"NEW COMICS DAY!!!"

Yay! My Batman Brave & the Bold issue #17 comes out today! Written by the uber talented J. Torres and inked by Dan (the man) Davis.

Above are a few digitally penciled pages from the interior. Pages 12-15 respectively.

I think this was the first completely digital issue I had done. I'm aware there's zero page resell value, but wanted to at least experiment, weighing the pros and cons to apply for future endeavors. Jury's still out...as the next issue I worked traditionally (on board), but am currently working all digitally with DOC BIZARRE M.D.

I've been wanting to show off some traditionally penciled pages from the Animal Man team up, but thought it best to wait on a confirmation if the book is going forward or not: half-way through I was told to stop all work on it, as the future of the title was then undecided. So, if you like this book, write into DC or make sure you have your shops order them. It's a shame more kids aren't reading comics these days.

LET'S HOPE THIS WEEKS LOST IS BETTER THAN LAST

"DEAR MARVEL COMICS EDITORS..."

"RYAN REYNOLDS CAN SUCK IT!"

Done. No CGI necessary.

"WILD CHILD"

"IS THERE A DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE!? OH, EXCEPT YOU."

WITH COLOR...

Time and budget restraints (no money) necessitated I color this promo piece myself. I ended up somewhat happy with what I ultimately came up with--although I still need to adjust some transparency layers and whatnot. I don't want to give away the final image just yet. If you are attending San Diego Comic Con this year, you can pick up an Image Yearbook they are putting together to promote their books being released in 2010.

"STEP ON IT, DRIVER! WE'RE LATE!"

--Feel free to read into this panel anyway you want; if I don't get this done soon, Joe's gonna kill me!

MARKERS. SIGH.

I'm currently culling through what seems to be endless files searching for additions to do an updated portfolio (I'll be back on the job market soon!), when I came across this old freelance job I had done ages ago. It was being developed from a children's book called MOON DOG, if I'm remembering correctly. I was particularly pleased with the fact I was able to do this giant marker comp in one take (I think it was the scale of this thing that was so daunting)--I remembered being terrified I'd make a stupid mistake three quarters through. Markers are a lot less forgiving than photoshop and the convenience of a "command z"!

"LET'S PUT IT ALL TOGETHER NOW..."

"PUTTIN' ON THE RITZ!"

ANOTHER TEASE...

--albeit minus background, ground plane and the multitude of scary characters littered on the page.

RECENT COMIC SOLICITS...

Although I've heard nothing but stellar raves about this book, I've never actually read it--dismissing it for being a generation or two behind my comprehension (yes, I'm being ignorant)--but I might've looked at it sooner had they used Dylan McCrae before. Look at how beautiful that cover is!

Oh my God; I am so happy to see these guys back in action! "Dear DC Comics, please let me do an Inferior Five book!"

"WALK THIS WAY..."

Here's another inked panel from my upcoming book.

IT'S THE WEEKEND...ENJOY.

Here's a little treat for you sicko's. The brainchild of Titmouse's BEN KALINA and DAVE GERHARD, the incredible ERIC BAUZA provided voices and CHRIS BATTLE and myself lent the designs.

I'm sorry in advance.

FUELED BY HATE...

The term "Collective Subconscious" gets thrown around alot these days...but this one reeeeeaaally hurts:

Ughhh.

This was my 'million dollar baby'--ten years gestating, started, stopped, started, pitched, started, stopped...let this be a lesson to all you creators: don't wait to put out that idea, do it. Complete it, in some form, some how. Man. This stings.

My version is soooo much better.

STILL STRUGGLING WITH DIGITAL INKS...

These are small excerpts from the new book I'm doing. I'm still pouring way too much labour into the line weights--and it shows. I'll give it a few more pages, but I'm really concerned about the line stiffness.

I'm also worried about hitting my deadline!

working from home...

"I'M AN ANIMAL!"

Just working out some designs for an upcoming issue of BATMAN BRAVE & THE BOLD. I guess it's obvious who Batman will be teaming up with this time...

I love this character! Knowing Jame Tucker and Co. like to go retro, I sketched out the above STRANGE ADVENTURES version with the scales. That being said, the modern version below is one of my favorite DC costumes of all time.

I made the mistake of thinking the super-animal rights-hero's jacket was leather.

Which version did they decide on? You'll have to wait until the issue comes out!

"IN-DI-GES-TION..."

"THE DOCTOR IS IN..."

Finally.

After stretching the thumbnails for the Doc Bizarre M.D. one-shot into a 60+ page OGN, I've begun the arduous task of inking. I'm attempting digital inks, though it's making me miss my Tombos something fierce. I feel like I'm deadening the energy of my drawings too much. I'm sure I'll eventually loosen up, but how many pages will suffer before I do?

"PLAS JOINS ARCHIE'S BOWLING LEAGUE!"

I love the fact that I keep coming up with episode ideas even though the show didn't get picked up...5 years ago.

BLAST FROM THE PAST...

I was at Target the other day, when I saw this 3-pack. I couldn't believe my eyes. Really!? They made NEW toys of possibly the most racist, unPC 'tokens' in the Superfriends (well, depends how you lean on Jace and Jan's sexual orientation). Foregoing my recent embargo on purchasing any more toys, I sort of used my son as justification. Plus, I loved that none of them wear pants.

I did this drawing out of pure giddiness.

"WHAT??"

Funny story. Swear to God.

I'm so sorry for this.

SOME IMAGES THAT MAKE ME HAPPY...

Yes. I like superheroes. So what, get off my back. But what I appreciate more than images of scantily clad babes and men in tights are artist's with their own distinct style and takes on my heroes. I just saw these recent solicits...

Doctor Strange. Brendan McCarthy. It's like chocolate and peanut butter!

Kaare Andrews, who did "Spider-Man: Reign" a few years back, is jumping on Astonishing X-Men. There's an interesting article on Newsarama where he talks about diverging from the current trend of photorealism in comics--which makes me only want to check out his work even more.
These HULK covers by John Romita Jr. make me weep. Those colors are really impressive too. Love 'em. Absolutely love 'em.

ANATOMY OF THE COVER

Since I posted the final version of the cover in the previous post, I thought it would be interesting to show the process that went into it. Above and directly below are tiny thumbnails to run past the editors. More or less variations on the same idea.
They went for this one; with the minor note of having Batman and Aquaman reflected in Ocean Master's crystal, versus eyes...
Pencils and...ink:

*In response to a recent comment posted, this cover and all of my Batman Brave and the Bold, Gym Partner and Charlatan Ball pages are available for purchase. To see more, just click on the link in the left hand column (under the teeshirt ads), or just go here.

BATMAN COVER

I just saw this solicited for release sometime in May; it's apparently issue #17 of BATMAN THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD. It was the first time I not only got to do a cover for the book, but inked it as well. I'm not sure who the colorist was, but assume it was Heroic Age or whatnot. I hadn't known DC wanted it inked as well, so in the timespan of just over an hour, I ran home from work, inked it, came back, had it scanned and emailed. Good think there wasn't much detail. All in all I was pretty pleased, but realized too late that I messed up Aquaman's eye with a shard of crystal. Here, let me point it out for you...hahaha

"WOOHOO! WOOHOO! WOOHOO!"

"FINALLY THROUGH DICKING AROUND!"

Phew. As I mentioned in my response to comments in the previous post, this little 8-page story will be coming out inside an anthology book published by my good friends over at TITMOUSE STUDIOS. And even though the smaller page count was a relief, this was the first time I was responsible for every single aspect of production (in the digitally age--for those that remember, BIG HAIR PRODUCTIONS was entirely lo-fi, zipatone and all). And, as always, working digitally for me always brings agony! hahaha

"MORE DICK..."

I don't want to give too much away, but I have been pleased with how it's all coming out. It's an idea that came out with me from Detroit, that's been started, shelved and started again more times than I can count. The fun part has been coming up with a color theory and visual vocabulary that was both graphic and minimal, as well as deliver some sort of emotional evocation. Aside from my love for old(er) comic book coloring, I developed the style years ago while working on yellow post-it notes with limited markers at my disposal. Who knows, it could all be crap, but it's my crap.

"I SEE DICK IN YOUR FUTURE..."

"THANKS JOHN K!"

This is probably up there, in terms of one-of-the-cooler-things-to-happen-to-me-professionally...

John K actually liked my Plastic Man pilot!

Better late than never. It's amazing how many more people have viewed this since John K posted it: