1/
Seeing a started a comic book question and the other day I talked about Twitter and the ability to touch base with celebrities. Here is a storm of my interview with Mike Grell from a few years back.
1/
Seeing a started a comic book question and the other day I talked about Twitter and the ability to touch base with celebrities. Here is a storm of my interview with Mike Grell from a few years back.
2/
3/
A. In truth, I wanted to be a lumberjack, just like my Dad. Then, when I
was 16, he got me a job working in the woods and I discovered how hard
the old boy had been working all those years. I decided there must be
lumberjack really involves hard work and dedication, you need to be strong before you can do that work,
Or keep at till you become strong 💪 😉
4/
I decided there must be an
easier way to make a living. I would have liked to become an architect, but
couldn't handle the math so I settled on commercial art, because it had the
word "commercial" in it
lol, maths is my favorite subject
Lol. It is one of mine.
5/
(which meant you got paid to draw) and "art"
(which meant it wasn't really work).
haha, artwork is really worthy and I would have wished to be one but lol, didn’t work out for me either
I can draw an awesome stick person.
wow, that’s great, then I think by now you are don’t with the zealy artist adventure?
6/
Q. Once you became an artist what drew (pardon the pun) you to comics and
DC comic?
7/
A. While in U.S. Air Force basic training, I ran in to a guy who told me I
should forget commercial art and become a cartoonist because "Cartoonists
only work two or three days a week and they make a million
dollars a year
hmmm, cartoonist, what do they do actually
Best to research it. My answer was going to sound saucy. Lol.
8/
Then, when I was stationed in Saigon, a pal brought his
stack of comics which included GREEN LANTERN/GREEN ARROW
by Denny O'Neil, Neal Adams and Dick Giordano and I decided that was
the kind of work I wanted to do.
hahaha, you have really made a lot of work decisions lol, let me continue reading you might even find a different one on the way as well
Awesome, thank you.
my pleasure, that is how life is, you never know where you would find yourself one day until the time comes.
9/
I really wanted to do a comic strip, but
nobody was interested in adventure strips, so I wound up in comics.
As dumb luck would have it, DC just happened to have work at the time I
needed it.
10/
Q. For me your three biggest characters have been Green Arrow, Warlord
and Jon Sable. Are one of these three your favorite? Or is it another?
actually I know none of them, maybe I might read about them later
Awesome, I am spreading my love of comics to others.
that’s great to share what you love to others
Especially when it is accepted
yeah, you would be much happier than before
And I am
11/
A. Green Arrow is my favorite comic character. Jon Sable is my favorite among
my own creations.
that is good to know
12/
Q. Green Arrow The Longbow Hunters has to be one of the best stories and
redevelopment of a comic character. Did you go after the Green Arrow
title or was it offered to you.
13/
A. When I heard Denny O'Neil was resurrecting GREEN LANTERN/GREEN ARROW in the
'70s, I went straight to his office and asked him "Who do I have to kill?"
hahaha, what sort of question did you just asked him like that
why did you ask that
I was the interviewer. Those are Mike Grells answers
ohk, I see thanks, I thought you are the one being interviewed
Oops, my bad, I read the story, the wrong way lol
Lmao. At least now you know 😀
Yes,
And that is just a phase used to let people know how badly you want something.
yeah, sure
14/
Working with him was just
a blast. Then, a decade later, Mike Gold called me and asked if there was a character I liked enough to
come back to DC
15/
I said I had done such a lousy job on Batman that I always wanted to take another shot it him, but I knew Frank Miller was just starting work on THE DARK KNIGHT
16/
and I knew that would put a cap on the character for the next 20 years (more like 25... and counting). Gold suggested Green Arrow and I said that was always my favorite character.
17/
Q. What was your inspiration to redevelop Green Arrow they way you did in
TLH?
18/
A. Mike Gold gets the credit again. He said "Think about this: Green Arrow as
an urban hunter." that's how THE LONGBOW HUNTERS came about.
19/
Q. What where your first thoughts when you heard the CW was bring Arrow
to the small screen?
20/
A. Trepidation and doubt. Turns out I was totally wrong
21/
Q. You must have been excited when the CW and DC contacted you about
doing more work for Green Arrow (Arrow). I know I was.
22/
A. Yes. I had been itching to get my hands (and pencil) on the character
again. When they asked me to draw the cover for the SDCC promo comic, I was excited.
that’s was a great opportunity for you then
For him. Lol
yeah, just realized I wrongly read the information, hahaha
Lol. The main thing is now you know. 😀
yeah, now I know hahaha
23/
Later, Geoff Johns asked me to draw the police artist sketch that's used in the show and I asked if there were plans for a comic. He said, "Stand by." Whatever strings he pulled, I was on the book in a matter of days.
24/
Q. Have you been watching Arrow since it has been on? And if so any
thoughts on how they are handling Oliver Queen/Arrow.
25/
A. Yes. I think they're doing a great job on all aspects - great characters,
tight scripts, excellent production values. Movie quality stuff you can watch for free.
for me I haven’t watched that movie yet, I don’t know maybe because I am not a fan of movies
It is a TV show 😀
Ohk, I see, series right?
26/
Q. What do you think of Stephen Amell as Oliver Queen/Arrow?
27/
A. I think Stephen is doing an excellent job. He has the talent, the
physicality and the charisma to carry the lead. When I first saw thee pilot I said this will be a star-making role for him. The camera really likes the guy.
28/
Q. Any last comments or thoughts that you would like to share?
29/
A. After 40 years in the business, someone owes me 39 1/2 million bucks and
about 28 years vacation.
Oops, that’s a huge sum of money, have you gotten that now, sorry to hear this
Hahahahaha
yeah, to him instead lol,
30/
I loved Mike's answers and it was a treat and a lifetime dream come true to have contact and an interview with him.
Thank you Mike Grell
End of
Wow, that was a great interview man, you really did extremely well with your answers, I really enjoyed reading your lifetime story.
2/ was supposed to be:
Q. How and when did you realize that you wanted to become an artist?
Thanks for sharing your fascinating real-life story.
I am the interviewer. I asked the the questions. Q.
Mike Grell answered. A.
I see.