This is the first of what we hope to have as a regular feature here at the JSAs… original creator interviews. To kick it off we asked artist Marcio Takara if he could answer a few questions and let people know what he’s currently up to. Marcio is a regular on the convention scene in Toronto, and he’s got a major comics project debuting in March this year from Boom! Studios.

What part of a Canada are you from/do you live?
I live in downtown Toronto… but I’m originally from Brazil. :)

Were you a comics fan growing up?
Yes… I remember buying Justice League International in the 80’s when I was, I don’t know 10? 12 years old? It was my introduction to comics. From there I went to The Dark Knight Returns and Batman Year One. What a nice way to start reading comics!

Can you tell us a bit about your career as a comic book artist?
I’m pretty new to this (comics). I’ve worked as a graphic designer since I was 20, and that’s one of the reasons I can color some of my work.  Five years later I would just drop it all and decided I wanted to work in comics, that was in 2006 I guess. Since then I did work for some videogame companies, marketing offices, commercials for tv, children’s books, toy companies and, of course, comics.

One of my first comics jobs was a book for Marvel. (It was) one of those free comics against drugs and alcohol for kids, with Spiderman and the Fantastic Four. It was a great great experience! From there I did work for smaller companies like ColdFuzion, Chimaera (Consortium of Justice) and Image (Dynamo 5) among a few others… and tons of commissions for clients all over the world!

Who are some of your creative influences?
Jim Lee, Scott Campbell, Kevin Maguire, Mike Mignola, Adam Hughes, Frank Cho, Bruce Timm, Sean “Cheeks” Galloway, Stuart Immonen, the list goes on and on…

What are you currently working on?
I’m currently drawing The Incredibles, for Boom! Studios. The comic adaptation of the super awesome Pixar movie, and Mark Waid is writing it! Can’t get better than that! :)  I’m wrapping the first book and I’ll be doing at least four of them. Pencils and inks. The first one will be out in March 2009.

To see more of Marcio’s work, please visit his website www.marciotakara.com and check out Disney/Pixar’s The Incredibles #1 when it hits the stands in March 2009.