I am very pleased to have had a chance to get some time with Nate.  He is an up and coming artist with a comic soon to be released through Image comics! His book Nonplayer will be released on April 6, 2011.  Just about a month from now you will get your chance to pick up your own copy.  Read on to see the thoughts of a rising star!

Well Nate could you start off with a brief introduction to who you are and what you are currently working on.

Sure. I've worked as an artist in the video game industry on and off since 1993. Establishing a pattern that has persisted to the present day, I've taken intermittent breaks from games to pursue other projects -- the first of these being college. I studied Paleontology at the University of Chicago for three years (mostly, it turns out, because I liked drawing dinosaurs), then went to the Art Institute of Chicago to study painting. Since then, I've worked on Starfleet Command 2, Gopets, Supreme Commander 2, and Demigod, among other games.

Nearly two years ago, I left Gas Powered Games to work on a movie script I'd been fantasizing about for a few years. About six months into that experiment, I realized it was absolutely terrible. I'm sure you can imagine how tough it was to explain to my wife that I'd completely frittered away six months' worth of living expenses on a pile of total crap. As I contemplated throwing in the towel, my friend Ray Lederer suggested I give some thought to drawing a comic. That ended up becoming Nonplayer, the book on which I'm currently working. The first issue of Nonplayer will be released through Image Comics on April 6. I'm hard at work on the second issue right now.

What made you want to be the "All" in one Creator, Artist, Writer for NonPlayer?

Working in games requires so much compromise -- even those rare decisions that aren't dictated from above require committee approval. There are also inherent compromises in designing something for a machine with limited capabilities, and then even more trade-offs to get the work done within a short time frame. I think a lot of game artists wonder what they'd be capable of doing if those chains were taken off. For me, Nonplayer is a chance to see what I can accomplish when left to my own creative and editorial devices.

What is your background in art? (Education wise, work wise)

See above!

I know this from reading your blog, Project Waldo, but could you give a brief description on the last three years of your life? (Art wise, career wise, etc)

Sort of in parallel with building the comic, I've been doing my best to chronicle the process online. I started the Project Waldo blog when I left my job, and it has turned out to be a catalyst for all sorts of positive developments. Not only do I get useful and immediate feedback on my work through the comments, but my work occasionally gets seen by movers and shakers within the comics industry. Ultimately, the blog got me the Image deal.

For now, my focus is on trying to figure out a way to turn comics into a sustainable career. I try to look at the last couple of years as an investment -- I'm way in the red, but I'm hoping that new opportunities will arise once the comic is out there. My wife has been very patient and supportive over this period of sowing seeds, and I'm hoping her patience will be rewarded with a nice harvest sometime soon.

Regardless, it's been an enjoyable journey and I've grown more as an artist over the last year than I did over the preceding decade. So I've got no regrets.

Who are some comic book artist that inspire you?

My big four are Moebius, William Stout, Arthur Rackham, and Geof Darrow. I discovered all four in my early teens, and they remain my gold standard. Whenever I can't sort out an art problem, I go back to them for inspiration.

What is going to make Nonplayer stand out from other Comics?

I suppose this ties back into the compromise issue. I've made a conscious decision to favor quality over quantity, so the comic will come out on a pretty delayed schedule. But I hope that time investment is reflected in the level of commitment and detail in Nonplayer. I also hope the story is different from most of what appears on comic stands these days. I'm trying to find a middle ground between men-in-tights comics and navel-gazing indie books. I'd like it to be fun without being frivolous.

What video games are currently on your queue when you are not working hard on your comic?

This year so far, I've poured most of my gaming hours into Little Big Planet 2, Gran Turismo 5, and Angry Birds. I'm also very fond of Katamari Damacy, Shadow of the Colossus, and the Half Life series. The game I'm looking forward to the most right now is Portal 2. Co-op is going to be sweet, man.

What's your definition of success? (Art wise, personal success, etc)

Great question! There was a time when one of my major life goals was the completion of a single comic -- so I'm in the weird position of having actually accomplished something already! Right now, what I'd like to be able to do is to make this new career financially and emotionally sustainable. If I could make comics for the rest of my life and support my family at the same time, I'd be a happy camper. That, and I'd love to see Nonplayer turned into a movie.

Three years from now, what is Nate Simpson up to?

That's completely dependent on how Nonplayer does.  I'd love to have finished Nonplayer's 6 issue run and to be working on the next series (which I'm already writing.)  If I'm unable to pay the bills, I'll probably end up back in games for a while.  Either way, I'll come back to comics when I can manage it.

How do you plan on surviving the pending Zombie Apocalypse?

Given my gauntness and tendency to moan, I think my best bet is blending in.

Thanks again Nate! Looking forward to issue number 1!  April can't come fast enough!

Thanks for your enthusiastic support, I really appreciate it.

Cheers

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