Artist Interview: Marvel and DC Statues by Maria Panfilova

Bringing beloved characters to life is no easy feat — especially with countless interpretations canonized in the pages of our favorite comic books. Yet artists like Maria Panfilova achieve what seems impossible using expert craftsmanship and their own love of the source material. It’s an eye-catching combination.

We caught up with Maria Panfilova to discuss creating her dynamic Premium Format™ Figures and statues for Sideshow, along with her background in video game development and how she finds inspiration to sculpt such breathtaking pieces (often with two characters interacting).

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Maria Panfilova Artist Interview

When did you first realize you wanted to be a sculptor? Did you face any challenges pursuing that career?

I started working as a 3D artist for games and animation in 2012. Although I enjoyed my work very much, I would say it’s not the same as being a sculptor. You usually do characters in symmetric poses, and you do a lot of technical work on top of that.

I discovered the world of statues/collectibles gradually by seeing some works online by other artists, both digital and traditional, and was very inspired by it. It had a huge impact on the style of my personal projects, pushing me to think more about composition and storytelling in my 3D work.

Starting in statues was very challenging. The field is much smaller and competitive than gamedev/film. I’m very grateful that David Igo discovered my work on Facebook and offered my first ever statue work for Sideshow in 2017 (Psylocke PF). It changed my career and art forever! 🙂

How would you describe your art/sculpt style? Do you have a recognizable signature element in your pieces, whether it’s personal or licensed work?

I see an artist’s style as a byproduct of everything they see, try, and experience — even from childhood. Of course, you can make an effort to shape a specific style, and we often do that professionally. But the most genuine and authentic elements come from paying attention to what fascinates you the most personally. Some of these early exposures work almost like imprinting — you become attached to them and carry them in your heart for the rest of your life.

My childhood in the ’90s was quite unique. We were poor, and my parents rarely bought me toys or comics, but thanks to my dad’s profession I had early access to a PC and could play games from the early ’90s.

Certain games left a strong mark on me — Kyrandia, Little Big Adventure, Warcraft II, Jazz Jackrabbit, Lineage II. I drew characters from those games constantly. I also loved animals and sketched them often. Another fascination of mine was old-school fantasy comics, similar in some ways to anime, with their mix of grimness and sensuality. I didn’t have much direct exposure to them, but sometimes I encountered that atmosphere in games — like Vinyl Goddess from Mars.

“But sometimes it’s better to keep the magic intact and just trust your intuition.”

The second big wave of influence for me was anime — Elfen Lied, Berserk, Made in Abyss, Dorohedoro. Later, as I grew up and started my career, I turned more seriously to comics and manga. They’ve become a constant source of inspiration and also a way to study the very best artists out there.

In the end, I feel all of these influences are still present in my work today.

I believe the stories we read, watch, and play always carry something deeper that resonates with us psychologically — that’s why they fascinate us so much. As an artist, I try to uncover that deeper layer and dissect the meanings behind it. But sometimes it’s better to keep the magic intact and just trust your intuition.

One of the greatest compliments an artist can receive is when people say they can recognize “your” style even in professional work. That means you’ve succeeded in bringing a little piece of yourself into it.

You’ve made a lot of Rogues Gallery characters for Sideshow, including The Riddler, Man-Bat, and The Penguin, who are so visually iconic to DC fans. How do you go about putting your own spin on these famous Batman foes when they get to the sculpt stage?

It’s a very fulfilling process to collaborate with Sideshow’s team and bring my own research as my part. I study comics style, just by reading comics first. I try to pick series that have the most interesting, detailed, and dynamic art and where the current character I work on is presented.

I make screenshots, hundreds of them, and select little bits that are particularly useful. All the little details I may notice affect my decisions — what shape should I give to anatomy, to facial features, or to drapery, etc.

There are a lot of interpretations of different artists — how they see the characters — going from simple and cartoony to grim and dark. We went more grim direction with the Rogues, starting with Penguin, and continued a similar vibe with Riddler and Man-Bat.

But I don’t aim to replicate comic shapes or some individual artists 1 to 1. Sideshow adds some more realism to its statues, so we try to find a sweet spot between realism and comic style that works the best for a statue. For more realism, I study real human faces and anatomy and try to mix that with comic style.

The Penguin™ Premium Format™ Figure includes fabric costuming, while the Man-Bat™ Premium Format™ Figure has light-up features. What’s the process for sculpting a piece with mixed media and other collaborative elements when your step isn’t the final stage for that collectible?

Some mixed media elements are usually planned from the start of sculpting, and they can add certain limitations.

For Man-Bat, I knew the wings would be translucent, so I sculpted them with extra attention to clean shapes and readable veins. There were a lot of discussions about finding the right thickness and how close the wings should be to the lantern to create the best effect.

My role is only in sculpting, but I do create placeholders for the pieces that will be sewn later. I get so much joy watching the painting and sewing process come to life afterward on Sideshow’s YouTube channel. 🙂

Your Sideshow portfolio also includes duos such as the Moon Knight Premium Format™ Figure (with Werewolf by Night) and the Rogue & Gambit Statue. How do you approach sculpting a piece with multiple characters, whether it’s a fight or a romantic rendezvous?

I really love to explore the dynamic between characters — whether it’s love or fighting or something more nuanced. 🙂

I always work on a statue as a whole thing. No matter how many characters there are, they are never modeled separately. So in the very early stages, I focus on figuring out the poses and interactions. This is the thing that happens first.

Richard Luong made a fantastic design of Moon Knight as he always does, and I loved it instantly. Sometimes Sideshow lets me choose which project to start, and I really appreciate that — it gives me the chance to pick something that aligns with my interests.

I love sculpting creatures, so I’m always excited when I get the chance to work on characters like Werewolf by Night, The Penguin, or Man-Bat. For Moon Knight’s appearance, I was heavily inspired by David Finch’s art.

On Rogue & Gambit, Ian MacDonald came up with a very beautiful concept design. I loved the organic-looking base and how it intertwines with the characters, creating a gesture that’s both dynamic and cohesive.

What do you hope fans and collectors take away from the experience of seeing or owning your pieces?

First and foremost, I want these pieces to be seen as works of art, not toys. Comic heroes and villains have a rich culture that has been developed over generations of artists, and I want that to be represented and respected in the statues I sculpt.

The standard of quality in the industry rises every year, and that motivates me to keep pushing myself and adding more depth with each new project. I highly appreciate when collectors notice that.

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Add some rogue-ish evil to your very own Gotham City when you collect the Man-Bat Premium Format Figure, The Riddler Premium Format™ Figure, and other DC Premium Format Figures! Arkham Asylum will thank you for taking them off their hands. And keep a careful eye out for even more incredible sculpture work by Maria Panfilova for Sideshow.

Share your statue display with other DC fans over at Sideshow Social Network or in side.show/geekgroup, and don’t forget to Let Your Geek Sideshow!