Bill Nichols’ Prescription:
Comics 10ccs of the Process with
Raffaele Ienco

What inspires you to create and keeps you going?

There are some favorite books of mine that I consider the pinnacle of storytelling and art which always inspire me to excel and contribute to something that might, if I’m incredibly lucky, be included in that group of books. Books like The Dark Knight Returns, Elektra Assassin, Watchmen, Daredevil: Born Again, Batman: Year One. Striving to touch a star will make you better. I’m always looking for ways to improve my art with technology or new brushes, whatever, I guess I’ll never be satisfied with my artwork so there’s a natural tendency to try new techniques to find satisfaction.

Do you have a set routine?

No, my routine is crazy. I stay up until I feel sleepy then go to bed, sleep as long as I can then wake and start again. I hate going to bed and just laying there trying to fall asleep so I just stay awake as long as I can. I’m single so that works for me.

What kind of output do you try to achieve?

Working on Darth Vader I try to have the whole issue roughed out in 10 to 12 days and then I dive in and improve the layouts while inking at the same time. So usually a 20 page book is completed in about 35 days sometimes 30. With the Star Wars group of books everything has to be submitted to LucasFilm for their approval which adds an extra layer of complexity. Guns, ships and people must be accurate to their real life counter-parts, revisions are normal. 

What inspires you WHEN you create?

Other comic artists from my youth provide constant inspiration. I’ll have Todd McFarlane’s Spider-Man run nearby and he’ll always spark some ideas, same with John Byrne’s Fantastic Four and Alpha Flight. Bill Sienkiewicz’s work on Dune and New Mutants. Mike Mignola, Arthur Adams.

Music? Noise? Silence?

I usually don’t listen to music because I find it distracting but I’ll have a video on the TV of something I’ve already watch dozens of times just to keep the work area more alive. The Thing, Blade Runner, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Star wars, also to inspire me but not distract me.

Who was the first comic book creator that influenced you to pursue this?

I’ve never met John Byrne but I remember his artwork was the first comic book pages I tried to seriously imitate on paper with pencil. Now when I had some comic-book page samples finished and went to my first comic convention in Toronto it was Ty Templeton who looked at the pages, was kind, and gave me my first solid advice on how to improve. I was thrilled but it would be years of improvement still.

When did you realize you could follow this path yourself? 

The memories are hazy… I went to college to study Illustration on a 3 year course but looking back on that decision, if I had spent a solid 3 years on drawing comic pages I may have born better fruit. But after graduating I tried to improve my comic art and created a character called Stygmata which was inspired by Spawn and the Phantom Stranger. I won a placement in the Cable Cover Contest hosted by Wizard Magazine and that caught the attention of Entity Comics and publisher Don Chin. Eventually he published my first comic which was Stygmata #0 and other projects of mine. Comics are a tough business and they will definitely break your heart many times so be prepared for that.

What do you find to be a challenge in creating?

Dynamic page layouts are challenging, trying to keep the page exciting, leaving room for word balloons so the letterer doesn’t cover artwork, keeping those things in balance. Never be boring – the biggest lesson from Todd McFarlane. Also putting shadows on faces, I’m still working on mastering that and normally leave the face open.

What else do you have to learn?

I think I’ve reached a competent level with my artwork, both linework and coloring. Now my biggest deficiency is my writing. I’ve spent decades improving my artwork but my writing is not on the same level and it’s something I fiercely want to improve but don’t know how to level up like I did with my artwork. I have a lot of story ideas and creator-owned published books but I still feel this is an area that can be vastly improved. It’s something to strive for.

What keeps you motivated to get better?

I’ve always been competitive and I don’t feel I’m incapable of achieving my goals, a lot of times it’s just a matter of making enough mistakes to get to the good stuff.

What advice do you have for aspiring creators?

With the internet, the opportunities for creating comics and have an audience for them are astronomical compared to when I started out. On the other hand there is more talented competition out there than ever before. The most significant advice I can give an aspiring creator is if you get a high-profile gig – finish on time and prepare for revisions – this shows your professionalism and that you can meet a deadline.

Do you ever worry about running out of ideas?

Not in the slightest. I keep a working file on story ideas. Last time I counted there were 200. My worry is I’ll never be able to bring them all to fruition. My strongest idea of that group is very exciting but I know I’ll need to up my writing game to tackle it.

Have you considered working with a high-profile writer?

I would love to! Please get in touch and we’ll set the world on fire! I’m a huge fan of Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon, Yellow Jackets, The Man who fell to Earth, The HandMaid’s Tale, Stranger Things, etc.

How do you handle the slow times?

I love the slow times, it’s rejuvenating, restful. Bank your money when you’re working for the coming winter days. Comic book making is not a solid financial ride even when you’re working for the top publishers. Work on your-creator-owned ideas during the slow times if you want to stay productive.

Do you have a website or link to promote your work?

I’m on Twitter, DeviantArt and Instagram. Follow me on Twitter to see what I’m sketching and the comics I have coming out.

Of note, I’ve recently finished drawing my 24th issue of Darth Vader for Marvel Comics -that’s 500 inked interior pages and some covers. When you get a high-profile gig stay on it and maximize your industry exposure.

DISCLAIMER: The opinions expressed by the above creator are theirs. This interview may not be reprinted or reposted without permission.