RYAN SOOK: X-FACTOR'S SEVENTH SOLDIER

[James Groves]

By Remy Minnick, Comixfan Staff Writer

Ryan Sook had drawn everything from vampires to spectres, and brought to life heroes from DC to Dark Horse. Recently he took his first swing for Marvel with Spider-Man Unlimited #8, while at the same time reinvigorating Zatanna with Grant Morrison's Seven Soldiers mini-series. How does an artist top that? By joining forces with fan favorite writer Peter David to reintroduce X-Factor, the follow up to last year's critically acclaimed Madrox mini-series, into the post-House Of M Marvel Universe.

Comixfan: Are you familiar with the earlier incarnations of X-Factor and the Madrox mini-series? What about the title made you want to work on it?

Ryan Sook: A little. The original title was one of the only books I ever collected as a kid when the team was the original X-Men and Jackson Guice and Walt Simonson were the artists I think. At least while i was reading. I didn't follow much after the first 15 issues or so. So some of these characters are all new to me. My initial attraction to the title was the nostalgia I think, and then the great script!

Comixfan: With what you have seen and heard so far about the new series, what are you the most excited about drawing?

Sook: All of it! I think we're going to set a new visual tone for an X-book with this title. It will probably carry a strong film noir feel, even a kind of 40's and 50's period look in a way. So the visual language of it mixed with that classic Peter David character drama is going to make this a very fun book to draw.

Comixfan: With the main character, Madrox, being able to make duplicates of himself, do you find it difficult to find ways the reader can tell one dupe from another?

Sook: Hopefully it won't be difficult. As long as the characterization comes across and the word balloons are in the right order it should be fairly easy to tell.

Comixfan: Which character have you enjoyed drawing the most and the least?

Sook: I don't have a least favorite, they're all unique and different so that makes each one fun in a way. My favorite so far though would have to be Rahne. I like drawing her buzzed head and even more when she's all wolfed out!

Comixfan: What do you think your art style brings to the title that other artist may not be able to convey?

Sook: I don't know. I just hope to capture the characters and that classic crime pulp feel that these scripts are screaming for. If I can effectively set the tone and capture the drama and action called for, then that's the best I can do.

Comixfan: How did you get involved with this title? Had you been trying to get new work at Marvel or did they come looking for you?

Sook: The timing just worked. I'd hoped to do some work for Marvel for some time but every time they offered me something, it was either the wrong project or my schedule was full or something. With this one, the title was right and they caught me before i lined up another gig so...

Comixfan: What is the new X-Factor title going to be about?

Sook: It is intended to be an investigation into those bizarre and unusual happenings where the involvement or suspicion of mutant activity is NOT the weird part. These are strange goings on and it takes a peculiar group to bring these mysteries to light.

Comixfan: Several characters, like Rictor and Siryn, have gotten new costumes since we have seen them last. How difficult was it to come up with the new look? What rules did you have when you started creating them and how much freedom were you given?

Sook: Lots of research and doodling and tweaking goes into designing or redesigning characters. But I did have total freedom outside of the fact that they had to be recognizable as the characters we know and love. So my only rules were self imposed. 1. It must look cool. and 2. You must want to draw this design a lot. I hope I achieved those cause that's what counts.

Comixfan: With the Marvel mutant-verse at your fingertips, have you made any mentions to Peter David of characters you'd like the opportunity to draw?

Sook: No, not yet. Right now I'm just trying to get a handle on the ones that need to be drawn.

Comixfan: This is your first work in a while that hasn't been for DC. Have you found yourself modifying your drawing style as compared to your work on Hawkman or The Spectre?

Sook: I think my drawing style evolves almost from issue to issue on everything I do. At least a little. But I hope this goes in a very new direction for me and for the characters and fans so that it is exciting for everyone. The only thing I'm doing specifically for this book is taking a serious look at classic film noir movies and posters to grab that vibe in a blatant way.

Comixfan: Your also working on the Seven Soldiers: Zatanna mini-series as well. What have you enjoyed most about working on that series?

Sook: Drawing Grant's scripts and really trying to explore this character visually has been a lot of fun.

Comixfan: Grant Morrison and Peter David each have a very distinctive style of writing that is quite different from the other. What do you find to be the most distinct difference between their writing styles to be?

Sook: It would be easier to specify the similarities. They're both comic scripts. That's it. Outside of that I'd say they're drastically different. Perhaps it's just the subject matter that calls for different styles but (X-Factor writer Peter) David seems to have written very straightforward "this is what needs to be on the page" type of scripts where Grant is really laying the foundation for an artist to build on. Both do their job very well and I enjoy working from either approach.

Comixfan: What should Ryan Sook fans look out for next?

Sook: Just keep your eyes on X-Factor for now. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

---

X-Factor #1 will be arriving in stores in November.

Preorder X-Factor from X-World and save!

[Jorge Ramiro]

This Interview is fascinating! Not only does the cover for Madrox #2 conveys the whole nioresque/pulpesque flavour hinted at the Interview, but could easily be one of the best covers I have seen in months.

Also, and If that is possible, it is making me look forward to reading the title much more! Mistery, crime, PAD, Madrox, suspense, Big & Evil Corporations...

[Rictor]

I assume that's Monet in those covers? She looks great! Ryan's style is such a huge departure from the Sal's, Cassaday's and the other X-artists; I'm very much intrigued. Now if only Ryan would treat us to a little appetizer!

It's so cool that both PAD and Ryan seem to be putting their all into this book. I actually can't ever remember being as excited about an X-book as I am with this one. Only one month to go too!

[Anand Khatri]

I love Ryan Sook's art. Mr. Sook is in my personal Top 5 artists of all time. When I heard that he was doing art for Zatanna I was of happy, but then that is only 4 issues. So when I heard that he would be working on X-Factor, it was like freakin Christmas. I wasn't sure about picking up X-factor before (even though it was PAD), but the art sealed the deal.

Great Interview Remy.

[BadMotives]

Originally Posted by Alan Bergin

I assume that's Monet in those covers? She looks great! Ryan's style is such a huge departure from the Sal's, Cassaday's and the other X-artists; I'm very much intrigued. Now if only Ryan would treat us to a little appetizer!


It's so cool that both PAD and Ryan seem to be putting their all into this book. I actually can't ever remember being as excited about an X-book as I am with this one. Only one month to go too!

The one wearing the top hat is Zatanna. Monet is only in the X-Factor cover at the bottom of the interview (first picture ever of the new team).

Absolutely can't wait for this baby to be release!

[Rictor]

Oops! I heard that SPOILER! Monet was gaining witch-like powers and thought that It kinda looked like her My bad. Release more preview art Ryan!!!

[Xtence]

Ohhhh. Where did you read that?

[Anand Khatri]

Originally Posted by Alan Bergin

Release more preview art Ryan!!!

You could always check his site for more of his stuff.

[Rictor]

Originally Posted by Xtence

Ohhhh. Where did you read that?

The Novermber previews dub Monet SPOILER! the pompous witch

I'll do just that Anand, Thanks!

[ursabearX]

Loved me some Zantanna, and looking forward to this New X-factor ongoing. I really like artist who do there own thing and not try to be cookie cutter artist.

[BadMotives]

Originally Posted by Alan Bergin

The Novermber previews dub Monet SPOILER! the pompous witch

I'll do just that Anand, Thanks!

I thought that was more a description of her personality than her powers.

[Anthony Devlin]

Originally Posted by BadMotives

I thought that was more a description of her personality than her powers.

yeah me too. And lets face it she is a complete bitch, in the nicest possible sense of the word of course

[James Groves]

I love Ryan Sook's artwork.

I'm positively drooling over the X-Factor #2 cover. His artwork should really enhance the crime pulp, 'noirish' feel to the storylines that PAD's gonna be coming up with in X-Factor. The smokey effect used to outline the figures works really, really well, and the redness of the gun in the background which merges into the red chalkline, contrasts beautifully with the creamy white effect in the foreground. It really is a gorgeous cover.

I like the cover to X-Factor #1, where the light through the window slits plays on the character's bodies.

I really liked Madrox; it was an excellent miniseries. I'm thrilled that the success of Madrox has resulted in an ongoing series of sorts here. I think tone, mood and atmosphere are very important for this series, and as long as there's some well scripted whodunit mysteries, along with PAD's trademark cutting wit and edgy dialogue, i reckon it'll be a certified success!!

This is probably the one x-oriented project that i'm really pumped up for. Zatanna was excellent, but i'm looking forward to this even moreso!!

[Hotknife86]

Originally Posted by BadMotives

I thought that was more a description of her personality than her powers.

Yeah, I too took it to be reference to her personality.

[Alex Guillen]

ryan's work looks pretty good to me.
The covers for X-Factor look cool and I hope when I read the first issue will be thrilling since the art defintely is.

[Andrew Stoneham]

I'm very much looking forward to this series I think Ryan Spook is a great artitst one of my fav's his style is definilty unique. He is suited for this book his style does have that dark noir crime feel to it. Can't wait for this.

[Ken Boehm]

I so want to get this title, but I just can't stand mutants anymore. And Sook is a very talented artist who was a pleasure to read in Hawkman.

Hopefully as the series progresses they look away from the mutants and just into weird stuff in the Marvel Universe. Because mutants are just annoying now.

[tormented_spawn]

In the 2nd issue, why is Ms Plot Dev... I mean, Layla Miller have to do with X-Factor? I thought she would vamoose after HoM, well, I'm just hoping...

[BadMotives]

Originally Posted by tormented_spawn

In the 2nd issue, why is Ms Plot Dev... I mean, Layla Miller have to do with X-Factor? I thought she would vamoose after HoM, well, I'm just hoping...

Why don't you read the issue and found it with the rest of us.

[tormented_spawn]

Better yet, why don't I ask Peter David since he visit forums like CXF, huh, would that be better huh, well? Why don't Marvel hype this one up like HoM, but unlike that major event, X-Factor will look like a good read. Well, what, not a good idea?

[Anthony Devlin]

Originally Posted by tormented_spawn

In the 2nd issue, why is Ms Plot Dev... I mean, Layla Miller have to do with X-Factor? I thought she would vamoose after HoM, well, I'm just hoping...

She's SPOILER! the secret member. There was always going to be another member and Marvel wanted it kept under wraps, and then some other site slipped up and spilled the beans. Although the site had within a few hours changed the line up to exclude Millers name and replace it with mystery member. But by then enough had seen it, me included. So that's why she's there

[tormented_spawn]

I was so hoping... oh, well, I'm still excited for this series, especially since I like the writer/artist team.

[Mightiest_mortal]

I so Can't wait for this title to come out
bin a little underwhelmed by a lot of the X-Comics just recently.

[gabesummers]

just wondering:

rahne had long hair in the new mutants (academy) run i wonder what made her go back to the buzz cut...or if that is a glitch,like no one told the other guy about that.

but im really looking foward to this title. sounds amazing ,the charecters and the premise sound really really wonderful.

[Jonah Hex]

Oh no...i was hoping that the House Of M was going to be just a temporary thing...but now they are saying "Post-House Of M Marvel Universe"...i dont know if ill ever buy a Marvel Comic again.