Art by Jorge Zaffino

The late Jorge Zaffino drew this page but I don't remember the book. It was for Marvel though. It's a great, dark and moody page. I found a place on the web with dozens of Zaffino scans! Click HERE to see the Picasa gallery!

Dwayne McDuffie

Dwayne died earlier this week and I wish I knew him better. I first met him when he worked in Editorial at Marvel. He did not stay there very long, but I worked with him when he wrote XO Manowar for Acclaim Comics. He wrote so many books and I admired his great talent. I went to the ReggiesWorld launch party at Golden Apple Comics last night. I heard Reg Hudlin and Denys Cowan remember him and how he was taken away too soon. He was a good guy and I wish I knew him better.

Art by Floro Dery

In my early days at Marvel, I had a chance to do some lettering in the Bullpen. I got the opportunity to letter 2 Spider-Man sunday Strips! The regular letterer went on vacation and gave me copies of some earlier Sunday strips. I think I've posted the original Sundays a few years ago, but here is some Spidey art from the artist at the time, Floro Dery!

Art by Garcia-Lopez

This is some Promo art drawn for the second Batman film starring Michael Keaton. It's drawn by Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez and I think he got the likeness right! I have a bunch more Lopez art I will post in the future!

Art by Alan Davis

These pencils are by Alan Davis! I used to hang around the office that edited 'Excalibur' and I'd get excited when his pencils would come in. He did some his best work on the book! He did even better work on the 'ClanDestine' book from Marvel but I don't have any copies from that stuff.

Does Color Help?

I did the drawing on the left but someone else did the color! I knew that the colorist would work his/her magic but I am wondering why are the windows tinted? The detail inside the taxicab is lost!

Inks by Terry Austin

I'm showing an example of inking! Two different pencillers but one common inker, Terry Austin. When I was just starting out as a penciller I wanted Terry to ink me. He has a powerful style!

Art by Dan Barry

I worked for Valiant Comics in 1990. The top guy, Jim Shooter started publishing books based on Nintendo characters and brought in some establish pros to work on them. That's how I got to meet Dan Barry! He drew a book based on the "Punch out" video game, and we all got to meet him. He brought copies of the daily newspaper strip he worked on, Flash Gordon!

They don't draw strips like this anymore.

Art by John Severin

John Severin is an awesome artist with a long history in comics. When he returned to Marvel in the late 80s, he didn't do a lot of Superhero books. He did a 'Rawhide Kid' issue, a book called 'Semper Fi' and an issue of 'The Nam'.
The art below is from 'The Nam'! The copies show the detail that was lost in the printed comic.

Are you following this?

It's been a slow month for blogging, but I am starting up again in a big way! For those who are new to this blog, let me give you some background.
I'm Don. I am now an Illustrator on the West Coast but in a previous life I worked as an inker in NYC. I had a chance to know some great people and I worked over some wonderful pencils! I was such a fan, I made copies of all the stuff that excited me. I thought that I could be cool to share the stuff I've saved with every one who follows my blog!
Everyone in the world can check it out, but YOU guys can see it first. Starting tomorrow, I will post scans of some art from the 90's and I'll add some commentary. Your comments are welcome as well!
Are you following this?

Advertising Art

When i t comes to Advertising Art, I like to keep things simple. This frame is all about selling beer!

Wolf Attack!

I am working on some layouts that feature a wolf attack !I'm sure you have seen this before, where a werewolf chases down a lost traveller. These layouts must seem like old hat, but I have an idea on where I want to take it. I might post more soon so stay posted!

Drawing of the Day

I am working on my 'Gunpowder Girl' project! It's progressing one page at a time!

Sketch of the Day

It's been about a month since I have posted anything, so I wonder why I am starting the new year with a drawing of a riot? In any event, Happy New Year!

Quick Sketch with Quick Color!

This is the drawing of the day, but the headline more accurately describes this posting.

Drawing of the Day

A Comic Book Sighting

I go through a lot of foreign magazines looking for reference. I always like to find comics featured in big, mainstream mags like Wired or Newsweek. This photo is from Vogue Hommes International. I think they're trying to sell clothes!

I review myself!

In this post, I will critique the pencil art of a page drawn in 1995, drawn by me!
At the time, I was inking a bunch of Marvel books but putting together some pencil samples. This page is from an X-men script that I got a hold of way back when. The story shows that Prof. X, Cyclops and Storm have crashed in a blinding snow storm. Storm is having a bad time in the storm (get it?). You can see my original 15 year old pencils next to my recent inks.
Because I am never satisfied with my own art, I tend to destroy the older stuff. This pencil page managed to survive the countless purges. When I decided to to ink the page I thought to myself, how would I advise the younger me? I made the changes in the inks, but what would I point out as correctable to the penciler?

Here is a quick breakdown.
First, check your anatomy. The Storm figure in frame 2, her head is too small. The pencils might have followed the comicbook styles popular at the time, but that's no excuse.

Second, work on your expressions! The Prof. X face looks bored. I tried to fix it in the inks, but his expression should be more expressive!

Third, the Storm face in the last panel is ugly and badly drawn. The change I made was necessary, but might not be well received by the ME of fifteen years ago!

I wish that I could reach back thru time to advise the Don of 15 years ago,

Old Reference Photo!

I put the reference shot together maybe four or five years ago. It looks kinda freaky, but I survived!

Drawing of the Day

I think the caption could be, "Hooray! The Huskies win!"

My Wally Wood Art!

I don't know if I've posted this before, but I am showing off my Wally Wood Original!

Jenna part 8

Drawing of the Day

Advertising Art

I guess the best time to plan a trip for the holidays is now.

Jenna part 7

Boost Mobile Commercial

A few months back, I did layouts for a Boost Mobile Commercial! It was for the initial animatic and they kept a lot of my direction.

Green Lantern Corps Halloween!

The Big Halloween party was a gathering of Green Lanterns! My friend Rob had an idea, get some GL t-shirts, some rings and masks and we could all customize our outfits. As you may know, Green Lanterns and be from any planet and look like anything as long as you have the logo. Wonderful idea! We met at his place and we walked the streets as a very powerful team!
I had to leave the emerald gathering early, but I am proud to be a member of the Halloween Green Lantern Corps!

My Scary Postcard

I sent a holiday postcard to someone special! Was it you?

Halloween Costumes Thru The Years!

I'm looking forward to this years Halloween celebrations because of this years costume choice. More of that to come, but I thought I would go over the many other outfits I've worn. Check my other blog posts from2009 2008 and 2007Fun stuff to be sure!

Happy Family AD!

I do so much work in B+W, so it's always cool to see my stuff colored well! Here is some recent Advertising work. Color by Jason V.W.

Jenna part 6

Drawing of the Day

It's Saturday!

Jenna part 5

Scene Of The Crime

I've recently moved out of the apartment that I have lived and worked in for the last eleven years. A lot of neat memories, but it's time to move on. I'm waiting for my security refund and I returned to the scene of the crime. The place is open for viewing!

When I first moved in 1999, I took some snapshots. When I returned yesterday, I took a few more.The wooden fence outside was replaced a couple of years after I moved in. They painted the walls and changed the carpet after I left.I really liked the old glass shower with the wire in the glass! Really old school. They replaced the floor after I left with a textured vinyl. New paint job all around.This is the kitchen with my friends Rob and Monica in it. New floor and a cleaned up fridge. Goodbye natural wood and hello neutral Grey paint.

There were many other changes too many to list, all designed to make the place worth the raised rent. I'm glad I had a chance to take these exit photos. That's it. I'm out!

Drawing of the Day

Thank Goodness It's Friday

Color by Colorfusion

My Friend Brett has a great portfolio site up now and he's colored a few Gunpowder Girl pages! He had scans from about five years ago and this color is the first I have seen.Great job on the color! Really rich and textured. Check out the entire site at Colorfusioninc.com

Jenna part 4

Jenna part 3

Jenna part 2

Almost like I drew it!

I drew some layouts for a Pup-a-Roni Animatic earlier this year. I caught the completed commercial on TV last night! Instead of a poofed out sheepdog they went with a punky spike. Why not?

Jenna part 1

Jersey Boys Movie!

I think it's neat that the Hollywood will turn the play I worked on into a feature film!

Drawing of the Day

Bad Printer

My old printer has screwed my over. Getting a new printer has delayed my work and made me unhappy. The old printer must be punished!

Inking Denys Cowan

I inked over a pencil scan of some D. Cowan pencils! It's from the third issue of the recent Captain America/Black Panther mini-series. I don't like inking on a lightbox, but I like how it turned out.

Backyard Drama

I have a mature avocado tree in my back yard and an open lot behind that where the fruit sometimes falls. The lot has been there for maybe 4 years, but the overgrown weeds were recently removed. The now open yard has revealed natures drama between tabby cat and squirrel! I can clearly see the avocado fruit on the ground untouched and I was lucky enough to be there when the neighborhood cat chased the frightened squirrel! The squirrel almost never comes down from the trees. It would be exciting to see the cat win one for once.