Yildiray Cinar Is In The Sunshine !!

I recently enjoyed talking to Yildiray Cinar about his excellent artwork!

Before diving into chatting about comics Yildiary was kind enough to talk to me about his movie tastes. I asked him what was his least favourite movie. He replied, "That is a tough question as I already forgot what I didn’t care for but lately, the last 2 Star Wars movies. I really tried to like them but decided they are not for my taste."

Paul: Many may say that is a popular opinion.

Paul: Could you say how your relationship with comics began? What were the first comics you enjoyed? Where were they from and how much did they cost?

Yildiray: My relationship with comics begun very early. I remember seeing comics in newspapers and in their weekend extras. Also a family friend gave me a Conan. That changed everything because I was getting familiar with other characters in ads of the book. Also there were always cartoons on TV, Asterix, Tin Tin and Lucky Luke. Later I discovered the comicbook section on the newstand and I am here now.

Paul: Were you always an artist? Or did comics make you an artist? May I ask please if you have any formal art qualifications?

Yildiray: Yes, I was always drawing as a kid. That led me to a Fine Arts High School and I studied painting at that age. In university, I studied cartoon animation for 4 years. 

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Paul: What was your first published art?

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Yildiray: My first published art was in some fan pages. In my university era, me and a bunch of friends made a comic book series as a fanzine format in 1997. 

My first professional work was published in 2002 in U.S.
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Paul: As you said your first published work was in 2002. Would I be correct in guessing this may have been for Erik Larsen's Savage Dragon?

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Yildiray: Savage Dragon was much later. 2006 I think... My first published work was a 6 pager for Digital Webbing Presents.

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Paul: Okay fair enough. Before talking about individual comics or titles you have worked upon, as a comic fan, could I ask please would you say would read more DC or Marvel comics? 
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Yildiray: I only follow creators. If a book is by a creator I really like, I don't mind the series, I just pick it up. As an exception, the only series I try to follow as a fan is The

Hulk. I try to collect every Hulk series. Also I am a big fan of comics from the 70's and 80's and buy back issues frequently.

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Paul: Your art is pretty spectacular. I am curious, are all your pages created traditionally with pencils and inks or are there digital elements in the way you create your art? 

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Yildiray: Thank you. I draw traditionally, but sometimes I go digital from time to time, especially when I am travelling.
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Paul: When you read comics do you prefer to read paper comics or do you enjoy reading comics on a tablet or a laptop?

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Yildiray: I prefer paper.

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Paul You seem to enjoy illustrating The Hulk. Can you say why that is at all please?

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Yildiray: I always loved the character and it is one of the first books I got when I was a kid. The Turkish translation of The Hulk series was reprinting as Rampaging Hulk magazine with the classic 70s Roy Thomas/Herb Trimpe era. Sometime later I discovered a book store which was importing international magazines. I picked up my first Peter David Hulk as an American print that day. It was Hulk's Joe Fixit era. 33 years later, I illustrated Joe Fixit written by Peter David. Life is good.

Paul: You mentioned Perter David, but who has been your favourite writer to work with sir? 

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Yildiray: I can't really give you a single name. I think I have been lucky enough to work with some legendary writers such as Paul Levitz, Len Wein, Kurt Busiek, Peter David, James Robinson, Jay Faerber, Greg Pak, Tom Taylor... and many more. It would be unfair to give a single name.

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Paul: If you could have the power or the abilities of any superhero what would you chose, and why?

 

Yildiray: That would be an easy answer as I'd say 'flying' like most people. Because I mean, flying!

 

Paul: What are you working on now?

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Yildiray: I finished my final pages for my X-Men Red run which was for issues 14 through 18. It was a great book to work on. 

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Paul: Could you please tell me about illustrating Weapon X-Men. Was it a challenge making every version of Wolverine slightly different and individual?

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Yildiray: Actually, it was fine and very fun. It was a great chance to play with many versions of Wolverine. Now looking back at the book, I wish I had more time to study more but it is what it is. It was great fun drawing Christos Gage’s story

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Paul: How did you come to work upon the Spawn titles and are you enjoying the experience?

Yildiray: It happened so quickly and after McFarlane Productions contacted me, I started working on it. I was a huge Spawn fan in college so it feels great to work on this book. Also I am drawing Todd McFarlane’s scripts, how cool is that?

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Paul: What are your ambitions for the future? 

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Yildiray: At one point, I will start working on my creator-owned graphic novel. I have a story since some years and really want to do it.

 

Paul : Are there any characters you are keen to work on?

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Yildiray: I'd like to do Silver Surfer or Hulk again someday. I did a 5 issue Hulk book with Peter David last year but it would be nice to do a long run.
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Paul: Yildiray, thank you for your time sir