Vader: Dark Visions #3 - Interview with David Lopez

Dark, twisted fantasy. When I went to my local comic book store to pick up the latest Star Wars comics, I had no idea that I was about to read the most bizarre, provocative, and unique Star Wars story out there. Tall, Dark and Handsome is the third story of Vader: Dark Visions, a mini series focused on Darth Vader’s legacy from different points of view. It tells the story of Vader’s doctor’s nurse and her sick obsession with the Dark Lord of the Sith. It is a Tim Burtonesque love story where the (unnamed) nurse dreams of an impossible relationship with Vader while collecting random bits and pieces of his body that are leftover from the surgeries.

The story—written by Dennis “Hopeless” Hallum—beautifully comes to life through the collaboration of Javi Pina and David Lopez. The crude, real-life scenes and the nurse’s fantasy (I love the painted look) create a gorgeous visual contrast on every page. In addition, the highly expressive, wide-eyed face of the nurse helps the reader understand her deep level of obsession towards the ever emotionless Darth Vader.

David Lopez answered a few questions for TatooineTimes.com via email about his involvement in the creation of Tall, Dark and Handsome.

TatooineTimes.com: What was your process for bringing this incredible story to life?

David Lopez: It wasn’t my fault, it was our editor, Mark Paniccia’s! I didn’t want to draw Star Wars books because you need to have a high level of authenticity; you need the art to be very similar to the actors. I didn’t see myself ready for that, but I still wanted to do a Star Wars book, because … it’s Star Wars!!!

Paniccia sent the offer, he told me I only had to draw Vader, no actors with faces. I was still a bit reluctant, but damned Paniccia had attached the script. Once I read it there was no coming back; I needed to draw it. The story is so crazy that I expected the people at Lucasfilm to reject it, but they didn’t, so I went in.

TatooineTimes.com: Were you responsible for the nurse’s Vader fantasy panels too, or was that Javi Pina’s work?

David Lopez: Yes! Those scenes needed to be radically different than the rest of the story. I thought about trying the classic Marvel romance stories, but it’s impossible to reach the craft of those masters; I went “painted”.

Javi is a super talented artist; he’s great at everything, but excels in drawing technology, so I asked for his help. I wanted the best book I could do, and to do that I needed his talent. He accepted, so … we had this beautiful book.

TatooineTimes.com: What part of the story did you have the most fun drawing?

David Lopez: The faces of the nurse, she’s fun at first and insane at the end. The doctor was cool too, he seems like a negative character at first, but at the end you understand him better.

TatooineTimes.com: We personally loved the nurse; she is clumsy, creepy, and beautiful in her own way. What was your process for visually creating her?

David Lopez: It wasn’t that hard, the script gave the perfect guidance for her personality. Also, I wanted to cheat the reader, to make them think this was a light tone story and then at the end … you know. The key was to focus her sight in the infinite, her eyes never focus well.

TatooineTimes.com: We thought the wide-eyed expression for the nurse really depicted her sick obsession towards Vader. Was it suggested in the script or was it your idea?

David Lopez: I don’t know if it was written in the script like that or if it was only suggested. The point is that when you find a script that gives you all that you need, the work comes naturally.

TatooineTimes.com: What was it like drawing Darth Vader? What makes your Vader different from previous interpretations?

David Lopez: Vader is a really tough character to draw, he’s expressionless and iconic, and has that intricate mask…I don’t know, luckily enough I had the chance to draw Anakin at the end, his unhuman visage, without feelings or empathy…it was very fun.

TatooineTimes.com: The box of souvenirs of “their” unspoken love contained bits and pieces from Vader himself. What can you tell us about each item? Were they just random or did they have a special meaning?

David Lopez: They show a progression in the nurse’s obsession. In the beginning we have very tiny, harmless pieces; later she escalates and goes for gross, sick pieces … the nurse is really obsessed. In the book we only see the end of a longer story; I think that the readers can find it refreshing. It’s nice to be challenged as a reader, to have the story’s end and figure out the beginning by yourself.

We would like to personally thank David Lopez for giving Tatooine Times such amazing insights about the creation of Tall, Dark and Handsome to share with our readers. If you want to know more about David Lopez, please check out his about.me page and make sure to pick up a copy of Vader: Dark Visions part 3 if you haven’t already!