influencesI love storytelling and have a deep appreciation for
comics, music, prose, poetry, and film. The number of artists who have directly influenced me
likely
range in the thousands. I try to study good art and adapt techniques from work
that touches me to apply to what I do. Any artform can influence any other, and therefore, even my comics
are influenced by music or film or prose or whatever.
The artists listed below represent the
creators who've had the greatest impact on who I am as a storyteller.
comics film music
books
comics
Frank Miller and Will Eisner have had a huge influence
on me. Both have created a body of work that represents depth, courage and
amazing skill. Miller's Elektra Lives Again and Dark Knight Returns are probably
my favorite comics ever. Will's contributions to comics can not be understated,
and personally, he took the time once to really encourage me, and try to direct
me toward successful work. Since that meeting, Will's many publications on the
art of comics have always read to me as if they were written directly for me.
A list of other comic creators whose work has inspired
me might look something like this:
Matt Wagner, Art Adams, Neil Gaiman, Peter Milligan, Chris Bachalo, Mike Dringenberg, Bernie Wrightson, Dale Keown, Peter David, Chris Claremont, Jim
Lee, Mark Badger, Kent Williams, Dave Sim, Paul Pope, Craig Thompson, Kyle
Baker, Grant Morrison, Frank Quietly, Alex Maleev, Mike Carey, Chris Ware, Victoria Frances,
Laura Martin, Todd Klein, Jason Pearson, Tony Dezuniga, Scott Morse, Marc Hempel,
Sam Kieth, Marcello Frusin, Richard Corben, Mike Dringenberg, Kelly Jones, Simon
Bisley, Duncan Fegredo, Adam Kubert, Joe Kelly, Ducan Roleau, David Mack, Joe
Quesada, Kevin Nowlan, Bill Sienckievicz, Mark Waid, Alex Ross, Eric Shanower,
Mark Pennington, Samax Randolph, Kelsey Shannon, Mike Mignola, Stan Saki, Sergio
Aragones, Barry Windsor Smith, Lynn Varley, Scott McCloud, Kazu Kabushi, Chris
Sprouse, Todd McFarlane, Joe Kubert, Jill Thompson, P. Craig Russel, Jeff Smith,
Rick Geary, Ted McKeever, Barry Windsor Smith, James Kochalka, James O'Barr,
Charles Vess, Josh Middelton, Brian Michael Bendis, John Romita JR., Gary Frank,
Brian Bolland, Paul Smith, Dean Roher, Bob Luedke, Joe Madueria, Daniel Dzjezl,
David Mazuchelli, Keith Giffin
Those aren't even all the ones I like (that list
would be a lot longer), just the ones who I can point to a direct way that they
have impacted my work. And I probably forgot 50.
film
The projects and filmakers who
have taught me a lot are:
Films
Magnolia, Fight Club, The Insider, Meet Joe Black, Raising Arizona, Edward
Scissorhands, The World According To Garp, The Muppet Movie, L.A. Story
Writer/Directors
Pt Anderson, Wes Anderson, Woody Allen, The Cohen Brothers, Jim Henson, Tim
Burton, John Carpenter
Actors
Judy
Davis, Edward Norton, Al Pacino, Denzel Washington
music
I especially love acoustic
music, conscious hip-hop, and early rock and roll. Here are some of my very
favorites:
vocalists
Janis Joplin
Sam Cooke
Joe Cocker
Aretha Franklin
Smokey Robinson
mc's
the Gift of Gab
Chali Tuna
Jay Z
Lauryn Hill
Missy
Elliot
singer/songwriters
Bob Dylan
Paul Simon
Tori Amos
Adam
Duritz
Fiona Apple
Billy Joel
albums
Graceland by Paul Simon
Appetite for
Destruction by Guns and Roses
Blazing Arrow by Blackilicous
Stop Making Sense
by the Talking Heads
Automatic for the People by REM
composers
Danny Elfman
John Williams
books
Permanent Midnight - Jerry Stahl
Deathbird Stories - Harlan Ellison
anything by Hunter S. Thompson
Creating Affluence - Depak Chopra
Conversations with God- Neal Donald Walsch
Swan Song - by Robert McCammon
The Kid Stays in the Picture - by Evans (you bet yer ass)
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