Last week, we caught up with acclaimed comic book artist Ryan Stegman to discuss his creation of a piece of bespoke artwork for My Hero Academia: World Heroes' Mission with Funimation. While we had this opportunity, we had to ask about his Venom run with writer Donny Cates, not to mention the fact they were both thanked at the end of Venom: Let There Be Carnage's credits.
While Stegman tells us that he didn't consult on Andy Serkis' sequel, the credit clearly came as a pleasant surprise. Admitting that his "preference is a darker, more horror-based Venom," the artist explains why he still enjoyed the movie (that's just passed $400 million worldwide).
Finally, Stegman also admits he'd love to see some of his and Cates' ideas in a possible Venom 3, and we'd be shocked if a live-action "Absolute Carnage" doesn't happen after how things ended for Cletus Kasady. Of course, before we reach that point, it looks like a clash with Spider-Man is on the horizon. If you're a fan of the web-slinger, you'll also find Stegman's thoughts on Superior Spider-Man here.
For that, check out the full interview in the player below:
Talking of Marvel, I actually just finished yours and Donny Cates’ Venom run, and I loved it -
Thank you!
- and I know both of you were credited with a thank you on Venom: Let There Be Carnage, so I was curious what you thought of the film and whether you did any consultation work on it?
There was no consultation. I was surprised by it. I think someone told me before I went in to see it because I went on opening day, but a reviewer from another site told us to stay until the end of the credits…which it really was at the very end [Laughs]. That was amazing. It’s funny because I can tell my family members I’m drawing Spider-Man and they kind of get it, but sometimes I think they’re probably like, ‘Well, there’s a hundred people who do that, so it’s not a big deal.’ Then you say something like, ‘My name was in the credits of a movie’ and they get it. They get that it’s cool.
It was fun to pass that around. I’ve been on the news a couple of times locally and they seem to think that’s cooler than anything I’ve done work-wise ever. As far as the movie went, I don’t know if I’m a bad parent for this, but I took my 10-year-old and 7-year0old because they’re huge Venom fans and we had a good time with it. I thought it was a fun romp of a movie that didn’t take itself too seriously. My preference is a darker, more horror-based Venom, but for what this was, leaving the theater with my kids who were just elated and thought it was the best movie ever, I had a good time with it.
Me too. I feel like moving forward, even though they’re building to something with Spider-Man, there are so many ideas from yours and Donny’s run they could use, particularly with Carnage. I can obviously see the [Absolute Carnage] poster behind you and I’d love to see them head down that route one day.
Oh, me too, yeah. If anything of mine makes it into those movies, I’d be thrilled.
My Hero Academia: World Heroes' Mission is out now in UK cinemas!