Ted Noodleman: Bicycle Delivery Boy

Steve: What were some of the jobs you had before becoming a comic artist?

Ryan Ottley: Some? I'll tell you ALL my jobs since I only had 3 jobs previous to comics. First job I painted Ben Franklin busts for a company that gave them away as awards. Second I worked for an insurance company pulling staples and microfilming files. Third in a medical surgical warehouse.

Steve: What sort of things did the medical surgical warehouse have? I have these mental pictures of Return of the Living Dead with cadavers and dogs cut in half so you can see the organs.

Ryan Ottley: HA! No. We sold things to mostly Nursing homes. Like incontinent diapers, latex gloves, catheters, syringes, colostomy bags, but what made it interesting were the people. Some of most different people I've ever met worked there. Watch the Office, it's pretty much like that.

S: What was your first published work?

R: I did art for a small story that was in Digital Webbing Presents #5. Unless you count my fan art being published in Wizard and Hero Illustrated. Then those would be the first.

S: In another interview you mentioned that when you started Invincible you tried to keep sort of a Cory Walker look to the artwork. Throughout your time on Invincible it's become more detailed, has this been a conscience effort or just a natural evolution?

R: Not sure, I'm just drawing how I feel. And I'm trying to improve my lines all the time.

S: Do you talk to Cory Walker very much? How much is he involved in the process with Invincible?

R: I talk to him at Conventions, sometimes over the internet, but that's about it. He does some designs from time to time.

S: Since you live across the country from Robert, does most of your collaboration take place over the phone and/or internet? Is it odd working closely with someone that you don't see in person very often?

R: I wouldn't say odd, but it is kinda boring at times. I think a studio setting would be nice. I'd probably get my speed up and improve faster. But there are good things about working alone also.

S: What are some of the good things about it for you?

R: I can take a break when I wish to see my wife and kid, and I don't need to commute to work.

S: Does the distance make it difficult to get ideas and concepts across for the book?

R: Nope, he sends me scripts, I draw it. Or he asks me to design a new costume or character and I do my best then send it back to him, he says it sucks and that he'll just get Cory Walker to design it. I'm kidding.

Ryan Ottley's Studio

(Pictures from Comic Book Resources)

Ultimate Robot from Invincible 34

Art and Mark on Ray's new costume

The Furnace in the Invincible Free Comic Book Day issue from 2004

S: How much are you involved in the visual design of new characters then? Are their certain ones you are especially proud of?

R: Sure, I design quite a bit. I'd like to re-design of lot of mine but the few I'm happy with are Furnace, Battle Beast, Tether Tyrant, Black Samson, Rampage, and Robot fetus and his big Ultimate Robot. I would say design, especially super-hero design isn't my strong area of art. I'm trying to work on it, maybe you'll see some new designs soon.

S: I really loved the Ultimate Robot, that was just a great moment all around with the Maulers realizing they were screwed. Which designs aren't you happy with then? Are you just dying to change some of them?

R: Yeah, I'd like to try new designs for Mastermind, Doc Seismic, Shapesmith, and Shrinking Ray. Maybe a new one for Battle Beast. I'm not sure if they'll ever get re-designed, I'm just saying I'm not too happy with my work on those.

S: How far in advance do you know about the plot lines?

R: Robert tells me about issues one or two ahead, and big plot lines for issues 50 and 75, that kind of thing.

S: Do you collaborate much with Bill about the colors used or is it more assembly line; you do your part, he does his?

R: I ask for changes off and on.

S: How long does it usually take you to work on Invincible?

R: Anywhere from 6 -15 hours a day, 6 days a week.

S: Do you think you could take on more then one monthly title, or would doing another monthly book mean leaving Invincible?

R: Oh yeah, I'd have to leave for sure. I can really only do one issue a month.

S: How long do you see yourself working on Invincible?

R: A long time. I love the book, it's my kinda thing. Getting a new script from Robert is always fun, it's great seeing where these characters are going and then bringing them to life.

S: I think I speak for all Invincible fans when I say, we're glad to hear that. So what's the word on Invincible action figures of some sort?

R: Nothing yet.

S: What do you think about Invincible being a movie someday?

R: I think that'd be keen.

S: Is there anyone you would especially like to see involved with an Invincible movie?

R: Not really.

S: Do you think the movie market is over saturated with comic properties right now, would you worry that Invincible could get lost in that?

R: Well it's been argued that the comic market has been over-saturated with super-hero books. And that didn't stop Invincible from being made. It's a NEW book, new characters, so no, I think if done right, it'd do awesome.

S: Has being Mormon ever affected your job as an artist? For instance, have you ever been asked to draw something that you didn't feel comfortable with or refused to draw?

R: I think it happened maybe once (never on Invincible though), unless you count those fans who ask me to draw Atom Eve naked. I say no to those. I'll draw violent stuff like crazy, but not sexual. Am I wierd? Sure. But it's just my own way of doing things.

S: Being Mormon myself, it's nice to know that you're following those standards so I, as a reader, don't have to worry about whether or not I'm going to see something inappropriate. (Not really a question, just commenting).

R: Well, everyone has a different idea of inappropriate. For example, I show people my stuff and most of the time they are pretty shocked because they assume it's for kids. And all that violence really throws them off. I now tell everyone it's basically a PG-13 type book, and that mostly adults read it. And then I usually get really strange looks since the first thing people say when I tell them I draw comics is "Oh wow, I need to bring my kids over!".

Omniman fights the Immortal in Invincible 10 (Ryan's 3rd issue)

"I now tell everyone it's basically a PG-13 type book"

Invincible after fighting his dad in issue 12

Ryan often posts sketches like Spidey at http://ryanottley.com/

S: Have you ever worked on a project you didn't much care for?

R: Nope. They've all been fun.

S: Have you ever turned down a project after reading a script?

R: Yes. If I don't like the concept and story I won't draw it.

S: Is comic illustration a full time job for you?

R: Hells yes

S: Outside of Invincible what is your favorite character to draw?

R: Spidey is always fun.

S: Is he one of your favorite comic book characters outside of Invincible?

R: No. He's just fun to draw right now. It's hard for me to say I like certain characters because with the wrong artist or writer ANY character can suck.

S: What is your favorite part of being a comic artist?

R: Drawing all the time, I've loved to draw ever since I was a kid. So getting paid for it makes it even better.

S: How was working with Ed McGuiness and DC Comics in general?

R: Ed is one cool guy, it was pretty flattering for me to be contacted by him for the project. He gave me some good pointers on things. It was great working with him and DC. The editors were cool too.

S: Since you've worked for DC and Image, what are some of the differences you noticed between working for one of the big two and an independent company?

R: I feel more free being Independant. Oh, that and I get paid more. heh.

S: Can you send me a signed marker sketch of Atom Eve? :)

R: Sure. Can you send me a bucket O' cash?

S: Do you end up using a computer much with your artwork, like Adobe Photoshop for example? What do you use it for?

R: I only use it for adding borders to pages and cleaning up pages, also throwing in the "space" background.

S: Have you thought much about writing comics of your own? Do you have any creator owned projects in mind for the future?

R: Yeah I do. It'll happen someday.

S: Is there anything you can tell us about some of the ideas you have?

R: Nah, too soon.

S: Do you have any other non-Invincible projects coming up?

R: Nope. All Invincible, all the time.

S: What was your favorite issue to draw?

R: Issue 40 and 41. Because of the non-stop action, I could really go all out, I could do a little more experimentation. It was also fun designing new spaceships.

S: What was your least favorite issue to draw?

R: Issue 35. Drawing tons of talking scenes, especially 12 pages of Mark and Art in his lab. It was....tuff.

Ryan Ottley's inked worked from the Superman/Batman Annual # 1

Art and Mark have a heart to heart in Invincible 35 and Martian battles in 40 - 41

Gridlock in Invincible 11

The Immortal with Grace, his now deceased wife, also in Invincible 11.

S: Cory Walker interjected a lot of in-jokes into Invincible. I've noticed you also do this from time to time. During the first 4 issues, entitled Family Matters, Cory added several references to the show Family Matters. Have you tried to add in any references to the other TV series the trades are named after?

R: Uh, no. Probably because I have no idea what the tpb's will be called until I'm 3 or 4 issues in. heh.

S: Who's idea was it to make Damien Darkblood look like Rorschach from Watchman? See the Jokes Page

R: Robert's.

S: In issue one, Omni-man gets called away to fight Gridlock who is tearing up the east side bridge. In issue 11, Omni-man meets his wife while she's being attacked on a bridge by a nameless villain. It's a very loose connection, some guy on a bridge in both cases but I was curious if the guy pictured in issue 11 was Gridlock?

R: Yes it was.

S: In issue 11, is the woman pictured with the Immortal at the Guardians of the Globe get together supposed to be Grace (the wife that died, who was mentioned in 28)?

R: Yes it was. Man you are a nerd.

S: Guilty as charged! Is the reporter on the news in Invincible # 10 supposed to be April O'Niel from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles?

R: Hells no.

S: Has Robert gotten his revenge for “Kirkman is an idiot” in Japanese from Invincible 27? (Link to Jokes Page)

R: Not yet. He'll probably try.

S: Are Dupli-Kate and Shrinking Ray really dead? I think that's the question on every fan's mind right now. (I don't really expect you to answer but it couldn't hurt to ask).

R: Not tellin.

S: Will we ever see Mark and Eve officially get together, or will that ruin the “will they, won't they” dynamic?

R: Not tellin.

S: Can you give any hints for what's coming up in Invincible 50?

R: Yes. But I won't.

Who would win in a fight:

Invincible or Superman? Superman

Omni-man or Superman? I'd like to think Omni-mn

Superman or Batman? Superman

The dramatic death of Dupli-Kate

Ryan's take on a rather short battle between Batman and Wolverine

Batman or Wolverine? Please. Wolvie, easily.

Wolverine or Spider-man? Spidey

Peter Parker Kirkman or Robert Kirkman? Who?

Robert Kirkman or You? Me

You or Cory Walker? Me. Now watch, they'll both kick my ass simultaneously. Cheaters.

S: What is one thing that's wrong with Comics today?

R: I don't understand why some of the best artists I've ever seen work with writers who write some of the most retarded stories I've ever read.

S: What is one thing right with Comics today?

R: When a great artist and a great writer(or a great artist/writer) get together and do something awesome.