“He’s that guy with the cigarette smoke, standing under the sign that’s flashing neon, reflection in the water on the street as the yellow checker cab drives by to pick him up. I’m usually disappointed when I meet a professional artist, because they’re usually nothing like their work. Darwyn is the complete opposite. He is his work.”
– writer-inker Jimmy Palmiotti, on cartoonist Darwyn Cooke
“Fortunately I was able to get Duncan Fregedo, who is spectacular — there are so many things he can do that I can’t do. I think people will see that immediately when they see the arc in this book because his attention to detail is just more than I would’ve put into a book. Had I drawn Hellboy fighting an army of skeletons it would’ve been Hellboy and sixteen black lumps — two of which would’ve had a little detail on them — whereas when Duncan draws Hellboy fighting an army of skeletons; Duncan draws an army of skeletons. As a writer, I’d much rather work with an artist like Guy Davis or Duncan Fregedo than Mike Mignola.”
– writer Mike Mignola, on artist Mike Mignola
“I’ve been working on an OGN for Tokyopop and a monthly book for Vertigo. The monthly book, though it’s a lot of work is much more satisfying and less strenuous overall. My second East Coast Rising will probably come out later this year, about a year and a half from when the first one came out. Kind of crappy for me, but if it were solicited in smaller chunks in a bi monthly ‘Shonen Jump-esque’ anthology then there would be less time between installments and I might not feel like I’m working with no short-term payoff besides a paycheck.”
– writer-artist Becky Cloonan, considering the monthly format
“I think part of it is that idea of being separated from the other mainstream characters, but I think he’s also suffered from people trying to revitalize him every dozen or so issues. The hook, the beard and long hair, the water-hand, Arthur Joseph (new Aquaman) etc., are all interesting ideas, but taken as a whole I think they’ve given the readership the idea that no one’s quite sure what Aquaman IS.
“When a new writer takes over a Superman or Batman title, he or she doesn’t usually change something major right off the bat, they try to find cool new ways to work with the existing paradigm. Aquaman’s paradigm has gotten a little fuzzy around the edges.”
– author and new Aquaman writer Tad Williams, on why the character has had such a difficult time
