Not So Long Ago... Not So Far Away

If you asked a child what their dream job would be, you'd get the usual answers... Fireman, police officer, astronaut. You might also get another answer though... Comic book artist. Well, it might come out more like, "I WANNA DRAW COMICS!", but you get the idea.

I had the chance to interview one of these kids come adult. The outstanding Joe Corroney. With an extensive repertoire including work for all the hard hitters in the industry, it's should be no surprise to be informed, this includes LucasArts. Mr. Corroney just happens to be an active artist for the Star Wars artist team. After chasing him around with his busy schedule for a while, I was finally able to catch up to him and ask all the burning questions.

Q: When did you know you had artistic talent?

Joe Corroney: Probably sometime in grade school. I was always drawing since about four years old though but it wasn't until third or fourth grade when my classmates were always asking me to draw them things when I realized I had some kind of skill.

Q: When did you know you wanted to use that talent for illustration?

Joe Corroney: I think around that same time I knew I wanted to be an artist when I grew up. Drawing comic books especially. I feel really lucky in that regard knowing what I wanted so early in life and having the opportunity to pursue it. I know that's not something that happens to everyone.

Q: When you were little, did you ever in a million years think you'd be doing work for Star Wars/Lucasfilm?

Joe Corroney: I was always drawing Star Wars as a kid so it's been a passion for me my whole life. When I was really young I didn't think I'd ever make a living drawing Star Wars, I just knew I wanted to be an artist, cartoonist, comic book artist etc. I knew someday I wanted to draw Star Wars somehow or any comic book for that matter. I grew up reading Spider-Man, Batman, X-Men, the Hulk and so on so when I got to high school I thought someday I might pursue those kinds of characters as well. But I never thought my career in Star Wars art would go this far for me. I always feel incredibly lucky with every project too.

Q: What is your favorite snack food?

Joe Corroney: Anything spicy.

Q: Last book you read?

Joe Corroney: Necronomicon Book Three: The Journal of Horror and Erotic Cinema by Andy Black

Q: Who is your favorite pin-up model these days?

Joe Corroney: Faruza Balk. She's not really a pin-up model since she's an actress but she's done modeling before. Those eyes and lips... and that voice... drives me crazy in a good way.

Q: Who is your favorite female comic character?

Joe Corroney: I have a fondness for Rogue in the late'80's to early 90's X-Men comics but I prefer Catwoman.

Q: When you pass on, what would you like to hear most as a spirit when you spy on people?

Joe Corroney: He was actually really attractive in person!

Thanks for the Interview Joe! I'd say that someday, we'd all be saying "Remember when?" but it appears that I jumped on that bandwagon a little too late! If you are interested in learning more about Joe and his work, be sure to visit his website.