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For an ongoing comic strip, ant caricatures carry the punch-lines
There have been several months over a number of comics oriented sites that this name was spattered on at a here and there basis. The set ups, on the part of consistency, were sidled, on the right or beneath, to a sample of Panda Comics wallpaper or his Guns n' Honey that would quip a bio on Julian Lytle.
The portfolio of illustrations from Lytle conformed to a paneled exhibition for a patented Kirby Dot scene, and, after some accumulated ganders, comes into an overall formation that clarifies the artist's signature style. In the case of digital comic books or strips, the artist and cartoonist's intermittent showcase veers an eye's appeal towards the general nuances from a leading edge view on the pop cultural life.
The overview on Lytle's artwork contains exactly what led to a feature spread inside "Heavy Metal" magazine and a GLYPH nomination in 2010 for Rising Star. Pop cultural tones lay out as a primary base, but, in dabs or swathes, coloured dialects that verbalize those cooler aspects siphoned from a mainstream conversation.
There are more creative ventures in the up and coming from this cartoonist born and raised in Prince George's County. Lytle confers that his leanings toward comics strips has evolved to a stronger course of proficiency since he graduated from New York City's Pratt Institute.
I wanted to draw superhero comics for a good portion of my youth. I don’t really know if that is my strength really anymore, though. I’ve fallen out of love with that and rediscovered my love for the comic strip the older I’ve gotten. I also love me some shonen Manga. It’s so over the top with action and heart, that inspires me each week.
While Julian Lytle remains in the comic book conversation, as Twitter verifies, the D.C. Metro artist has concentrated on his regular webcomic, Ants.
As with a good portion of Lytle's artwork there sparks a knee-jerk reaction to, with an impressed tone, pronounce pastiche. Initially. The illustrations, comics based or otherwise, are ultimately witnessed as inter-wrapped elements of relatable cues; tinged with hip hop rhapsody. These personalized spectrums, and even diversely more, highlight an interview he agreeably portioned some time for recently.
Examiner: When did you decide to draw and write in sequential art?
JL: I started drawing when I was little. I got into drawing when I could draw the best Ninja Turtle out of every else I knew. I was really into drawing comic strips when I was little. I didn’t get into superhero comics until I was twelve.
Examiner: Your webcomic ANTS comes across as comedy-of-pop-life through the culture of hip hop. How did the concept develop?
JL: I’ve been drawing these characters since I was 14. Their look is basically the same. I’ve been cooking up how to do a strip since college. It took me awhile to find the voice. So in terms of webcomics I thought there was a lack of voice of a gamer from a different perspective than that of a PVP or Penny Arcade. But I also want to talk about things like some of my favorite newspaper strips. I would notice that there aren’t any comics talking about questions I had like “Who is Drake?” or about the VMAs that just aired. Not every gamer plays D&D or Magic or is only into the stuff you read on Joystiq or Kotaku. Some want the newest New Era fitted and have marathon Madden sessions with their friends. In the end I just decided to get off my butt and make the comic I wanted to read.
Examiner: What was the first comic book that impressed you as an adult?
JL: Earth X really impressed me. It really changed the way I read Marvel books. It was the text pieces in the back that really set it off for me. I like the way it played with concepts. I guess most would say Dark Knight Returns but I read that when I was 7-8. I think New X-Men by Grant Morrison changed the way I thought about comics though really. I haven’t been the same since I picked up that first issue of his.
Examiner: What tools are your staple in drawing?
JL: I use Coloured Pencils to draw and layout everything. I use a copic pen for some inking and a Pentel Brush pen for a lot of inking. Those are my main tools that I use everyday. Everything else is done in the computer.
Examiner: In some ways, ANTS takes an alternate route from the typical one used by, for example, “Big Bang Theory”. The difference being the geek-speak on video gaming or comic books from ANTS is flavored as cool and just general pop culture. Was that intentional from the beginning or it grew as the strip continued?
JL: It’s very intentional. Think back to when the Wu-Tang first came out, Method Man was going around calling himself Johnny Blaze and Ghostface has been using Iron Man for years. When I got into comics in the '90s they were cool. Image Comics was cool. Rob Liefeld drawing X-Force was cool. The X-Men was cool. All these people go see these superhero movie so it isn’t inherently “uncool” to say but the self boxing in of, let’s say, the characters portrayed on “Big Bang Theory” isn’t the whole story. I actually really dislike that show, it’s like the “Homeboys in Outer Space” for geekdom. I think it’s also from being in around some comic fans and not really fitting in cause “geek chic” things might not be my thing but talking about last night’s basketball game or debating who’s the top five Emcees or talking about the best Air Jordans on are. A big portion of the strip comes from that.
Examiner: You were featured in May’s Heavy Metal magazine. After you received that news originally, did you immediately know what illustrations you wanted to showcase?
JL: I met Kevin Eastman at San Diego Comic Con in 2008. He said he liked my work and to send in a disc of my work at the time. So I got a letter earlier this year saying that I was going to be the artist spotlight. Then they told me I was getting the back cover also. They picked which ones they wanted to use off the disc in the showcase. It was a very great experience and honor to be in Heavy Metal magazine.
Examiner: There’s also the incredible cover you did for D.C.’s own Wale and his single “Pretty Girls” with Gucci Mane. What was working on that project like?
JL: It was fun and kind of quick. I have an old friend that does most of design work and covers for Wale and he called me up to help him out on the cover cause it was short notice. He told me the idea and I just drew it out and scanned it in and sent it to him. He hooked up the colour and type and there you have it. So it was a collaboration more than a solo effort. It was good times.
Examiner: What does you work studio look like; how is it assembled?
JL: Real Talk, my work studio is a dinner table. I have papers all over the place. I draw at work, on the train, on the bus. So everywhere is my studio. I do all my computer work in an office in my house. I try not to draw on anything over letter size because that’s easier to scan. I don’t make any money with my art yet to afford a tabloid scanner or cintiq yet, but I hope to soon.
Examiner: Do you prefer absolute silence when you’re working or have a playlist turned up?
JL: I actually prefer working with the TV on, for shows, movies or music videos. I really like music videos. MTV Jams, MTV Hits and VH1 Soul are my regulars on the tv. I do some fine work with "Glee" on too.
Examiner: Who, out of artists and writers, have been some influences for you?
JL: There are a lot of those but the main ones on mind lately are Robert McGinnis for his poster work and book covers. All my Guns N’ Honey pieces are in a way an homage to him. It’s cliché but Andy Warhol. I think about his work all the time. Charles Shultz, cause of the simple and on point humor of Peanuts. Bill Waterson cause of the crazy stuff he’d put in Calvin and Hobbes.
The older I get the more I see the genius of Jack Kirby. I hope to one day be half as prolific as he was. This past year Eiichiro Oda, creator of One Piece has been influencing me greatly. My Clash of the Eggos story is influenced a ton by it. Chris Rock, Jerry Seinfeld, and Dave Chappelle are some for comedy writing. And I have to say the Boondocks by Aaron McGruder has been one.
Examiner: Are you able to let readers in on some upcoming projects you have?
JL: I have a short 3 page story coming up on my friend, and fellow area artist Sean Causley’s webcomic Panda Force. The Story is written Shawn Pryor of PKD media. Everything else is stuff that’s still being prepared. When its ready I’ll be tweeting and posting all about it.
Examiner: Thanks for making time for this interview.
JL: No, my friend, thank you!
See more on Julian Lytle's webcomics and featured pieces
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