Podcast Episode 123: Superstar Comic Artist DENYS COWAN

Denys Cowan is that dude. You know the one. That guy who's known for all the best stuff to be known for.

Talented. Ambitious. Professional. Charismatic. Well read. Genuine. Friends in all the right places.

And yet with all that on his side, he doesn't come off full of himself...he's a great guy.

Yeah, we hate him, too (kidding—JOKES!).

Actually, about a year ago he left his position at BET as Senior Vice President of Animation and returned full-time to his first calling. Comics. Now that, we can't hate on.

Here's what you need to know about Denys before you listen to the interview:

He started assisting professional comic artists at the age of 14. He interned with Neal Adams and a slew of other well known creators at Continuity Studios at the ages of 15 and 16. Started getting regular assignments from editors at 17. In his early 20's, he worked with renowned writer, Denny O'Neil, on The Question for DC Comics and was nominated for an Eisner award. In 1992, Denys along with Dwayne McDuffie, Derek Dingle and Michael Davis started Milestone Media, an independent imprint of DC. At some point, he began a career in animation that includes the original Static Shock TV show, a character he helped create during his Milestone days. He helped launch the animated version of Aaron McGruder's lampooning comic strip The Boondocks. He worked for years at BET under friend and then President of Entertainment, Reggie Hudlin, heading up their animation department. And now, almost ten years after the series was cancelled, he's back to his comic book roots doing The Question again.

Issue #37 is in stores now and it's a one-shot follow-up that has Denys once more collaborating with Denny O'Neil. Only this time you can add to the mix current Question writer, Greg Rucka, and art legend in his own right, Bill Sienkiewicz, on inks.

See, that's how you do it.

We cover the whole gamut in this mammoth interview with Cowan—and we mean all of it. Denys has done and seen much in his 35 year career, and doesn't mind talking about any of it. So be prepared.

Remember what we said earlier about what he was known for? Well, guess what?

Three decades into this thing, he's still talented. Ambitious. Professional. Charismatic. Well read. Genuine. And has even more friends in all the right places.

Okay, enough with the hate already. Ladies and gents—Denys Cowan.

Dewars Man          The Breccia Sketch