Interview:Khoi Pham Mighty Avengers #21

On the 5th of February 2009 LotsofInterviews.com conducted the first in a row of interviews with Kohi Pham on the most recent issue of his Mighty Avengers series, issue #21, which he is the artist for. Look out for more interviews about the rest of the series. Hope you enjoy!

The front cover of this issue was drawn by you as well as the rest of the issue, did you find it harder or easier drawing a cover for your own book?

I hate drawing covers. So no [laughter], it's always a bear for me but I think I'm getting better at it. Pinups and such aren't natural for me.Graphic layout.... dynamic shots.... those require more thought for me the interior storytelling, however, i find to be much simpler. For this cover it's 3 connected covers with each being able to stand alone. It was tricky but i'm starting to like doing covers like anything, practice makes perfect.

Yeah of course. I can see why doing covers would apeal because it's not just thepeople who buy the book who see it, but people who walk past ect.

More appeal, or more pressure?

On this section of the cover are the three confirmed members of the Mighty Avengers Hank Pym, Jocasta and the Scarlet Witch. Was it you who designed the new Wasp costume?

Depends on whether or not you like it. [laughter]. Dan Slott and Tom Brevoort came up with the initial ideas....

Yes I like it a lot. The way it looks like a wasp but not like his wifes and also looks scieny so it fits well with Hank's job.

Exactly, thanks. I was trying to make him a geeky retro science hero. Only an arrogant jerk would think it's ok to wear that.

Yeah. Do the blue pannels on the arms serve a purpose or are they just for show?

No just for show. I like shiny blue lights.

Also on this cover is the Scarlet Witch. Did you feel a lot of pressure being the first person to draw her in a few years?

 Surprisingly, no. I love drawing her; especially after seeing how Finch and Coipel drew her, they inspired me.

And then there is Jocasta and I must say the colourist did a very good job on her.

Yeah. I think Dean White did the cover and Jason Keith did the interiors. I agree, great work.

The page with New York being floded with blood reminds be a lot of the current Ulitamtum storyline, do you know if this was done on purpose?

You know, you'd have to ask Dan Slott. I wasn't even aware that that was happening over there. I have the book, but i'm months and months behind on my reading. in our case, though, it's significance is really minimal it's more that SOMETHING is happening, versus what that something really is like, let's just draw a bunch of bad stuff happening.

Yeah the montarge on the next page really does show how bad things are around the world.

Exactly

And then we have Jarvis trying to find Thor. Was it intresting drawing such a old car?

Yeah, it was fun.I normally don't like drawing cars, but this was fun.

 I do feel sorry for comic book artists when it is pannel after pannel of the same thing.

Don't feel sorry, it's our job.