Paul Lee has made a name for himself these past few years with his lifelike cover work and meticulous interior art. Now the artist is taking a stab at doing the whole "shebang" for this week’s issue # 55 of Buffy The Vampire Slayer. He’s created a tale featuring Dawn, a demonic teddy bear, and lots of mayhem. Lee’s a huge BtVS fan and welcomed the opportunity to work in this sandbox. Along with BtVS Lee’s busy with lots more Dark Horse Comics projects including The Devil’s Footprints and an upcoming Yoda tale in the Star Wars universe. We spoke with him about these projects and more. THE PULSE: How’d you get interested in making comics?

PAUL LEE: I’ve always read comics, and being an artist, I guess it was a natural progression. When I was in art school in the early ’90s, I was really into painted comics that were popular at the time. Kent Williams, Jon J Muth, Bill Seinkewicz and Dave Mc Kean, were all doing some phenomenal work. I originally came into comics wanting to do painted comics.

THE PULSE: If comics hadn’t entered the picture, what kind of artist did you see yourself becoming?

LEE: Well, I am an illustrator and a painter. I guess I would still be even if I didn’t happen to do comics. I do figurative paintings and show in a gallery.

THE PULSE: Once you realized this was something you wanted to do for a living, what steps did you take to make it happen?

LEE: I knew I wanted to be an artist for a living. I majored in illustration. I really decided to do comics because I thought it would be fun. At my first San Diego Comicon, I met Allen Spiegel. Allen is an agent the represented many of my favorite painted comic artists. I showed him my portfolio and we struck up a friendship. Over the next few months, he decided to take me on and represent me.

THE PULSE: How did it feel when Allen decided to take you on and represent you?

LEE: I was really honored when Allen took me under his wing. I really credit my start in the industry to him. Comics like any business, often boils down to who you know.

THE PULSE: You’ve already mentioned a handful, but who else are some of your creative influences?

LEE: In the beginning, I -really influenced by the painted comic artists I mentioned earlier. Now, I am really influenced by Toth, Lark, Fegredo, Lee Weeks, guys with really great story telling chops.

THE PULSE: If you had the chance to "mentor" with any of your influences, which would you choose and what would you hope to learn from him/her?

LEE: I think I’d most like to study with Mazzucchelli or Lee Weeks. I think both are real geniuses at story telling. I would love to get inside their heads for a bit. Lee Weeks is a very under appreciated artist. I would want to learn everything I could about story telling. Visual story telling is a complex craft. One that I am still in the process of learning. I would love to hear any insight or wisdom they have about their process.

THE PULSE: What was your earliest comics work?

LEE: My first work was a short piece for the Dark Horse anthology series, Dark Horse Presents. It was called "Iced", and it was written by Steve Niles, of 30 Days of Night fame. I was really terrible at the time.

THE PULSE: Looking back on that project now, how do you think you’ve evolved and changed as a creator?

LEE:Now, I actually know how to do comics. Back then, I thought I knew what I was doing, but I was really clueless. I used to think if you could draw, you could do comics. And that comics were just a series of drawings. But it isn’t that simple. Since then, I’ve come to really appreciate the craft. The process of story telling is one of my passions now. And I have so much more to learn. I look back at that first project and I cringe.

THE PULSE: When working on a project, which do you prefer to be "sole" creator or to just have one job within the creative team? What are the advantages and disadvantages to both?

LEE: Well, with Buffy:TVS 55, I got the chance to be the "sole" creator, literally. I wrote, pencilled, inked, lettered, colored, did the cover art and the letters column. It was a great opportunity to see every aspect of comic production. But it was also an obscene amount of work. I actually prefer to be part of a team. I’m currently working on Devil’s Footprint for Dark Horse. The creative team I work with, Brian Horton on finishes, and Dave Stewart on colors is the best group I’ve ever worked with. When you have a great team, everyone brings something to the project so that it is better than any one person could do.

THE PULSE: You do a lot of cover work for various publishers. What do you like the best about creating a cover? How is that just as if not more challenging than doing the interiors for any given project?

LEE: Covers are a whole different creature. Covers are about creating a striking image to sell comics. It is more a marketing tool. It presents the challenge of trying to sell the book better. The best thing about covers is that they pay better and it’s less work. But I think doing interiors is much more challenging and fulfilling.

THE PULSE: About how long does it take you to come up with an idea for a cover? What factors do you consider when attempting to create one? How long does it take to make the actual cover piece?

LEE: I usually try to consider what the issue is about. If I can get a plot or a script for the issue, all the better. I like to find the most compelling way to represent the idea of the book. I try to make the image intriguing, so that it just begs to be picked up and looked at. With computers now, covers can be done very quickly. The time really varies.

THE PULSE: What do you like best about the world of Buffy the Vampire Slayer?

LEE: I’m a big fan of the show. I guess the best thing is having a chance to be part of something I enjoy already. The world of Buffy can be funny and irreverent. I love the characters and their relationships.

THE PULSE: What made you want to tell a story about Dawn?

LEE: My editor wanted to try doing an issue with just one creator doing everything. I wanted to do a Dawn story because she is one of my favorite characters. It’s tough being the little sister of the Slayer.

THE PULSE: Who is Hoopy the Bear? How did Dawn come to possess an enchanted teddy bear?

LEE: Hoopy is a demon enchanted teddy bear. Some big bad created it to cause trouble for the Slayer, except Buffy happened to be out of town and it was mistakenly delivered to Dawn. Apparently the big bad’s henchman didn’t know the Slayer had a sister. (Alternate reality and all, because the Slayer DOESN’T have a sister. Dawn is really the KEY... long story)

THE PULSE: What inspired this story? Why did you want to do it all yourself?

LEE: I had done the art for an earlier issue of Buffy which featured a demon bear. That’s when I created the demon form of Hoopy. I liked the character so much, when I got to write my own story, I wanted to do Hoopy’s origin. Since the issue was set back in time, issue 55 is a prequel to the first Hoopy story.

THE PULSE: Besides working on Buffy, you’re also involved with the Devil’s Footprints. How is that series different than the typical four-color offering?

LEE: Devil’s Footprint is a horror comic. But not the over the top sensational kind of horror common in the genre. It also isn’t campy. It’s about everyday people who come in contact with a reality that borders ours.

THE PULSE: What are some of the biggest challenges you face working on The Devil’s Footprints?

LEE: It’s a tough deadline and Scott Allie’s scripts are incredibly dense.

THE PULSE: Who would you recommend this book to? Fans of what would probably really appreciate this series?

LEE: Fans of Preacher and Sandman would really dig this series.

THE PULSE: Along with your down-to-earth and horror type works, you’re also involved in the sci-fi/fantasy Star Wars offerings. What do you enjoy the most about getting to work on any Star Wars piece?

LEE: It’s Star Wars!! Come on!! What more do you need!

THE PULSE: Why do you think this particular series is so endearing and has so many fans from all around the world and of all ages? What is it about Star Wars that attracts so many?

LEE: The original Star Wars was such a classic epic tale. I think it really spoke to the inner Jedi in all of us.

THE PULSE: Which member(s) of the cast are your favorites?

LEE: Harrison Ford as Han Solo. Who could be cooler? Natalie Portman is a hottie too.

THE PULSE: Which do you like to render the best? Why?

LEE: I like drawing Stormtoopers. I have a secret fantasy about commanding my own legion of troopers.

THE PULSE: What’s your Star Wars Tales story about?

LEE: How a really young Yoda first came to Dagobah, and how the haunted cave got haunted.

THE PULSE: What other projects are you working on?

LEE: I am also the co-creator of Lurid, a comic put out by IDW. It’s a true to life story about a strip club in Southern California. Despite first impressions, it isn’t a gratuitously sexual book. Think of an HBO series set in a strip club. I am also working on Midnight, Mass for Vertigo.