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View all search resultsbookWORM: Chris Lie: Looking beyond the panels
JP/ Ika KrismantariOne of the keys to becoming a good comic artist lies in regularly reading comics, according to Chris Lie
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JP/ Ika Krismantari
One of the keys to becoming a good comic artist lies in regularly reading comics, according to Chris Lie.
'Comic artists need to be informed, so they know trends,' the artist, who has been working with Marvel comics and Sony, told The Jakarta Post. 'If they just draw without paying attention to what is trending, they will be outdated.'
The advice comes from his own experience: Chris says that reading widely can broaden an artist's knowledge and provide inspiration.
'A good comic book is the one that makes you want to draw right after reading it,' Chris said.
However, working in comics doesn't mean that Chris' reading list is limited to only graphic storytelling. His favorite genre is detective fiction.
'I love how they can create suspense and make you not stop reading until the last page,' said Chris, who adds that he is currently reading The Cuckoo's Calling, JK Rowling's crime-fiction novel.
His said that his fascination with mystery novels started in elementary school. 'I liked reading Trio Detective and Sherlock Holmes and novels by Agatha Christie.'
While Chris said he spent most of his childhood reading because 'there was no other entertainment'; as a 40-year-old, he finds it hard to squeeze in time for books ' although he likes to read comics for inspiration. Here are three of his favorites.
Bakuman
by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata
Bakuman is a Japanese manga series about the struggles of aspiring comic artists in Japan. Chris said that the book was one of his favorites for its detailed portrayal of how the business works in Japan. 'We can learn so many things from reading it,' Chris said, adding that he felt a positive vibe after reading Bakuman. 'I feel like I want to draw and produce comics.'
The Trigan Empire
by Don Lawrence
Chris said that he discovered The Trigan Empire ' the a classic comic series by the late British comic artist Don Lawrence ' when reading Hai magazine. 'I like it because the drawings are so beautiful. It is realistic illustration ' and it is made beautifully. It inspires me to draw comics like that.'
Tintin
by Herge
Tintin is Chris' all-time favorite, having first read the series as a boy when he was give after a Hegre book by his uncle, Kristanto, a painter and illustrator who inspired Chris to become a comic artist. Chris said he has been fascinated by Tintin ever since. 'I've never gotten tired reading Tintin. I always find new things every time I read it.'
