10 QUESTIONS WITH ARTIST/COLORIST JEFF BALKE

To call Jeff Balke a “colorful character” is akin to calling Michael Jordan a talented basketball player. It’s an understatement. The inventive and affable Mr. Balke is another one of indie comics’ genuine good guys with a palette-full of talent. A tireless worker, you can find Jeff on the convention circuit, creating in-store comics events in his homestead of Chicago, and on the Internet (Facebook is one of his favorite cyber hangouts).

Principally operating as a colorist, Jeff pioneered a service he calls “sketch coloring” – taking the “sketch variant” covers now so common from publishers, and coloring them for their comic book owners. Inspired by a childhood meeting with none other than Stan Lee, Jeff has done work for titles including Talon, Red Banned,  Foxwood Falcons (think: Goonies meets Stand by Me), and the forthcoming OGN Foot Soldiers.

For the rest of the scoop on Mr. Balke, read on …

1. Your website bio says that you met Stan Lee at a comic con when you were a kid, and it inspired you to enter the "biz". Tell us about your encounter with Greatness.

JEFF: Standing in line waiting for Stan to sign my books (back in 1993), I was SO excited.  I mean come on … its Stan “the Man” Lee!

When I got up to him, he looked at me, grinned (that Stan Lee grin) and said something to the effect of: “Keep pushing, true believer. It will happen.” It’s like he knew what I wanted to do BEFORE I even knew.  It was a transcendental experience – especially now looking back on it.

2. How did you finally break into comics as a colorist/artist? And have you ever hooked up with Sir Stan since that legendary 1995 meeting?

JEFF: That was the only time I had the honor of meeting him.  But I actually broke into comics by Myspace.  Just posted a few pictures on my profile, and had a couple people show interest in my coloring.  And that’s when Foxwood Falcons got a colorist! =)

3. You coined the phrase “Sketch Coloring”. What exactly is this?

JEFF: It’s exactly what it sounds like.  So for instance, you give me a comic book sketch cover (or any black and white cover), I’ll take my PrismaColor Markers and color right on that cover.  BUT, I won’t color the entire cover ... I’ll color SOME of the cover.  This is what makes it a Sketch Coloring.  It’s not a fully colored cover; like traditional sketches are not full illustrations.

4. If you had a Time Machine, what “Golden Age” or “Silver Age” artist or comic series would you love to go back in time and color? What would you do differently than the old school colorists?

JEFF: I’d love to go back and work on Superman and Green Lantern.  I don’t think I’d change anything. It would just look a little more modern color-wise.  But I thought they were fantastic!

5. Which is more fun – being an artist or a colorist? And do you design your own tattoos?

JEFF: For me, it’s being a “color artist”.  Ha-ha!  Being a colorist, you have to be an artist in some form.  You have to know the human anatomy, lighting, shading, a little bit of inking, how to create different backgrounds, special effects … and that list can go on and on!  That’s why I like coloring.  You’re putting the page together and creating the “mood”.

6. Word has it the graphic novel Foot Soldiers is coming out this summer. Exactly when can we expect to see it? Tell us about your experience working on this project.
 

JEFF: I’m actually pretty stoked about this graphic novel.  It’s a re-release of the original series by Dark Horse (not being re-released by Dark Horse) and re-colored by me.  The book should be out sometime either late summer or fall (but sometime this year I’m told).

Working with creator and writer Jim Krueger and coloring over Michael Oeming’s work was amazing.  Never got to talk to Michael at all, but Jim is SUCH a good guy!

7. You also just finished Red Banned. What’s it about?

JEFF: Well, this is what I can quote …

“In the near future, murder has become the most popular sport.  Still illegal, it is broadcast on underground networks with an intense cult following.  A female viewer with an uncertain past finds herself pulled into the game.”

And I can tell you I REALLY got into the book fast!  The art and story are great.

8. One series that piqued my interest is The Secret Cross. It’s set in World War I and covers the history of Germany’s “Secret Force” and how they kept supernatural forces at bay. How did you get involved, and tell us about the story and the creative team.

JEFF: I wish I could tell you more about this book, but after the first 10-12 pages were colored early to mid last year, I haven’t heard anything about it.  I think we’ve all kind of moved on.

9. What comic cons will you be attending this summer? Which are your favorites?

JEFF: I’ll be at Wizard World Chicago, NYCC, Dallas Comic Con, Project Comic Con and a few others.  I have a full schedule on my site under the news page so please check it out.  And I can say that sometimes shows or signings pop up out of nowhere so keep checking back.

The one show I look forward to every year is Wizard World Chicago.  That was my first Con I went to back in the early 90s (when I met Stan Lee) and my first show where I debuted as a colorist in 2007(ish).  But I’m REALLY looking forward to the NYCC show this year.  This is the first year I’ll be sitting in Artist Alley and my 2^nd year attending.

10. Tell us where we can go to follow your work and please plug anything else we've missed. And more importantly, as a Chicago native, tell us if the Bulls will land Lebron James and Doc Rivers?

JEFF: I’m actually on Facebook all the time and I’m always blogging on my website.  Those are the two places where you can get updates from me all the time.  I love my FaceBook!

PLUS, coming out this summer, I have a few covers coming out such as…

Zombies Vs. Cheerleaders #1 (alternate cover shown here), Stink and I’m working on a couple of projects with Art Baltazar and Franco (but not Tiny Titans).  So keep a look out on my FaceBook for updates.

As for the Bulls, to be honest, I kind of fell out of it after the “Dream Team” Bulls back in the mid 90s.  They were the best!

Yes they were, Jeff, right after the Bill Russell and Larry Bird Celtics of the 1960s and mid 1980s. Thank you sir, and color on!

Bob Heske is creator of The Night Projectionist, a vampire horror series by publisher Studio 407 with film rights optioned by Myriad Pictures. Through his Heske Horror shingle, Bob self-published his critically acclaimed horror series Cold Blooded Chillers. Bob’s trade paperback Bone Chiller (a “best of” CBC anthology) won a Bronze medal in the horror category at the 2009 Independent Publisher Book Awards. His “end times” anthology 2012: Final Prayer was released on November 13, 2009. Bob’s works are available online at Amazon.com, Zaldiva.com, ComixPress, IndyPlanet, HeavyInk, SmallZone, DriveThruComics, WOWIO.com and YuDu.com (store). You can email Bob at   This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .