In addition to being the Dark Horse Comics go to guy for monsters, Guy Davis has also solidified himself as one of the most recognizable artists thanks to his work on titles such as B.P.R.D.

We caught up with artist, Guy Davis, to talk about B.P.R.D., monsters and more.

The Big Bad Wolf: What is the collaboration process like with Mike Mignola?

Guy Davis: Storywise, Mike and John Arcudi work that all out~ I usually hear about what’s coming up on the next series a couple storylines prior and start mulling over any new designs needed. For creature designs on BPRD, everything goes by Mike and we send sketches back and forth to finalize a design. Sometimes it works out with the first pass like it did with the Black Flame character and other times we go through a bunch of designs before it clicks like with the Victorian Cyborgs from Garden of Souls. But that collaboration is always a lot of fun, Mike’s got one of the best imaginations you’ll ever find~ and that back and forth always makes the final design stronger!

The Big Bad Wolf: Do you feel any added pressure on being the B.P.R.D. artist considering the success of the Hellboy movies?

Guy Davis: Not really, I was drawing BPRD before the movies came out and had all the pressure already of just not wanting to screw up Mike’s wonderful characters and world!

The Big Bad Wolf: Which B.P.R.D. character is your favorite to draw and why?

Guy Davis: I’d pick Abe, aside from being a great design, Mike and John have given him a lot of character and depth that’s always fun to draw. Johann is probably my second favorite just based on the exaggerated body language.

The Big Bad Wolf: What is your relationship like with colorist, Dave Stewart?

Guy Davis: Dave is amazing, I never was really happy to see my work in color until Dave came along. One of the great things about his work, is that he adapts his coloring for each artists style and doesn’t just paint different artists with the same technique.

The Big Bad Wolf: What has been your favorite moment to date while working on this title?

Guy Davis: Every series has been fun and I love the different tones that John sets with each, probably my favorite series is still Garden of Souls. Those Victorian cyborgs were wonderful to get to draw, rivets and all.

The Big Bad Wolf: In addition to your work on B.P.R.D., you also recently helped design the monsters for another Dark Horse Comics title, Solomon Kane. What was that experience like?

Guy Davis: Lots of fun! I try to fit each creature design into the world they’re set in, so something for the Marquis will be different in tone and feel than something I design for BPRD or Solomon Kane and vice versa.

With Kane’s Black Riders, I wanted them to look fanciful but still work out their anatomy so it look like something that funcitioned with reason within the setting of the book. So on the model sheets I drew up for the book’s artist, I worked out a lot of details that probably wouldn’t ever come into play in the actual story. But working out those bits helps me flesh out the creature more so it seems fully realized. It has to be more than just a cool looking drawing, it has to work from different angles and actions sequentially.

The Big Bad Wolf: Were you always a fan of this Robert E. Howard creation?

Guy Davis: Definitely, both Kane and Conan are great characters.

The Big Bad Wolf: You are starting to get the reputation as the monster guy at Dark Horse. Do you think that is a fitting title?

Guy Davis: I definitely love drawing monsters and the grotesque, warts and all~ so I don’t mind that label! But DH is filled with lots of monster loving artists.

The Big Bad Wolf: Do you remember when you were first awe inspired by monsters?

Guy Davis: I’m sure it was from some old monster movie I saw growing up, probably watching Godzilla or Ultraman after school when I was a kid. I read Famous Monsters and stayed up late on the weekends watching the “Creature Feature” movies and then sketching and drawing them out for myself as fun.

The Big Bad Wolf: What horror titles did you read growing up?

Guy Davis: I didn’t read a lot of comics or horror books growing up, usually it was Famous Monsters and Starlog magazines. I read mostly fantasy and sci-fi novels.

The Big Bad Wolf: Which monster do you consider your “greatest creation”?

Guy Davis: I don’t know if I feel I’ve done that one yet~ there are ones I’m really happy to have turned out close to what I imagined like Daryl the Wendigo from BPRD and Kane’s Black Riders. Also the Lord de Diaboliques from the Marquis and the horse skulled “children” of the Midwife from the upcoming Marquis book are some that I’ve been happy with the finished design.

The Big Bad Wolf: Speaking of great monster creations, Marquis has been somewhat of a cult favorite amongst fans. When can we expect to see more from this series?

Guy Davis: Now that it’s at Dark Horse, the rest of the series will come out as original graphic novels. There was always a set ending planned, so after the next book~ The Marquis and the Midwife, there will be 2 more graphic novels that tell the whole story of the Marquis. I had hoped to have the Midwife book out for 2010, but with getting ahead on BPRD so I can jump onto the new Lobster Johnson series, we’re now looking at the next Marquis for 2011.

The Big Bad Wolf: What has been the best thing for you while working on this title since you handle all the creative duties on Marquis?

Guy Davis: I think just getting to do everything I can. I love the collaboration I have with Mike and John on BPRD, but it’s nice to have the balance of total self-expression with a creator owned book. I don’t think I’d be happy with one if I didn’t also have the other. I’m in a very lucky spot right now to be doing just what I enjoy to do.

The Big Bad Wolf: Which artists influenced your style?

Guy Davis: When I discovered a lot of European artists like Tardi, Moebius, Schuiten and others early in my career my styled changed the most towards the direction I’m currently doing. And I’m sure Mike’s inadvertently gotten me to use a lot more solid blacks in my artwork after I came onboard BPRD.

The Big Bad Wolf: Where can our readers learn more information about you and your art?

Guy Davis: You can find more of my art and updates on my website, www.guydavisartworks.com, peeks to the upcoming Marquis books on the Marquis blog at www.themarquisinferno.blogspot.com and I’m also on Facebook and Twitter (GuyDavisART)

The Big Bad Wolf: Thank you for your time, Guy. Best of luck with the B.P.R.D., The Marquis and all the rest!

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