Liam Sharp Talks Exclusively About Kickstarter Campaign For Encore

Taking A Bow

Artist-writer Liam Sharp just launched a new kickstarter for his art book Encore on Sunday. It’s already hit its target several times over but Tripwire’s editor-in-chief Joel Meadows just spoke to him about the genesis of the book, what we can expect in future volumes and more…

TRIPWIRE: How long have you been planning Encore for?

LIAM SHARP: Getting on for a couple of years, though it was originally called ECCLECTICA! ENCORE was preferred by the team as that’s really what it is – a chance to give these pieces an encore! In some ways, though, it’s been much longer as I’ve had many friends suggesting I do a KS art book for seven or eight years! I suppose now felt like it was about the right time…

pic credit Joel Meadows

TW: You ran The Lost Art Of Jack Katz as a kickstarter. What did you learn from doing that?

LS: I think we learned a ton! Basically how much work is involved – and that was harder because of all the other people involved! We’ve still got the distribution, etc. to handle, so I’m pretty sure there’s a lot more to learn at this point! The hardest thing is getting the word out. Comics always struggle with marketing, and rising above the noise. There is so much great work out there, so how do you explain why your own project is special? It’s an uphill fight! We really do rely on people sharing the work and supporting us.

TW: You could have take it to a traditional publisher. What are the advantages of doing it yourself?

LS: Ha! Well you say that, but honestly – no publisher has ever shown any interest in a Liam Sharp art book, so I’m not sure that’s true! 

The advantages? Just that it will actually get done, and I’ll have some say over how it looks.

TW: The book is intended to cover your career over the last thirty years. How did you select what goes into the book?

LS: It’s not easy! I had to let a lot go. There are rules about how many pages from any given company you can publish, so that’s REALLY limiting as I’ve mostly worked for DC for the last twenty years. Otherwise it’s based on what high res art you have to hand, or in storage, etc. There are some pieces – like the Red Sonja ‘Mouldering Stone’ piece – that I am genuinely proud of, but there’s a kind of alchemy to choosing the art. You have to just trust your gut! 

TW: You have designed the book as well as acted as its editor. Is it this total editorial control that you enjoy as a creator here?

LS: It’s been a team effort. I’d hate for it to be seen as a vanity project! But yes, you get more involvement in the production process – and I’ve been a publisher and EIC at Mam Tor and Madefire, so I’ve become pretty experienced over the last sixteen years or so…

TW: It also includes a new story featuring your creation Lib LaRoche. So what made you decide to use this as a springboard to launch the character?

LS: I think I just wanted to offer something new with the old, you know? It made it a bit more unique, and gives the campaign a sense of supporting the creation of new material – which it really is! I’m excited to do more! 

TW: And what are your plans for Lib LaRoche moving forward?

LS: That will depend on how popular she proves to be. It feels very cinematic to me…

TW: The book has already hit its target fourfold as of today. How surprised were you as to how quickly it got funded?

LS: Good lord, yes! I surpassed our wildest dreams!!! I would, of course, love it to sell in the thousands rather than hundreds because you want people to see it – why do it otherwise? But it’s staggering how well Kickstarter works at a very boutique level. Even a run of around 500 copies, which it currently is, can be very worthwhile. That certainly took us by surprise!  

TW: Has the success of this first book increased the pressure on you to make sure the other two art books match the quality of this one?

LS: That pressure was there anyway. I wouldn’t want it otherwise! But I love that the books will all have a distinct vibe.

TW: You have an introduction from your collaborator on The Green Lantern Grant Morrison and from journalist Geoff Boucher in the book. How important was it to include these in the book?

LS: Hugely important! You need the outside voices for genuine insight, otherwise I’m just screaming ‘look at me!’, and that’s ridiculous! Grant gives it perspective, and Geoff grounds it, makes it human.

TW: What can we expect in the other two volumes?

LS: ENCORE: SILVER is intended to be just black and white art, to celebrate linework and inking, etc. I love black and white comics! And the final one, ENCORE: BRONZE will be based on a series of interviews with writer, teacher and one-time comic critic Dave Gillette, covering my entire career, with samples from the books, and lots of inside stories and information – a proper career overview. It should be pretty relevant for comic historians too!

Support the project here

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/sharpy/encore-the-art-of-liam-sharp?

Liam Sharp is also nominated in the Best Artist category in this year’s Tripwire awards. Vote for them here 

The Tripwire Awards 2021 Are Launched