Recently I was able to ask Marvel Comics veteran Jim Fern a range of questions about his comic book career as well as his deep Catholic Faith. Before getting into the questions, here is a short introduction.
Most recently, Jim Fern was the Continuity Art Director for Issue 1 of Finnian and the Seven Mountains and his expertise and influence remain a driving force behind Voyage Comics.
Jim Fern became an inker for Marvel in 1983 working on various Spider-Man titles. He later started penciling as a fill-in artist on titles such as Amazing Spider-Man, X-Men Annual #13 (where he co-designed and drew Jubilee in her first story), Transformers and Wolverine. Fern also started working with DC Comics as an artist on such titles as Legion ’90, Adventures of Superman, Batman, Detective COMICS, and co-created the series Scarlett. He is also co-creator and designer for Crossing Midnight with Mike Carey published by DC’s Vertigo line. In addition to his comic book work, Jim has worked as a Walt Disney World artist for the Disney Design Group.
How did you first get into being a comic book artist?
Honestly, it was Our Lord keeping an eye on me through my mom’s older brother, my Uncle Frank, who was a devout Catholic. I grew up and was living in Long Island, N.Y. and he was living in Virginia, just outside of Washington, D.C. I was more interested in newspaper comic strips growing up, such as Peanuts, Hagar the Horrible, the Wizard of Id, B.C., and Crock. Next to Peanuts, Crock was my favorite. Years later, I was visiting my Uncle Frank one summer and as God would have it, the creator of Crock, Bill Rechin, was friends with my uncle because they belonged to the same Church, St. Michael’s in Annandale, VA. They were members of the Knights of Columbus together. My uncle had showed him my work over the years. When I met him he said he could get me a job right then because I was good enough of an artist (I don’t consider myself an artist but a draw-er). I was 15 years old, still in high school. After graduating high school, I went back down to Virginia to start the job Bill Rechin mentioned to me working as an assistant to artist Mike Roy on the comic book, Buck Rogers in the 21st Century. This was in 1982. Bill was also responsible for opening up the doors to Marvel Comics for me.
And as providence would have it, many years later I met Charles Schulz, creator of Peanuts, which was the highlight of my career, and now I’m friendly with Chris Browne, who took over doing the Hagar the Horrible comic strip from his dad, Dik Browne.
Did you have any particular mentors who helped you grow as an artist?
Yes, but not with drawing in general. I was blessed with that talent early on, but the how to of drawing continuity, the process of which, in comic books, panel to panel. Right when I got my first job with Marvel, which was my first job in the business, Our Lord allowed me to meet one of the DC Comics artists at that time, Don Heck. He was the Wonder Woman artist then. I met him in a comic book shop. I actually had the Marvel job, which was an “ink” job, under my arms to show my friend who ran the shop, whose name is also Jim. Don was introducing himself to Jim. Don was scheduled to do a signing there at a future date and wanted to get familiar with the store. I knew of him, and loved his work, and actually heard his name mentioned up in DC Comics’ offices (I bounced back and forth from DC to Marvel looking for work). With my surprised expression, I asked, “you’re Don Heck?!” We then started talking about the job I had with Marvel under my arm. Turned out he only lived a mile away from me. We quickly became friends for the next 11 years until he passed away of lung cancer, which was almost a year to the day after my mom passed of lung cancer herself.
Before doing DC Comics work, Don Heck was actually one of the 4 original Marvel Comics artists working closely with Stan Lee on many projects. Don was known for being the first Iron Man artist and he also created several of the Avengers, as well as other characters.
What was it like being in Marvel’s “bullpen”?
Fun. Total, absolute, fun. If you’re a comic book fan, like I was, and a fan of the other artists, like I was, and a young professional, as I was, being in the bullpen was a dream come true!! I would meet the artists and editors, and writers, whose names I would read in the books. My favorite Spiderman artist was John Romita Sr. John also became one of my mentors. He was head of the team of artists that would make art corrections, or completions. They were called “Romita’s Raiders”. This was the day before computers and digital art, so there were staff artists, letterers, and colorists. It was a place where creative people did their thing to make an artistic product and they enjoyed doing it! They had tours for the general public in those days. Usually the tour guide was someone dressed in a Spiderman costume. It really was a blast.
Did you have a favorite comic you worked on for Marvel or DC Comics?
My first professional work was with Marvel, and I did some Spiderman work, but he was probably my third favorite character. My first two are Superman and Batman in that order. Some years later I did my first of a handful of Batman stories and I was the most excited about that. I drew Superman in a few stories and was very happy to draw the hero that started it all, but I was most excited about Batman. His character doesn’t have super powers, so I think I related to him the most, and yet Superman was and still is my favorite. He’s the purist of heroes. His character is altruistic, and that appeals to me. It’s the most Christian like.
Has it been difficult being a Catholic in the comic book industry?
At first, no. I had become lax with practicing my faith as far as attending Mass. I was still faithful to our faith and the Church, but I became a bit desensitized to the importance of practicing the faith with diligence through receiving the sacraments, most especially the Eucharist. Because of this I was also desensitized to drawing violence. Violence was the most in “adult” content on which I would work.
Then, frantic to earn a living as I got less and less work over the years, I would accept jobs with content I didn’t agree with. Even before I came back to the faith full throttle in 2002, I was feeling the need to do something more family friendly. I spoke with my granduncle who was a priest, Rev. Vernon J. Bowers, and discussed what I could do that was more complimentary to my Catholic sensitivities. This lead me to work for Walt Disney World as an artist in their merchandise department called the Disney Design Group. Even there I felt the need for something more as an artist (what I realized later is that it was Holy Spirit was pulling me back to my commitment to Holy Mother Church which was the something more I needed). I wound up leaving Disney and reluctantly wound up drawing comic books again and other “fantasy” work, which brought me into more “dark”, “adult” material.
There weren’t many choices in those days for me with projects that were available. With persistence to work on soulfully healthier projects, I eventually wound up with an offer from a famous EWTN personality to illustrate his books. Finally I thought I would be working on something praiseworthy. That project didn’t happen for me. Then I was supposed to illustrate children’s books with a publisher in Spain. That wound up not happening either. Then, as Our Lord would have it not too long after, someone in my Carmelite community sent me a link to an article of Philip Kosloski’s promoting a comic book series he was starting, Finnian and the Seven Mountains, inspired by Skellig Michael. I was excited enough to send him an email to see if he could use me in any capacity since this was a new venture for him, comic books, and I am a “veteran” of the medium. He was accepting of my offer, thank Heaven. From working with him and Michael LaVoy on Finnian, he was able to bring me to work on the Tale of Patrick Peyton. Working on that project with Phil has made me the happiest with sharing my art than even within those Batman books I’ve drawn.
Now I am adamant about not accepting any non Catholic or Christian projects if they are not family friendly with clean and modest content.
How does your Catholic faith affect your everyday life?
My Catholic faith completes my every day life. My goal is to be a living saint. This includes observing the faith by participating in the sacraments, especially Confession and the Eucharist, as often as possible.
I am a Discalced Carmelite of the Secular Order following the inspiration and teachings of St. Teresa of Avila, a Sacristan, an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, a Knight of Columbus (was the council spiritual advisor for two terms), a Cursillista, Minister to the Sick and Homebound, a team member with my parish’s RCIA program, and at the moment discerning the Permanent Diaconate. I wanted to be a priest in 2005, but the years passed me by too quickly which means I’ve exceeded the age limit to enter the seminary.
As far as practicing the faith in my private life besides all that I’ve mentioned above, I do my best to observe all the tenets of the faith. I am committed to praying (also required as a Discalced Carmelite) the Liturgy of the Hours daily, as well as the Rosary and the Divine Mercy Chaplet. I could write more and more about how I live my life…. by the Grace of God.
What advice would you give an aspiring comic book artist?
First, be prepared for rejection. Let rejection not determine your disposition, or your determination. In fact, embrace rejection. Then, be prepared to not have any social life, or any vacation time or weekends. Seriously. The comic book publishing business is all about meeting the publisher’s deadline which means as a freelance artist this takes up all of one’s energy, focus, time, and stamina.
If you’re an extreme introvert, this is the job for you.
If you like to be physically active and social, then you can find a way to work as a comic book artist in a limited capacity, whether it’s just being a cover artist, or doing your own work by making your own online comic with your own deadline and finding a way for the public to view your projects, very much in the way Philip Kosloski has done.
Lastly, but really firstly, always remember your talent isn’t your own. It’s the Almighty God’s gift to you. Remember you are his vessel and to use your talent He gave you to praise Him. Through persistent prayer, let the Holy Spirit guide your decisions, your heart, your hand, and He’ll take care of you and provide you with what you need and want for yourself regardless of any mistakes you might make along the way.
Philip Kosloski
Philip Kosloski is the founder of Voyage Comics & Publishing and the writer and creator of the comic book series, Finnian and the Seven Mountains.