3 years on Broadway

Jersey Boys has been on Broadway for three years! I did not realize it until I got an invitation to a party in NYC. I can't make it, but it feels good to know that I was a part of it. Read my review of opening night HERE!

Of course I did!

What do you mean, "did I vote?" I have the sticker to prove it!

Good News

The second Warriors manga will soon hit the stands! How do I know? I visited the TokyoPop website and checked out the first 21 pages for free!

THIS Halloween

So my costume this year was Don the Genie! My GF and I went to the West Hollywood Parade and met up with some friends. This was the first time for her while I am an old pro. My catch phrase for the night was, "May all your wishes come true!"
And that my friends, is a wish I wish for all of you!

Halloween Past

I look forward to dressing up in costume tonight! I try to celebrate the day every year and I have the photos to prove it! Take a look at a few outfits over the years! The first shot is of my Toga costume from last year. I went to a nutty Toga party in Bel Air with everyone in Ancient Roman dress!
The second photo is my standard Samurai outfit. I keep it around and I have worn it for years! The last photo was taken at the old Marvel bullpen. I wore a Joker costume at the Halloween party there. I think it was 1992. It was a white tuxedo that I spray painted purple and a wig I painted green. I had a lot of fun in that outfit!
I plan on meet my GF later tonight and we will go to the parade later. Photos to come soon!

Cat Sketch Fever

For those who are fans of cats, please enjoy this Halloween themed drawing!

Generation X Pilot

In an earlier post, I wrote about what I found on an old VHS tape. It was the TV pilot for 'Generation X' based on the Marvel Comic of the same name. It had most of the characters, but I did not remember the book well enough to know if it was entirely faithful to the comic. I tried to watch it but it was lame. In fact, the best part about the show was the end. They showed one the actors in uniform in the last couple of minutes!

The Ghost that Walks!

This might look nice in color.

The Phantom

I am working on an interesting job for Moonstone Books. They asked me to draw illustrations to accompany a Phantom Novel. It's like the old adventure magazines like Argosy or Galaxy. Those were great periodicals that printed art with great writing.
This is the first drawing of ten. I've always wanted to draw the Phantom and the story was written by Tom DeFalco!

Halloween Past

Halloween at the Marvel bullpen used to be a lot of fun. There were games and prizes and everybody seemed to enjoy the late afternoon party. I think this photo was taken in 1989 and I was competing in a screaming contest! The guy with the long hair is Steve. I think I'll try to post more Halloween themed photos as we get closer to Oct. 31.

And yes, I won the screaming contest!

Blue Movie?

I noticed this movie marquee while driving home tonight. I hope it's not about what I think it's about.

The Oval Office

This is my drawing of the Oval Office. Done in brush.

The Candidates

I got a call from a friend who needed a favor. She asked if I could do a quick caricature of McCain and Obama. I am still working on my Photoshop skills.

Layout Question

I am working on the third book in my Warriors trilogy, and I have gotten some comments on my layouts. One scene happens in a bad part of town. My question to you dear reader is, are the holes rust or bullet holes?

9 to 5- The Musical!

The good news is that 9 to 5 The musical is near identical to the movie with the theme song featured in the opening sequence. It's an enjoyable show! The bad news is I lost my sunglasses, stepped on a discarded pint carton of rotten milk and I did not make my Tokyopop signing at the West Hollywood Book Fair. Oh well.

Start the Grill!

I stared up the barbecue grill at 7:00 this morning. Someone knocked on my door 15 minutes later! It was the girlfriend of my upstairs neighbor and they woke up from all the charcoal smoke. I'll have to make it up to them.

Saturday Signing!

The signing was a lot of fun! It felt a lot like a comic convention actually, but with more kids and no costumed adults. I tried to entertain everyone with quick sketches and I did a bunch for some nice kids. I started before 2:00 and the nice people at Barnes and Noble really made me feel welcome. If you are reading this, you should have been there!
UPDATE! I was able to take the Book Standee home with me!

Don Hudson Signing!

I want to remind everyone that I will appear at The Barnes and Noble this Saturday, Sept. 27! Join me at 2:00 as I entertain you with insider WARRIORS stories and free sketches!
Barnes and Noble
10850 W. Pico Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90064
310 475 3138

My Jeep Commercial

In 1995, I was working freelance in NYC when I got a call from a commercial production company. They wanted me to be a part of a JEEP AD where I would draw figures and backgrounds. It was an 'Adventure Days' promotion for the fall and I spent a week at the production studio. Nice gig! I've had this commercial on Video tape since '95 and I finally asked a friend to dub it onto a dvd. I don't know about the car, but I think the commercial holds up!

Soldaderas

During the Mexican Revolution, Soldaderas were the wives of the rebels. They followed them and cooked, cleaned and patched their injuries. I am starting to work on my Western book again, so I am sketching a lot of Mexican characters around the 19th century.

Noel Sickles

I ordered a book from Amazon last week and it showed up yesterday. It covers the art of Noel Sickles, a great illustrator and Newspaper strip artist. I found about it from a great blog.It's a big book that I could not find at the shops and Sickles is totally supreme.

Ninja Cat

Okay, I love to post my own dopey videos, but this one was done by some guy on YouTube. It cracked me up and It's worth a look!

Warriors Artist Signing!

The Warriors Manga hype machine races on! I will have a signing event at The Barnes and Noble bookstore at 10850 West Pico Blvd. You should be there on September 27th at 2pm! I will bring a big newsprint pad and I hope to do a bunch of drawings for all the attendees!

CyberStretch

I started a job in 1997 for Jazzercise. I quickly realized that I would need help and I called the good people at MadScienceMedia to help me out. It was maybe 200 drawings in color with revisions!

It was exercises on a CD-ROM that people would view on their computers called CyberStretch. You could sit at your computer monitor and look at the drawings as they take the positions, and you would mimic the positions. You could exercise as you work!

Anyway, I got an email recently from the head guy at Jazzercise. He wanted copies of the Photoshop files for an updated version of Cyberstretch and I was happy to hear from him! I always thought he was a good guy.
Nowadays, you can go to thewebsite and download it. I think that's cool.

Vegas Construction

I was surprised by the new construction on the strip. A massive project on the strip next door to the Bellagio.

A Price...Must Be Paid!

After I returned from Vegas, and after my GF dropped me off at my car, I got into trouble as I was heading home. I heard whistling from my front left tire. That's right. I had a flat tire on a Saturday night. I had to drive my car with the spare all day Sunday, but I took care of it this morning. I think this is Karmas' way of levelling the good time I have been having.

Party Like It's My Birthday

Today Is my birthday! I spent Saturday in Las Vegas with my GF and had a wonderful time. I lost everything, but kept my honor!

The Book is out...Way Out!

I visited the Fairfax, Los Angeles Barnes and Noble and took a photo of my favorite manga!

What is TOTEM?

An old friend from my days at MARVEL called me up a few weeks ago. Alex Saviuk needed an inker for a book he is working on for Big City Comics. I was unfamiliar with the company, but Alex has done several issues of TOTEM for them. I used to ink Web Of Spider-Man over Alex and I have always liked working with him! I finished two pages over the weekend and I like how it has turned out.

Warriors Cover

The September issue of previews has the cover for the NEXT Warriors book! Get your orders in now for a December release.

At long last...More Kolchak!

It has taken a while, but the Kolchak story I finished earlier this year has been scheduled for December!

My HarperCollins profile

If you go to my author profile at HarperCollins book publishers, This is what you might find.

Let's crank up the HYPE MACHINE!

So now that I know that the books I've been drawing will actually see print, let's get excited about them! I have checked the largest book seller to see how the pre-orders are going. Nice! The weird thing is that the Cat book already has 5 out of 7 stars and it's not even on the stands yet! I should say that this is the first book where Barnes and Noble has given me stars. You find my Western book there if search. Remember, my book comes out September 2nd!

The Cat Book

Hey kids! Look what showed up at my front door! This is really cool, but it would be cooler if my name was on the cover.

Deflated

I caught a flat yesterday on the 110 freeway. I was taking my GF to the airport when the front right tire started giving out. It wasn't a blowout, It was just under inflated. It's my fault for not paying attention to the tire pressure, I am just glad that nothing horrible happened.

I was able to pull off the freeway and limp into a Chevron station. I considered changing the tire myself, but my GF had AAA and figured, why not learn from the pro. It was a hot day and he was working, so I think I ticked the AAA guy off with my questions.

So, the spare was put on, we got to the Airport with time to spare and I said goodbye to my GF. I should point out hanging out with a flat in a gas station was not fun, but at least I got to spend more time with someone very special.

I started browsing EBAY, looking for original art and I saw this. In the comics section, they put a cover of The Silver Surfer that I inked. I also inked the interior. I thought that was cool! So random! So cool!

Tropic Thunder

My GF and I saw 'Tropic Thunder' last night at the local Cine-plex. Very funny! I would recommend it to every one!

Cat Scratch Fever

How do you draw a black cat? You tell me!

Fun with a Brush!

I have re-discovered my long lost brush this morning and thought I would test it out.

Thunder in New Jersey

I came across a photo for the upcoming 'Tropic Thunder' movie. It's about a group of actors dropped into a tropical war zone. I remember acting in a film, where I was a Vietnam soldier! The movie was 'The Freelancer' and the photo was taken on location in New Jersey. I think the year was 1989 and you can see how similar the two movies are!

Cat Heads

The cover of Warriors: Tigerstar and Sasha has been put up on Amazon.com. It's exciting to see this first book come out but it's strange to read the comments made by fans. I know that since no one knows the story, they can only comment on the art. More than one reader commented on how Sasha's head looked weird. I agree! But I won't take the blame because my art was retouched by Tokyopop or Harper Collins or maybe both. Here is a before and after.

Watchmen Mania!

The new WATCHMEN posters are inspired by the original promo posters from 1986. I have 3 of the originals and the new ones for comparison.

Weekend Escape

I planned a weekend escape, but wouldn't you know it...

Return of the Cat King!

I have completed the second Warriors book and I am now working on the third. Here is a layout where Sasha has to return a sacred ring to Mordor.

Convention Comment

I remember walking on the comvention floor with my GF last Saturday, and we passed by Judd Apatow and his wife, Leslie Mann. Judd Apatow was the creative force behind "The 40 year old Virgin". They were checking out some collectables and a fan was talking to them, so I did not bother them. I occured to me then, There are dozens of stars who come to San Diego to promote. How many really like comics and hang out on the floor? I doubt Paris Hilton looked for Supergirl back issues when she came to promote her dopey event/product. I really admire the stars who walk the floor and enjoy the event.

Inside The OWLSHIP!

I was able to sneak a camera inside The WATCHMEN owlship!

Active Images? Yes!

What can I say about these two Eisner nominated Professionals?

LARRY HAMA Talks!

It must have been ten years since I last saw Larry. It's lucky for me that I brought my camera!

San Diego 2008-The Hotel

Yes, I went to San Diego like every other person on earth. The convention was so jam-packed and busy, I couldn't believe it. But before I blog about the weekend, I should start with the hotel. Steve Buccellato and I shared a room with two beds and we were lucky to get a place very close to the convention center. The hotel looks great! The bad part was the service. It felt like we were not as important as the people throwing the Hollywood party on Friday and Saturday.

The Punisher kills the Marvel Universe

A little while ago, I got a royalty check in the mail. I inked three pages over Doug Braithwaite for a rush job and they were for The Punisher Kills The Marvel Universe. I don't know what kind of fever dream inspired this story, but I loved Braithwaites' art and I jumped at the chance to ink him. I met him once at a Marvel picinic in 1994 (I think it was 1994...) and I knew his work from other books.

I managed to get a couple of copies of the pencils and the inks. You can see how loose the last page is. Also, you can see the knife going thru DAREDEVIL. That was something the editor, asked me to fix. He also blackened in the blood on the last panel where DD is bleeding out. Can't show red blood! Different era huh?

I got the royalty check because the book was reprinted over a year ago. I guess the older stuff is starting to resurface. I am waiting for MARVEL to put The Secret Defenders in a trade paperback. Until Then...

Coming Soon!

My first Warriors Manga will be out in september! I've gotten a copy of it and I am really excited!

Watchmen Mania!

Ok....I have been the biggest fan of WATCHMEN the comic since it came out in 1986. I know there were a bunch of dopey movie scripts making the rounds since then, but this completed 2009 release seems like it's the real deal. How can I say this? Visit this website and see for yourself.

David Gerrold Interview!

The signing at The Comic Bug was fun! I got to meet David Gerrold and we chatted. Did you know that he worked on the Sci-Fi show 'Sliders'? He has been writing for over 30 years and he was 19 when he wrote the 'Trouble with Tribbles' Star Trek episode!

Signing To-Nite!

I am going to tear myself away from the drawing board and attend a special signing! I will see you at the Comic Bug and I will bring my brush pens. Buy a book and get a sketch!

Quasar Pages

I have been enjoying Mike Manleys' blog and his posts about working on the Marvel book, QUASAR. My friend John Heebink pencilled Issue 53 and he was coming off of the last issue of SHIELD. I think it was in 1994. I inked John on SHIELD and I wanted to see his latest work.

The best thing about these pages were the notes on page 19. I don't know who inked him on this issue, but I hope he did not screw it up!

Half-Inked Pages

In an effort to distance myself from yesterday's posting, I would like to talk about something Steve talked about in his last blog post. Half inked pages. I did not draw or ink these two pages. They were pencilled by Dale Keown and inked by Joe Rubenstein. They are from The Hulk issue 387, Back in the early 90s.

I remember hanging around the Marvel offices looking for work and hanging out with friends( I did that a lot back then). I am near the copy machine when the assistant to the Hulk editor at the time, C. Cooper, stopped to make some copies. I was excited by the half state of the artwork and I had him make a few copies for me as well. I don't know why anyone else would want copies in an in-between state like that.

So I have these copies and I keep looking at them to see how Joe changed the pencils. How he added depth and weight. I am sure he did most of his work in brush at this point, with a pen for hands and faces. There was some great work on those pages and I am lucky to have this Half-inked example of a great page.

Bad Day Today

I banged my left toe REALLY badly last Saturday. It was late at night and it was extra painful and even bled. I figured it was just an awful stubbed toe and went back to sleep. It throbbed on Sunday but I thought that it would improve. It did not. My left front toe was silly looking. After consulting with my GF, who has had a similar injury, I called my family doctor. Things went wrong the moment I saw him today.

After checking it this afternoon, Dr. LF recommended a Podiatrist and recommened I call for an appointment. "He can see me today?" Sure! Why not! With all this deadline stuff, I could get a persciption for an antibiotic and call it a day. My family doctor tried to prepare me and the Podiatrist set me straight. He would have to remove the busted toenail and let it heal properly.

EEE-YOW! I have never had a nail ripped from a toe before and I would not recommend it. I needed an extra shot for pain before the pulling could be completed. I closed my eyes for the procedure that I'm sure must have been just another nail avulsion for the Podiatrist. I did not open them until he was dressing the toe with a professional looking bandage.

I have to clean and dress the wound and return in 10 days for a check up. I hope I will able to walk my way thru San Diego this year.

Say it with Color!

I believe that my best drawing is my NEXT drawing. That's why I tend to throw out my old drawings. I look at the older stuff and I want to redraw it. That being said, I am trying to learn how to color with Photoshop and it's a big mess. I can't expect to learn everything in a weeks time but it's uncomfortable for me to be sucky. There you go.

I think my biggest problem is learning how to prepare the darned stuff for color.

All Done

I finished inking my Next Generation story and I dropped by the Tokypop offices to deliver it. My old editor on the book was let go, so I had a chance to meet the new one. Nice guy. The office seemed quieter than in the past and a lot of friends were no longer there.

Previews AD

Star Trek:The Next Generation Manga has been solicited in the July Previews! I guess I should finish my story then.

Next Generation Inks!

I posted the layout to this page a month or so ago and I have finised inking the page. I usually take the sketch and enlarge it to original art size. I lightbox the photocopy and make any changes then. The biggest change was Deanna Trois' smile in panel 2.