BACKSTAGE - INTERVIEW - DARIO BRIZUELA

Artist Dario Brizuela, know for his work on the DC Comics series Justice League Unlimited and Batman: The Brave and The Bold, took time out of his busy schedule to discuss his upcoming stint as regular artist for the upcoming Green Lantern: The Animated Series comic title from DC Comics. The new Green Lantern: The Animated Series comic title debuts with a special #0 issue coming November 2011, featuring art by Brizuela with a script from Art Balazar and Franco. Continue below for more.

The World's Finest: First off, care to remind readers of who you are and some of your past works, both for DC Comics and Marvel Comics?

Dario Brizuela: Sure, no problem! I started at DC / Wildstorm doing a back-up story called Nanobotz for the miniseries Robo Dojo. Afterwards, I found work on the Ben 10, JLU, and Super Friends comics. More recently I worked on the Batman: The Brave and the Bold comic and now Green Lantern: The Animated Series.

For Marvel I did licensing work on Spider-Man and Friends and The Super Hero Squad, along with the The Super Hero Squad comic strip for the Marvel website. I also provided art for the The Super Hero Squad Show Little Brow books, Iron Man: Armored Adventures books, Marvel Adventures The Avengers, Mini-Hulks strips and the The Super Hero Squad Show comic book.

WF: The new Green Lantern: The Animated Series comic book kicks off this November 2011. How did you get the assignment? Are you in it for the long-run? What are you looking forward to working on this comic?

DB: Well, I'm always in touch with the editors. I saw the promotional image of Green Lantern: The Animated Series in the Bruce Timm CGI-style - that was the only image I saw on the web - so there were not many samples out there. But I started to talk with the editors and told them if DC Comics is planning a comic book for the show to please keep me in mind.

So, one day I was sending some of my Transformers work to Ben Abernathy, and he told me that editor Kristy Quinn is looking for an artist for the new Green Lantern: The Animated Series book. So, I wrote her a line, did some samples and now I'm happy to be on the book.

And yes, I'm on it for the long run.

I'm looking have a lot of fun working on this comic! The characters are really important, and as an artist I have to be ready to draw everything the Green Lantern: The Animated Series writers want. Art Baltazar and Franco are awesome, and they have this limitless imagination!

WF: Have you seen any footage from the upcoming Green Lantern: The Animated Series? Any teases or spoilers you can drop on the fans?

DB: I have seen the short preview Cartoon Network released online, that was a good reference, but I also have many images the editor sent me - like character designs, backgrounds, vehicles - and it all looks fantastic!

WF: Does the CG animation in Green Lantern: The Animated Series bring any worry for you when it comes to adapting its style?

DB: Not really. I love Bruce Timm's style and designs, and we follow that line very closely.

WF: How does working on the Green Lantern: The Animated Series comic differ from your past assignments with other DC Comics cartoon books?

DB: Well, for the first time I'm the regular artist! I'm incredibly happy! This is a new challenge, but I'll be able to keep a great quality of work on the book every month!

Working on this book is like any other. I receive the script, I send layouts to the writers and editors and they tell me if they like it or if they want something changed. Then I do the pencil work and, if approved, I move on to the inks.

WF: Based on your past works, including Justice League Unlimited and Batman: The Brave and The Bold, you can really adapt to the art-styles of these different shows. How do you do that without losing your own unique style and touches?

DB: I think you can see my style in the storytelling. I try to do dynamic images and make sure the characters actually act. As for the designs, as I said before, I love Bruce Timm's work and he's a big influence on my own work. I also love animation, and that also provides some great inspiration.

WF: Any past comic book work that stick out as some of your favorite? Why?

DB: I really enjoy my work on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. I was in charge of the pencils, inks and greytones when I worked on that comic, so it was really cool to have all of that control over the artwork. I also really enjoy my work on the animated Transformers comic for IDW. I only did the short stories, but I really liked the character designs.

But I think my all-time favorite is Justice League Unlimited issue #41. It was a great story and I got to draw Harley and the Joker in the Timm style!

WF: You also work outside the comic field, including work on animated series. How does working on an animated series differ from working on a comic book?

DB: My experience in animation was on a movie call El Arca (The Ark), made in Argentina. I worked on both storyboards and backgrounds. The experience was great! I think all the comic artist should have some work experience with an animation studio. It really changes how you approach, layout and draw a comic page. Plus, the team work is pretty amazing.

WF: You are also working on projects outside of the Green Lantern: The Animated Series comic book. Care to share on where else we can find you work?

DB: I'm working for Little Brown books doing story books of The Super Hero Squad Show. I'm also doing a Voltron graphic novel for Viz Media and also a prequel book based on an upcoming movie I can't tell you about yet! Sorry!

About Voltron, I'm going to be signing some posters in the Viz media booth at the New York Comic-Con. I'll have my schedule up soon so you can stop by and say 'hi!'

WF: Finally, to wrap this up, what can fans expect from the Green Lantern: The Animated Series comic hitting November 2011?

DB: Action! Adventure! Emotion! Lots of Aliens! You can find all this just in the issue zero, so be prepared for lots of adventure! We are working hard to have a cool book for the kids and for everyone who wants to enjoy Green Lantern!

Click here for a previous interview with Brizuela conducted by The World's Finest.