We are huge Disney Villain fans and love that Dynamite Comics is developing comic series to celebrate the real heroes and actual stars of the Disney animated classics…the villains. When we think about the best of the baddest ladies from the Disney Villain lair, we always think of the misunderstood “Mistress of All Evil”, Maleficent. Any one of us would be rightfully upset at not receiving an invitation to a social gathering event.

Today, we have the pleasure of interviewing the writer and illustrator behind Dynamite Comics Disney Villains Maleficent…Soo Lee.

DuckTalks: Hey Soo! Thanks for joining us for this enchanting interview to discuss your work on Dynamite Comics Disney Villains Maleficent.

DuckTalks: What are some of your fandoms and creative inspirations?

Soo: I love movies and binge a lot of them for storytelling ideas and the cinematography. I think it inspires me when I’m drawing panels.

DuckTalks: How did you get into the comic industry?

Soo: I took a gig drawing a children’s graphic novel and went on online forums to look for writers to collaborate with. It was a slow start but every project I worked on helped me build up my portfolio and reputation, while learning from each story.

DuckTalks: What challenges have you found for illustrating a comic for such an established and beloved fan favorite IP?

Soo: There are limitations to what I can do and what story I can tell for IP’s, especially for Disney. They’re very particular about what you can do with their characters, understandably so. I think general readers don’t know that and may not like or understand why I didn’t go a specific route or do a certain thing and some are not as kind about it without knowing what happens behind the scenes, but I get they’re fans and want the best versions of the character they love. It’s not easy to juggle, but that’s every creator not just me.

DuckTalks: How is it different being a dual threat of both writing and illustrating a comic?

Soo: I really like drawing and writing my own comic, there’s more freedom because the ideas are coming from me and I can take shortcuts for the process in between writing and art. There is more pressure to make sure the story is good or good enough, or else it is all my fault if the book flops. But I’m enjoying the experience and learned a lot from this.

DuckTalks: How many times have you watched the 1959 Disney animated classic Sleeping Beauty and/or the Disney live action Maleficent since you were selected to be the writer and illustrator on this comic?

Soo: A bunch! I studied many of the scenes for inspiration, especially for the color palette and backgrounds.

DuckTalks: For Dynamite Comics Disney Villains Maleficent, did you find yourself trying to find a balance for Maleficent between Sleeping Beauty and the live action Maleficent?

Soo: Not at all, this is a stand alone story and no affiliation to Sleeping Beauty or the live action movies. It’s a whole new story.

DuckTalks: What additional research did you do for this assignment?

Soo: I had to look up time period appropriate clothes, accessories, backgrounds, and even names! I also had to make sure the dialogue was, not perfect, but as of the time as possible.

DuckTalks: Have you ever accidentally pricked your finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel?

Soo: Maybe not a spindle of a spinning wheel, but needles when sewing! Which I don’t do much of anymore…

DuckTalks: What is your favorite animal that Maleficent has transformed into?

Soo: I do love the original Dragon form!

DuckTalks: Which animal would you transform into if you had Maleficent’s powers?

Soo: If it was a real animal, probably some kind of mountain cat like a mountain lion or a bobcat/lynx. Or a big bird to fly around. That would be pretty fun.

DuckTalks: Do you have a favorite cover for the Dynamite Comics Disney Villains Maleficent comic series that you have illustrated?

Soo: I like the first one a lot, that one is hand painted. But I also really like the cover for the last issue #5, but that’s not out yet!

DuckTalks: What are some of your favorite Disney Villains Maleficent covers that someone else illustrated?

Soo: I love Jae Lee’s work and his covers have been so classy. I am also absolutely in love with Rebeca Puebla’s covers too, they’re absolutely stunning and powerful!

DuckTalks: Your background art is so detailed and amazing with bringing a scene to life that it is almost a character in itself. I don’t think I have seen anyone illustrate a more perfect tree. How did you get so good at your backgrounds for this comic with drawing all of the details for Maleficent’s forest and castle?

Soo: I really appreciate that, I’m so glad it was well received! I used a lot of reference photos and heavily relying on black/inks was easier and like painting. So I could kind of do whatever I wanted with it as long as I kept the ambience. It also helps Maleficent is always shrouded in darkness.

DuckTalks: Thanks for joining us! We hope that none of our questions put you in an enchanted sleep.

Soo: Thanks so much for the questions

You can follow the work of Soo Lee on her website and her social media accounts: Twitter and Instagram.

Give Soo a follow!

The penultimate issue (#4) of Disney Villains Maleficent will be available at your local comic book shop on August 16th, 2023. The dramatic final issue will be released in September.