"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:

"WALLS"!!!

I was super excited to see a feature on the Flash animated short I worked on on the CHARACTER DESIGN BLOG. I probably was Pete Oswald's last choice I suspect and I'm pretty sure everyone else he'd asked balked at the very aggressive, labor-intensive 4-week delivery schedule; so he needed somebody for storyboards and I needed a gig--plus have been wanting to collaborate with Pete for ages, so it worked out all around!

Pete was great to work and collaborate with. He was very open to my ideas and accepted some of my designs as well, even though he's an amazingly talented designer himself. I had forgotten how fun it was to volley creativity back and forth--and I think the end result really showcases that for everyone involved.

The project was called "WALLS" and if you are eligible to vote, it's up for an Annie Award in the Short Subject Catagory.

FLYING MACHINES...

True, these are oldies--but recently dug up in an attempt to update. Check back to see progress.

TRYING DESPERATELY TO FIND A DIGITAL BRUSH...

...that simulates my inking style and functionality of my tombo brushpen. If anyone out there has any, I'd sure be grateful!

MY DOCTOR WHO DRAWING SUCKS

...especially compared to fellows like Dan McDaid, who got me into the Doctor in the first place.

Nevertheless, after watching the final David Tennant DOCTOR WHO on BBCA tonight I just felt like I had to draw him. Sad to see him go; though excitedly, shamelessly looking forward to watching a certain ginger headed companion in the next incarnation (a weakness of mine, I must confess). That being said, my wife and I loved, LOVED Eccleston's Doctor season one revamp (thanks for the dvds, Ben!).

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!