Today is the greatest that you'll ever know!

TRAVIS: Beyond the Halfway Point

1/07/12

Happy New Year to all of you! Work continues on getting Project: Travis done in time for the upcoming Phoenix Comicon. I don't usually crow about my own work. I mean, I don't downtalk it or anything. I get that I'm not going to have George Perez or even Fred Hembeck spending sleepless nights knowing I'm out there. At the same time, this is arguably the best I've done to date. I'm proud of where this story is going in terms of both plot AND artwork. Hopefully when it gets out there, others will agree with me.

Today we finally introduce the female lead, Katerina. I've always had a thing for warrior nuns, whether it's Warrior Nun Areala, the Sisters of Battle from Warhammer 40K, or Sister Rosette from Chrono Crusade. So I knew with this book I was going to indulge my fetish and have one in there. I think you'll like her.

Getting better about putting backgrounds in as well. What you're seeing here is the raw, unedited page pretty much fresh from the scanner (have I mentioned how much I love my 11x17 scanner and my wife who got it for me?)

11/12/2011

Here's a Power Girl I'm doing for a Secret Santa Sketch Exchange that I get involved with every year. It's arguably the best I've done yet with the markers. I like the proportions (no body parts seem out of place) I used better control on the colors, particularly the hair, and it looks way cooler than this scan is letting on. Figures the stuff I do for free turns out to be some of the best I've done. Argh! :)

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR COPICS

11/5/2011

So I just invested in these cool COPIC markers. I'd been using the Prismas and I liked them, but I really wanted to give these a shot because everyone I talk to seems to have nothing but high praise for them. I've also stayed away because they're really expensive, but thanks to a blessed coupon (or three) from Hobby Lobby I've been able to afford them. Problem is, they're like potato chips with me now. I had a blue marker (Ultramarine), but now I need different shades of blue, so I'm back at the store picking up different hues. I know...First World Problems, right? I agree. So I'm learning the differences between them and my Prismas, but I'm also having fun using them. See what you think!

Spider-Woman was my first attempt, because the first marker set I got was a grayscale one. I learned very quickly that poor marker technique can ruin an otherwise good drawing, so it pays to be careful. I mean for the most part this is a good drawing - I'm particularly happy with the web, but I muddied it up really badly with the markers, particularly around the face. The rest of it I'm pretty happy with, though.

I'm really happy with the Wonder Woman that I did, though. I picked up a few very cool books of just poses, and they've been a great tool for me. I almost always default to the "hands on hips and nothing else" kind of pose, mainly because it's easy to do. These books have given me some other ways to position people. I always felt Diana should be a little bit muscular, being an Amazon and all that. And I'm really happy with the sword, considering I was pretty much winging it. Here's the deal where I talked about COPICS being like tortilla chips - you can't eat just one - I only have one red marker, and if I had a darker shade I could really add some depth to those boots.

I wanted to see if I could draw a team page, so I went with Canada's finest - Alpha Flight. I'm one of the ten people on the planet who must like them, and I'm not even remotely Canadian. Pretty happy with most of the figures except Guardian (upper left). He just came out way too wooden-looking.

I like how Starfire came out. I think I'm getting better. She's been the most recent drawing I've done. The arms are off, but I think her hair saves it for me. I'm getting there.

Next time around - more Project Travis pages...you've been warned!

PROJECT TRAVIS: THE PREVIEW

9/25/2011

Here's a sneak preview of the latest book I'm working on, with the ultra-sneaky codename of Project: Travis. No that won't be the final title. And no, for all the fans of Dedlock (both of you) I'm not abandoning that book. This is just a story has really captured my attention (I love fantasy books). No wording added in and the art needs some cleanup (that's why it's a sneak preview!) but I think you can get an idea of where things are going. And hey! Full frontal male nudity on page four!

This first page should pretty much set the tone for the book. Nothing is sacred.

Nice fake out, eh? You'd think Ator here (yes I modeled the headband after our favorite Miles O' Keefe character) would be the protagonist, wouldn't you? But you'd be wrong...

...because THIS guy is our hero. Modelled him after Cary Elwes, Eddie Izzard and Fandral the Dashing from the Thor comics from Marvel I read as a kid (and continue to read as an adult!)

And there's some full-frontal male nudity just as promised. Travis is going to be a lot of fun, I think. One of the best pieces of advice writers often give is not just write what you know, but write what you like. Tell the stories you'd enjoy reading, and don't worry about creating what the rest of the world wants you to read. This is going to be a story I'd totally want to read. I think you will, too. At least I hope you will...

Keep checking back. I'll throw in some progress updates on this site as I do them.

OMG! That site is still around? I just updated Thugsonline.com!

What you've heard is true! After about a year of no updating, I've finally gotten off my keister and started putting up the ending of my Tales of the Thugs storyline.

Go there and check it out!

What is Thugs, you're asking? It's a warm and whimsical superhero parody that I wrote and a talented guy named Stephen Reid drew. It's an ongoing labor of love project for us (which means we work on it whenever we feel like it! You can buy the actual physical books online by ordering them from Indyplanet. You can also order the first two books of my super-VILLAIN romantic comedy Dedlock (which is written and drawn by me) from Indyplanet as well!

UNITE AND TAKE OVER: Comics inspired by the music of the Smiths

The nice people at Spazdog Comics were particularly nice and let me contribute a story to their upcoming anthology Unite and Take Over, which is a series of short comic stories inspired by the music and lyrics of The Smiths. Because I don't want to spoil too much, here's just a series of panels I've put out there.

My song was The Queen is Dead. Which is also one of my favorites by them. You'll be able to get your mitts on a copy at the Tucson Comic-Con this November.

AQUAMAN : SCOURGE OF SOCIETY

I know a guy named Steve. He hates Aquaman. Boy does he hate Aquaman. He asked me to draw Aquaman doing something evil. So be it. Here's Aquaman peeing in the pool.