Joel Naprstek ‘covers’
Moonstone’s Phantom
Interview by Ed
Rhoades
Moonstone cover artist Joel Naprstek is a veteran
illustrator whose work has been featured on TV and in books, magazines, and
comics for such companies as DC, Marvel, Dark Horse, and Malibu. His fondness
for pulp heroes is shown in his outstanding depictions of The Spider, The
Shadow, and other heroes.
A former instructor at
The New York School of Visual Art and The Joe Kubert School of Cartoon &
Design, he is knowledgeable, articulate, talented, and accomplished. A few years
ago he asked me for reference
material for a
painting of the Phantom. Afterward, he sent me the preliminary painting which I
have framed in my studio. So when I learned he was to illustrate the covers for
the Moonstone Phantom comics, I knew the results would be exciting. I have
enjoyed my conversations and correspondence with Joel
and appreciate him sharing a look at his creative process.
The following is from the recent FOTP interview:
Did you do interiors of books?
I’ve
done a handful, but I try to stay away from doing them. I did a GI Joe for Dark
Horse, a number of young readers-type books, and Flying Tigers—a World War II
book that hasn’t been published yet. A page here and there, a pin-up, but mostly
covers.
Where did you grow up?
In northern New Jersey, Bergen County. We moved every year. Too
many towns, too many
schools where I was the new
kid.
Which artists have influenced you?
There are so darned many. For comics, Alex Toth, Milton
Caniff, Roy Crane, and Al Williamson. Off
the top
of my head... Wally Wood. In illustration, N.C. Wyeth, and all the great and not
so great storytelling
illustrators and most of
the pulp cover artists.
On which titles have you
worked?
I did a Batman, Superman, a bunch of
Prime covers with Malibu, and Terminator 2 covers and for Dark Horse. I did a GI
Joe and a Predator mini-series.
Do you use models
for your paintings?
I just pick somebody who
looks like what I want. Sometimes I use my son. I just want to get light and
proportion, so I don’t use costumes on a model. I might tape on a towel for a
cape. The reference is done with a basic Polaroid camera. I don’t want too
detailed a reference, because I’d end up following it too
closely. For models, I use a cheap Polaroid for the main
characters, and photographic reference for setting, lighting, and details. I
have four file cabinets full of morgue references. Actually a studio full of
stuff. For
the model for the Phantom, I’m using
my son’s friend, a bass player in his band. They call him Joey Bass. I used my
son for a recent Robin Hood series of covers.
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