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Art & Illustration Discussion & Analysis

Almost an Attempt

MIXcover
(Mix CD cover I did as part of a set.)

Categories
Art & Illustration Sometimes I Like Stuff

Reyobigs: Night Business, comics prison & my pure love

A few days ago, I bought some comic books and I felt so strongly about them that it compelled me to write about the experience. The first comic wasn’t great, to tell you the truth. Halfway through reading it, my suspicions were confirmed: what a load of horseshit. This low level, “bad ass” poseur drivel strikes a pose SO HARD that it shatters like crystallized mulch. I hated myself for giving this cliche ridden gem the benefit of the doubt… but what’s one to do? I had to try it out. Check it out for yourselves. Just go to your local comic shop and ask for — for — uh, I can’t believe it. The name escapes me.

Thankfully, I had apparently been saving the best for last. I’m sure you’ve seen the commercial or read all of the praise the book’s been getting, but NIGHT BUSINESS totally made my night. The creator behind it all is Benjamin Marra. You can say that Marra’s using “bad ass” tropes as well, but the thing that separates his work from the previously mentioned shitty comic is that Marra actually has a sense of humor. Equal parts old school Paul Gulacy and Faust’s Tim Vigil, Marra’s making his comics on his own terms with a dedication that’s pretty admirable. Thank God he’s not waiting around, hoping for a publisher’s permission to start his comic. And thank God he’s using newsprint. Oh, and wish him a happy birthday today, folks!

NiteBiz3

Categories
All About Process Art & Illustration

Fiffe’s Savior 28 pin-up

The third issue of JM Dematteis & Mike Cavallaro’s “The Life And Times of Savior 28” comes out this Wednesday! It was a pleasure to do a pin-up for them for this issue.

I was going for a mock-semi-retro Manga thing, but I think it got out of control, as you can see. I still had a blast doing it. Behind the cut you’ll find some alternate cover sketches and the dreaded pencil version…

Categories
All About Process Art & Illustration

MODOK vs Luchador

This drawing is for a pal of mine who requested M.O.D.O.K. fighting a Mexican wrestler.

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Art & Illustration Dear Friends

Birthday Surprises!

Last year I began the process of interviewing comics legend Trevor Von Eeden. This July, the interview will finally come to light! I’ll post a note closer to the date, but be on the look out for The Comics Journal #298 featuring the “brutally honest” interview.

TVE.TCJ.mock-up

I stumbled upon the pic above and the links below at the Fantagraphics Flickr profile (which has tons of other great stuff), so imagine my surprise in seeing the piece come to to life, so to speak, previously existing in my head as a pile of handwritten notes and a Word document for the past year.

The close up and the video (at 00:46).

On top of all that, I recently received 2 pieces of Art from 2 fellow LJers for my birthday! The first is from cooltrash It’s probably the best portrait of me ever (I’m usually reduced to a ball of stubble… not far off from the truth but still…). Anyway, it’s the cover for a mix CD (I’m a mix tape & CD nerd) which is quite good.

… and from calling_alice who does tons of other cool art, displayed throughout the profile. Below is the old school Dagger from “Cloak & Dagger”. These are awesome, guys!


xoFiffe

Categories
Art & Illustration

Jager Head


I was asked to draw up potential costume designs for a “Jagermeister Monk/Angel” at my day job at the costume/puppet shop. I was very excited to contribute to the mythology of the number one choice of drink of frat creeps and date rapists. Hey, I get it… it’s sweet and tasty and served cold. Yay. It’s like licorice but worse. You drink it when you have nothing else left, but even then…

deer
Anyway, the folks at Jagermeister Headquarters green lit my design and off we went! I built the elk head interior and the other studio hands draped it. We had to do four of them total and we did them in record time (a week). We also did cloaks, paddles…

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Art & Illustration Retrospectives - Master Post

Steve Ditko’s Birthday…

…was yesterday, but I made him a card anyway. He turned 81 years old.

You may recognize the name Ditko as the creator of many of your favorite comic characters such as… ah, the names escape me… Spider-something or other. Anyway, he’s a comics legend, an innovator, and he’s still making comics. I have cobbled a few of my personal favorite Ditko pieces, some not seen too often and others never to be reprinted elsewhere.

Like Ditko often suggests, there is black and then there is white and there is no in between.

Categories
Art & Illustration Comics I Make

CTHULHU TALES #7

Just in time for Halloween, Cthulhu Tales #7 (from Boom! Studios) hit the comic book shelves yesterday and look… I drew the cover!! Below, my initial image.

I bought the comic at my local comic shop and read it. You should, too. This isn’t shameless self-promotion, I promise. You will want to own this comic. I am actually honored that my cover graced the 2 horrific stories inside. I’m not even being sarcastic, despite what my close friends may think. You gotta see it to believe it.

Categories
Art & Illustration

TEXAS FRIDAY!

I was going through some old files of mine the other day and came across a couple of drawings, each on one side of the same paper. I think they were scribbled on the nearest sheet in an inspired post-movie frenzy. I had seen “Friday the 13th part V” and “Texas Chainsaw Massacre”… in a row. My parents were asleep. I was six years old.

How did I have a concept of neck holes back then??