Each month we’ll be shining the spotlight on a Silverline creator and sharing their secret origin story, learning what makes them tick, and giving you the scoop on how they came up in the comics world.
Up this time is Steve Mattsson, a comic book artist whose work in comics began in the 1980s!
Now, without further ado, we present to you…
12 Questions with … Steve Mattsson
SILVERLINE: So, who are you and where do you hail from?
My name is Steve Mattsson and I live in the lovely city of Portland, Oregon.
SILVERLINE: What would you say it is you do here at Silverline?
Add color to the beautiful artwork of Alex Sarabia and Barb Kaalberg for the new series Divinity.
SILVERLINE: Where might Silverline readers have seen your work previously?
I colored lots of DC and Marvel covers. I also colored long runs of Green Lantern and Untold Tales of Spider-Man.
SILVERLINE: When you’re not making great Silverline comics, what do you do in your spare time? What are your hobbies?
My day job is working as a paramedic in the emergency department of a large hospital in Portland. Because of “circumstances,” I’ve been putting in copious amounts of overtime. Once the world returns to normal, I look forward to hiking and climbing with my wife. I also have a side hustle as a SAG eligible actor that is currently on hold. You can check out some of the bits and bobs I’ve done at my IMDB page. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4590371/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
SILVERLINE: Many creators at Silverline have been in the comics industry for years — what’s kept YOU plugging away at comics?
I actually took a long break from comics and it was a perfect storm of Barb Kaalberg’s passion for Divinity and my daughter Sage’s interest in coloring comics that brought me back.
SILVERLINE: What was the first comic you remember reading that made you think, “Hey, I could do this!”
The issue that got me hooked on comics was The Brave and the Bold #106 featuring Batman and Green Arrow vs. Two-Face. The story was drawn by Jim Aparo. This team-up title introduced me to many heroes in the DC Universe. The big draw, though, was Aparo’s artwork. He had a effortless spontaneity to his line that, somehow, resulted in realistic images. His work became a lifelong favorite of mine. I had a dream come true when I co-wrote a story that he illustrated in Superboy and the Ravers #8.
SILVERLINE: What’s on your playlist? Who/what music do you listen to, and do you listen to it while you work?
I listen to a lot of ‘80s punk. A contemporary band whose music I enjoy is Skating Polly. https://www.skatingpolly.com/ They have also, obviously, listened to a lot of ‘80s punk. For contrast, I also listened to several L. Frank Baum “Oz” books on Audible while coloring Divinity.
SILVERLINE: Who were some of your earliest influences on your art?
I had a wonderful art teacher in high school who was into comics and I had the very good fortune of working for Paul Gulacy as his assistant. Both experiences were priceless.
SILVERLINE: What was the first comic you ever worked on professionally?
I colored Gulacy’s cover of Miracleman #5 for Eclipse Comics.
SILVERLINE: Can you still read that comic today without wincing?
Oh yeah. I loved Alan Moore’s work on the title and I didn’t screw up my bit.
SILVERLINE: What are some non-Silverline independent comics you would recommend to readers?
I’m enjoying Karl Kesel’s Section Zero from Panic Button Press https://www.panicbuttonpress.com/ and Ron Randall’s Trekker https://trekkercomic.com/ Both titles are self-published, Kickstarter funded, and worth your support.
SILVERLINE: If you could go back in time and give your younger self one piece of advice that would help them better navigate the comics industry, what would it be?
If one of the founders of Image Comics asks you to color his new series for a percentage of profits, but no upfront money, take the deal.
SILVERLINE: After you die, would you rather your memory be memorialized with an overpass or a parking lot?
Neither, I’d like my memorial to be a long run of Divinity from Silverline Comics!