Talented sculptor, Jim McPherson, has been in the entertainment industry for 20 years. He has worked on hit films such as Alice In Wonderland and Gremlins 2 and worked with make up artist legend, Rick Baker. While he works on plenty of movies, I was surprised that McPherson also sculpted a Batman: Black and White statue. McPherson created the “Batman: Year One” statue based on Frank Miller’s story and David Mazzuchelli’s art. “Year One” is my most beloved Batman story and “Black and White” is my favorite statue line, so I had to contact McPherson about the statue and the process behind it:
NERDSociety(NS): You sculpted the Batman: Black and White Statue based on David Mazzucchelli’s art from Year One. Can you tell us how you got involved in the project?
Jim McPherson(JM): Well, I met David when I was in high school. We were roommates in college when he did his initial samples and his first Master of Kung Fu story. He requested me to sculpt the figure. We had actually talked about a statue eight or so years ago. David had done some front and side drawing at that point. I put together some blueprints and reference of different angles. DC picked the early test drawing David had done for the pose. However, David wanted the sculpt to look more like the Batman in the finished comic. David’s intention was to create a simple iconic pose similar to the early poster type covers of Batman. I used Zbrush to sculpt the figure. We tried to convey the deceptively simple look of the art. David was drawing complex anatomy and then just drawing an outline around it. Your brain visualizes what is between the outlines. I knew David wanted his Batman to appear not to wear tights but more of a jersey material costume. No six pack abs on this version of the character and no spray on costume. It took two weeks. It had to be really clean to look like David’s work.
Concept work on ZBrush
NS: Once you finished the sculpt, did DC Direct want any changes to the statue?
JM: The main note we got was to keep the pose exactly the same from the front but move the shoulder and the opposite side leg forward. David said that wasn’t the intention of the drawing, so it was left the way it was. I think the figure conveys the feeling of David’s Batman but I get the impression some of the fans would have been happier if I had added a lot of extra forms. For example, they probably wanted me to sculpt a really detailed face and show all the muscles through the costume. David said he asked for me because he knew my philosophy and would translate his work faithfully. DC Direct just told me the statues sold really well, so I guess a good amount of people appreciated it. I’m probably going to do some more statues in the future and there would be more detail depending on the artist. My main concern is to make the pieces as recognizable as the artist’s work as possible. However, if a client is looking for something closer to my style, or an original style, or realism, I try to do my best on that type of work also.
Headsculpt and cape work
NS: I know you were into comics when you were a kid, do you still read comics today?
JM: To paraphrase David’s quote in the Comics Journal, “I look at new comics and…see these colorful characters talking where they should be running and jumping.” I buy a lot of TwoMorrows publications about the older artists. I get the reprint books of stuff I don’t have. I’m a huge fan of Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, and Gene Colan was the biggest influence on me artistically. I think Gene Colan invented a form of fluidity in comics storytelling that is gone today. I miss the fluidity. I think if there was more action you could sell the books in more places. Artists draw really well today, maybe the writers are writing too much dialog.
Final product by McPherson and Original artwork by Mazzuchelli on the right
NS: What projects are you currently working on?
JM: I can’t be too specific. I am working on characters for movies, large sculptures for Art Galleries (sculpted digitally) and action figures and toys.
I want to thank Jim McPherson for the interview. You can check out more of his work on myspace.
My collection
Close up shot
You can purchase the Batman statue at your local comic store and retails for $80. I found mine on eBay after all the local shops were sold out.
Loading ...