February 2004 Scoop
Billy Tucci Interview

It's been a while since you drew Shi. Scoop covered your film, some trouble of a SeRRious nature, but what else have you been up to?

Making a movie is an incredibly time consuming process as the last full-blown color comic book series I drew was 2000's Shi - The Year of the Dragon. Since then came a couple of one shots, including Shi - Akai, Wolverine/Shi - Judgment Night and most importantly, our 9/11 benefit comic Shi - Through the Ashes. I've also produced our annual Tour Books, and lots and lots of posters, prints and other types of merchandise. As you know, last year we produced the seven issues of Shi - The Illustrated Warrior, the black and white series that will be collected as an illustrated novel retelling the original Way of the Warrior story arc. Up to Ju-Nen I believe that series was my best work to date. I've also been doing a bunch of writing as well. I created and produced one shots, or wrote screenplays for my new projects, The Undaunted, Victoria Cross and Gremlin Effect. All which will hopefully find their way to comic racks as color series within the year.

You had a couple of mini-series come out through Avatar. Now you're at Dark Horse. How did that come about?

A year and a half ago, my wife Deborah gave birth to our son. From the moment I learned she was pregnant, I wanted to get my priorities in order and that is to spend as much time with my family as possible and create. That's really it, I need to lower my stress level and focus on "creating." The business aspects of comics have dominated my work time from Day One (back in 1994) and if I can utilize all my time creating, just imagine the work that can be accomplished! I believe I've proven myself as a self-publisher and am good friends with Avatar's William Christensen who suggested that he publish some Shi minis. I thought it was a terrific idea and we've produced some really great books with him while keeping Shi in the public eye. We're still planning on doing future projects with Avatar.

How has the reaction been since you made the announcement you were going to Dark Horse?

Dark Horse is such a great company and the exposure alone from being associated with them has just been incredible. The hits on our website has tripled as well as my emails. It seems both retailers and readers are pretty excited about the fact of Shi's return. I know that I am. I cannot wait till the books hit the comic racks.

This is the tenth anniversary of Shi. When you were starting out, did you ever think that the character would last that long?

Yes.

What's different about drawing the character now as opposed to ten years ago?

That's a terrific question. I believe my draftsmanship and storytelling has grown leaps and bounds since 1994. On the other hand, one of the reasons why I stopped publishing Shi was do to a sort of "burn out." While Shi the Series was still going strong I pulled the plug. I had burned out of that passion associated with the character and Shi became more of a business entity than a "living" form of artistic expression. I created Shi out of a passion for storytelling of this wonderfully reactive character who turns her back on vengeance then must pay the consequences. But by taking time off and not having the burden of running a full-blown publishing business has lifted a great weight off my shoulders. To me Ana Ishikawa has been reborn, as my own creative fire has been rekindled.

What all will you be doing with Dark Horse?

Dark Horse's faith in me and commitment to Shi on a long-term basis is truly inspirational. Just look at the cover and all those Shi pages in the current Previews! And that's just the beginning as we've already signed contracts to produce Ju-Nen and hope to spurn a Shi monthly series. They've also expressed great interest in my other titles so hopefully we'll be seeing more and more of the new titles and storylines I've been working on for the past couple of years. We're also planning a slew of merchandise (the new Shi and Tomoe action figures look incredible!), posters and lithographs. But what I'm really jazzed about is this summer's The Art of Shi coffee table book. Many of comics' greatest artists have covered Ana over the years and it promises to be the ultimate cornerstone in "Shistory."

What other projects are you working on? And aside from Shi what is it you're most excited about?

I'm currently working on the Shi screenplay for Mimi Gitlin's (Thelma and Louise, Trapped) Lioneyes Entertainment with Kevin Bernhardt. That's really exciting because we finally have a committed producer who truly gets the character and has a really interesting approach to the storyline and characters.

On the other hand I'm proud to be one of the creators on a new project that I believe will rock the comics and film industry… The Magnificent 7th Graders. A creation of Mark Haynes, JC Vaughn and myself …7th Graders is a sort of modern day Seven Samurai set inside a Jr. High School. We've been developing a script with Steven Peros (The Cat's Meow, Around the World in 80 Days) and know it'll be a huge hit. I'm actually hoping to make it my feature film-directing debut.

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About Crusade Fine Arts

Media Contacts:
Deborah Tucci
Crusade Fine Arts Ltd.


Billy Tucci
Crusade Fine Arts Ltd.