ISSUE #3; PAGE 14

Meant to post this last week. Page 14 from CHARLATAN BALL, issue #3. I feel alright with it, save my HORRIBLE SENSE OF PERSPECTIVE and BACKGROUND INFORMATION. The crazy, alien, yoga-chicks all seem to exist on seperate planes as well...but I really dig the DASAAD-looking chick in the foreground, plus, they're aliens--so fuck it! Hopefully, I put better care where it counts and with this page I was just having fun with the characters.

That being said: I definately could use someone like JUSTIN THOMPSON'S layout skills. And good grief; please check out his awesome paintings on his blog. Really inspiring!



Previously in blue...





Oh yeah; I obviously redesigned WRATHBURN (from "Emberland"), yet again...

I AM...

...IRON MAN!!!

Though I didn't make it this year to San Diego Comicon (the first time in ten); this has finally made it up on the internet--I'd been sifting and searching after reading about it a day ago (seemed like forever)...and it's looking pretty cool!



I've posted images of this before; and even though Iron Man isn't my favorite Marvel character, the title definately holds an affinity within me as the penultiment "Marvel-Age" representative of the early '70s...as both of my older brothers had stacks and stacks of IRON MAN comics which eventually made their way to me. The red and gold, the sleek line work...Tony Stark's alcoholism...what wasn't appealing to a 6 year old?!

MORE FROM THE CB FACTORY...

Needless to say; I'm having lots of fun drawing the big rabbit from CHARLATAN BALL. These are some of my favorite pages #5 and #7, respectively...

BACK ON THE ASSEMBLY LINE...

Ahhh, thank you Todd and Chris Battle; the only two people viewing this trite blog. To answer your question, Todd, the freelance indicated is for MY GYM PARTNER IS A MONKEY. I'm having lots of fun working on it; as I have from time to time throughout it's seasons/run...and I will post some more images asap.






In the meantime, here are some of the first inked CHARLATAN BALL issue #3 pages coming out of the factory...compare to some of the blue-lines posted in previous posts!

Let me know if you think I'm improving, from issue #1 thru #2 and now #3.

YAY: FREELANCE!!!

POSTING NOT-FOUND ART

That is; more CHARLATAN BALL #3 blue-lines...all done. On to inking!







Been contemplating the annual trek down to San Diego--though, seeing as how I have no goods to sell, show or share, I may wait until next year when there could be 9 or so issues of CB released from Image. Finally. I hope.

I will miss the smells most of all.

I would also like to point out I was the originator of "COUNTDOWN TO COMICON" drawings! Darrick Bachman can attest. I will certainly dig up those 'classics'.

IN CASE YOU'RE NOT SICK OF SEEING GIANT RABBITS GETTING SHOT AT BY TINY GUNS...

...and you can see where I used that Kirby-INSECT reference!

KIRBY'S MONSTERS

In my never-ending quest of searching for cool JACK KIRBY images, I recently needed some referance for bugs, badguys and monsters. Here are a few that came up via GOOGLE...

Some More, Cool, CASEY and SCIOLI Awsomeness!!!

My favorite QUOTE: "Peace is for hippies! Haven't you heard? Violence is the new black!" -Basil Cronus

Plugging Shameless: GODLAND

I wanted to take this space to talk about an incredible, cosmic trip called GODLAND.

The reason why I love this book isn't because it's cocreated and penned by my CHARLATAN BALL partner, JOE CASEY--nor is the reason for my amore the KIRBY-tastic awesomeness of TOM SCIOLI's art (I loved his work way back on FREEDOM FORCE: the video game--and I introduced him in sorts, to the MINORITEAM crew (sorry)...after I wasn't going to be continuing on the series (thank GOD for Stephen DeStefano!))--no, no, I love GODLAND because of THE INCREDIBLE ISSUE TITLES!!!

"Never Say Janus" is my favorite!

Check out some other issue's titles...

WAXING NOSTALGIA

Waxing nostalgia...

Despite (or is it, IN spite) of fearing being “that guy” who continues to live in the past (WHAT BET job opportunity that I just turned down?! Ughh), I 'recently' came across THESE, 'not-so recent' images from a far too far-gone time in my life…I know some of you saw the specials on FOX (back in '95)…and even less bought these comics from Image. Coincidentally, I had inked up to issue 3 of this title as well (I’m on #3 of Charlatan Ball—BELOW/previous posts), Let’s hope my latest venture makes it from the presses to the shelves this time. Who owns these? Uncle Phil? Anyone?

A week or so ago, I met up with an old friend from this era, who was in town from Vegas to do a show here; watching him perform amongst other circus-folk and artists…reminding me of my many years feeling like a young voyeur into the world of European Varite, remarking in bewilderment how people can make a living throwing darts up into the air and catching them on their target-fastened-to-their-head-contraption.

Have you ever seen a hula-hoop bag? Well, I have.

THE BLUES...

Along with taking on far too much freelance (that just happens to be due @ the same time); I've managed to squeeze in more CHARLATAN BALL work. I am currently putting the finishing touches on book #3. Since I am the one inking the pages, I go only as far as blue-line pencils, eliminating the usual step of then tightening up in graphite. That being said, sometimes the blue's fade or are too light when I go to lay the ink down--forcing me to do my best at decyphering blue clouds...

Book #3 has been alot of fun for me; not only has JOE CASEY been writing some amazing, weird, hilarious stuff (check out the tiny aliens riding in musical notes)...and there's a line from this issue I will post in another batch that still cracks me up--but I feel as if I'm finally finding a rhythm, increasing my vocabulary in terms of page and panel layouts, compostions, etc...we'll see--I'd still like to get a whole lot better. And I'm still having trouble leaving enough room for word balloons!? Oh well...maybe in book #4.

ANOTHER ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS...

DEPUTY DAWG

...was my all-time FAVORITE; by the way.





And the inspiration behind many Carl the Circus Peanut scripts and storyboards (that unfortunately have only been read by a handfull of executives).

GOSH, I WISH THEY STILL MADE THESE!

...and I wish they would "sell". The racial stereo-typing not-withstanding, but I miss good, old-fashioned cartoons!



Watching the new Tex Avery DROOPY COLLECTION DVD's that just came out; I LAUGHED. LAUGHED at a cartoon. It's been awhile--and the previous time was while watching another old collection of animation. They were just simple, brilliant, sight gags. No talking...and when there was, man, did those one or two syllables carried weight. It reminded me WHY I wanted to draw cartoons; of why I moved out to LA from Detroit (via the world). It was shortly after pitching my first few ideas; no, actually BEFORE that when I was designing the 1st season of FAIRLY ODDPARENTS--when I'd receive S+P notes. "What?! Why not?!?" Then onwards while producing CIRCUS PEANUT, then PLASTIC MAN, etc...when I realized you COULDN’T make those kinds of "cartoons". Heaven for bid there is no dialogue, no "emotional weight" or "high-risk stakes". "You can't just have a cat chase a mouse for 11 minutes!"

..."Huh?!"

And though I can concede that a duck putting a gun to his head and blowing his bill to the other side of his face might send the wrong message regarding firearms to kids; I still think there remains a universal standard of humor in the context of a lion unzipping his skin, or boulder accidentally missing the painted red "x" on the pavement and instead, flattens the protagonist...and no, I don't think I'm being nostalgic, I think I'm seeing entertainment thru the eyes of a kid...and I've got the focus-test results to prove it.*

*(Man, I wish I could figure out how to link the pdf HERE!)

hahahaha

PLASTIC MAN PILOT'S 15 MINUTES...

15 minutes. Literally. That's about how long the world (wide-web), got the opportunity to view the PLASTIC MAN PILOT. It had been posted on youtube when I woke up, then taken down by WB laywers by breakfast. Oh well, it was the most exciting fifteen minutes I could remember.





Yes; it's been awhile...they say time heals all wounds...well, whomever said that hadn't produced three pilots that hadn't been picked up! Anyhow, as some may recall, the Plastic Man pilot had mysteriously made it's way on to the web (and almost immediately taken down); to stellar reviews. It was on BOING BOING, CARTOON BREW and a slew of other sites that seemed obscure to me until I saw how populated they were. But I have to tell you, one of the highlights of my career, was to have Harry Knowles himself, write such glowing praise. And yes, typing this DOES make me feel good. Say what you will, but I've been a huge fan of Aintitcool.com since I even HEARD about the advent of this In-ter-net. It was indeed a proud moment.

Click on this link to see: PLAS ON AINTITCOOLNEWS

On a side note: I've even ventured on to the LOST discussion boards and forums on aintitcool--usually to have some slug totally "cyber"-slam me for some small, misquote, or something...but I just took it as getting my cherry popped.

The Imperfect Duplicates of Dodger Dare on YOUTUBE!!!

...in case you haven't already seen it.