Newton: I have no long range plans. I want to continue with "The Savage Earth," and also contribute covers and spot illustrations to some of the better fanzines. I do have a number of ideas for strips. Five are super-heroes and one other is sort of fantasy. Because of limited time however, I doubt that I'll ever get  around to any of them.

Wilson: When did you first find out about, and then enter, fandom?

Newton: Well I had been scouting for comics for about six months and finding little. Then a collector friend showed me a copy of RBCC and I decided to get a copy. Looking RBCC over I figured here was a logical place to get a start in comic work. I sent Gordon an illo called "The Great Comic in the Sky." He liked it and shortly after I did a Star Trek back cover for him. My next step was to ask him about the possibility of doing a strip. He favored the idea and I've been working with him ever since. This all began about two years ago. I might add that I thoroughly enjoy all the fan work I do.

Wilson: Who are your favorite comic artists?

Newton: From the Golden Age I would select Raymond, Raboy, and Eisner. From the present, I consider Williamson and Frazetta tops. Neal Adams is due to be one of the best in time. Hal Foster is another favorite, who spans both periods,

Wilson: Did you develop your style by studying their work?

Newton: Well I'm not so sure I really have a "style" yet; but I do study their work, There's a lot to be learned by looking at, for example, the work of Alex Raymond. But I wouldn't want my work to come out looking like his...or anyone else's for that matter.

Wilson: Aside from comics and comic strips, who are your favorite artists?

Newton: Two that come to mind are the great illustrator N,C. Wyeth and Gustave Dore who did the famous etchings of the Bible and Dante's Inferno. If Dore were alive today, I believe he'd be a comic artist.

Wilson: Did you study their work?

Newton: Most certainly! I admire Wyeth's use of color and his dramatic compositions. Dore of course works in black and white but is also the master of dramatic story telling through pictures. Every young artist should look at the work of these men. Especially those interested in comic illustration.

Wilson: Getting back to comics, what are your personal reactions to the coming demise of the super-hero and the development of fantasy, sci-fi, and sword & sorcery heroes?

Newton: I'm all for sci-fi and sword & sorcery, but I hope we don't completely lose our superheroes. Actually I think superheroes (the really good ones) will be around as long as we have comics,

Wilson: Do you plan on going into the comic book field?

Newton: Naturally I would like to at some future date. Right now however, I don't consider my work of sufficient merit.

Wilson: What other areas involving comics would you like to go into?

"I'd love to illustrate children's classics... I'd also like to illustrate a version of the Bible."

Newton: I'd love to illustrate children's classics or pocket book covers. I'd also like to illustrate a version of the Bible. I might add that I prefer to work in color over black & white. G.B. Love has quite a bit of my color work. 

Wilson: What are your opinions of today's comics?

Newton: In general they are far superior to those of the 194os both in art and story. I consider Marvel the real leader in the field. DC doesn't turn me on too much; though Batman has improved in the last few issues and I'm buying it again.

Wilson: What inspired you to create "The Savage Earth?"

Newton: My admiration for Flash Gordon and a desire to create a similar strip. Then too, I am a real science fiction fan.

Wilson: What fanzines are you currently contributing to?

Newton: At this time I've worked for "Rocket's Blast ComiCollector," "Titan Comics," and "The Collector." I'd like to do some things for other zines but I just don't have the time. I would rather limit my work and keep up the quality. I want to make an apology to the magazines that have written me and I've had to turn down.

Wilson: In closing, are there any tips you might like to give to prospective artists?

Newton: Yes. There are several things I would say to anyone interested ongoing into art.

First, study anatomy...an inexpensive method is to buy a selection of weight-lifting magazines and practice drawing from these photos. Draw every chance you get...on napkins or the corners of your notebooks, but draw!

Study the effects of light and shadow. Wallace Wood is a master of this; so is Will Eisner. Look at their work.

When you DO original work for publications, don't "lift" from other artists. Better to pose your friends, look in a mirror, or "fake it." I use a mirror a great deal in my works; not only for expression but for lighting. When all else fails I resort to a photo...but I've done this only TWICE in the entire "Savage Earth" series. I wonder if anyone could guess where?

n that note our interview with Don Newton ends. I would personally like to thank Don for all the time he must have put into this interview what with the fabulous cover of the Justice Society of America, his answering the interview questions, his taking the photographs of himself, and the other great pieces of artwork he did to accompany the interview. I think this Interview gives a lot of insight into the real feelings and character of one Mr. Don Newton; not only as a fellow comic fan, but also as an artist and a fellow human being. I sincerely hope that you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed preparing it and receiving the answers from Don.

--Bill G. Wilson

 

This interview is copyright 2002 Bill G. Wilson.