Layouts

These are some recent layouts! I like to do them in ink because they look better on a monitor. Also, it prints better than a pencil sketch.

Let's network!

Steve and I went to a DigitalLA networking event in West Hollywood last night! It's important to have strong business contacts, but the event was crowded and kinda loud. I hope I made a good impression.

Back to the Western!

No sleep for me!

RenFair Anyone?

I could not make the Renaissance Fair, but if you click this link, you can see some snapshots!

Have you ever been a character in a comic book?

The answer is YES! Jim Shooter had his great idea for 'The New Universe', A new comic book line separate from Marvel. When Shooter was fired, the line went in a different direction. Shooter made a few enemies. A book or two was cancelled, Pittsburgh was destroyed, a war started and all kinds of stuff. The New Universe was on the way out, but there were some opportunities for new talent...before time ran out.
Back in 1988, I was a Romita Raider(working on staff in art correction), and I shared a space in the Bullpen with Rod Ramos and Chris Ivy. When the New Universe book 'The Star Brand' added a six page back up story with issue fifteen, The writer wrote all three of us into his story!
We three were Army border patrol officers and I was Lieutenant Hudson! The likeness is kinda OK. Rodney drew the story and I did the inking. When I see the story now I wince at my bad inking. I really want to redo it. But like I said, it was a chance for new talent to get some work, so thanks New Universe! I am a character in a comic book!

My Phantom Story. On Sale Now!

This is the cover to the Phantom book I did with Tom DeFalco! A new maxi series of one-shot comic novellas, with each issue (by a different creative team) telling a tale of one of the 21 Phantoms.

Bond Covers

Bonhams Auction house had an exhibit of paperback covers last year! I finally got a hold of the book, 'Ian Fleming and the art of cover design'. The books have been reissued many times in dozens of countries and some of the cover art is striking!

My Next Generation Story

If you are looking for my Star Trek: The Next Generation Manga, This is what the cover looks like! Also, check out the pencils and Inks.

I am at The Grove!

It was a great signing at The Grove last night! Tokyopop has published a Battlestar Galactica Manga and a Star Trek Manga, on sale now! To promote the books, they invited the creators to a panel. I was an artist on one of the Star Trek stories and i sat next to Richard Hatch. I said hello and he seems like a nice enough fellow. I did not ask him about Lorne Greene or anything.
I also have a story in the new 'Star Trek:Next Generation' manga that's out now as well. It was great to draw all the characters like Capitan Picard, Deanna Troi and Data. There was one character I could NOT draw. I talked about it in this Video.

Sketch of To-Day!

I did a few marker sketches for a student film!

Facebook Question

I recently surrendered to Facebook.
What do I do if I try to befriend someone, and that person denies my offer? Do I ignore that person in real life? If I see the person on the street, do I chastise him or her? I am kind of offended by my Facebook rebuke!

My New Business Card!

Now it can be unveiled! My attention grabbing business tool! I hope to get it in time for the many networking events I hope to attend. If you ask, I may even send you one!

My Sign!

I found this sign on top of a pile of trash outside a movie theatre in NYC. 'Oxford Blues', a movie starring Rob Lowe. It was very late on a Thursday night in 1984 and I carried it on the subway home. I think it was the summer and I had finished high school. I thought it was so cool to have a real movie sign even if did not see the film.

I figured the movie must have been a dog if the theatre would toss out the sign. I found out that 'Oxford Blues' is coming out on DVD after over 20 years! Maybe I'll see it after all this time. I don't know, I might lose respect for the sign.

More Color

This is the color version of the B+W sketch I posted this week.

Meet me at The Grove!

Yours truly will be at a Star Trek/ Battlestar Manga Event at The Barnes & Noble at the Grove on Friday, April 17th. Not only am I scheduled to appear, you may see Mike Wellman, Richard Hatch and David Gerrold there as well! It's so much fun at these events, you don't want to miss it!

Sketch of To-Day

I did this sketch this morning. Did I get the likeness down?

Fun with Facebook!

I managed to find the "Friends of old Marvel" discussions on Facebook early this morning. I really enjoyed the topics and it's good to find out about about some old friends(Hi Heide!). I have my own fair share of photos and Steve has been telling me about it. I can't drink the Facebook Kool-Aid...I just can't!

Monsters vs Aliens

I caught the Monsters vs Aliens in 3D last night! My GF and I took in the 7:10 showing. I did not feel good about the 3D aspect at the beginning. I remember the gimmicky red and blue glasses in 3D comicbooks that would give you headaches. This new 3D rocks! Hands would reach out towards you, debris would fly in your direction! The trailers were also in 3D and I got all excited to see them as well. More 3D!

Craigslist is a lot of Fun!

It seems like there are all kinds of people who put ads on craigslist, but the don't want to pay the artist. Then there is the artist that calls you out on your BS. These types of responses are quickly removed, but they are entertaining!

Quick Layouts

I did these layouts awhile ago. The idea was for the Aerosmith Guitar Hero game. An Aerosmith spotlight would flash across the sky and the entire city would mobilize, grabbing their PSP consoles and meeting at some empty space. Kinda like a rave party but with Guitar Hero. I did it quick with pen and ink. It looks better on computer and the the contrast looks great on the page.

Internship

Whenever I can't sleep, (like now) I visit Craigslist. It's good to know what's out there. There are plenty of low paying gigs but a fair number of scams. I caught this ad there. Apparently, there are people looking for help with running errands, answering phones and doing various grunt work and calling them 'Interns.'I am familiar with the concept. I was an intern at Marvel Comics in the 80's and grunt work was the job. But at least I got to rub shoulders with some very talented artists and editors. Nowadays, It seems that you can put an ad up and hope to find some student to pick up your laundry for free. I hope people are not buying into that.

Are you kidding?

I read this article on the New York Times website and I could not believe it. What kind of kook would have Captain Kirk's chair in the living room? I have had a chance to sit in Picard's chair,but if I stuck it in front of the TV set, I would be nuts!

The Dawn

This is my watercolor drawing on a japanese dawn. It was the last frame of a story I did for the comiculture website years ago.

Movie Shoot

I spent most of the weekend working on my GFs short film! This is as close as I have ever been to a movie set and it was a lot of fun. I can't tell you about the story, I will leave that up to her to talk about at her own website. The address soon to come.

A Fun Time!

Who says that drinking can't be fun?

More Before, then After!

I am always surprised at how much art is lost in the final product. I try to create room for the captions and word balloons, but the placement is never up to me. I also assume that the colorist knows how to make the art pop!

I drew the establishing shot of a quaint seaside town. The colorist decided to make the buildings a kind of purple/grey and the same value of the foreground. the letterer had to cover the seagulls I drew above the water. Oh well.

Watchmen Fallout

You already know how I feel about the big movie that opened this weekend. Now read another opinion. Click Here!

Watchmen Weekend!

My friend Steve had a great idea. Let's catch the Watchmen Movie in Imax! So he bought the tickets a month ago, and we met at Universal City. We had a great spot on line and all seven of us had a good view of the flick. Did I like it? I don't think I did. A second viewing is needed.

My opinion of the film did not stop me from celebrating it's release! There was a Watchmen based gallery opening the next night at Meltdown Comics! My GF and I took in the scene and I met some old friends there. James, Joann and Aman posed for a snapshot.

Would I recommend the film? Nope. Did you like it?

Drew Poster

I bought this poster maybe 8 years ago at a convention. It's a Drew Struzan print of a comic book character. My friend Steve asked me to draw a cover for his DVD 'The Freelancer'. I am sure that he will tell you more about it on his own blog, but he wants in the style of Drew! That will be a challenge for me! i look forward to trying and I will show you the results.

Kolchak meets Barnabas!

It's been a long time, but the Kolchak story I worked on has come out. It's the first story, and I am liking it so far! It was a little hard to find. I found this copy at Meltdown comics. I hope that everyone looks for it and you can see the cover at the Moonstone site!

Full Moon Station

The second issue of Comiculture Magazine featured 2 stories written and drawn by me. The first was a little 8 page story about a Werewolf in a hostage situation. I thought it was a neat premise when I wrote it, but It needed a rewrite and some editing. As for the artwork, my pencils were inked by Klaus Janson! Great stuff!
This is my sketch and pencils for the last page, then the inks.

Concept Art

I did a job recently for an theme park ride designer. It's a middle east kinda concept.

Man of La Mancha

My GF and I had a wonderful time at the Freud Playhouse at UCLA Last night! We caught 'Man of La Mancha' together and it was as good as any Broadway production. The entire cast put on a wonderful show, but one name added some marque value. Brent Spiner, best known as Data on Star Trek, The Next Generation. Can you make it out to UCLA before March 1st? See the show before it's too late!

More Before, then After!

A couple of years ago, I drew a book for Moonstone called 'KHAN' based on a fictional account of the Asian conqueror. It was written by my old boss Tom DeFalco and the first issue was a lot of fun. We were asked to do a second issue and I pencilled all 24 pages. But as soon as I finished pencilling, the book was cancelled! Bad times. I could ink the pages and maybe the book will see print one day. Until then, take a look at my layout to page 7 and the finished pencil page.

When I ink myself, I draw looser. Maybe I will tighten up the art and find someone else to ink it.

Ranting and Raving

I have a problem with the new Disney movie, 'Race to Witch Mountain'. Judging from the AD on the side of this bus and the movie trailer, you could get the idea that this is a Dwayne Johnson action movie. Sure he may have to hang out with some blonde kids, but you can expect some butt kicking action! My problem is that this film is a remake of a Disney film from the 70s where the there was no big action star. The two kids provided the action and all the charm. The original was another low budget Disney movie that you enjoyed late at night. I guess someone wanted to find something exciting for Mr Johnson to do.

My rave for today is the Watchman promo ADs being posted up all over LA. Who watches the Watchmen? I will soon!

Really good Art

This has been a good week for books about art! My GF bought me a present for Valentine's Day and it was a gift that was delayed from Xmas. The collected art of Norman Saunders published by The Illustrated Press is a big book. It was delayed for the longest time and I thank my GF for chasing it down. If I ever get back to my watercolor work, I will keep this 368 page book close by.

Watchmen...still waiting!

I know that the film is still a month away, so I have to wait. I have however picked up the 'Art of the film' photobook! I recommend it and it's fun to compare the Graphic Novel to the Film!

Lettering

In my last post, I got a comment about the lettering on a page I worked on. The question was, what makes lower case comic book lettering 'yucky'. I should point out that I am not a professional letterer, but I have bounced around the business a few years and I know what I like. As for why the lower case style sucks, lets take a look at a before and after. I took a page from an issue of SHIELD that I inked years ago and re-did the lettering.

My lettering is a bit clumsy, but the smaller lower case letters are harder to see. Plus the lower case style kills the drama from art.
I don't know why MARVEL changed lettering styles in the first place. You used to find the lower case in self-published or independent comics, but not the larger companies. It was for a short time and I am glad that fad is over.

Before, then After! Part 4

The last job I did for Marvel was ghosting 3 pages on THOR. My friend Scott Koblish was inking the book. He was in a bit of a bind and he gave me 3 pages so I helped him out. The penciller was Scot Eaton and I was really familiar with his stuff. I do like the color on this page, but hate the lettering!

Tree Burning

It's the tree burning time of year! I love spending time with Rob, Kevin and all my cool friends as we destroy last years' Christmas trees!

Warriors News!

The cover for the third issue of my Warriors book has been revealed and I think it's turned out well! There is a great story about this cover that I will write about at a later date. Amazon has posted it on the web. Also, I have received a good review on my second Warriors book! I think this review was written by an adult, instead of a pre-teen. Read it!

Visual Storyline

My friend Jason colored the Warriors covers for me! He has started his own Storyboard/Animatic shop and it's going at full speed!Check it out! In an effort to help, he's included a few pieces from my portfolio. He took one of my marker drawings and added some sweet color. I think it looks great!

Before, then After! Part 3

This page is from the fifth issue of "Cosmic Powers". A Marvel book pencilled by Tom Grindberg and inked by Me. I think that Tom did a great job on this book. A lot of big figures and strong lines. He was a chameleon, and I think he may have copied every popular artist in comics at one point. Some of his 'styles' were hard to take, but I liked inking him on this book.

Before, then After! Part 2

This is the cover to XO Manowar. Pencilled by Scot Eaton and Inked by Me. This is an Acclaim book and this cover never saw print! At the time,around 1998, Acclaim was going out of business and the book was cancelled at issue 21. I was working in Los Angeles at Sony Animation at the time, and there was a lot of stuff going on back east that I missed out on. I think Acclaim published Turok, but ended all the other books. If anyone knows more, I hope you can fill me in!

Before, then After! Part 1

This is the cover to Spider-Man Adventures, issue 4. Alex Saviuk did the pencils and I inked it. Al did a great job on this cover and I think it's dynamic! He's a real pro. I think the person coloring it must have been in a rush. I have to admit that I am looking at all of my older work and re-evaluating it in terms of color. What choices would I have made? Thinner lines or heavier? I can't say.

Defenders Splash

I did this splash page for The Secret Defenders in 1993 and I was happy with the black and white art. I was not so happy seeing it in print. The typeset title copy is horrid and the color is really ridiculous. Pink captions and knockout orange buildings? I could not ink it and color it too.

Truck Ad

This is a board for a commercial that I did recently. The homeowner admires his living room. Then he sees cement flowing on the floor. We pan to see workmen spreading cement from a truck and we realize that it's really a construction site! Our truck is a hard working vehicle! The end.

Get this Cover!

You can get this cover on ebay!Click Here!

I am a Specialist!

I few years ago, I met with a movie producer and we went over a scene that she had a problem with. I brought my sketch pad and we had a short lunch. She could not visualise the scene and I helped with the camera angles. I am glad she got the movie made and I even got a neat credit out of it!
Click here!

Looks like...

Recent likeness art. If you recognize the girl then I am on the right track.

More WARRIORS Pages!

Hey there Warriors fans! Did you miss the last Ebay auction? The first book original art has gone to an excellent new owner. Do you want to take the second one home? Don't miss your chance!

Japanese Trailer!

I can't help it! I have to see this film.

Farewell Old Stereo

This is my old Sony Mini-System. It was top of the line when I bought it in 1993. It had everything I needed to help entertain me as I inked thousands of pages of comic-book art.
It used to sit to the right of me during all-nighters. I would tune in my favorite radio stations with the tiny buttons on top. I would tape my favorite shows on the dual tape deck and repeat my favorite songs with the CD Player on the bottom. It has not been next to me for a long time now. The radio works, but the tape player is now hostile towards audio tapes and the CD player has not worked since the Clinton Administration. I have gone on to other entertainment devices.

I only listen to CDs in the car and I use my ipod everywhere else. My old mini-system could never search the Internet like the latest ipod can.

I bid you farewell mini-system. Hopefully, you can bee recycled into a $100 laptop that will serve a third-world school child as well as you served me.

Saturday

I spent the day with my GF today. We had lunch in Silverlake and even visited a few antique shops! She did not buy anything, but I bought a nice postcard.