DC's Chiarello Lets Artists Sing Solo

This story originally appeared in PW Comics Week on January 31, 2006 Sign up now!

by Ian Brill -- Publishers Weekly, 1/31/2006

Superman, Batman and Spider-Man have something in common besides being well-known superhero names. They all first appeared in anthology series, which were once the most popular way to tell stories in the comic book form. Those days seem to be long gone, but DC editor Mark Chiarello has come up with Solo, a anthology series that features short stories with non-recurring characters aimed at the modern comic book reader. Every issue is dedicated to a single artist who can create the stories he or she wants to tell in the manner in which the artist wants to tell them. Past issues have included cartoonist Mike Allred's tribute to an earlier age of superheroes; artist Darwyn Cooke showing off his versatility when it comes to drawing, coloring and lettering; and Paul Pope re-telling the story of Jack Kirby's OMAC series. Chiarello talked to PWCW about this unusual series.

PW Comics Week: Anthologies haven't been popular in American mainstream comics for a while. Why create one now?

Mark Chiarello: Years ago, for some unknown reason, comics companies got it in their heads that readers didn't like anthologies. I absolutely loved the Creepy and Eerie anthology comics published by Warren during my childhood, and I knew a lot of other comics pros and fans who did also. I figured if I could come anywhere near the quality of those old comics with Solo and its predecessor, Batman Black & White) [an anthology of Batman stories in black and white by different artists], then I could prove that people actually love them!

PWCW: Why base it around artists instead of a conceptual idea or a genre?

MC: I've had so many conversations with artists over the years in which they bemoaned the fact that there were so few western or sci-fi or prison break comics being done anymore. Hey, we all love superheroes, but sometimes you just want to draw an eight-page romance story! Solo was created to let top comics artists work on short stories of any genre that they wanted.

PWCW: None of the issues have ads in them. Why did you make that decision, and why is that important?

MC: We wanted to build the book completely around each issue's artist, from the front cover all the way through to the back cover. I thought that ads would have taken the reader off that artist's journey.

PWCW: Who chooses the artists for Solo and how are they chosen?

MC: I do! Hahahahahaha! It's great to be king! Artists are chosen based purely on talent. I'm not really looking for the 'flavor-of-the-month' artist, but rather those few guys (and gals) who are true storytellers, true craftsmen.

PWCW: What artists can we expect to see in the future?

MC: Coming up are Berni Wrightson, Brian Stelfreeze, Jill Thompson, Scott Hampton, Sergio Aragones, Brendan McCarthy Kevin Nowlan, Jose Luis Garcia Lopez and George Pratt. Not a bad lineup, huh?

PWCW: Now that a few issues of Solo have been published, have artists come to you about doing an issue?

MC: Yes, it's funny how many artists have approached me about doing issues! It's just hard to say no to so many people, but the key to the series is the incredible quality of the talent. It doesn't make sense to do issues with top-caliber artists like Richard Corben, Tim Sale, Bernie Wrightson and Paul Pope and then settle for lesser talent for a few issues.

PWCW: The book is called Solo but many of the stories have been collaborations. Who chooses the writers, colorists and letters on each issue?

MC: The book is called Solo because it's a chance for the artist to really orchestrate what he wants to do and see in his issue. He can choose to do the entire book himself, from soup to nuts, or collaborate with writers, colorists or letterers. It's all the choice of the artist.

PWCW: Many of the issues have featured at least one story starring a DC character. Is that a requirement for the artists?

MC: Yeah, we try to get at least one DC character to appear in each issue. Most of the artists have been very enthusiastic about including a Batman or Deadman story somewhere in their issue.

PWCW: Has Solo made DC interested in doing more anthologies?
 
MC: I hope not! They'll probably make me edit them, and I'm way too busy with Solo to think about another anthology!

MC: That would be awfully fun. How about a "Best of Solo"? Count me in!