Interview With Phil Winslade
(January 2001)

Phil Winslade, the artist on Daredevil/Spider-Man, talks about the heroes and villains involved in the series, and his past comic work. Many thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Winslade for their help with this interview. Much appreciated.

Kuljit Mithra: Who or what influenced you to start in comics?

Phil Winslade: The main person who influenced me to start a career was Steve Pugh who I met at art college. I didn't think that it was feasible to earn a living this way despite loving and reading comics from an early age, and so opted for the "safer" career path of commercial illustration. Learning the unfulfilling specifics of this trade, and realising through the friendship with Steve that the only thing keeping me going at college was everything about comics and nothing about graphics, I realised I hadn't really got a choice. At college our only lifeline was our self-published comics.

Mithra: Which artists do you think inspired your drawing style?

Winslade: As a child I think my first hooks were Jack Kirby, John Romita, Sr. and John Buscema. They inspired me to start drawing my own comics at the tender age of about 11. By the time I had got to art college the likes of Barry Windsor-Smith, Glenn Fabry, Gene Colan and Alphonse Mucha were my main influences. That's not to say that Kirby et al were discarded, but there was more relevance to the problems I was setting myself in these creators. The first group were consummate story tellers, with strong dynamic grounding. I learnt a sense of how to tell a story. The second group taught me about anatomy and the concept of creating different worlds, rich and full of detail.

For some years now though, I have been fascinated by the likes of Alex Raymond, Al Williamson, Neal Adams, Gene Colan, Duncan Fegredo and Jackson Guice. What intrigues me most is their sense of realism set against their dynamic approach. Colan and Adams are particularly masterful in the way they can make a figure almost photographically realistic and yet still imbue the figure with a sense of movement that a camera cannot capture.

While drawing Amazonia I was also hugely inspired by the nineteenth century artists Charles Dana Gibson and Clement Cole, and this has provoked me to investigate and be inspired by the works of such artists as Dean Cornwall, Virgil Finlay, Norman Rockwell and Gil Elvgren.

Mithra: How would you describe your drawing style?

Winslade: A kind person might call it classic; another view would be traditional or old-fashioned. I see myself as trying to carry forward (as well as I can) the combination of good story telling and good draughtsmanship that the talents above exemplify.

Mithra: Before we discuss the Daredevil/Spider-Man series, I'd like to ask a few questions on your Ant-Man special that you did with Bob Gale. It seems this book has been the forgotten title from the Marvel Knights imprint. How did you get involved with the project? I've heard Joe Quesada wanted Bob Gale to write the story, and Gale accepted after he heard you were involved with it.

Winslade: Joe 'phoned me to see if I was interested in doing a story about Ant-Man and I jumped at the chance; Ant-Man being a favourite childhood hero. I'd wanted to work with Bob again after our earlier collaboration on a Batman story for the No Man's Land arc. I was very pleased that he had the time to do it.

Mithra: The Ant-Man special wasn't your typical story because there were no costumed villains... it was essentially a story about teaching what Christmas is all about, and the relationship between Ant-Man and the Wasp. Was it a welcome change for you? Did you enjoy the story?

Winslade: Yes! and Yes!

As far as your comments about costumed villians tho', I haven't actually ever drawn that many - in fact only one 6 page story comes to mind, where I did have a supervillain and superhero (Wonder Woman) fighting each other. Strangely enough it's always been something I've wanted (and expected) to draw, but has always eluded me somehow!

Mithra: I've also heard that initially this comic was going to be printed in a larger format? Is that true?

Winslade: Yes, but it turned out to be unfeasible with deadlines and such. It was quite a sweat to get it out for Christmas as it was.

Mithra: Turning to DD/Spidey... the first few issues are now out and there's quite a few changes with some of DD's rogue gallery. How much research did you do on Stilt-Man, Gladiator, Copperhead and Owl? And what motivated or influenced you to keep or change aspects of their costumes? Had you been a long-time DD fan before this?

Winslade: As a long-term DD fan I was already aware of the majority of the villains featured. In fact, I was partially responsible for the inclusion of Gladiator and The Owl. The only character who was a little less familiar was Copperhead. When re-vamping their costumes I didn't want to stray too far from the originals, as I felt they would lose their identities, and essentially just cleaned up or augmented what was already there. I feel that complete re-invention can sometimes be detrimental for both characters and readers alike. Psychologically, tho', the characters have changed.

Mithra: Daredevil and Spider-Man have often been compared and I'd like to know what you feel is the fundamental difference between the two in character and how you approached drawing both of them, in and out of costume.

Winslade: The differences in the characters are, to my mind, quite well defined. I see Spider-Man as skittish, awkward, slightly immature and lacking in confidence. He tries to cover this with incessant jokes but his mercurial mood-swings belie a deeper discomfort with himself and his surroundings. In the book I've tried to make his body language portray this.

DD on the other hand is thoughtful, reasoned and mature. His movements are considered and hence graceful. His demeanour is calm and rational. There is a consistency which comes from his obvious ease with himself and the world, whereas Spider-Man is a coiled spring, a Jack-in-the-box, ready to explode at any moment. Maybe this maturity has come from having to cope with his disability, or as a direct result of the effect of the disability itself. Matt Murdock is someone who has come to terms with himself, whereas Peter Parker patently has not.

Mithra:Will any other DD characters from the past show up in the series (that you can talk about, of course)?

Winslade: None that I can mention except perhaps Natasha.

Mithra:What's it like working with Paul Jenkins? Are you providing any input with the storyline?

Winslade: It's been great fun working with Paul; I've felt much more like a collaborater than usual, with lengthy 'phone calls about both script and illustration. Joe's involvement cannot be discounted either! It's been a real adventure, and a much more exciting way of producing comic strips I cannot think of.

Mithra: How do you think Jenkins portrays the Parker/Murdock friendship in the series?

Winslade: I think Paul captures the difference between them really well from the beginning. The first scene encapsulates their personality conflicts from the start, even down to their preferred beverages! He creates the tone that will eventually come to a head later. As well as this, he illuminates a common purpose and an indulgence on both sides for the other, which creates the strong bond of their friendship. They annoy the hell out of each other, but like family realise how much they need and care for each other.

Mithra: How long has this project been in development? After reading the first issue, it seems we get a glimpse into what happened in the yet to be finished David Mack arc in the ongoing title. Were there any worries about this as the issues were being prepared?

Winslade: The project was started well over a year ago, and was seen as vaguely independent of either book's continuity.

Mithra: Can you give some details of the 'Concept Cover' that was offered by Dynamic Forces? Have you been sketching out all the covers and then Alex Ross paints it based on your designs?

Winslade: Alex has had a free hand with all of the covers, although I did suggest the concept for issue 4's. As for the 'Concept Cover', I was asked to produce the design for the Dynamic Forces cover, and Alex and I conferred over the content. The important thing for me to include was the Empire State building as it is a visual reference that is used in the series for symbolic purposes. There is also a Dynamic Forces 'sketch book' cover based on my tonal sketch for Alex. Cool or what?!

Mithra: And finally, you have recently drawn a Sentry special. What other projects are upcoming? With Bob Gale scheduled to write Daredevil after the Bendis/Mack arc, would you be at all interested in monthly DD work?

Winslade: Unfortunately, I am not a fast enough artist to work on a monthly book, tho' I'm sure that if the opportunity arises to draw DD arcs, I will be more than happy to oblige! It would be nice to re-visit Mr. Murdock regularly, although this depends on editorial direction as concerns a regular artist. I certainly enjoy being part of chronicling the life of The Man Without Fear!

----------------------------------------------
(c) Kuljit Mithra 2001
Daredevil:The Man Without Fear
http://www.manwithoutfear.com
----------------------------------------------


Read more interviews!

40th Anniversary
Ben Abernathy
Jesus Aburtov
Martin Ahlgren
Alejandro Arbona
Jose Guns Alves
Mahmud Asrar
Dick Ayers
Jonathan Barron
Thomas Baxter
Brian Michael Bendis
Black and White
Haden Blackman
Randy Bowen
Alan Brennert
Chris Brewster
Chris Brewster (2)
Ed Brubaker
Steve Buccellato
Bob Budiansky
Danny Bulanadi
John Byrne
Harry Candelario
Joe Caramagna
Sergio Cariello
Karina Casiano
Don Castro
Bernard Chang
Marco Checchetto
Dan Chichester
Dan Chichester (2)
Holly Cinnamon
Gene Colan
Hector Collazo
Jason Copland
Matt Costello
Alan Cowsill
Charlie Cox
Greg Cox
Paul Crilley
Daredevil '83
Daredevil V3
Matt Deangelis
Keith DeCandido
Tom DeFalco
Roberto De La Torre
Rafael De Latorre
J.M. DeMatteis
Kim DeMulder
Brian Denham
Sunita Deshpande
Will Devokees
Netho Diaz
Jack DiFalco
Carmine Di Giandomenico
Cori Dioquino
Josie DiVincenzo
Chuck Dixon
Scott Dunbier
Kieron Dwyer
B. Earl
Tommy Lee Edwards
Elastic
Elektra Hand Devil
Steve Englehart
Fall From Grace
Tito Faraci
James Felder
Karin Fong
Tim Flattery
Justin F. Gabrie
Christos Gage
Ron Garney
Pat Garrahy
Stefano Gaudiano
Uri Geller
Matt Gerald
Steve Gerber
Eric Michael Gillett
Christopher Golden
Steven Grant
Devin K. Grayson
Peter Halpin
Larry Hama
Cully Hamner
John Patrick Hayden
Jason Henderson
Stephen E. Henderson
Glenn Herdling
David Hine
Matt Hollingsworth
Caleb Howard
Dave Hunt
Alex Huynh
Ray Iannicelli
Alex Irvine & Tomm Coker
Tony Isabella
Richard Isanove
Chris Ivy
John Jennings
Danny Johnson
Mark Steven Johnson
Dan Jurgens
Farid Karami
Joe Kelly
Karl Kesel
Lauren Mary Kim
Daniel Kish
Jim Krueger
Aaron Kuder
Chloë Levine
Ryan K. Lindsay
David Liss
Scott Lobdell
Jeph Loeb
Wes Louie
Tom Lyle
David Mack
Jed MacKay
Clay Mann
J. Mallory-McCree
Jason Martin
Vatche Mavlian &
Brett Matthews

Shane McCarthy &
Martin Redmond

Matthew McCurdy
Scott McDaniel
Luke McDonnell
Manny Mederos
Jon Mefford
Stuart Moore
Richard K. Morgan
Tony Naumovski
Yvonne Navarro
Eddy Newell
Fabian Nicieza
Nikolai Nikolaeff
Ann Nocenti
Cary Nord
Mike Oeming
Ariel Olivetti
Denny O'Neil
John Ostrander
Jimmy Palmiotti
George Papadimatos
Ande Parks
Seth Peck
Khoi Pham
John Pirkis
Joe Quesada
Ben Raab
Bill Reinhold
Graeme Revell
Madeleine Robins
Robert Rodi
Javier Rodriguez
J.G. Roshell
John Rozum
Matt Ryan
Reza Salazar
Tony Salmons
Salgood Sam
Chris Samnee
David Sarrio
#SaveDaredevil
Christie Scheele
Lalit Kumar Sharma
Nandita Shenoy
Peter Shinkoda
Jim Shooter
Bill Sienkiewicz
Thony Silas
Warren Simons
Walt Simonson
Marc Siry
Elsa Sjunneson
Suzanne H. Smart
Kevin Smith
Spoken Comics
Will Stout
Stephen D. Sullivan
Billy Tan
Chris Tardio
Scott Terra
Ben Torres
Tim Tuohy
Josh Turi
Kate Udall
Susan Varon
Ron Wagner
Mark Waid
Lee Weeks
Lee Weeks (2)
Loren Weeks
Zeb Wells
Phil Winslade
Arden Wolfe
Marv Wolfman
Gregory Wright
Paul Young
Chip Zdarsky
Chip Zdarsky (2)
Chip Zdarsky (3)
Chip Zdarsky (4)
Chip Zdarsky (5)
Zachary Zirlin



 
COMICS: Volume 1 | Volume 2 | Volume 3 | Volume 4 | Volume 5 | Volume 6 | Volume 7 | Volume 8 | Annuals | Appearances | Costumes | Digital Comics | Hardcovers | Key Issues | Logos | Origin | Price Guide | Recommended | Reviews | Secret Identity | Sales Data | Titles | Trades | Untold Tales

CREATORS: Cover Artists | Inkers | Pencillers | Writers

MEDIA: Actors | Books | Cartoons | Computer Fun! | Movies | Music | Pictures | Sightings | Sketches | Video Games | Wallpapers

FANS: Fan Art | Fan Costumes | Fan Custom Figures | Fan Fiction | Fan Films | Fan Guitars | Fan Tattoos
 

 

Daredevil (and other related characters appearing) and the distinctive likenesses are Trademarks of Marvel Characters, Inc. and are used WITHOUT permission.
Copyright © 2024 Marvel Characters, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Visit Marvel.com.
www.manwithoutfear.com is owned and operated by Kuljit Mithra. Web site is © Kuljit Mithra 1996-2024.

Keep up to the date with your trusted Daredevil source ManWithoutFear.com on and