FEELIN' KINDA GREEN...

INKS TO COLOR 2: "NOW WITH IN-BETWEENS"

As requested...by "Fireboy", whomever you really are. Oh wait, did I meet you and your friends @ SDCC? (w/the bootleg Clone Wars art?) In any event, you asked to see more of mine and Marc's process. It should be noted that for the 1st issue, I had done MARKER COMPS, trying to lay some ground rules, build a template so Marc and I could form a dialogue and thus try to arrive at the some place. Or at least same country. For those faithful readers of the updates, you'll recall these posts here, here and here. If not, you should check them out, as they are filled with wide eyed hope and unfiltered marker goodness.

Here's a back and forth from CHARLATAN BALL #4 (out in stores end of the month!) , this happens to be PAGE 8...
My raw B&W.
Marc's 1st pass and my subsequent notes: I had been experimenting and trying to grow with laying blacks down and utilizing it to help weigh the page down. With that in mind, I asked to have all those self-colored "Kirby dots" (big, open panel 3) changed back to black. I also thought this would help push the lightning out better. Sometimes doing nothing is better.
...and sometimes it's not. Marc then added a nice glow to the cloud in panel 2.
Almost there (and Marc wishing it was done)...
Caesar's missing teeth!
...and the finished page!

PAGE 13...

I wanted to break up the panels a little using color...
Can YOU spot the differences? Read "Highlights"!



And then some steps from BOOK #5, PAGE 11, that I didn't show in the previous post below...
Below is an example I sent Marc of what I was thinking for this crazy Game Show HOST-like character that literally "pops" up...
1st pass...
My follow up: I wanted this scene to be as if it were The Second Coming...askewing all of the colors in an eerily pink glow.
Then seeing it in actuality, I felt like it just sort of washed everything away so no one thing was special.
...and then Marc's follow-up. I nice compromise and slight vindication as far as Marc's original instincts. Sometimes I need to see how bad my notes actually look to realize it was right the first time. This happens quite a bit.
Well, there you have it. Hope you've enjoyed my displays of trials and errors.

INKS TO COLOR!

This post might be slightly premature, seeing as how CHARLATAN BALL issue #4 hasn't even hit the shelves, but the colorist, MARC LETZMANN and I just finished a round of 'back and forth' with colors for issue #5, I was so excited about the results I thought I'd share some. Hot off the box!

SOME THINGS I'VE STUMBLED UPON...

...WHILE LOOKING FOR SOME OTHER THINGS.

Y'know, when you're googling images for reference, etc. and you find gems that make you smile, inspire or enraged? Well, we'll stick with the first two emotions as I walk you through my sifting...like a 49er and his pan of gold. Mind you, these aren't images I sought after, only the ones that I happened across in my quest.


I'm not sure where I pulled this off of, or perhaps whose blog it occupied previously--or exactly who the artist was that did this, mighty fine tribute to KING KIRBY...but it took my breath away--in the most romantically inappropriate way possible. Those colors...that costume; HELA, possibly one of my favorite Kirby designs.

...and here is Kirby's original, The Mighty Thor #150.

I. Love. That. Costume.
...Seriously; what is it, two colors?! Genius: it's already such an elaborate, overly complicated design, sticking to monochromatic color schemes made it bold, made it strong, made it one of my favorite designs. Ever.

Does the above image need any explanation as to why its up here?


Got to love it when folks put up hi-rez scans of their original Kirby art they're auctioning off on eBay! Suckers.


This anthology book is coming out soon from Image--featuring art and stories from guys on the other side of the world. Some of the work in here looks really, really impressive. You can check out a preview here.

I stumbled across this image from a colorist I'm smitten with named Dylan McCrae. His pyrotechnic palette can be seen in the latest issue of SAVAGE DRAGON #137!




To be honest, I've no idea WHERE the above-images came from. I think it's an Indian Comic Book Series, but to know for sure would be to google it specifically instead of the indirect surprise the rest have been. I'll have to make sure and do a follow-up. It definitely reminds me of Howard Chaykin's work, along with his dashing, misogynistic anti-heroes...even down to the haircut!


Aahhh...my favorite anti-hero, hero-killer MARSHAL LAW. Geez, talk about stories and images that've shaped my idea of the medium, FEAR and LOATHING is one of the BEST graphic novels on the planet. Incredible. While I'm happy Kevin O'Neill is taking a break from LEAGUE of EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMAN to put out another volume of this futuristic cape-killing cop, I'm bummed to discover it looks to be another picture-book with less pictures and more book, if you catch my drift.




...and here's my favorite cartoon of all time. I think I found these images while investigating any possible leads on DVD collections. Sigh. Sure, in retrospect it probably wasn't a great cartoon by any stretch--but I long for the day when I can create and produce a cartoon where the main characters spend the entire episode going fishin'...or persimmon pie poaching....or shooting guns. I also loved how "off model" the book covers were to the actual animated designs.


...and call me "late to the party", but I just had no idea just how MANY people steal from Ronald Searle.


And my favorite thing of the moment:

What and amazing 1967 manga by KAZUO UMEZU. Not a big fan of reading things backwards, I picked it up on a lark and mostly because I'm working on an idea seemingly very similar and wanted to make sure I was only stealing the good parts-- (haha).

And for Japan's answer to our Leprechaun Trilogies, check out this trailer. I dare you not to tinkle a little in your pants.


I'm not sure I can dutifully explain the mind explosion that occurred when I saw this online. All of my faves...in one powerful embrace.


Mwaw! Oh come on Bats, quit being so butch--a little PDA won't kill you!