Most of my readers know I love comic books. More than that, I’m indebted to them. They helped shape who I am. I learned to read from Batman, Superman, Spider-Man and Scrooge McDuck. I made up stories and drew comic art through my entire childhood.
I’m a musician now, and don’t draw as much as I’d like. But I still make time to write: music, and fiction, and comics. I wrote my first comics as gifts to my sister, and to give my comic artist brother something to illustrate. But I found that I loved it so much, I began writing comics for myself, and possibly a wider audience.My most recent graphic novel, The Lazarus Slaves, grew out of several things that mean a lot to me: slavery in America, the slow death of certain American sub-cultures, and Shakespeare’s Macbeth. I’m very fond of The Lazarus Slaves and its characters, and have been unreasonably picky in searching for the right artist.I found him. And he’s a bad-ass.
His name is Scott Hampton, and he’s been working in the comics industry for nearly 30 years. He’s collaborated with Neil Gaiman (Sandman, Coraline), Steve Niles (30 Days of Night) and Greg Rucka (Gotham Central), has illustrated such icons as Batman, Sandman, Hellboy, Black Widow and the Justice Society, and is the co-creator and illustrator of DC’s Simon Dark. To see some of Scott’s latest work, pick up a copy of Immortals: Gods and Heroes, the just-released graphic novel companion to the upcoming film, Immortals.
After only a few conversations with Scott, his experience and insight have already made The Lazarus Slaves a better story. I’m incredibly excited to work with him, and I can’t wait to see our story come to life.As long as it doesn’t… you know… actually come to life. The Lazarus Slaves would not be my first choice for that kind of thing. Read it when it comes out. You’ll understand.
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Fall Tour 2011- Meet Scott Hampton
Phillip Kennedy Johnson > Blog > Blog > Fall Tour 2011- Meet Scott Hampton
