The Brazilian WILL CONRAD, is the youngest of the three comics artists coming from Glass House Graphics, and has a very diversified abilities that are gaining him a quick way to the top of comics professional team. 

Will started drawing at a very early age, and is graduated in Graphic Design. He worked for various Brazilian Publishers, what gave him a good knowledge of press techniques. Although he was always working in the artistic field, his most inner and strong desire was break into the comics world, dream that came true 3 years ago, when he penciled VC Warriors for Galaxy Graphics. 

Since then, he worked in various little projects, getting ready for greater flights. His portfolio includes Galaxy Girl, various covers, pin ups and web pages, Angel and Buffy for Dark Horse, and the Scorpion King also for Dark Horse. 

 

Will is a very diversified artist, and is able to make pencils, inks and colors at a very professional level. Dark Horse is the first great company he works for, but lots are reserved for this guy in the very near future, and he is already working on fresh new samples for the other great publishers. Here are more questions to let you know more about Will...

Full name:
Vilmar Nunes Conrado

Where were you born? Where did you grow up?
I was born and grown in Belo Horizonte / MG

Schooling? Art training?
I graduated in Graphic Design.

How did you get your break into comics?
It was a tough way. I was crazy about comics since I was a kid, not only reading, but drawing. I used to copy and draw the characters, and I started to become interested in the storytelling techniques. Unfortunately, my father was a lawyer and accountant, and comics were too far away from my world: the books were done out of the country, my parents didn't want their kids working as artists (we should find a REAL profession) and work on comics was nothing but a distant dream. 

I started on the administration university here in Brazil, but I soon gave up and I worked in some comic strips in my spare time. I started to work with this full time and went to design university -- which made my parents mad. I got in contact with Glass House Graphics in 1997, and I've been exclusive with David Campiti ever since. I got small assignments for the start, but I was always patient, and I always knew what I wanted. Now I'm working almost full time with comics, and I'm very happy with it.

What drew you to want to work on comics?
Well, there are the most obvious and famous characters almost every comic artist want to work with. I love Batman, Spider-Man and Captain America. I'd like to work on some other characters too, like Conan, Rom, and Iron Fist. Those were my heroes when I was a kid.

Who have your influences been over the years?
The old masters: John Buscema, Jack Kirby, Will Eisner, Frank Frazetta and Norman Rockwell. And the newer guys I like a lot are Mike Deodato, Cliff Richards, and Mark Silvestri (older works)...

Any particular work of yours that you are most proud of?
My first issue on Buffy, Buffy # 35, that was my first work with Dark Horse and it meant much to me. And I think people will like very much the Scorpion King too.

How long have you been working professionally in comics?
For about 6 years now.

You do both inking and penciling. Do you enjoy one more than the other?
It's hard to tell. I never planned to become an inker. I guess no artist does -- but it happened, and I liked it. It's good to see the page fully inked, with YOUR lines, if you know what I mean. On the other hand, I love the freedom to create my own pages, to give life to the characters. I think I like it better, but I like to ink, too.

You have inked various issues of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel for Dark Horse Comics. After working on the title, have you become a fan of the TV series?
I watch the series, and if I have to work on something that's on TV, I watch it. I'm not used to sitting in front of the TV for too long. In fact, I almost never watch TV, except to watch the VCR or DVD. I'd say I like the Buffy and Angel Series, but I'm not a regular watcher.

You recently came to the United States to participate in a couple of conventions and ended up touring with the Glass House Graphics crew. Was this your first convention?
As a professional, yes. I've been in the Chicago Con in 1997, as a fan. I was trying to break through the comics world, and I was feeling the field. It was very good, but nothing compared to the feeling of attending a convention as a professional, and it was completely different.

Did you enjoy meeting various fans?
It's always good to know people is looking and liking your work. This is the very thing that makes us feel like we are getting results. And fans are the reason artists exist. We owe them everything: loyalty, respect. and thankfulness. I was very happy, and I hope I'll never let them down.

You did some background art for Chaos Comic's Stone Cold Steve Austin and doing the inking on the upcoming comic adaptation of the movie Scorpion King. What do you think about wrestling?
I think it's fascinating. Not my style of martial art (I'm more the Jiu-jitsu guy), but I love the movements of the sport. The characters, too, are very elaborate. They create not only the athlete, but all the personality of the character. It's like comics, only in the ring.

Do you collect or read comics? -- and if so, which ones?
In Brazil it's a little difficult to find great books. We have to import them. But I have a Conan collection, a complete Asterix collection, various cartoon books, tons of super-hero books.... I lost track of it all. What I love the most are my collection of technical books.

Who is your favorite hero?
Conan.

Who is your favorite villain?
The Joker.

What comic do you hope to work on one day?
Various. Thor, Captain America, Batman, Conan, Spidey, Hulk... Rom, Iron Fist, Black Panther...

What are you currently drawing? Comments on that project?
I'm doing a 2 part story for the Outsiders / DC. It's a great story, specially because it makes one of my dreams come true: Batman shows up in the story! I'm growing more mature and confident on my work now, allowing myself to invest in more sophisticated page and panel designs,as well as a stronger story telling.

What projects do you hope to work on in the future?
This is hard to predict. There's so many great projects coming and going that it's difficult to say "I want to work on this or that..." All I can say is that I really love my job, and I hope to be in the field for a good time. 

I believe that, whatever the project is, I'll love it in a different way of the other. I love challenges and news.

Where do you see yourself in five years? ten?
In the U.S :)

LIST OF CREDITS

(as inker):
GALAXY GIRL
BUFFY
ANGEL
SUPERMAN
RTX RED ROCK
LADY DEATH
SCORPION KING

(as colorist):
DARK HORSE BENEFIT BOOK

(as penciler):
VC WARRIORS

KISS (DARK HORSE)
SPOOK SHOW (MV CREATIONS)
WITCHES (MARVEL)
STAR WARS TALES (DARKHORSE)
SECRET FILES (DC)
ELEKTRA (MARVEL)
EMMA FROST (MARVEL)
OUTSIDERS (DC)

LINKS:

Review of Kull #4 from comicsbulletin.com

 

Star Artist Will Conrad Cheats Death to Live His Dream
written by by David Lawrence

It is 270 miles from Belo Horizonte to San Paulo in Brazil, and the road from aspiring fan to top comic book artist is longer than that. For artist Will Conrad, a journey that began in the mountaintop city he calls home nearly ended before it began, in a calamitous bus wreck on the road to San Paulo.  In the end, not even that derailed his life-long dream. 

Watching the joy as Will draws you would never suspect how close it came to not happening.  At a convention as he does sketches with a smile, jokes as he takes fans requests and seems genuinely happy to answer their questions.  He works at the drawing board twelve hours a day or more, and when he takes breaks sketches to relax. 

It’s hard to believe but the mega-star artist, currently hard at work on Conan for Dark Horse and The Freshmen for Top Cow, never thought a career in comics was possible because of the low page rates paid by Brazilian publishers. “In Brazil, drawing comics was asking to starve,” he remembers.  “They paid $10, maybe $20 a page.  If you got paid at all.”

Things changed in 1997, when comic book legend Will Eisner paid a visit to Will’s hometown.  The legendary comic creator was participating in a seminar and Will signed up.  “One of my first comics was for a contest at the seminar.”  Will Eisner was a judge.  Will won, and as his prize got to spend five priceless minutes with Eisner, who critiqued his work.  He considers the storytelling tips he received that day a key moment in his career.

READ THE REST OF THE ARTICLE HERE

Interview with Will Conrad and Mike Deodato:

LINKS:

CBR interview with Will about Black Panther

Will Conrad's announced as the new illustrator on Black Panther!

An interview about Will's forthcoming Black Panther run