Get Graphic: Mark Pate Finds Justice In His Art!

Interview by Troy-Jeffrey Allen

Created by Travis B. Hill and artist Mark Pate, Thorn is a revenge fantasy about what it's like to be a "Black vigilante in an anti-Black world."

Hitting comic shops on July 5, 2023, Hill and Pate are definitely taking their inspiration from headlines and imagining a better, more just world! In the following interview, Pate invites you into his artistic process and shows how he translated real-life unrest into a fictional, action experience. 

Firstly, what is your name and where do you hail from?

My name is Mark Pate. I spent the first 29 years of my life in the Phoenix metro area of Arizona but have lived in Queens, New York City since 2011 with a four-year stint in Dallas, TX from 2014-2018. I like cities if you can’t tell.

How did you get into art? What sparked your initial interest?

When I was in the second grade, my older brother, Scott met a kid in his fifth-grade class named Marshall Litchfield. Marshall introduced us both to comics and drawing. We’re all still friends, creating comics to this day.

What can you tell us about Thorn? What is it about?

Thorn is an incredible story about community, compassion, and the proper use of power and authority. Whereas Batman seeks to protect Gotham City by fighting those who break the law, Thorn seeks to protect Rosebush Heights by fighting those who use the law to enact legal atrocities.

Can you get into your character design process a bit. How do you know when the character has the right look?

Even though Thorn deals with very real-world issues, it’s still a comic book so I try to have a nice balance of reality and cheesy comic-bookiness. For example, Thorn wears body armor, but I used the shoulder and waist straps to create a similar effect as a costume like the X-Men’s Wolverine. Once something feels just a little corny, I know it’s the right look.

Tell us about your collaborators on the book. Who else is on the team?

The author, Travis B. Hill is an incredible talent. His writing in this project has a very clear, unique voice and hits all the right beats that a superhero comic needs.

The editor, Rasool Berry brings the story to new heights thanks to his own background as a sought-after writer on the intersection of faith and culture.

The script consultant, Sheldon Allen takes each script to the next level with his professional experience and invaluable insight.

What tools do you use to draw?

I take a balanced digital and traditional approach to my comic pages. I start with very small, fast thumbnails to figure out the composition. The next step is lettering in Adobe Illustrator so I know where the negative space needs to be in each panel. That’s followed by digital layouts in Photoshop for the sake of speed. Then I print those and use a light board for some light pencils to get figure details before the inking process. Finally, I scan the image back into Photoshop for coloring.

In terms of audience, who is Thorn for?

Thorn is for all the fans of the superhero genre who are looking for a fresh take on what it means to be a righteous protector. There is some bleeped language and moderate violence so it may not be suited for younger readers. I hope that readers of all ages find it to be exciting, entertaining, and thought-provoking.

Thorn #1 (MAY231465) is available July 5, 2023, at your local comic shop!

If you want to discover more of Mark Pate’s work, be sure to follow him on Instagram and check out his website.

And keep an eye on PREVIEWSworld.com's Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram for more artist spotlights!

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Troy-Jeffrey Allen is the producer and co-host of PREVIEWSworld Weekly. His comics work includes MF DOOM: All Caps, Public Enemy's Apocalypse '91, Fight of the Century, the Harvey Award-nominated District Comics, and the Ringo Awards-nominated Magic Bullet.