The former artist on DAREDEVIL talks about the "Left Hand Path" arc and helping out Roberto De La Torre on the title.

Kuljit Mithra: I've read that you worked on Spider-Man in Italy, so is this how you came to the attention of Marvel in the US? Had you already done some issues of AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (with editor Stephen Wacker) before DAREDEVIL?

Marco Checchetto: Hi Kuljit! Yes, I worked on a series of Spider-Man in Italy. It was a beautiful series for children that I "invented" with my friends of the VOCstudio... but my first assignment for Marvel was a little story of Deadpool on MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS. Before working on DAREDEVIL I drew some issues of THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (American Son, Who Was Ben Reilly and Grim Hunt). I worked on Grim Hunt simultaneously with DAREDEVIL (Shadowland issues).

Mithra: Your first work on DAREDEVIL was a few pages to help out regular DD artist Roberto De La Torre on issue 503. How quickly did you have to get those pages done, since it appeared to be an emergency job to get the issue out? Or were you always going to be helping out?

Checchetto: I don't remember how much of time I spent for that issue, but, yes, it was an emergency job.

Mithra: How difficult is it for you in situations like this to try and work on certain pages and keep consistent flow with script and artwork that may have already been completed?

Checchetto: Sometimes our work requires us to do this type of tag-team. It's normal.

Mithra: Had it always been the plan to have you draw "Left Hand Path"?

Checchetto: Yes, during [the time drawing] issue 503, Steve asked me to work on Left Hand Path.

Mithra: What kind of research did you do for the Japanese castles and the design of the Snakeroot, ninjas, etc.?

Checchetto: I love to do research for my art. I have some books of Japan's history and I used internet for the castles. No manga! :D

Mithra: I particularly liked how you represented the snow and the long panels you used. Was the snow effect something colorist Matt Hollingworth added, or was that something you drew? Also, how do you do your inking? By hand or with the help of computers?

Checchetto: Matt is awesome but the snow was "something that I drew" and my idea. I added the snow on page 3 of issue 505, in the first scene with the Hand's Castle. Wacker, [Andy] Diggle and [Antony] Johnston approved it and so I drew the snow on all issues. I ink my pages with a traditional mode and after that I use the computer for some special effects like snow, smoke or fog.

Mithra: After "Left Hand Path" you alternated with De La Torre on issues in the SHADOWLAND story. How did you enjoy that storyline? Do you enjoy drawing more character interaction stories, or "superhero" fights?

Checchetto: I prefered Left Hand Path. I had the opportunity to draw much more Daredevil and some beautiful fights on the roofs of Japanese Castles. I really loved this run.

Mithra: I really enjoyed the SHADOWLAND: AFTER THE FALL issue you drew with De La Torre. While working on DAREDEVIL, what did you feel was the best quality about the character, and what didn't you like about him? How about some of the other characters like Foggy and Dakota?

Checchetto: I like the dark side of all characters. Daredevil is perfect for dark scenes and very fun to draw. Dakota is a strong character and Black Tatantula has a great costume. Guys, sorry, but I hate Foggy Nelson... I did a lot of pages with him. Foggy is a boring man. :D

Mithra: And finally, you've already got some DAKEN coming out... are you going to be doing more Marvel work, or maybe some of your own creations?

Checchetto: I signed an exclusive contract with Marvel. I just finished my two issues on Dark Wolverine for the crossover Collision. Now I'm working on a new series for Big Shots. Greg Rucka and me are the creative team for the new series of The Punisher. The first issue will be published in August!

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(c) Kuljit Mithra 2011
Daredevil:The Man Without Fear
http://www.manwithoutfear.com
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