The comic book artist Clint Eastwood dubbed “that Polish guy” is finally getting the documentary treatment. ComicBookPros unveiled the first trailer for Bill Sienkiewicz: That Polish Guy during its San Diego Comic-Con panel on July 25, offering fans a first look at the film chronicling the life and career of the groundbreaking Polish-American artist.
Bill Sienkiewicz is an Eisner-winning, Emmy-nominated artist who broke into comics in the late 1970s and quickly shattered the industry’s visual conventions with a style blending expressionist painting, collage, ink splatter, and mixed media. After early acclaim on Marvel’s Moon Knight, he redefined what mainstream comics could look like with his surreal 1980s run on New Mutants and the landmark Frank Miller collaboration Elektra: Assassin. His graphic novel Stray Toasters and Eisner-winning work on Sandman: Endless Nights cemented his reputation as one of the medium’s true fine artists, while his illustrations have extended into film, television, music, and advertising, including Emmy-nominated title work. Decades into his career, Sienkiewicz remains one of the most influential and imitated artists in comics, a figure whose fingerprints are visible on generations of illustrators who followed.
Directed by Remsy Atassi (The Legend of Kingdom Come), the documentary traces Sienkiewicz’s impact through interviews with Vincent D’Onofrio, Kevin Smith, Peter Ramsey, Jim Lee, Denys Cowan, and other luminaries from across comics, film, and television. It also goes behind the scenes on the iconic works that defined his career, including Moon Knight, New Mutants, and Elektra: Assassin.
“…it’s both humbling and nerve-wracking to see my life’s work splayed out on-screen accompanied by observations by so many of my creative heroes.”
Sienkiewicz appeared on the panel alongside Atassi and producer Sal Abbinanti (The Legend of Kingdom Come) to discuss his one-of-a-kind career and the making of the film, followed by an audience Q&A. Attendees walked away with an exclusive poster available only at the con.
“I’m incredibly excited about the documentary; it’s both humbling and nerve-wracking to see my life’s work splayed out on-screen accompanied by observations by so many of my creative heroes,” said Sienkiewicz. “But more, I’m excited because the documentary discusses the obsessive need to make art as part of the unifying human experience, a drive that defies language, place, or even medium of choice. That drive is something we all share, and I’m proud, in the words of the great Cormac McCarthy, to carry that fire.”
“Bill has been incredibly influential in comics, film, music, and beyond, and this trailer is a peek into a film that will let everyone experience the depth of his creativity and his untouchable legacy,” added Abbinanti.
The Eisner-winning, Emmy-nominated Sienkiewicz is the latest subject for ComicBookPros, the production company founded by Abbinanti that previously delivered The Legend of Kingdom Come, the feature documentary on Alex Ross.
Check out the trailer below, and visit the official site to sign up for updates on the full release.
