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Comic Pro Spotlight: Aaron Lopresti

by Bill Nichols

What was your first work in comics? What do you remember about that first assignment?

The first comic work I did was for Blackthorne publishing in LA. I was just out of film school and looking to get into comics. I did a comic for them called Solomon Kane 3-D. I'm not sure I ever got fully paid for the work I did for Blackthorne. But at least I got published.

How long ago was that, if you don't mind saying?

I drew that book back in 1988, I think.

At a guess, how much work have you produced over the years in comics, in terms of pages or book?

I would say over 200 comic books and well over 5000 pages.

What are you best known for?

Probably my work on Wonder Woman or Planet Hulk.


What are some of your best moments in comics?

My run on Sludge for Malibu was important because it was the first work I did that got me noticed. My two-part Gen 13 Bootleg story was significant in that I plotted, penciled and inked it and it turned out really well. I am pretty fond of my Plastic Man Special. My work on Ultimate X-Men #1/2 with Geoff Johns and Danny Miki was really nice and great fun. My run on Mystic for CrossGen was maybe the best work I have ever done on a monthly book; it also got me back in at Marvel. Planet Hulk was probably the biggest and best project I have yet to work on. My Wonder Woman run turned out to be very popular. My work on Garbage Man (writing and penciling) that is currently running in Weird Worlds and My Greatest Adventure (DC) is the best work I have ever done.

Your worst, something you have regrets about?

I took a lot of bad jobs just to get by financially. Usually those were rush jobs where the work wasn't anywhere near my best. Way too many of those really hurt my career early on. Doing Takion for DC turned out to be a huge mistake even though the work I did on it was the best of my career at that time. The book was an utter failure and I was blamed for it, which led me to getting blacklisted at DC for several years. Ironically, I have now been on contract with them for 4 years.

What are best examples of your work that sum of your work or your "style"?

Garbage Man. It fully displays the early Wrightson influence on my work. The first story arc in my Wonder Woman run also taps into my early 70's influences, notably Frazetta and Barry Smith.

What have been some of your best collaborations, and that can mean best work produced or other creators with whom you've worked?

I have worked with a lot of good writers and a few good inkers. I would say Planet Hulk, Ultimate X-Men #1/2, Mystic and Wonder Woman. Not in any particular order.

What do you think of comics today?

They are over-sexed and gratuitous as a whole. There are some exceptions but I do not like the overall "adult" direction most comics are heading.

Do you have new projects you'd like to pursue?

I have a children's book project that I have not been able to move beyond the design and plotting stage. Mainly because I have been working on 2 projects for DC this entire year (Justice League International and Garbage Man) but by the end of this month I will only be working one which will hopefully free up more time for the book.

Check out more of Aaron's work at aaronlopresti.com or his gallery on http://comicartfans.com or http://deviantart.com .