Photo courtesy of adventuresinpoortaste.com
Artist Dan Panosian is best known for his work on Marvel and Image books as penciller and inker. Remember those sweet fake X-Men books in the movie Logan? Yup, Dan did those too. Dan joins us today to talk about his bold new crime redemption story from Skybound, Slots. He also reminisces about the early days of Image Comics, why he decided to break into storytelling with Slots at Skybound/Image, and what the future holds for his hero, Stanley Dance.
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FOG!: What can you tell us about Slots and your lead character Stanley Dance?
Dan Panosian: Stanley is the guy who made every selfish decision that most normal people would deem far too indulgent . We can all look back and wonder what our lives would be like if we took some left turns here and there. But generally we’re reasonable and responsible.
Stanley always listened to the devil on his shoulder and brushed off the angel. Consequently, he doesn’t have many friends or family left. Or chances for that matter. He’s pretty much done. That’s where we start off.
We’ve been a fan of your art for a long time, what made you want to tell this particular story as the writer and artist
It’s the reason I started working in this business. It’s been a long journey to get here but I couldn’t be happier this is the project. The material is a bit personal. I love this world. This genre.
Why is Stanley headed back to Vegas? Lots of unfinished business?
In the beginning of the book, like I mentioned, he’s finished. He’s done. He’s going to end things. But he’s superstitious and virtually anything and everything could be a “sign”. In this case it’s a text message from a former girlfriend calling in a favor. Boom – he’s off to Vegas. It’s a sign.
Why Las Vegas as a backdrop and is this as fun to draw as it looks? Casinos, fighting, the desert!
You can win or lose a fortune in a blink of an eye in Las Vegas. Stanley is always chasing luck. Las Vegas is all about being lucky. It’s also the fight capital of the world. So both elements create the perfect backdrop for a story of this nature. It can be spectacular but it can be seedy. It’s all there. I love Vegas.
Is this an ongoing story or a limited series?
We’ll see. I have two more story arcs in mind but this is a stand alone story. So it’s up to the fans!
But… isn’t it always?
I’ve been asking people about Image at 25. What is your favorite memory of Image Comics and what is the best part about putting Slots out under Skybound?
Wow. Where to start? I was very young. I started out briefly with Homage Studios inking Marc Silvestri’s Cyber Force but I moved out to draw Prophet for Rob Liefeld. Rob’s studio was called Extreme and it lived up to that name in every sense of the word. Friends repelling down the 12 story building, artists sparring each other in the bullpen, paintball wars… It was like a Summer Camp that lasted several years.
The best part of Image Comics for me? I guess since I’m such a fan at heart, the best part for me was being a part of a comic book making machine. Feeling that energy. Seeing the art. Watching it being created. It was a very special time for me.
When it comes to Skybound, I’m very grateful that Robert Kirkman gave me an opportunity to take my time and make this book happen. He also paired me up with Sean Mackiewicz and Arielle Basich. I couldn’t ask for better editors. I’m kinda spoiled now. Unlike Stanley Dance, I got lucky!
Slots #1 arrives in comic stores and digital on 10/4/2017
Follow Dan at @urbanbarbarian
