The Art of Pete Woods

Comic Book Resources just posted an in-depth interview with me about my first comic, Superman, my typical work day, and more!

Woods Takes Flight on “Action Comics” – Comic Book Resources

As posted at DC Nation I’m taking over monthly art duties on Action Comics in June.I am very excited to be on the book that started it all! I am also thrilled to be working with the wonderful Marc Guggenheim! As icing on the cake we get covers done by the inimitable David Finch!

Come see me at Emerald City Comic Con- table I-07- this weekend and we’ll chat about it. I will also be attending a Superman panel at 2pm on Sunday.

Looks like I will have some news to post later today.  I am very excited!

As I posted earlier this year, I’m trying some new stuff and hopefully improving some old tricks.  The most obvious change is the fact that I’m doing A LOT more shading than I have in the past.  the second thing I am trying to do is bring back more “punch.”  At the beginning of my career I was always trying to push everything- often to a ridiculous degree.  I made a conscious effort to step back a bit and attempt to imbue the work with more “realism.”  The pitfall with that approach- and one I think I fell into from time to time-  is that you can lose the dynamics that make comics so much fun. From here on in I’m trying to make each page more exciting than the last!

This concept is vital for any freelancer.  It’s wonderful to have it put into words.

The Cult of Done

A preview of the last image I drew this year.

Goodbye 2009, and welcome 2010!

Here it is.  Hang on to your hats!  I’m excited as hell!

Superman: The Last Stand of New Krypton announcement

As I’m winding down the final issue of World of New Krypton and look forward to my next project (which should be announced in a matter of days) I’m thinking about how I need to progress as an illustrator.  I don’t mean to sound pretentious here- every artist constantly looks for new ways to push their work to the next level and beginning a new project is a natural place to try new things.

I get bored with things fairly easily. Rebecca says I have mild ADD. In order to break the monotony I try to shake things up stylistically.

Working on Deadpool I tried what I guess I would call a “super-deformed” style.  I tried cartooning with a “dirty” look–

I think Deadpool’s reaction about sums up how I feel that turned out.

I tried a more traditional cartoon style on Robin after that with very mixed results.

This cover is one of the high points of that era–

When I was put on Detective Comics (a massive leap of faith by then editor Bob Schreck) I knew it was time to change things completely.  I started using a lot more shadows and deep blacks.  I also started using photo reference much more.  To this day I am happy with the results.  Also, working with writer Andersen Gabrych was a joy.

Catwoman came next.  Rebecca had been encouraging me to the style I used when I drew for myself.  I didn’t grow up on superhero comics.  I grew up on Judge Dredd, Alien Worlds, Heavy Metal, and various European comics too numerous to mention.  Darwyn Cook and Cameron Stewart had made such a strong stylistic mark on Catwoman that the time seemed right for me to try what Rebecca had suggested and break with the previous look of the book.

This style seemed to resonate with readers.  The success of it was due in no small part to colorist Brad Anderson who instictively knew what I was doing and helped make it shine. I have been working in some variation of this style since then- almost 4 years now.

The time has come to change things again.  I’m not sure where things are going, but I hope you’ll check it out, enjoy it,  and give me your feedback!

See you in the funny books!

With SDCC coming up there are going to be a lot of aspiring artists hoping to break in. I genuinely hope that everyone who really wants to make it in comics gets a shot at doing it. One thing I suggest is getting on Twitter and following @CBCebulski and @Perazza- the Marvel and DC talent scouts. Their advice is golden and they are also the people you need to impress.

I figured in the spirit of the upcoming event I wold list some of the best advice I have gotten over the years.

“Don’t give up. Ever. See those guys behind you? 90% of them will not come back next year.”

“Simplify, simplify, simplify.”

“Be objective. Would YOU buy a book with art like yours?” – This wasn’t an insult by the way.

“How can you expect me to keep giving you work when you turn in shit like this?”- This WAS an insult, but a well deserved one.

“If you can’t see a way to improve your work, then your art is dead and you need to quit.”

“You want to get better? Stop looking at comics and look at other art”- I’m still working on that one

“In this business you need to be two of these three things- Really fast, really good, really nice to work with”

And finally—

Good luck in San Diego and conventions beyond- I hope your dreams come true!

-Pete

Looks like Superman: World of New Krypton continues to get great reviews!  I am so fortunate to be working on such a great project!

Read/RANT – “I always look forward to this book and it never disappoints me.”
IGN “8/10″
Comic Book Bin- “9/10″
iFanboy- “4.2/5 average rating”

Thanks to everyone for your support!