. The same happens to Thaal Sinestro. This is a particular moment for him, he’s stuck on Earth without his ring and power, in totally disgrace.

How do you illustrate master of fears’ nightmare? That was the first question that came up in my mind. So I had to do a big reference research. Didn’t want to do something already seen in comics so i started looking in fine arts to painters know for their horror and surreal art.

A big inspiration for the Korugar buildings came from the visions by painter Zdzisław Beksiński for example. Plus i had to draw two nightmare versions of Sinestro from his past, which was a really fun part.

Reading first reviews and feedbacks from fans seems they liked them, especially that last page “multi-headed” nightmare Sinestro. That repays all the hard work!

Smithyman: The story focuses on Sinestro, though we see Hal Jordan and even Darkseid. In your previous covers, you’ve drawn Batman and several members of the Bat-family. You must feel like you’ve hit the lottery. What does it mean to you to be able to draw these iconic characters – and make money while doing it?

Foccillo: Oh well, is the best feeling! I made my debut in the industry as cover artist for DC in 2022, and in just one year, I have had the chance to draw basically all their major characters multiple times. Drawing such iconic characters like Superman and Batman was an absolute honor. These characters have been around since almost a century. They go beyond just the comics pages or movies. They are part of our culture. They mean a lot for many people in the world and you really feel how huge and important they are when you draw them.

I feel privileged, I have been lucky enough to transform my passion into work and to do it at the highest level there is. At the same time, I feel like I haven’t done much yet, I have a lot to learn and I want to always get better. Drawing comics is the best job there is! The journey is a long one, and I’m enjoying the ride.

Smithyman: Alex Segura wrote the script for this backup story. What was the collaboration like between you two?

Foccillo: It was fantastic! Alex wrote a really good script, and it was something I immediately felt at ease with. While reading it, I could easily visualize what he was asking from page to page. There was immediately a great feeling with his writing. Plus he and my editor gave me a total freedom to do what I wanted with the art – no bondaries at all.

Smithyman: You’ve had the opportunity to do so much for DC lately. What is your artistic background, and why do you think that you’ve gotten so much attention lately – including from publisher Jim Lee?

Foccillo: I’ve never attended art schools. I have always drawn as long as I can remember. I was mainly self-taught. Later I came into contact with some local comic artists and learned a method to make comics as well as what it means to be a professional artist. Then I attended a comic school for two years and  continued as self-taught while I kepy exploring new techniques and styles to find my own way to illustrate.

I simply put a lot of passion into my art. I love the characters I grew up with, and I enjoy drawing everything. This is probably something that is passed on to DC and fans.

Jim Lee and I have the same art rep, Albert Moy. So I asked Albert if he could to show the big boss my art, and it happened. Jim Lee appreciating my art was priceless! He has always been one of my favorite artists, and his work has greatly influenced my growth. I can’t remember how many times I read and copied his Batman Hush!

Smithyman: How do you describe your artistic style? Who are your inspirations – besides Jim Lee?

Foccillo: My style tends to be realistic and is highly influenced by illustrators. That’s why i love concentrating on singular images like covers so I can add more details. I love drawing human anatomy and dynamic and iconic poses.

I try to draw a unique image that hits the reader the same as when I was a child and was struck by other artists’ art. When you read a comic, what remain with you are impactful panels, splash pages and covers. That’s what happened to me when I was a young reader, and that’s what I naturally do when drawing – trying to give readers what I enjoy.

My influences come from many many artists a lot of them really different. I like solid and classic artist who draw perfect anatomies. Being Italian, the big influences on my art comes from the greats of the past like Michelangelo and Caravaggio.

To stay in comic art, I love old school masters like John Buscema, Neal Adams and Barry Windsor Smith. The modern talents I love include David Finch, Travis Charest, Ivan Reis, Jason Fabok – all artists who are really solid and draw iconic figures. Also Italian artists like Claudio Castellini and Tanino Liberatore are some of my favorites too.

Wait, did I say I like Jim Lee art too, right???

Smithyman: I think that was a given! What’s next for you after Knight Terrors? Do you have any upcoming projects that you can discuss?

Foccillo: It’s all top secret for now but soon I’ll share news on all my socials!

Smithyman: Since Knight Terrors is all about terrible nightmares, tell me about the worst dream you’ve ever had.

Foccillo: If I were to end up in the nightmare realm, my nightmare would be to miss my deadlines! Ahhhh!

Smithyman: There’s nothing scarier to an artist or to a journalist! Congratulations on all of your recent success and best of luck for the future.