INTERVIEW: Corey Lewis of SHARKNIFE and PENG

I recently had the pleasure of having a little chat with Corey Lewis, Seattle based comic artist responsible for pop culture infused comics such as Sharknife and PENG. I’ve had many a beer with this eccentric fellow, but I never really got down to the nitty gritty with him about his comics career.

iFanboy: Corey, I know your work and I’m a great fan, but tell the readers who aren’t acquainted with you a little about yourself and your work.

Corey Lewis: My name is Corey Lewis but artistically I go by “Rey” or “Reyyy”… I’ve been drawing since I was two years old. Been drawing comics (professionally) since about 2004. I’ve drawn on properties like Transformers, Street Fighter, Darkstalkers, Avatar: The Last Airbender — and created my own graphic novels like Sharknife and PENG, both published by Oni Press. I’m 29 and I like to party. Both in artwork and at parties.

iF: Awesome! Let’s get right to it: I’m a big fan of Sharknife – can we look forward to more installments of that any time in the near future?

CL: Yes. After Vol 2: Double Z comes out, I’m working on a 3rd volume with three separate Sharknife-related stories.

iF: I’ve been awaiting Double Z for quite some time now. When can we expect to see that on shelves?

CL: Comes out March 28th, I think. Basically just in time for the Emerald City Comic Con. And the first volume is being reprinted, too. Same release date.

iF: Awesome. I’ll be sure to pick it up and swing by your booth to have you sign it. Any other new projects you want to tell us about?

CL: There’s 3 stories for the new Sharknife. Which includes a story about a flashy young couple scuba diving. They encounter undersea monsters and things get very SHARKNIFE from there. Besides that, I’m also always working on Layered Jacket, which is my self-published anthology thing. The first two issues were mostly about the main character “LJ”, who can summon anything he imagines out of his jacket. But new issues will feature random side-stories. Like the new one has a side story with characters from PENG! my kickball comic also published by Oni Press.

iF: I actually haven’t picked up Layered Jacket yet, so I’ll be sure to check it out. I’m a big fan of your style. On that note, let’s delve into the cliche question: who or what influences your

CL: HMMMM! I have a lot of influences. Other artists, comics, video games, music, movies… Off the top of my head… Video games greatly inspire me. Always have. At heart I think I’m mostly a comix fanboy, but video games get my mind revved up. As far as that goes, I’ve always loved Capcom– Like Street Fighter, Darkstalkers, Megaman, Power Stone… Comics-wise, my main influences are like Paul Pope, who’s energy and style inspires me greatly… I love how that guy LIVES and MAKES his work. If not his work always directly. Awe-inspirors are people like Akira Toriyama (Dragon Ball), Otomo (Akira), Kentaro Miura (Berserk)… A lot of manga dudes. I like classic Marvel stuff like X-Men, Infinity Gauntlet… Ghost Rider. I drew a couple Marvel stories recently. One featuring Cannonball and one featuring Longshot. That was cool.

iF: So basically, you’re saying you’re a huge geek.

CL: Oh yes, no denying that.

iF: That’s refreshing. In my experience several comic artists I have met aren’t always geeks for what they do – they love making art, but the sub culture is lost on them. But I digress. It sounds like you’ve always been really into this kind of stuff – video games, comics, art. Did you set out at the beginning to make comics, or is it just something that kind of happened?

CL: It was all pretty natural for me. I’ve been drawing since I could hold a pencil. I’ve made comics since I was twelve. Like for real hand-bound succinct comic stories. Haha. They’re still some of my favorite work. I like the stuff I cultivated as a child. But yeah, getting into comics was just the natural evolution for me. There was never really a question about it.

iF: Have you ever thought about publishing the comics you made when you were younger? I know I would be interested in seeing them.

CL: Well, I kind of HAVE. One of my recent webcomics, Seedless (about sentient grape warriors from outer space), was based on a very similar creation I made when I was twelve. My early comics were almost always about anthropomorphic fruit beings. I got a thing for fruit. (Editor’s Note: You can find the “original” comic that Seedless was based off here)

iF: I have Seedless on my shelf! I absolutely loved it. Maybe you have a thing for fruit because you are fruity…

CL: That seems the obvious answer. I’m definitely gay for fruit.

iF: Aren’t we all. So, since you seem to be a comic geek yourself, what have you been reading and enjoying lately?

CL: I really loved Uncanny X-Force. The first arc drawn by Jerome Opena. Brilliantly drawn, and I loved the team. I’m also digging the new Ultimate Spider-Man with Miles Morales. The comic is charming as hell, well drawn, and it has brilliant covers by my homedude Kaare Andrews, another huge inspiration to me… I feel we’re homies, though we’ve never met. Haha. Besides that, I still keep up on my mangas, like Gantz, Naruto, Bakuman… And my friends are currently making some of the dopest comics on the market like King City by Brandon Graham, Orc Stain by James Stokoe. Another friend of mine (who helped tone Sharknife 2) has a great online comic called VIBE, too (vibecomic.com) I’m also really into TV shows while I draw. 30 Rock, Eastbound & Down and GAME OF THRONES!!! I also listen to the Game of Thrones audiobooks while I draw.

iF: I do the same while I write. I think I’ve “watched” Game of Thrones whilst writing at least twice through now.

CL:  Word. I think I’ve watched it like six times. Haha.

iF: It’s worth the watch. Do you have any advice for artists who want to do comics?

CL: I’d say the best advice is to just draw what you want and have fun with it. Comics is tough, it’s a kind-of solitary lifestyle that requires a lot of zen-like patience. But, the stuff you’re making is communicating to people in a way unlike any other– so you have the awesome distinction of being truly unique in your pages. JUST DO IT!!!!!!!

iF: Did you find “breaking in” difficult?

CL:  Not terribly. I find “staying in” way more difficult. Haha.
For getting in, you really just have to draw and be part of the community. Whether that means conventions or online communities. I recommend both. But most importantly is drawing. When I “broke in”, I was doing Street Fighter backup strips for Udon (even a cover or two!) and then released the first Sharknife graphic novel. I feel like your first thing is gonna be easiest. Coz then after that, you have the responsibility of keeping it up. Something I was very flaky on, initially. So yeah, to “break in”, I’d say DRAW a lot of cool stuff, meet people at conventions, get your stuff looked at– and should you make it, STICK TO IT! Consistency is key.

iF: Good advice for all walks of life, not just doing comics.

CL: Too true, too true. Comics will teach you various life lessons.

iF: Well, thank you so much for talking with me. I’m really excited for your upcoming projects and I look forward to what you release in years to come.

CL:  Awesome! Thank YOU!

You can check Corey Lewis out on Twitter here.

 

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Molly McIsaac resides in the rainy city of Seattle, WA and sings songs to her dog constantly. She’s currently moving apartments and realizing how many damn comics she has. You can read her bitching on Twitter.