Web Comics: First off, I want to thank you for agreeing to do this interview. Growing up You, Ross Andru, Gene Colan & Herb Trimpe were my all-time favorite artists. So, it's an honor to be able to have you as Web Comics' second interview.

Mike Zeck: My pleasure, and happy to be in the same company as those other talented gents.

Web Comics: Your painted covers for the Punisher Mini-series and the subsequent posters are legendary. Do you paint in the traditional way or do you use Adobe PhotoShop?

Mike Zeck: First question, and I'm already going to throw a correction your way! I did finished penciling with modeling for those Punisher covers, and then passed them over to Phil Zimelman who airbrush painted them. Phil is quite an accomplished airbrush artist, and since airbrushing was one of my least favorite tasks, we became a team for those covers and some subsequent on-sale posters.

Later when computers were becoming part of an artist's studio, and Adobe Photoshop reached a very mature level with version 3, and Phil Zimelman was becoming less involved with the comics industry,.. those events allowed me to consider doing the complete paintings myself, but doing them digitally which was much more enjoyable than physical airbrushing for me personally. My first digitally painted covers were for the DAMNED series in 1997 published by the Homage Comics line at the Wildstorm Comics offices. Not long ago I did a new painting for that series when Cyberosia Publishing issued a trade paperback collecting the original 4 issues.

Web Comics: In the 80's and 90's when Marvel seemed to be making the bulk of their money off of The Punisher & Wolverine. Did you come out of this time in good shape financially?

Mike Zeck: No, because my Punisher output was really very limited; only the original "Circle of Blood" mini-series and the "Return to Big Nothing" graphic novel. Marvel took the overnight popularity of that character and saturated the market with Punisher material, but I don't have any ownership of the character so nothing trickled down to me.

Web Comics: What was your involvement with the Army of One: Punisher Origins documentary, on the Punisher DVD?

Mike Zeck: Almost nil. They contacted me, and there was talk of an interview, but their budget didn't allow for me (on the east coast) and their camera crew (on the west coast) to physically meet. In the end, they just requested a few pictures of me from that "Punisher Limited Series era" so they could display them while my contributions were being mentioned by Steven Grant (Punisher writer) and others.

Web Comics: Most of the Artists who've made a name for themselves are remembered for one key book; Berni Wrightson is remembered for Swamp Thing, with you it seems to be your Punisher run. How do you feel about that legacy?

Mike Zeck: Just fine. Better to be remembered for something than nothing at all. The Punisher Limited series was a very good experience for me, and since that's the series that seemed to define the character, I'm sure I'll always be connected to the Punisher. Steve Ditko did relatively few Spider-Man issues compared to all of the other artists who came along during the following 40 years, but to this day, me and most others who experienced his initial run will continue to consider him "the" artist for that character. If I'm the Punisher's "Steve Ditko", then I'm happy for that.

Web Comics: In regards to your own work who was your favorite Inker? And your favorite Colorist?

Mike Zeck: No one single favorite. Any inker who was able to retain the strengths of the pencil art, and make some drawing improvements while translating those pencils, is a favorite inker of mine. I was happy to have John Beatty ink the bulk of my 80s work. His line control was beyond what I was capable of myself, so his contribution resulted in a better product than I might have done alone.

Same with Denis Rodier on the DAMNED series. Prior to that, he had inked some of my super hero projects, and always improved on my pencils while bringing just the right finished style to the project. With DAMNED I asked for a totally different approach, and he nailed it perfectly. Again, that looser, illustrative and painterly style was something I couldn't have done myself, so Denis is an integral part of the "look" that I was after for those issues.

No one single colorist favorite either, although I should mention Kurt Goldzung. DAMNED was one of those rare times when I actually huddled with the colorist to discuss the palette and the approach to the series, and like Denis on the inks, Kurt really complimented the art with his coloring job.

DAMNED was a little 'labor of love' for all involved, and that makes it more fun for everyone, and tends to produce a better end product too.

Mike Zeck: Well, from the last answer, you can guess that DAMNED was a personal favorite. I also have to mention both Punisher projects with Steven Grant (the "Circle of Blood" mini-series, and the "Return to Big Nothing" graphic novel). And the "Spider-Man: Kraven's Last Hunt" story arc is right on top of my favorites list too. Lucky me to be handed the plot that finally and totally defined the Kraven character.

Mike Zeck: Not to the point that I read everything. I do try to scan the Diamond Previews catalog each month, and pick out some books or series that I think I'll like. I like to find some inspired stories and art from the newer crop of creators, and still manage to collect the current work of some of the older pros too.

Web Comics:: In the ground-breaking 1986 Punisher Mini-Series, you did all the painted covers for all five issues, but the interior art for only the first four issues. What was the reason for that?

Mike Zeck: I already mentioned that the cover paintings were a team effort from me and Phil Zimelman. That being the case, the cover art was produced early on during that project so that Phil would have plenty of time to produce the paintings.

I spent so much time on the first issue that I was already behind Marvel's schedule sheet when I started issue #2. I picked up the pace as best I could, but editor Carl Potts thought it best to have another artist working on plot #5 while I was finishing plot #4, so that no shipping dates would be missed. Such is the nature of 'business'!

Web Comics: Do you socialize with anyone within the comic book industry?

Mike Zeck: Not very often. Being near the New York publishing offices presented opportunities for get-togethers, but I moved south a couple of years ago. Comic conventions are a good gathering place too, but I haven't had much time for those for some years now. So outside of phone contact, I'm not hanging out with other creators much these days.