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From Friday’s The Oklahoman:

By Matthew Price
Assistant Features Editor

WORD BALLOONS

Tulsa artist Dustin Evans has helped chronicle the adventures of Disney’s pirates and gargoyles. This summer, he’ll introduce comic book fans to new characters in “Imaginary Friends.”

“Imaginary Friends” is a 96-page comic book being published by Viper Comics. Evans handles the entire art process — penciling, inking and digitally coloring the story.

“This book is great for people who love ‘popcorn movies,’” Evans said in an e-mail interview. “There is a lot of action, comedy and great characters that drive the story. The plot revolves around six Imaginary Characters, being led by their fearless leader, Rex Montana, to save the world from certain doom. The question is can a clown, skeleton, pageant winner, deer-man, action hero and small child actually save the world?”

Jason M. Burns wrote the “Imaginary Friends” story. Burns is also the author of “Expendable One” and “M-Force.”

“It’s hard to sum this book up, but if I could pick a word or two to describe it, ‘roller coaster’ would be it,” Evans said.

Evans started drawing seriously in fourth grade, after getting a “How to Draw Dinosaurs” book from the library book fair.

“I drew every prehistoric animal in the book at least once or twice,” Evans said. “It wasn’t long after this when I discovered comic books. Batman, Superman and X-Men were my books of choice. I spent hours drawing and redrawing my favorite super heroes in battles only limited by my imagination.”

Evans took every art class he could from middle school to high school, then attended Oklahoma State University, majoring in illustration and graphic design. Evans graduated with a bachelor’s of fine arts degree in 2005.

But even before that, Evans was graduating into comics. A trip to Comic Con International in 2004 provided Evans’ big break.

“It was my first time on a plane, and my first time in a major state that didn’t border Oklahoma,” Evans said. “I handed out sample packets of my work to companies around the building, talked to as many people as possible, asked numerous questions and listened to all the feedback. It was the single most exciting and bizarre experience I had encountered to date. Celebrities were everywhere and artists and writers I had respected for years were looking at my work.”

A few days after returning home, Evans received a call from Disney Adventures, asking him to draw a comic strip based on the “Pirates of the Caribbean.”

Later, he provided the colors for Disney’s “Gargoyles.”

“I grew up watching the animated series, so working on the comic books was like a childhood dream come true,” he said.

Currently, Evans is working on digital colors for an upcoming book from Devil’s Due called “Serpo,” scheduled for an August release.

“‘Serpo is a three-chapter graphic novel in the sci-fi/action genre, loosely based on a true story,” Evans said. The book was written by Burns with pencils/inks by Joe Eisma, letters by Nick Deschenes and colors by me, of course.”

In his approximately four years as a comic-book artist, Evans said his upcoming “Imaginary Friends” is the work of which he’s the most proud.

“It will be the biggest project to feature my artwork alone, since I’ve started my comic book career,” Evans said. “There’s just something great about flipping through 96 pages, knowing you’re responsible for all the art from the lines to the colors throughout the story.”

Dustin Evans, artist of “Imaginary Friends” from Viper Comics, answered some additional questions for Nerdage readers.

Matt Price: Who are your main artistic influences?

Dustin Evans: I’m definitely into the more “animated” style of comics. I had no idea this style was really happening and acceptable in American comics until I discovered my main influence, Humberto Ramos, while I was in college. I just remember seeing his work, and being blown away by the energy and style of his lines. Tim Burton has also been a big influence of mine. Not just his movies, but his concept art and animated work. Tim Sale and Frank Miller both stick out in my mind as big influences as well. Their lighting and storytelling is among the best in my book.

MP: What’s your favorite comic-book story?

DE: One book sticks out in my mind, “The Dark Knight Returns”. I remember my older brother getting the book for Christmas one year, and I “borrowed” it for years to come. I probably read the story a dozen times and flipped through the artwork hundreds of times before I even really knew who Frank Miller was and what he was about as a creator.

MP: What’s your dream project?

DE: My dream project would really be a project of my own creation. I really want to get my own book out on shelves, so everyone can get a real sense of my unfiltered style and storytelling. I’m actually writing and illustrating my own side project right now call, “Old Man Claus”. It’s about who else, but Santa Claus. Santa has lost his magical powers and fallen into a dark depression. He must rise up against packs of zombies, sasquatches, and bodacious babes to save the world and reclaim his title as world’s best holiday mascot.

MP: What are the challenges of living in Oklahoma and working in the comics industry?
DE: I would say, thanks to technology, the challenges of working as a comic artist in Oklahoma are few and far in between. Everyone can FTP or Fedex their work to the desired location. I’ve started and finished big projects via email. It’s great! The hardest part was making that first break into the comic business, not knowing anyone in the business. It’s true what they say, you HAVE to go to comic cons to make connections. I’ve been able to build a great working relationship with a few people, and they’ve been kind enough to introduce me to other companies and work opportunities. Having a great work ethic is extremely important in comics.

MP: Anything else you’d like to mention?
DE: Just to give thanks, really, to my wife and my family for supporting and putting up with a comic book artist for a husband, son and relative. They’re definitely the biggest influence and support in my life. I have no doubt I would have given up far before I broke into the comic business without them.

More art from Dustin Evans:

The following is a press release from New Mexico’s Museum of Indian Arts and Culture.  For more information, visit www.indianartsandculture.org.

Santa Fe, NM — Storytelling has long been a part of Native American culture. Comic Art Indigène which opens at the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture on May 11, 2008 looks at how storytelling has been used through comics and comic inspired art to express the contemporary Native American experience. Under the larger definition of narrative art, comic art is more related to Native American art traditions than one might expect. The earliest surviving examples of such narrative art is rock art. The historic examples used in the exhibition, such as photographs of rock art, ledger art, and ceramics are meant to link Native American art traditions with contemporary voices.

Making comics and producing art inspired by them is a method of reclaiming the narrative art form of comics and Native American culture from those who would dismiss an art for the masses. Today, Native American artists are reclaiming stereotypes used in earlier comic art depicting Indians as savage, war-like primitives or trusty sidekicks.

The exhibition begins with a photograph of a cartoon from the 13th century. The image of the red, white and blue pictograph of the All American Man, a shield carrying warrior from the Pueblo II period (carbon dated to ca. 1290) will be contrasted to a Jack Kirby drawing of that other red, white and blue shield hurling hero, Captain America. The most recent works will be from 2008. The majority of Indian art will be from 1990 to the present day.

Two-fisted tales of suspense showcasing fantastic heroes and villains interacting with gods old and new have always been a part of Native American Culture. As the first widely accessible mass media, comic strips, and comic books, were consumed by Indian people as a recognizable and legitimate form of storytelling. Stories of humor, adventure and the fantastic depicted through pictures have always been an indigenous practice. Today’s Native American scribes grapple with the same topics emboldened with millennia-old cultural traditions, blended with new methods of expression and life in the 21st Century.

Comic Art Indigène examines how American Indian artists articulate identity, reclaim stereotypes, worldview, politics, and culture through the kinetic expression of sequential art. Inspired by this unique medium, using its icons, tropes and dynamism, this is a new world of American Indian art, full of the brash excitement first seen on newsprint a century ago, sometimes unrefined, even crude at times, but never sterile.

A reception hosted by the Women’s Board of the Museum of New Mexico will be held on Sunday, May 11, 2008 beginning at 2:00 p.m.

Also opening the same day will be a small exhibition of sculpture in the sculpture garden of the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture created by students in their senior year at IAIA. More information to come.

Art: Lest Tyranny Triumph

Diego Romero (Cochiti Pueblo), Pencil, ink on board, ca. 2004