There are times I really love my job here at Somewhatnerdy and today is one of those days. I will always love posting interviews for you, my fellow Nerds, but every once in a while I choose to do an interview for the Fan Boy in me. Who am I kidding, all my posts are for the fan boy in me, but this one is special. I have been a fan of this artist since I first saw his work in the Wraithborn series. After getting hip to his work there, I started following comics he was working on like Darkness and Justice League just to name a few. So, when I got in touch with him and he said yes to an interview I was more than happy to follow-up. This man is a legend in the making. I feel that he is already a legend, but I am sure there are more great things to come. So enough of this fan boy rambling. Nerds and Nerdettes, I proudly present to you my interview with the one and only Joe Benitez.
SWN: Who are you and where are you from?
JB: Joe Benitez and I’m a comic book artist from East L.A.
SWN: I love your artwork! Can you tell us what comic book titles you have worked on?
JB: Thanks! Weapon Zero, Darkness, Magdalena, Wraithborn, Titans, Supergirl, JLA, Detective Comics, Soulfire, Lady Mechanika, and various covers.
SWN: I have been a fan of yours since I saw your artwork for Wraithborn and EA Iris, what was your first comic to work on?
JB: My first comic was Cyberforce Origins: Cyblade, but my first published work was Codename: Strykeforce #8 (drew Cyblade first but Strykeforce was published first).
SWN: What titles are you currently working on?
JB: Lady Mechanika
SWN: Do you have anything exciting to promote at this moment? Maybe a little glimpse into the future?
JB: I’m launching my own publishing company this month (February) and we’ll have 3 books coming out: Lady Mechanika Collected Edition #0-1 (in stores Feb. 4th, collecting the first two LM books), Lady Mechanika Collected Edition #2-3 (in stores Feb. 11th), and Lady Mechanika #4 (in stores Feb. 18th, the newest issue of LM). Next month we’ll be publishing Lady Mechanika #5, the conclusion of the current Mechanical Corpse storyline, and then in April we will be debuting a brand new Lady Mechanika story: The Tablet of Destinies.
SWN: When you begin to illustrate, do you have any routines that help the creative process?
JB: I tend to put on my music, usually ethereal stuff. Sometimes I start with some warm-up sketches (I usually post them on Facebook).
SWN: When did you know you wanted to work in comics? Do you have any advice for up and comers?
JB: Practice. A lot. Also, never be content with your work. Always try to evolve and get better. Never be boring with your work.
Probably after seeing GI Joe Yearbook #2 by Michael Golden. I knew then I wanted to do something in comics.
SWN: If you could be a part of any creative team to create any figure in comics history, past or present, who would it be and why?
JB: Batman or Spiderman, written by Grant Morrison and inked by Todd McFarlane.
SWN: If you were not in the Comic Biz, where would you be?
JB: Working at Walmart
SWN: Where can my readers see more of your work?
I want to thank Joe Benitez for taking the time for this interview. I also want to tell you that you should really pick up his comic Lady Mechanika because it is really damn good! Until next time, unleash your inner NERD and as always, get your READ on.
