Giovanni Paolo Timpano Interview
Hello Everyone:
After completing production on YI SOON SHIN: WARRIOR AND DEFENDER #2, I figured that you guys might be interested in getting to know the other talents who are behind the series. So each week, we will be featuring a different artist!
Today I will be interviewing with Giovanni Paolo Timpano, the artist of YI SOON SHIN: WARRIOR AND DEFENDER. Gio’ is based out of Italy and he was more than happy to take time out of his busy schedule to tell us more about his contributions to the series.
GIOVANNI PAOLO TIMPANO
OKP: So Gio’, what initially attracted you to this project?
GT: Well it was different from all the other works that I’ve done before. As an artist, I found a challenge in changing my style by illustrating epic/historical comic books placed in 1592 Korea as opposed to what I’ve grown accustomed to. Apart from the fact that I liked the project itself, I felt that it was also time to try something new.
OKP: There have been many comic books/movies/TV shows made in Korea about Yi Soon Shin. How do you go about setting your artwork apart from the stuff that is already out there?
GT: I never read any manhwa about Yi Soon Shin and I never saw the TV show until a year after I began working on the series. I wanted to first render my own version of Yi Soon Shin and once I created him in my mind and put it on paper, it made it a lot easier for me to view other sources without being overly influenced by them.
OKP: Do you do any research in order to get the look of the characters right? If so, tell us how you go about it and the role it plays in your illustrations.
GT: This was probably the most difficult part of this process because Korean officers all looked very similar in that time period. They all had the same hairstyles and facial composure. I prefer to think that every character was defined through their distinct personalities. I worked on the facial expressions and the illuminations of each character and also paid attention to their body language to make them stand out. It also helps that each of the officers can be defined through their distinct armor colors, which makes it easier to tell them apart from one another.
OKP: Would you mind telling us how you got your big break in comics?
GT: I've always been based here in Italy and actually started my career by approaching publishers based in the US. I had no prior experience but I always wanted to work on American comic books and I figured there was no reason to waste time doing anything other than what I set out to do. I started with short stories in anthologies for 2026 Books, Approbation Comics and Alterna Comics.
From there I began to collaborate with Bluewater Productions and worked on Issues #2 and #4 of VINCENT PRICE PRESENTS, as well as the one shot PLAN 9 STRIKES BACK. I was also the illustrator for the MR. T OGN published by Mohawk Media. After this, I began doing freelance work for Moonstone Books and have worked on all kinds of characters including THE PHANTOM, THE SPIDER, CAPTAIN ACTION and working closely with editor Joe Gentile on THE FLYING DUTCHMAN.
OKP: Most artists usually tackle one of two responsibilities; pencils or inks. Yet you do both and very well. Is this something that has always been natural for you or do you prefer one over the other?
GT: Italian comic book culture teaches us to do both and I think this is a good thing. I believe that this approach makes it a lot easier for foreign artists to break into the U.S market. It makes us much more versatile. Personally, I love inking. I love my blacks and I would feel strange to see my pencils inked by someone else. But I have also noticed that when I do just pencils I pay more attention to details, but I lose a little bit of control.
OKP: What are your inspirations as an artist and sequential storyteller?
GT: As a comic book artist I love talents like Sergio Toppi, Brian Hitch, Mike Mignola, Daniel Zezelj, Frank Quietly, Joe Sacco, Joe Quesada, Jae lee and many more. As far as sequential storytellers go, I find much of my inspiration through the works of filmmakers. Perhaps more oriental than occidental, like Takeshi Kitano, Kim Ki-Duk, Johnnie To, Pen-Ek Ratanaruang, Shinya Tsukamoto, Park Chan Wook, John Woo and obviously Akira Kurosawa.
OKP: Tell us about some of the other projects you are currently working on.
GT: I’m currently working on a second FLYING DUTCHMAN story that will appear in AIRFIGHTERS #2 and on a personal project called DEAD CORPSES, which is my first creator owned project.
The story is about a man that wakes up in a dark room, unaware of who or where he is. He quickly discovers that his body is covered with strange scars and that there is a tag on his toe that reads “36 hours”. I wrote it with the help of Nicolas Wilson. DEAD CORPSES is a 72 pages graphic novel, and I’m almost done working on it. I've spent a lot of time carefully putting it together and actually work on it during my free time (weekends and holidays). It has also given me a chance to explore my artwork without any boundaries. I really enjoy working on it. I mixed solid classic inks with Photoshop effects and modern techniques.
OKP: Last question; tell us what you’re looking forward to as YI SOON SHIN: WARRIOR AND DEFENDER continues.
GT: Issue #1 sets the stage for what lies ahead for the series. Issue #2 brings us closer to the characters and has a much darker feel to it. Now that all this has been established, I’m looking forward to illustrating the next issues because we get to focus on the battles. I can’t wait to draw the Kobukson armada, and dive deeper into the emotional tragedies that make Yi Soon Shin’s story so great! Its going to be very epic!
Thanks again for your time Gio’!
GT: My pleasure, Onrie!
Oh and folks, if you like our man’s work, here are some links below;
Next month, I will be interviewing colorist Adriana De Los Santos! So be sure to stay tuned!
Best Regards,
Onrie Kompan
posted by Onrie Kompan at
10:48 AM
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