Bucket List Objective Achieved: Discussing ‘Spawn’ With New Artist Brett Booth
by Tom Smithyman
Veteran comics artist Brett Booth has drawn a number of iconic characters, from Spider-Man to the Fantastic Four to the Teen Titans. He also co-created Backlash with Jim Lee when the pair were at Wildstorm Studios. Now, after two years of drawing Gunslinger Spawn, Booth is moving over to the main title, with next month’s Spawn #348. In this Comicon.com exclusive, Booth discusses his excitement for drawing the character, his artistic process, and what it means for him to illustrate the landmark Spawn #350.
Tom Smithyman: What was your reaction when you were approached to move from Gunslinger Spawn to the main title? Did it take you more than 5 seconds to say yes?
Brett Booth: Todd MacFarlane floated the idea to me over the summer, but I had already told him earlier that I’d be up for drawing some Spawn. It was more a formality than anything. We had talked about another project a few months before, so I thought I’d be working on that when he called, but he offered me the Spawn book. Can’t say no to Spawn.
Smithyman: How do you approach Spawn vs. Gunslinger? Besides the obvious differences, what sets them apart from each other?
Booth: I tried to keep Gunslinger a bit lighter, more of a high-noon feel. I haven’t done anything drastic with Spawn yet as I was trying to match the tone that Carlos Barberi was doing in the lead up to #350. But with #351, more shadows… I hope, haven’t started that one yet.😅
Smithyman: How special is it for you to draw part of Spawn #350?
Booth: I was a bit bummed that I didn’t get asked to do anything for #300, so I was thrilled to get to actually draw the 30-page story for #350. I remember when Spawn hit the shelves back in ‘92 and how just getting to occasionally draw Spawn on cards for Image Comics was a treat. Bucket list objective achieved! It’s been a blast so far!
Smithyman: Do you have a favorite version of the character that you love drawing?
Booth: I’ll always like the original, love the cape and chains… I thought I’d hate drawing them after a bit, but no. But I do like that there are so many different Spawns to draw, so much to choose from! We did a big double-page splash in Gunslinger with a bunch that I made up, so I’m hoping we get to play with those designs at one point as well.
Smithyman: You are known for including a lot of detail in each panel. Does that often interfere with your ability to produce a monthly comic? How do you find the right balance?
Booth: For me, not really. I was lucky enough to have developed speed when I was first drawing, so I can move fast when I need to. Of course, I’m getting older now so there is a bit of a balance with speed, workload, and health. But I know usually how long a page will take when I read the script/plot.
Drawing a new book will sometimes cause me to overthink things and I will wind up struggling getting things the right way. That means a few pages that I start and then toss because I’m not happy with what I’m drawing.
Smithyman: What is your creative process like? When you read a script, do you get a picture in your head first or do you immediately start sketching things out to see what works?
Booth: Usually I get visuals when I read – though not always – and they don’t always work when I sit down to draw. I usually do a quick thumbnail and then transfer that to the board. If there’s a large shot on the page, I usually start with that. Then I go back to the first panel, if it’s not the large one, and draw the rest in order.
Smithyman: What is it like working with writer Rory McConville? Is there a lot of back and forth with the two of you, first with the script and then with the artwork, or are the functions more separate?
Booth: Rory’s been great so far, I’ve only drawn #350 and that was wrapping up a huge storyline so I just let him and Todd do their thing. Too many cooks and all that.
Smithyman: Who wins in a fight between Spawn, Gunslinger Spawn vs. Backlash? And how awesome would it be to draw that battle?
Booth: Spawn and Gunslinger vs BL? Backlash would lose that one. Separately he’d take out Gunslinger but Spawn would be a challenge I’m not sure he could overcome. Would be awesome to draw though! Whips and chains everywhere and it would still be PG-13! That would be one of those dream projects you never get to do but always wish you could.