Kim DeMulder inked some fill-in DD issues in the 80's. Here he talks about working with David Mazzucchelli on the title.

Kuljit Mithra: Can you give a brief bio on yourself and how you made comics a career?

Kim DeMulder: I first started doing comics in the fall of 1979, after attending the Joe Kubert School for the previous two years. I had been drawing all of my life and had hoped I had found a way to make a living from my art. Ever since then, I have been drawing and painting for a living. Mostly comics to start with but more full color work lately (especially since the comic book market has shrunk so much of late). I have a website that should be up very soon...check out kimdemulder.com. And for the past 13 years, I have been a teacher at the Kubert school.

Mithra: The main focus of the interview will be on your DD work, but what titles do you think you are more well-known for?

DeMulder: The first monthly book I worked on was inking Defenders with Don Perlin's pencils. I've inked over 5000 pages of comic book art since then! I would have to say that my personal favorite was inking DC's Swamp Thing with Scott Eaton pencils. Swamp Thing was fun because I got to experiment with a lot of textures and rendering styles. Daredevil was cool because David Mazzucchelli is an excellent artist and Daredevil is one of Marvel's best characters.

Mithra: How did this particular DD inking job come about for you?

DeMulder: As I recall, I had just left Defenders to work on the She-Hulk Graphic novel (which was to have been a mini-series) and the Nick Fury vs. Shield series. Nick Fury was delayed, so I started accepting a number of fill-in jobs to tide me over. One of those was the two issues of Daredevil.

Mithra: How was it to work with Mazzucchelli? This was just prior to his collaboration with Frank Miller on Born Again. Did you see the potential in his art at that time?

DeMulder: Absolutely, I could tell this guy was a special artist! It was a pleasure working with him on DD!

Mithra: I've read that Mazzucchelli preferred to ink his own work. Is this why you only did two issues, or was this only a temporary assignment to begin with?

DeMulder: I knew before I accepted this job that I would do only these two issues. As I said, I was waiting for the Nick Fury series and could only accept short term jobs at that point.

Mithra: Can you identify with Mazzucchelli's choice to pursue other forms of art, instead of mainstream comics?

DeMulder: Well, considering the poor state the current comic book market is in, I would have to say that he seems to have been quite far-sighted to have branched out when he did! I have had to find other areas of artistic pursuit myself, lately!

Mithra: Any other artists that you've worked with where the penciling and inking just clicked for you?

DeMulder: The aforementioned Scott Eaton on Swamp Thing. I also loved working with Tom Mandrake and Jan Duursema (former classmates of mine at the Kubert School!). Also, more recently I had fun working with a former student of mine, Loston Wallace, on the Klyde and Merriem Cavewoman comic for Basement comics.

Mithra:If you can remember, what did you think of the DD stories you inked? (222 - Fear gas in the swamp, with Black Widow, 223 - Secret Wars II tie-in, DD regains sight)

DeMulder: [222] was a blast! Black Widow is a favorite character of mine and it was set in a swampy woods...too cool for me! [223] wasn't as much fun...I didn't care for the Secret Wars stuff, and much of the careful linework I had done with David's pencils was re-inked by someone else...rather crudely I thought! An editorial decision that was related to the Secret Wars tie-in. I don't think it's too hard to find the panels that were re-inked...it seems all too obvious to me!

Mithra: What do you think of the DD character in general? Any favourite arcs?

DeMulder: DD had been a favorite of mine ever since the Gene Colan days. I love Gene Colan's work and would have given most anything to work with him on DD!

Mithra: What do you think of the growth of the Internet and what it will bring to the comic industry? What plans do you have for your site?

DeMulder: I think an Internet presence will become very necessary for all involved. As an artist, I think it's going to be very important to have some sort of site. On my site I will have some comic stuff, but I will be showcasing a lot of my other non-comic stuff...paintings and illustrations in many mediums and genres including fantasy, pin-up, science fiction, etc.!

Mithra: And finally, what projects are coming up for you (comics or otherwise)?

DeMulder: The only comics I'm doing these days are for Claypool Comics...Elvira, SoulSearchers and others. I would love to do more work for Marvel and/or DC...how about writing them and demanding a DeMulder return to DD ?!!!