#what it means to be a hero

Page from Ben’s comic “Neighborhood Witch” collected in the upcoming anthology Who is the Silhouette?

Why were you interested in doing a comic for this book?

Superheroes have always been incredibly open to interpretation. A character originally introduced as a clean-cut defender of justice might later be reimagined by a different writer as a power-mad fascist, only to later be taken back to their more optimistic roots but this time reinterpreted as a new-age messiah figure. When all these interpretations take place in the same continuity, things can get a bit messy. This is part of why I enjoy things like DC’s “Elseworlds” stories or Marvel’s “What If…” that provide the opportunity to take established characters to new, wildly different places, without stepping on the toes of other peoples’ preferred versions of said character. Who is The Silhouette struck me as an extreme form of this idea, and one that I was immediately excited by. The hero is almost a completely blank slate, ready to be taken in any number of directions all at once.

How did you get into comics?

I honestly don’t remember a time I wasn’t into comics. When I was little, my dad and uncle gave me a bunch of comics from their youth, including the first issue of The Avengers and the first appearance of Dr. Doom (A more “serious” collector would probably fly into a rage if they saw the condition that decades of reading and rereading by three different Evans children has left these books in). The one that made the biggest impression on me, however, was a specific issue of Superman that featured the character Vartox. He was a psychic being of 70s machismo, leather, and body hair, who assisted Superman in a handful of adventures and them promptly disappeared, only occasionally showing up in more recent comics. Vartox was different from other superheroes because I had never heard of him. Nobody on the playground pretended to be Vartox. He was weird. He raised questions. When I drew one of my first comics, starring a super-powered version of myself, the Super-Ben wore a Vartox-inspired costume. I’ve been drawing comics ever since.

What are some of the comics that inspire you?

I won’t break any new ground by saying this, but Osamu Tezuka and Jack Kirby are some of my favorites. I’m also a big fan of works of historical fiction like Clockwork Game and Stagger Lee.

Are you a fan of superhero comics? If so, what are a few of your favorites and why?

My current favorite is Astro City. I love its focus on short stories, and how it uses them to explore all sorts of different takes on the superhero genre. I’m also a big fan of Astro Boy and, lest anyone think I only read things with “Astro” in the title, Zot.

Who is your Silhouette?

Gert Walker is a very old woman, much older than she looks. She has lived in the neighborhood for as long as it’s been anything even remotely resembling a neighborhood, though few have paid her enough mind to consider this odd, and those who do keep their mouths shut. In her own way she has been helping the community for quite some time; giving neighborly advice that always seems to be correct, helping the needy simply by being nearby, ensuring that local businesses thrive despite seemingly taking no direct action to do so. Occasionally, she finds it necessary to do more.

I take a lot of inspiration from classic pulp fiction, b-movies, folklore, and history. Regardless of the genre, and whether they are based on a true story or not, my comics seek to highlight the strange and wondrous side of the world we live in.

Any other fun facts, stories or info you’d like to share?

I once badly injured my arm because the trapeze someone had built in the woods out of a gnarled old stick and a length of rope looked safe enough to me.

You can find more of Ben’s work at @benkevans and read the entirety of “Neighborhood Witch” in the anthology Who is the Silhouette? currently funding on Kickstarter!

Why were you interested in doing a comic for this book?

I liked the concept and am a big fan of superheroes! This is my first official anthology that involved a pitch to Kickstarter instead of completed work upfront. So I was on the lookout for a book with a fun concept and an appealing reach towards comic artists.

How did you get into comics?

I’m not quite sure, like many children, I made the habit of reading the comic strips of the newspaper whenever I had the chance. My mother would also occasionally bring us (my sibling and I) Archie Comics and Betty & Veronica to read from the store. After that, it was the comic/graphic novel found here and there, and reading books with comic elements such as including drawings with speech bubbles. One of the best resources was the library! I had an interest in art, so How to Draw books were always searched for and then when I discovered the comic section… Wow! I’d read all the comics that interested me, and then when I finished with those, I read series I normally wouldn’t have picked up. This happened in practically every library and later I found access to ShonenJump and ShojoBeat. Throughout this time, I had a notebook where I drew my own comics. The more I could learn about comics, the more invested I became!

What are some of the comics that inspire you?

Batman, Spiderman, His and Her Circumstances, From Far Away, Noragami, My Hero Academia, etc. and even more shows and movies!

Are you a fan of superhero comics? If so, what are a few of your favorites and why?

Batman and Spiderman are great superheroes although I’ll admit that I don’t read/come across the comics too often. I have read some DeadPool comics and they have been enjoyable. Batman, I enjoy when he has a sympathetic heart which is sometimes missing nowadays and that he is intuitive and skilled. Spiderman is a relatable underdog with impressive acrobatics. My Hero Academia is a great superhero manga that I’m a huge fan for a while now. There is a great sense of optimism in this series and I again, really enjoy a mostly morally infallible underdog hero.

Who is your Silhouette?

UnderShadow is my story here and has a whole entire mythos involving (mostly) magical sidekicks (mascoba) and superhero partnerships! Nori Weston is the Silhouette and her partner, Deso, try to keep the peace with the use of shadows!

How do you describe your work?

The style can fluctuate at times but it can be pretty “sketchy” with a focus on lines or curves with some influence from Bleach and other series. My work tends towards optimism also open to darker themes and ideas. Sometimes too open which leads to indecision but I do enjoy showcasing ideas the inspire the imagination and an open mind!

Any other fun facts, stories or info you’d like to share?

I like Nintendo and like PC gaming (although I’m really eyeing PS4 for Spiderman). I’d like the return of the Hershey’s S'mores Chocolate bar. I’ll also be providing some illustration(s) to the 4th Vol. of the Chubby Anthology!

You can follow Brittany on Twitter and Tumblr at @benesumi and preorder your copy of Who is the Silhouette? on kickstarter!

Hi All!  Who is the Silhouette is happy to announce that we will be launching our Kickstarter on Feb. 1st!  We’ve got some great cartoonist in the book and their work is amazing!  Stay tuned for more info, previews, and bonuses! https://who-is-the-silhouette.tumblr.com/