Friday, October 31, 2008

Happy Halloween!



No costumes this year, unless you count my current look of frazzled cartoonist/lumberjack, but here are a couple of my favorite costumes from years past.
Hope you have a safe and Happy Halloween, everybody!

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Technicolor Thursday: Wonder Woman, redux


Here's the Wonder Woman sketch from last week, now with a bit of my my pitiful Photoshop skills applied.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Whatever Wednesday: Supes & Bats in pencil


Did this in a few minutes last night between pencilled pages of Devil Slayer #4.
I'll try to get some ink on it soon and stick it back up here.

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Super Tuesday: Halo


I got a little... okay, a LOT carried away drawing trees here. Sometimes it's more fun to let my hand shake out whatever it wants to draw:)

Monday, October 27, 2008

Monster Monday: Demon




Just a quick one today, but I thought I'd switch things up a bit by showing both the line work and the brushy bits for this piece.

And yeah, I'm still working my way through all the John Byrne issues of Superman and Action.

Okay, back to work.  Miles to go before I sleep and all that.

Friday, October 24, 2008

Gal Friday: Wonder Woman (again?)


You folks don't mind two Wonder Woman sketches in a two week period do ya?

I did a colored version of this one too, but I decided not to subject any of you to it until I can manage some time to tinker with it in Photoshop.  

Have a great weekend, everybody!

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Things You Need Thursday: Great stuff out in January

Okay, normally this is where I do a bunch of pimpin' for books I have coming out, but here are a few that I'm just anxious to get my hands on.
In no particular order:

VIGILANTE: CITY LIGHTS, PRAIRIE JUSTICE TP
Written by James Robinson
Art by Tony Salmons & Bret Blevins
Cover by Mark Chiarello
The motorcycle-riding, two-gun hero called The Vigilante stars in this new volume collecting the four-issue miniseries from 1995, written by James Robinson! Greg Saunders, better known as The Vigilante, hits Hollywood to appear in a movie – but heads into action when his sidekick runs afoul of gangsters!
Advance-solicited; on sale February 11 • 144 pg, FC, $19.99 US

I could not be more excited for this. Gotta get it!!

SHOWCASE PRESENTS: SUPERMAN FAMILY VOL. 3 TP
Written by Otto Binder, Robert Bernstein and others
Art by Curt Swan, Stan Kaye, Ray Burnley, Kurt Schaffenberger, Wayne Boring, Dick Sprang, John Forte, Creig Flessel and Al Plastino
Cover by Curt Swan & Stan Kaye
It’s a revolving door of strange identities in this new volume collecting SUPERMAN’S PAL, JIMMY OLSEN #35- 44 and SUPERMAN’S GIRL FRIEND LOIS LANE #8-16.
Advance-solicited; on sale February 25 • 520 pg, B&W $16.99 US

Seriously, if you don't love the adventures of Jimmy Olsen and Lois Lane there's something wrong with you. I've been reading a story or two out of the Superman Family volumes before bed most nights and it really makes for some crazy dreams.CAPTAIN BRITAIN BY ALAN MOORE & ALAN DAVIS OMNIBUS HC
Written by ALAN MOORE, ALAN DAVIS, DAVE THORPE, PAUL NEARY, MICHAEL CARLIN, STEVE CRADDOCK, MIKE COLLINS, JAMIE DELANO & CHRIS CLAREMONT
Penciled by ALAN DAVIS & PAUL NEARY
Covers by ALAN DAVIS
One of the Marvel Universe's most staggering sagas from two of Britain's most remarkable writers, reprinted in total for the first time! Captain Britain fights to save a universe...and fails! But a single reality is small change in the game Merlyn’s playing against Mad Jim Jaspers, who's rewriting reality so he's the center of the universe! Worlds collide, heroes and villains die, and Captain Britain's beside himself — except when he's fighting himself...to the death! Featuring the first appearances of the metamorphic Meggan, Opal Luna Saturnyne, the Captain Britain Corps, and more! Plus: Psylocke joins the X-Men, and the X-Men join Captain Britain on a cosmic quest into the secrets of life and death! The fiendish Fury, the horrific Horde and the malevolent Mojo are only a few of the adversaries who await within! Also guest-starring the New Mutants and Captain America! Collecting MARVEL SUPER-HEROES (UK) #377-388, THE DAREDEVILS (UK) #1-11, CAPTAIN AMERICA #305-306, MIGHTY WORLD OF MARVEL (UK) #7-16, CAPTAIN BRITAIN (UK) #1-14, NEW MUTANTS ANNUAL #2 and UNCANNY X-MEN ANNUAL #11.
680 PGS./Rated T+ ...$99.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-3760-3

YESSS!  More Alan Davis I put on a shelf!!  Look out Clan Destine you've got some company coming in January! 

DAREDEVIL: BORN AGAIN PREMIERE HC
Written by FRANK MILLER
Penciled by DAVID MAZZUCCHELLI
Covers by DAVID MAZZUCCHELLI
"And I — I have shown him... that a man without hope is a man without fear." The definitive Daredevil tale! Karen Page, Matt Murdock's former lover, has traded away the Man Without Fear's secret identity for a drug fix. Now, Daredevil must find strength as the Kingpin of Crime wastes no time taking him down as low as a human can get. Collecting DAREDEVIL #226-233.
248 PGS./Rated T+ ...$24.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-3480-0
Trim size: standard

I recently tried to track down a Born Again trade, since all of my single issues have been flipped through so many times the staples are barely holding them together, and was sad to see it was out of print.  Of course upon seeing that I realized a nice new hardcover collection was probably in the works.  Did you know that awesome is spelled M-A-Z-Z-U-C-C-H-E-L-L-I?

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Whatever Wednesday: Mary Jane


I'm pretty sure I haven't posted this sketch of MJ before...  but, whatever if I have;P
On a related note, I'm kind of baffled by the One More Day/Brand New day stuff, but one thing I know for sure is that Marcos Martin is a friggin/ master!

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Super Tuesday: Vulture

What can I say?  They can't all be winners, right?  
If I'd thought about this a bit more before putting pen to paper I'd have probably placed the Vulture higher on the page, to give a better sense that he's peering down at something.  
Sigh.  I kind of dig the feathers lifting around his knees though, so it's not a complete loss.

Oh, and this is the first villain to make it into Super Tuesday sketches, for those keeping score:)

Monday, October 20, 2008

Monster Monday: King Kong (76)


I just finished watching the 1976 version of King Kong for the first time (after Laura picked it up for a steal at $4!)and realized two things:
1) My beard is gettimg frighteningly close to looking like the one Jeff Bridges has in the movie.
and
2) This is actually a pretty great film.  There are a few odd choices along the way but I had a really fun time.

The last time I sketched Kong was here:)

Friday, October 17, 2008

Gal Friday: Silver Banshee

I've been reading a lot of the old John Byrne issues of Superman and Action Comics lately, so don't be surprised if you see a lot more obscure characters, like Silver Banshee, popping up here shortly.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Technicolor Thursday: Wonder Woman



I've started trying to utilize Photoshop a bit more... unsuccessfully most of the time. Every once in a while though, something accidentally turns out alright. 
That seems to be the case here with this Wonder Woman sketch
I'm not really sure which step I ended up favoring the most, so I figured I'd just post inks, markers and the color tweak all together.


Oh no!  I already broke my Halloween theme streak!  Well... some folks dress up as Wonder Woman, right?  Are we still good?

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Whatever Wednesday: Darkseid

Behold!!  Darkseid, the 3rd most awesome guy in a skirt in comics behind Magnus, Robot Fighter and Zap Brannigan.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Super Tuesday: Deadman

I'm trying to stick with creepy stuff for October with ol' Boston Brand here.  I'll probably peter out by week's end though.  Ya dare me to keep goin'?

Monday, October 13, 2008

Monster Monday: the Frankenstein Monster


Since last week's 5-10 minute sketches went over like gangbusters I figured I'd post some larger/more finished looking pieces here this week.
Today we have the Marvel version of the Monster of Frankenstein, fur vest and all, to start getting you ready for Halloween... even though stores are already starting to put out Christmas items!

Friday, October 10, 2008

Gal Friday: Platinum


Today we have Platinum of the Metal Men. I may actually go ahead and do the rest of the team when I have the free time.
Free time, Hah!!
Have a great weekend, folks!

Thursday, October 09, 2008

Technicolor Thursday: Hulk!


Since I broke out the markers, and lost track of time with this one, it actually took me 10 minutes.

This was done a little differently than a lot of my colored stuff. I actually put down a layer of light green first, layered on two darker green markers to give shape and add shadows to ol' Jade Jaws's mug. I finished it off by adding black marker and brush pen on top of the colors.

Wednesday, October 08, 2008

On Stands Today!!

Here's a link to the 6 page preview for Dead of Night featuring Devil Slayer #2!

COVER BY: KAARE ANDREWS
WRITER: BRIAN KEENE
PENCILS: CHRIS SAMNEE
INKS: CHRIS SAMNEE
COLORED BY: JUNE CHUNG
LETTERED BY: NATE PIEKOS

THE STORY:
In the aftermath of a terrifying firefight, the new Devil-Slayer finds himself on the run in Iraq, hiding from friend and foe alike. Now, unsure who he can trust, Danny Sylva must unravel the conspiracy surrounding the Bloodstone Group and solve the mystery of Operation: Xenogenesis. And if he doesn't, his life -- and the life of everyone on the planet -- may be forfeit. Written by award-winning horror novelist Brian Keene and illustrated by Chris Samnee (DAREDEVIL: BLOOD OF THE TARANTULA)!
Explicit Content …$3.99

Pulp Tales- cover A by Ben Templesmith

PULP TALES - Donation Cover by Josh Medors
$9.99

Writer(s): Joshua Hale Fialkov, Steve Niles, B. Clay Moore, Seth Peck, Kody Chamberlain, Tony Fleecs!
Covers by Templesmith and Medors
24pgs, FC

Help BOOM! Studios support comic book artist Josh Medors, recently diagnosed with cancer, by ordering the benefit comic book PULP TALES. This two-fisted one-shot features all-new, action-packed stories by horror master Steve Niles, P.U.N.K.S' Josh Fialkov and Kody Chamberlain, '76's B. Clay Moore & Seth Peck, Capote in Kansas' Chris Samnee, In My Lifetime's Tony Fleecs, and more! Featuring a cover by Ben Templesmith!

ALL PROCEEDS will go to Josh Medors and his family.


Queen & Country Definitive Edition Volume 3
Author: Greg Rucka
Artists:
Steve Rolston
Mike Norton
Chris Samnee
$19.95

Genres: Suspense, Thriller, Action
Rating: T
Pages: 408
Format: 6x9" - Trade Paperback

Book Description:
In this third collection, readers are sucked into the thrilling and often-times devastating world of international espionage as SIS field agent Tara Chase is sent all over the world in service to her Queen & Country all the while Director of Operations Paul Crocker walks a narrow tightrope between his loyalty to his people and the political masters that must be served!

Collects issues 25-32 and the entire Queen & Country Scriptbook.




*edited to include Q&C trade

Tuesday, October 07, 2008

Monday, October 06, 2008

Monster Monday: Werewolf by Night


I'm super busy trying to keep on deadline so we'll just have 5-10 minute sketches up here this week.

For today's 5 minute sketch we have Werewolf by Night, who's alter-ego is Jack Russell. Yes, Jack Russell, like the terrier.

Thursday, October 02, 2008

Mid-Ohio Con '08

This weekend I'll be attending the Mid-Ohio Con for my second year running. You can find me in the Creator Commons area table CC18 selling my wares and doing sketches. Be sure to come by and say hi.
See ya at the show!

Wednesday, October 01, 2008

Whatever Wednesday: In the Studio


Devil Slayer#3 is starting to take shape!
I don't know if it's an oddity to keep all pages for an issue in front of me, but it really helps me to keep a flow between pages and ensure continuity for costumes and such. It definitely beats having them all in a stack sitting next to the desk, or on the floor.
Sorry not to post a larger image. I'm trying my best to keep this blog spoiler-free:)
Time to get back to the ol' drawing board (shown above).
Not shown: piles of comics, Scout (our cat) giving herself a bath, piles of CDs, lots and lots of toys and other stuff that might make you think that this is a little kid's bedroom instead of a workspace .