Russ Braun has been drawing comics for 30 years with work in Batman, Swamp Thing, Son of Satan, and Where Monsters Dwell. He is best known for working with Garth Ennis on their creator-owned Jimmy’s Bastards, The Night Witches, Sixpack, Dogwelder, and The Boys. During Baltimore Comic-Con, Braun took a break from meeting fans to talk with Scoop.
Scoop: Are you having a good time this weekend?
Russ Braun (RB): Yes, I am. This is my favorite show, Baltimore. It’s always been a great show to do, and I get to see a lot of fans and friends I don’t seen anywhere else.
Scoop: Which titles or characters are fans most interested in talking to you about?
RB: The Boys, obviously. I’ve had a lot of requests for Homelander. [laughs] I get a lot of strange sketch requests. As we’re speaking, I’m drawing a Butcher as Judge Dredd. Karl Urban played both, but this is the comics Butcher with the giant chin, representing Judge Dredd. I think it suits him.
Scoop: Are people gravitating more toward original art or sketches?
RB: More toward sketches. Although, I had a really good day with original art. A comic dealer came and bought all of my Boys pages, so if you’re looking for Boys pages you have to go to Anthony Snyder. Yeah, everything I had here was bought out. It’s just a matter of keeping up with the sketch demand now, and I’m having a good time.
Scoop: How have your convention experiences been since the COVID-19 lockdowns have been lifted?
RB: It’s been great to get back to this. Covid kind of threw everybody for a loop and it’s kind of changed everything in ways we didn’t expect. But, the interaction has been great now. I’m generally still wearing a mask for peoples benefit, but when I’m communicating, I’m not bothering with the mask. So, it’s still a little awkward. I think people are still tentative. But, we’re a community in comics, everybody loves each other here and we’re all just looking out for each other. So right now, it’s just great to be back and see everybody.
Scoop: What are you working on now?
RB: I’m working on Jimmy’s Little Bastards, the follow-up to our Jimmy’s Bastards. It’s going slowly, again because of Covid. We’ve had some difficulties making the deadlines. But it’s on its way. The first one is out and the second one is finished and the third one is in production right now. It’s a fun dark story.
Scoop: Are you appearing at any other cons through the remainder of 2022?
RB: I don’t think I have anymore conventions this year, but I’m planning on getting out to the convention circuit next year.