SAMURAI JACK ISSUE THREE: BLACK AND WHITE PREVIEW

You can see a full color preview of Samurai Jack Issue Three over at Comics Alliance --or better yet, go buy the issue this week. Here's the B&W version of those same preview pages. 

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SAMURAI JACK ISSUE THREE DESIGN CONCEPTS

Issue 3's story resonated stronger with me than the previous issues, which lent itself to a clearer idea and visual direction I knew I wanted. Especially color pallet, demonstrated below in my rough color scripts. Our colorist, Josh Burcham took my initial ideas, added his own, then pushed it all to the next level.  

Pick up issue 3 this week!

"ANATOMY OF A COVER: SAMRAI JACK ISSUE THREE"

I didn't have more than one rough concept sketch for issue 3's cover--because I knew I wanted it to look like one of my favorite comic and covers from growing up: Jim Starlin's DREADSTAR #20. When you read Samurai Jack #3, you'll understand .  

 (Rough)

(Final)

Pick up Issue 3 this week!

SAMURAI JACK: ISSUE TWO IN STORES TODAY!!!

--in celebration I thought I'd post some development from issue #2.

IN STORES TOMORROW: SO TODAY AN EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW OF SAMURAI JACK ISSUE TWO INKS!!

MAKE SURE YOU PICK UP ISSUE 2, IN STORES NOVEMBER 20th!!! Thanks to everyone that picked up issue 1, driving it to be sold out and forced into a 2nd printing! WOOT!!! 

Working full time on Disney's Mickey Mouse (Happy Birthday, Mickey!), as well as consumer products for TMNT, family and time restraints forced me to give up the color duties on Samurai Jack. But my loss, is zipatone's gain--and yours, as the amazing JOSH BURCHAM steps in as the series colorist; you can check out his work here. And since his Jack color pages are featured on this exclusive preview of issue two, I thought I'd share with you those pages in their unfinished, naked form…

SAMURAI JACK ISSUE #2 COVER ART AND PROCESS...

Below are the initial roughs I did for issue #2...

After agreeing on the image, I stayed pretty close to the rough, colors and all. I decidedly didn't render it any more painterly, instead I opted for a starker, graphic feel to keep it more "confrontational".

Oh, and please pick up THE 1ST ISSUE IN STORES THIS WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23RD. 

GHOULY GOOFY!

This episode just aired and/or is available for download, so I'm assuming I can share some of the art behind it. Directed by Aaron Springer and easily one of my favorite MICKEY MOUSE SHORTS thus far.

"TMNT SEASON TWOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"

Along with still doing consumer products concept art for the TMNT property, I recently got to do some concept work for the animated series season 2 promotional press art. I love the characters and world so much and think Ciro and Nickelodeon are doing a great job with it all.

Above is the concept they chose...then the final piece done by Nickelodeon below:

Below are unused concepts that didn't end up getting chosen:

"SPAAAAAAAAAACE-HEROOOOOOOESSSS!!!"

A while back I did some freelance for the newest TMNT series. It was an incredibly fun assignment (I have Ciro Nieli & Ireneo Maramba being to thank for being too busy for all the fun work!), paying homage to those old classic Dell and Gold Key STAR TREK comics from the 60s. I haven't posted any of my TMNT work before because it's either top secret, or otherwise prohibited--but since this episode already aired, I think it's safe to! If not I'll take it down. 

 My cover... 

...and a screenshot I saw on the web! 

"GASP!"

I was touched to find out my niece had went out, bought a goldfish and named it Gubbles. So in her honor, I'm posting the most recent MICKEY MOUSE short that aired "GASP!", along with some of my designs from the episode.

SAMURAI JACK: ISSUE ONE FINAL COVER & "THANKS!"

Thanks for all the positive words regarding SAMURAI JACK and my recent posts. I will start digging up other projects to post soon, maybe even some stuff from MICKEY MOUSE. TMNT? Other comic projects in the works? Let me know what you'd like to see and I'll see if I can share.

In the meantime, you might have seen my cover for the first issue, but that wasn't final--so here is the final version:

SAMURAI JACK: PAGE FOUR PROCESS

Do these little 'behind the scenes' sneak peaks make you more or less inclined to pre-order from your local comic shop?