Allen: Tell me something about yourself.

Bang: I’m 28 years old and I live in Houston, Texas where my family and I have lived since moving from Vietnam. I love watching the Tonight Show while snacking on squid chips and I have a black shepherd mix that also loves watching the Tonight Show while snacking on squid chips.

Allen: Do you recall some of the first comic books you ever read?

Bang: The first comic I ever read was a GI JOE comic back in grade school. I can’t recall the issue number but it had something to do with the introduction of their new secret weapon called the “Thunderclap.”

Allen: What were some of your most liked cartoons that you used to watch as kid?

Bang: I use to enjoy the Transformers and GI JOE cartoons and as I got older I got into the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and WB’s Batman the Animated Series.

Allen: Who were some of the comic book artists that influenced your art?

Bang: I have lots of influences its too many to mention but Jim Lee, Mike Mignola Frank Miller and Marc Silvestri are major influences on my style.

Allen: Tell me about some of your earliest moments that led you to want to become an comic book artist.

Bang: I remember back in middle school watching an upper classman draw from a comic page so I gave it a shot. It then led to me trying to make my own comic but my stuff always looked like stick figures jumping around on the page. I never gave up on it and as time passed my drawings got better and better.

Allen: Did you have any formal comic book art training? Do you also work on other aspects of creating comic books?

Bang: I haven’t had any formal training in comic art but I have taken some college courses in rendering and anatomy. I do ink my own art. Its something that I’m new at and I’m learning as I go.

Allen: How did you get involved in the comic book industry?

Bang: I actually answered a post for an artist on the net. I showed my artwork on-line and thankfully Bluewater picked me up.

Allen: What is an average day like for you? How much of day is devoted to your craft?

Bang: My average day usually starts off with page layouts, which is the longest process for me because of the thumb nailing and making sure that the page reads right. After all the thumb nailing and laying out is done I start drawing on 11x17 and throw in the detail. The detailing stage usually goes by pretty fast. Depending on the complexity of the page I usually spend about 6 plus hours on a page.

Allen: How did you find out about Bluewater Productions, Inc.?

Bang: Well I pretty much found out about Bluewater comics after Darren and I talked about working together for a one shot called Atlas.

Allen: Tell me about how you got to work on Atlas comic from Bluewater Production,Inc.

Bang: After Darren contacted me he mentioned Atlas and the possibility that I would be working on it. I was so exited It was the first time I had a chance to work on a comic book production that I jumped at it first chance.

Allen: What kind of story is Atlas? What was setting? Who are characters?

Bang: Atlas is about a Greek god who grows restless and bored of holding up the heavens on his shoulders all while watching the superheroes on earth having most of the fun. He decides to give up being a spectator to put on a costume and become one of earth’s newest superheroes. It’s a fish out of water story where he’s struggling to fit into a world he’s unaccustomed to while learning the ropes of a true superhero as he goes along. He’s accompanied by a fellow superhero called Wonder Boy who Atlas teams up with to fight crime.

Allen: How did Atlas story fit into Bluewater universe? How many issues were in Atlas series?

Bang: Atlas’ story fits very well into the Bluewater universe, you’ll often see many of the characters guest staring and crossing over into each other’s title. He’s always interacting with different characters from the universe and depending on who he meets he’s often getting into trouble or teaming up to do battle.

Allen: What were some of your favorite characters to draw in Atlas?

Bang: I had a great time drawing every character. It’s the first title I’ve ever worked on so I had a blast doing them all.

Allen: Has Atlas miniseries been collected into graphic novel?

Bang: You know I’m not sure if the previous titles were ever collected into a graphic novel or not. I know that Atlas used to publish through another company called Avatar Press but I’m not sure if they ever released a graphic novel for it.

Allen: What is it that attracted you to work on Vincent Price Presents.

Bang: Darren actually offered me the project after completing Atlas. It was a chance to work on another title for Bluewater so I was definitely in. It’s been really good so far. I’ve been able to really push myself as an artist with this new series.

Allen: What kind of art tools have you been using on Vincent Price Presents?

Bang: I use a HB mechanical pencil for pencils and ink with anything I can get my hands on. (mostly Uniball pens and markers.)

Allen: Tell me about your art work in upcoming comic book called Vincent Price Presents. Which issues will you be working on?

Bang: My artwork is a little different for the Vincent Price line. I went a little looser with the line work and tried to keep it as realistic as possible. My issue numbers will be for #s 5and #7.

Allen: When can readers find your issues to buy?

Bang: The issues I worked on should be out by spring of 2009. The first issue of Vincent Price Presents is scheduled for October of 2008 so be sure to check it out.

Allen: Who is the writer and cover artist for your issues of Vincent Price Presents?

Bang: The writer of the first Vincent Price story I worked on is the very talented Chad Helder who also writes Bartholomew of the Scissors another of Bluewater’s titles. The Second story I worked on was written by Nick Lyons another talented writer that Darren teamed me up with.

You know I’m not really sure if Darren has anyone else in mind for the cover art. I know that a lot of the Bluewater books have variants with different people doing the art so I wouldn’t be surprised if there will be a variant for the issues I worked on.

Allen: What is it you like most about working on Vincent Price Presents comic book?

Bang: I like the different variety that the Vincent Price books have to offer. Each issue is a one shot with a different tale. In one issue you could be drawing a snowy landscape with thick clouds and raging monsters and in the next you could be working on something totally different and opposite. Each story takes you to whole new settings with different situations and characters that really adds to the freshness of the title. That’s what I really like about it.

Allen: What comic book conventions will you be attending or have attended?

Bang: I just recently visited the U-con, a local comic book and gaming convention held annually and located on the northwest side of Houston. It was really great!! I got a chance to meet with lots of Houston based comic creators and even Ryan Burton writer of Flying Saucers Vs the Earth.

Allen: How can someone contact you?

Bang: You can contact me through my email address bangthaiart@yahoo.com

Allen: Do you have a website and does it have links to preview pages or samples art?

Bang: You can see pages from Atlas and the first Vincent Price story I worked on in my Comic Space gallery http://www.comicspace.com/bangthai/

Allen: What are your hobbies and recreational activities?

Bang: Whenever I get a chance to I usually like to shoot hoops, watch a movie, play video games and draw.

Allen: Do you have any other occupation?

Bang: I used to work as an order puller for a beverage company but now I do as much freelance and commission art I can get my hands on.

Allen: If you can have 6 dinner guests, 3 fictional and 3 real-life from any time period, who would those 6 people be and why? You would have use of universal translator to understand any differences in language.

Bang: I wouldn’t have any dinner guests because I’m a horrible cook and would never subject anyone to that torture. Haha

Allen: If you could go into any time machine, what year would you stop at and tell me why.

Bang: I’d go to the future! I can’t wait to get into one of those flying cars! McFly!!!

Allen: What comic book related movies did you have chance to see this summer?

Bang: So far I’ve caught The Dark knight, Wanted and The Incredible Hulk... I really enjoy watching how they light some of the characters in film, it really helps me to envision how I can transfer shadow and light into my art.

Allen: What are some of your all time favorite movies?

Bang: Too many to mention but mostly stuff with good lighting and art direction.

Allen: What kind of novels really get your attention?

Bang: Don’t really read too many novels. The last novel I read was “The Da Vinci Code” and I’ve skimmed through some other books written by the same author.

Allen: What comic books do you read now?

Bang: Secret Invasion, Ultimates, Astonishing X-men and anything else with interesting art. Oh yeah and I’m still trying to finish Y the last man.

Allen: What gives you your creative energy?

Bang: My creative energy usually comes from checking out other aspects of art may it be comic book, fine art, concept art, impressionist or even architecture, I try to let it inspire me to do my best work.

Allen: Tell me about some of the future projects you are working on.

Bang: Right now I’m working on a second story for the Vincent Price line and after that it really depends on what Darren has in store.

Allen: This ends the interview, any encouraging words to readers that might not have seen your art?

Bang: Look to other genres for inspiration, don’t just look to comics books. Check out other artists and look at how they approach their artwork. Let them inspire you even if your style ends up resembling theirs, you are still learning and soon enough you will develop you own way.