Cyber Bishop Interviews Robby Musso, Artist of IDW's Ultra Magnus Spotlight

IDW's Transformers Spotlight: Ultra Magnus comic was just released this week. Artist Robby Musso was the artist on the issue. Musso was kind enough to give our own Cyber Bishop an interview. Cyber Bishop was able to compile a list of questions that fans wanted to ask Robby. Robby was kind enough to take some time and answer them.

IDW has been releasing a series of comics that feature on character. These issues are called Transformers Spotlights. The most recent issue to hit the comic shelves is Transformers Spotlight: Ultra Magnus. Artist Robby Musso was responsible for the art in the issue. Robby is also a member here on Seibertron.com. He is better known to many as REX203 on SEIBERTRON.com.

Cyber Bishop: Question from Denyer:"Tell us a bit about yourself for the readers who are new to your work."

Robby Musso: Well, my name is Robby Musso, or I also go by REX-203 around the message boards. I've been a Transformers fan since I was 7 years old in the year it all began, 1984. I watched, collected, and drew TFs back then, and I really haven't ever quit.


My "MySpace" photo

Cyber Bishop: Denyer: See if you can get a preview page or some general TF art he's done to go with it?

Robby Musso: Okay, here is a buncha TF art, as well as a few other pieces that I'm pretty happy with. ^_^



Me with my "namesake", lol

Cyber Bishop: Denyer: With writers the draw for an interview is mainly things about the story they're telling now, with artists I find I'm more interested in what other stuff they've done...

Robby Musso: Well, this is the first thing I've done that's been officially published. Couldn't have asked for a better dream come true for a debut than getting to do a real TF comic! ^_^

Cyber Bishop: Denyer: How they got their gig on TFs...

Robby Musso: This past summer, I met Chris Ryall, Dan Taylor, and the IDW crew at SDCC 2006, and kept in touch via email after the show. So Chris sent me a script and wanted me to try submitting a few pages of
sequentials, and the rest as they say, is history! :-D

Cyber Bishop: Denyer: What TF stuff they like best and what their first experience of TF stuff was are perennials, too.

Robby Musso: Well I'll be the first in the world to admit, I'm a Gee Wunner, hehe. However, (and a BIG however that is) I can't deny how much I've adapted to just about all the newer series and bot designs. Even Beast Wars, which I blindly LOATHED before ever even seeing the show. What an eye opener it was for me when I bought the BW DVDs and finally watched it! Truly ground breaking stuff in the TFU mythos... buuuut... G1 was the first, and it's what I was raised on, so I still hold it nearest to heart. *awwwwww* LOL!

Cyber Bishop: Magnus: What did you find challenging about drawing Ultra Magnus specifically?

Robby Musso: Magnus is a big guy. And his massive design doesn't always leave a whole lot of room for the realistic or agile movement that his character is actually capable of. Otherwise, drawing him isn't really any different than drawing any other TF. Once I felt more comfortable with drawing his design, keeping as much of his detail in each panel as possible became my next objective.

Cyber Bishop: Magnus: What was your interpretation of the battle armor concept?

Robby Musso: As much as his having armor is commonly done these days, I've always leaned towards Magnus being just Magnus. No armor, just Magnus. lol Though it was quite cleverly done in the DW book, I've never really envisioned him having a "white cab robot" mode. I tried to demonstrate this in his transformation sequence in the book, going straight from car carrier truck mode to all out robot Magnus mode.

Cyber Bishop: Magnus: Does Furman request certain facial expressions for certain lines, or is it just your imagination applied to the script?

Robby Musso: If there is a specific expression Simon wants, he does make note of it. Otherwise, for example, if there is heated battle going on between two or more characters, it's pretty much understood that they all should look either angry, fierce, agonized, etc... The scene and situation really determines how the characters will express and react.

Cyber Bishop: Magnus: How "finished" is the script when you begin the illustrations?

Robby Musso: Based on looking at the script I received, and what was printed in the book, I'd say Simon had it pretty much all wrapped up beforehand. No question, he knows what he's doing, and he does it well!

Cyber Bishop: What do you think of Kieran Oate's colors, finally seeing them over your pencils?

Robby Musso: On top of being a first class guy, I think Kieran is an outstanding, top notch colorist, and only made my linework better. He did a breathtaking job on this book. We discussed color applications, lighting, techniques... he was wonderful to work with. Ultimately, I couldn't have wished for a better end result.

Cyber Bishop: Jess: Who are your biggest influences?

Robby Musso: Whew, there are so many... Though not particularly for TFs, I've always been a huge Jim Lee fan. But who isn't, right? Then, of course, there's Don. But who isn't influenced by him too? lol True greatness. Truly. Additionally, I've really admired other fan artists turned pro artists like Joe Ng, for example, who we've all known as NgBoy since even the earlier days of Seibertron.com. There's something really special about witnessing the actual work in progress that "Fans-turned-Pros" themselves really are, so anyone else sharing that common story is truly inspirational to me. I think that is what has helped me even get this far.

Cyber Bishop: Jess: What inspired you to become an artist?

Robby Musso: Well, I've drawn my entire life. As long as I can remember. I never really wanted to do anything else as a profession.

Cyber Bishop: Jess: Did you begin drawing at an early age?

Robby Musso: hehe, yes. My parents tell me I was scribbling on paper before I could talk. Though I assume we can add emphasis to the "My parents tell me..." part. LOL

Cyber Bishop: Jess: What was the first professional drawing you ever did?

Robby Musso: Hmm, that's kinda hard to say. I think somebody paid me to draw something for them in high shool. haha The first major commissioned work of mine to get printed for distribution was probably the Japanese robot collage that I did for Robot-Japan.com a few years back. Otherwise, this Magnus book is my first "official" work.


In good company

Cyber Bishop: Yaldrx: What was the hardest part of Ultra Magnus to draw and why?

Robby Musso: I think the trickiest part of drawing Magnus is his feet area. They're kinda big and blocky, and I didn't want to deviate too much from his traditional design in the effort to make them more articulated. So I sorta made the toe and ball of foot area separate from the outer ankle areas where his wheels would be, as opposed to having it all one piece like it used to be on the G1 toy and cartoon.

Cyber Bishop: Yaldrx: How much did you enjoy doing the Ultra Magnus Spotlight and why?

Robby Musso: Ah man, total dream come true. Why? Because doing a comic, ESPECIALLY a TF comic, has always been a dream to me. Nuff said.


... and here's a current fun work in progress

Cyber Bishop: Milanion: If you could do a custom TF Spotlight of your own choosing, which would it be and why?

Robby Musso: I'd like to see something with Mirage. He's always been an interesting character to me, because he really doesn't want to be at war even more than the other Autobots. He also has always had this "posh, and better than the other bots" attitude that has further distanced him to the whole Autobot cause, so I think it would be interesting to see how this all affects him and his whereabouts. I'd also like to see him placed in some espionage scenarios where he uses his ability to become invisible. Don't think that's been touched upon since the MTMTE miniseries.

Plus, he was my first deluxe sized TF when I was a kid. LOL!

Well, I guess that all of it, aye? Thanks for giving me the opportunity to tell a bit about myself. Had fun doing it!

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