Mike Zeck is one of those creators where even if you don't recognize his name, you'd surely recognize the work. One of the legends of the industry, some of Zeck's most notable projects include Master of Kung-Fu, a three-year run on Captain America, fan-favorite Kraven's Last Hunt and Punisher miniseries, and a number of covers on such books as G.I. Joe, among many other works.
In 1996, along with writer Steven Grant, Zeck created The Damned, an acclaimed series put out by Homage Studios (then still under Image Comics). Now indy publisher Cyberosia is releasing The Damned as a trade paperback collection. Slush's Alex Ness sat down with Zeck to discuss his career, Damned, and what fans can expect to see in the future from the noted artist.
Alex Ness: Please tell us about your family, where you grew up and where you live. Are you married with kids, etc.?
Mike Zeck: I was born in GREENVILLE, PA, grew up in FT. LAUDERDALE, FL, spent the better part of my professional career in the NEW HAVEN, CT area, and recently back to FLORIDA, ORLANDO area this time. Married once, single again, no children.
AN: How and where were you trained?
MZ: Most of what I know about comics art is self-taught. After high school, I spent my college years at RINGLING SCHOOL OF ART in Sarasota, FL as an illustration student.
AN: How did you get into the comics industry?
MZ: The best way to break in hasn't changed much in the 30 years since I was trying to find work... Putting together a portfolio of sample pages, showing pro level continuity and drawing, then attending the bigger conventions where publishers and editors have time and are willing to look at submissions.
In my day, that was the Phil Seuling conventions in NYC, and was a long way to travel from Florida, but I think those face to face meetings with editors made the difference in getting work sooner rather than later.
AN: Your work is clearly of its own style and quality, but who would you cite as most influential upon your work? I see a lot of Alex Toth and Milt Canniff...am I wrong?
MZ: I've been influenced by so many artists over the years, that it would be hard to name one or two as most influential. There have always been artists who come along and bring something new to the table and manage to raise the bar a bit. I look at all of them and absorb what I can.
AN: What was your first published comics work?
MZ: For Charlton Comics. Their line of animated titles featured two-page text stories, and I started supplying spot illos for those. At that same time, I was able to sell some pinup illustrations to Marvel's magazine line, but I didn't transition to their color comics line until a few years later.
AN: I enjoyed your work on the popular Master of Kung Fu. What was it like to follow Paul Gulacy on that book and what role did you get in the plotting of the work?
MZ: I loved what Gulacy did to define that character, and his incorporation of Bruce Lee, Kung-Fu movies, secret agent movies, etc. I was a Bruce Lee fan as well, and brought that and my interest in martial arts movies to the table too. I realized that Gulacy would always be the "defining artist" for that series, and the best I could do is fall somewhere close behind.
As far as plots, Doug Moench's plots were the most detailed and thick plots that I had seen, or have seen since! So I probably had less than usual input as 'plot artist' with that series since the plots didn't leave much for artist interpretation.
AN: Let's turn to GI Joe. Was this a series that exemplifies professional storytelling for yout? It was a hot-selling title aimed for a younger audience and yet, it had artistic merit.
MZ: I liked what Larry Hama was doing with the Joe characters, and Larry liked what I was doing with the Punisher and other gun-toting c
Damned
10.15.03
Writer: Steven Grant; Artist: Mike Zeck;
Inker: Denis Rodier; Colors: Kurt Goldzung
112 pages, Full color, Crime, $19.95
Diamond Order Code: JUN03 2224
Crime fiction follows the events of a character hero or felon in a twisted tale. Crime Noir often portrays the events in the life of a hunted man or the events in the life of a crime hunter and the twists and turns of the investigation. Add liberal doses of shadows and violence, mix in strippers and neon, and you get a story that has impact, and when done right you have a window to the scenes of hell on earth. With Crime Noir environment is a character in the story, whether the reader sees it or just absorbs it. Prior comics in this vein include MS TREE by Max Collins, SIN CITY by Frank Miller, and POWERS, JINX and TORSO by Brian Michael Bendis (and Mike Oeming on Powers). This book approaches crime noir, but is closer to crime fiction. The setting here is important, but far less than that of the main character and his situation.
Mick Thorne is the quintessential loner. In prison he did his time, did what was needed to get through the time, and only fought or dealt with trouble when it invaded his space. When he left prison his sole goal was to deliver a message to a sister and return to a life less troubled. A parole officer makes his life hell, the sister is mixed up with bad folks and continuous problems spring up regarding the grip of his past. That is whatever he is doing to go right, it is closer and closer to impossible. His troubles occur when he becomes in-between a gang boss, various flunkies, the sister and greed. I won't reveal any plot turns because I promise that it is better for you to go into the story with eyes open and being uninformed.
This work delivers a powerful blast of knuckles across your chin. Mick is not hard to like and you do empathize with him, but in the end you just wish that the loner would win and run like hell. The width and breadth of this story is such that you really do not want another chapter, as the twists and turns are enough for one person's life. I found the writing, including the new ending to be elegant and wholly professional. Grant didn't resort to vulgar dialogue to create mood. A prison full of inmates and a story full of felons could be filled with profanity, but it instead was aimed at moving the story forward. Without question Grant can write, and as in his Punisher stories at Marvel, he can write crime well.
The art is masterful and a rather stunning turn for Mike Zeck. It echoes Milt Canniff and Alex Toth at their best and makes the story many times better. The collection has many added features over the original 1997 series and I loved the new ending, although the old one had its charm. Cyberosia, the book's publisher, did an excellent job making this book worth reading all over again. If you did not read the original series, I recommend this 100%. If you did read the original series I recommend the series only slightly less so, the extras are well worth the price. Final Grade: 3.5/4 Points off only for owners of the series in single issues
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