Interview with Comic Book Creator Sal Abbinanti

Last week, I had the pleasure of sitting down with comic artist Sal Abbinanti. Sal has worked on projects for Marvel and DC, but is best known for his self-published comic Atomika.

Interview with Comic Book Creator Sal Abbinanti

Comics. The word itself conjures up images of superheroes and sidekicks, spandex costumes and supervillains but, in reality, comic books actually represent a very unique medium that has the ability to combine storytelling with written words and storytelling with still images. And, thanks to the talents of the artists and writers both past and present working in the comic industry, comic books are still seeing success in today’s technologically driven society.

Amidst this body of artists, however, few have the ability to say “I did it my way” like Sal Abbinanti.

Growing up on the north side of Chicago, Sal didn’t always know that he wanted to be a comic artist but, like most kids, he was instantly drawn to the medium. He started buying comics from his local drug store at the age of eight (“They were on spin racks in those days.”) and his first comic was a copy of Thor #206.

Sal attended the Art Institute of Chicago before transferring to USC to study animation. It was here that he received the formal training that would help him launch his career as a comic artist, but, first, he would have to overcome his own self-doubt. “I didn’t think I could make it in comics,” Sal revealed. So, he did what any good self-doubting art student does… he went into advertising.

The advertising industry was never the right fit for Sal. There, he drew storyboards day in and day out until, one day, he had had enough. “It was really draining on the soul to draw the same thing day after day for products that often never saw the light of day.” It was then that he decided to ignore the naysayers, including himself, and pursue a career as a comic book artist.

After working on a number of freelance projects for Marvel and DC, Sal decided to independently publish a comic of his own. “I decided to put my money where my mouth was and produce my own book.” The result was Atomika, a book that Sal worked on with writer and collaborator Andrew Dabb and published under his own label, Mercury Comics.

When asked to describe the book and its title character, Sal revealed that, though the subjects the book tackles are heavy, the book itself is not. “Atomika is the God of the 20th century. He represents how technology has replaced religion completely for many people today. [The comic] is set in the Soviet Union in the 1950’s when Stalin outlawed all religion, deeming it counter productive to the state. Atomika is now doing battle with the dying mythological Gods of Russia. It sounds heavy, but its not. Not a political or religious book at all.”

What it is, however, is a comic that Sal holds very dear to his heart. “Atomika has been by far the most rewarding project of my life.”

The title given to Sal and other artists working in the comic industry is “penciler,” a title that Sal revealed is a fitting one. “Computers, Wacom tablets, Photo shop, all those are great tools with comics but it still begins with the pencil. The pencil is the most important tool of any artist. Technology will never replace the feel of a great pencil in an artists hand.”

And what’s his favorite pencil? “Definitely HB. Palomino HB; the slick red and blue surfaces make me feel like Picasso.” But, watch out Palomino HB, there’s a new pencil in town after Sal’s heart. “I just recently discovered the Palomino Blackwing series with the big fat erasers. Great pencil with a firm wood that holds the lead when sharpened a ton.”

Sal’s art style is raw and, at times, a bit abstract, and that’s just the way he likes it. “I created Atomika because Marvel and DC kept telling me my style was a bit too raw for what they were looking for.” Though he’s inspired by the likes of Jack Kirby and John Buscema, Sal doesn’t necessarily think his art or the art of other comic artists should follow in their footsteps. “Way to much art in comics right now that looks like other artists. How many more Jim Lee and Adam Hughes clones do we really need? I prefer comics that stem from the imagination and push or distort the medium.”

Instead of drawing his inspiration directly from other artists, Sal draws inspiration from other creative mediums. “I study a lot of film to help with the visual story telling ideas of comics… Music scores from films inspire me a lot when I draw. [Even] reading the newspaper – tons of ideas from basic stories are right there in black and white every day. ” The result is a creative process that pushes the limits of comic book art and gives Sal the creative outlet he could not find in advertising, or even at Marvel or DC. “In the end, as an artist, you have to find that creative outlet or you die inside.”

If you would like to see more of Sal’s artwork, including his daily sketches, you can check out his blog here. If you want to find out more about Mercury Comics and Atomika, including purchasing and ordering information, you can check out the Mercury Comics website here.