MattBrady

by Chris Arrant

Earlier, we spoke with editor Aubrey Sitterson regarding Marvel's upcoming series Silver Surfer: In Thy Name, next, we spoke with the miniseries writer Si Spurrier, and now we turn to the artist: Tan Eng Huat. Haut is best known for his work on 2003's Doom Patrol series, and after that he's remained in the public eye with work on JLA and the twelve issue Batman: Journey Into Knight series. This series marks his first in the House of Ideas, and the debut of a new trick in his illustrative bag: ink washing.

Let's talk to Tan.

Newsarama: Tan, how did you end up drawing this miniseries?

Tan Eng Huat: Last year after I finished Batman: Journey Into Knight, I contacted Marvel Editor Tom Brevoort about work, and I sent him a couple of new drawings that ued grey tone to see if they would like it. Luckily they did, and then everything progressed from there.



NRAMA: You're primarily known for your work on Doom Patrol several years back. You've done some single issues here and there, but this is your first extended run in some time. What have you been up to in the past couple years?

TEH: Well actually, I never stopped drawing. I finished Doom Patrol in 2003, then did 3 issues of JLA, an issue of Authority in 2004 and then into the 12 issue Batman: Journey Into Knight until 2006.

NRAMA: Marvel editor Aubrey Sitterson said one of the reasons why you were a shoe-in for this project was your new ink wash technique. How did this come about for you to experiment with this technique?

TEH: Actually, the idea came from Japanese manga. I'm influenced by both western and eastern comics, and I love the way manga uses I-C screens on their drawings; but I-C screen is expensive where I live, so I turned to use poster color to do the job. And the result came out nicely, and also much faster and more versatile.



NRAMA: The Silver Surfer is a pretty bold character, in terms of design and personality. As an artist and a comics reader, what draws you to him?

TEH: Definitely the design of the character; it's so basic and simple and yet unique all together.

NRAMA: Simon's told us a bit about the story. What's your perspective on this miniseries' story?

TEH: I like to think of the story as a reminder of ourselves. Even though we are all human, we are of separate races, religions and cultures. Because of these differences, we make many rules to categorize things and then people try to live up to others' expectations. If we don't… well, we'll be left behind.

Silver Surfer: In Thy Name #1 (of 4) is scheduled for release on November 7, 2007.

SpyGuy

Wow! Really nice stuff! My only concern is that the Surfer's board is small enough to resemble a snowboard, but that sheen on the Surfer himself more than makes up for it. Can't wait to see this in full color.

El Argentino

His Doom Patrol was terrific and this too!

I`m in!

skeletorjr

I love this guy's stuff so much. That Doom Patrol was one of my favorite series ever, I wish it had kept going. I'm on this Silver Surfer like stink on a monkey.

AbacusComics

Very nice artwork!!

80Pork

Anyone know what the rating on this is? I want to get it for my six year old son...I would think it would be okay. He reads X-Men occassionally, with its "T+" rating...I didn't think this would be any worse.

aceatkins

Tan is an amazing artist and deserves more widestream exposure. Let's get him on a team book!

Nobody

I've missed his work since Doom Patrol, which was amazing. Glad to see him on a book I'd want to read.

jsf

His run on Doom Patrol was incredible, and this looks even better. I honestly think he's more suited to Marvel than DC.

If they do an Annihilation '3rd Wave' event (after Conquest), then he should get tapped for the art chores. I can't imagine anyone more capable of providing artwork for cosmic stories than Tan.

MCaputo

Good God, I loved that run.

I bought all 18 issues of that piece of crap Byrne run out of respect for the team. Thank goodness Johns came along and shoved his asinine retcon where it came from.

BTW, when I typed "retcon", it didn't recognize it. Shouldn't this be the ONE place on Earth where that word WOULDN'T get flagged?

RedRonin

Almost seems like it shouldn't be colored. The art work is just beautiful.

heelmark

This is how people must've felt when Turner started colorizing all those old movies.

FIG

The artwork is beautiful and I can see how people say that coloring it could ruin it which is why it is going to take top level talent to color this. I'd get Danimation or Liquid to color this.

B|ackPanther

That art looks amazing.

Xero

Tang Eng Huat's art was beautiful on Doom Patrol but here it hits another level. I love seeing artists like Tang, Ladronn and Doug Braithwaite mature.

These pages really need a separate black and white portfolio or magazine format release.

beta-ray

Agreed! It is stunning.

Boy is it tempting in black and white form...

JetSpandex

The 3 issue JLA run was probably the worst 3 issues of the series. But I have a feeling that it may have been a symptom of the writer and teh inker who colored tans work. the pages here are unreal

badmarru

It seems to me that, after Buscema, Lim, Moebius, Castellini and Ribic, we have another definitive version of the Surfer on our hands It looks fantastic and I hope Marvel will release a bw hardcover the way they did for bianchi's Wolvie

Royal Nonesuch

Holy god, those pages are gorgeous! I was going to pick this up anyway, but no I absolutely can't wait. I can't believe how excited I am about checking out the rest of the art in the story!

Mott

I really disliked his art on his JLA run a while back. And that story line was pretty terrible. BUT this art is incredible. This doesn't have anything is common with his other style. Keep it up Tan!