Shawn and Isaac of Hero Spy: How did you find your way into the comic book world?
Adi Granov: I’ve always loved comics, especially European graphic novels I grew up on, so that was always something I had a lot of interest in. But I pursued education and career in illustration and design and that, in a roundabout way, led me into doing work for various publishers who wanted me to try my hand at doing sequential art. I did and I really enjoyed it.
Hero Spy: In 2004 you were named as one of Marvel Comics Young Guns, did you get a trophy for that one or just the title?
Adi Granov: Just the title unfortunately… Although we had a really wild party during that con they announced the whole Young Gun thing at, not related to it, but it was the most memorable part of the whole deal.
Hero Spy: Was there possibly a giant novelty check involved?
Adi Granov: No, but there was lots of whipped cream.
Hero Spy: I love to draw as well and I always wonder how long it takes someone to pencil a page.
Adi Granov: It’s hard to put a round number on my pages… To just pencil a page it takes me about 5-6 hours. But to ink and shade it takes about another 4-6, and then to color it about the same again. Obviously, it always depends on what’s on the page. Very dark rooms are my favorite to paint.
Hero Spy: What would be your main tools for your drawing? I can tell you I primarily use finger paints myself.
Adi Granov: Pencils, a range from H to 4B, ink, gouache, markers, airbrush, Photoshop, Wacom tablet… garden tools. Whatever seems like it could work I try it. But pencils on nice paper is my favorite.
Hero Spy: Your artwork is amazing. I have to tell you that myself and all of the crew here at Herospy are big fans of your work. As it stands now I am completely fan boy when I look at your body of work and some of the truly cool titles you have had an opportunity to pencil, but as a writer I can’t help but envy you for the greats that you have worked with. Brian Michale Bendis for instance is a legend. How did you end up working on New Avengers with him and what was that experience like?
Adi Granov: Thank you, that’s nice to hear. But I never worked with Bendis. I only did a couple of covers for the New Avengers, but the story I was supposed to draw I couldn’t because of my schedule on the Iron Man movie.
Hero Spy: This falls in the same vein as the last question but I have to ask, what was your experience like working with Warren Ellis?
Adi Granov: I am a big fan of his comic writing so it was a really great experience to work on a big project with him. It was very educational for me to see a story develop in the way that he writes it. Warren isn’t a collaborative writer really, but he writes for the artist so it was quite impressive to see him adjust his writing style to fit my strengths even without us talking about it.
Hero Spy: The rumor is that you have taken a big part in the design of Iron Mans suit for the upcoming movie. Is there any truth to the rumor?
Adi Granov: Well, it’s not much a of a rumor. I spent most of last year working on the movie as a designer and illustrator. I worked on the suits and scene illustrations as well as art directing the 3D builds of the characters. I am still doing a lot of marketing illustration in preparation for the release next year. It’s been a very involved process and by now I feel quite married to Iron Man.
Hero Spy: Who is your favorite Comic book character that you love to draw or wish to draw in the future?
Adi Granov: Any character that I can alter enough to make it fit my idea of interesting is cool with me. There are characters who you just can’t take much liberty with and they aren’t as fun. But obviously, I quite enjoy drawing the current versions of Iron Man because I designed them, I love drawing the Hulk because he’s so extreme and it’s really fun, Venom for the same reasons. I think I’d quite enjoy drawing something with a strong girl character.
Hero Spy: When you are not working, how do you fill your time?
Adi Granov: I’m always working. Ever when I am not at my desk I am working as most of my vacations are tied into some kind of a convention or event. But on rare occasions I love going to classic car races and auctions, and I like working on old sports cars. My wife and I try to travel as much as we can and try the local foods and meet friends from around the world. Doing the work I do is great because it connects you with colleagues and fans from all corners of the globe.
Hero Spy: Who would you consider to be great artist, besides yourself?
Adi Granov: Besides myself? Only Michelangelo, and even that is questionable… But legendary masters aside, I am a huge fan of Moebius, Drew Struzan, Bilal, Das Pastoras, Travis Charest, Tatsuyuki Tanaka, Katsuya Terada… the list could go on and on.
Hero Spy: Do you do any inking or coloring? If so, what do you use to do your inking and coloring?
Adi Granov: I do all of it. I use mostly the brush pens for inking and Photoshop for coloring. My work doesn’t really have a clear line (no pun intended) between the penciling and inking, I go back and forth with the two in various measures depending on my mood and what I’m trying to achieve.
Hero Spy: There has been one revamp after another at the House of Ideas and over at DC with titles such as Civil War and Infinite this or that. I have enjoyed some of these books and others I could leave behind. What’s your opinion on where comics are at and where they are heading?
Adi Granov: I have no idea! I usually pick stuff up based on who’s drawing and writing it, I am not too bothered about the crossovers and what fits where. If I’m enjoying the art and the writing isn’t half bad I’m happy. As soon as there is a creative change for the worse, I’m out. Comics in general seem to be doing quite well at the moment, but for my personal tastes I wish there was more standalone stories, mini-series and graphic novels, as well as proper science fiction in the vein of WE3 and Silent Dragon (or dozens of French and Japanese comics).
Hero Spy: You mentioned that you have been busy so I have just one more question for you.
What would you say is your favorite fast food joint?
Adi Granov: Chipotle hands down. Too bad there aren’t any in the UK.
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Good article about Adi, an awesome artist! His coves always blow me away. Check out this podcast interview he did here:
http://www.sidebarnation.com/my_weblog/2008/07/ep-57-one-time.html