Next month, I'll be moderating a Nerds in NoMa panel on March 12th on "Comic Converts: The World of Comic Illustrators in D.C.” One of the attendees will be Shannon Gallant, a local comic book artist whom I've interviewed several times. He recently finished his work for the miniseries G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero vs. the Six Million Dollar Man.
So what's new?
I’m contributing strips to Beano (the UK kids magazine), I’ve got an issue of Ghostbusters coming out in April as part of the anniversary celebration of the franchise, and I’m doing a fill in issue for GI Joe:Real American Hero.
You're
known for your work on GI Joe in America, with a long run drawing it
for IDW. How did you begin working on a traditional British comic?
Ned Hartley, who used to be an editor at Titan Comics (where I drew Shrek, and Torchwood) is a contributing writer for BananaMan in Beano; some might know the cartoon that aired on Nickelodeon alongside Danger Mouse.
He recommended me, and after some audition pages, I’m getting to fill
in for a few artists on maternity leave. As a friend said to me, let’s
hope the regular artists continue to expand their families!
Any idea how people can buy it in the States?
The easiest way I know that someone can get Beano is digitally through
their app. Otherwise, it would be a hunt for a store that specializes in
British imports, or a comic shop that does the leg work. I barely have
any because the company doesn’t send copies. I’ve had friends who were
traveling, or have relatives, smuggle... I mean, bring some over. Weird
thing is, it’s the highest circulation comic I’m involved with. Last issue
apparently almost hit 50K.
Here are some scenes from the Ghostbusters comic dropping in April. This
was fun, because I got to ink it all myself, both cover and interiors. My
upcoming GI Joe work will have an inker on my pencils.
Which GI Joe title are you on?
It’s the classic title “Real American Hero”, but I'm not sure of the number that I restart on.
