TEE DESIGN: A game of previews 2...

I posted the first rough lines for this Tyrion Lannister fan art yesterday, and today I'm back to share the next stage of the design process.

Here we've taken the original line art, and instead of just redrawing it, to get it more in line with Peter's likeness, I've beat it up a while in Photoshop, to get things more in line with what I'm looking for (re-positioning features, tweaking lines, etc). Instead of just digitally cleaning this up though, I wanted to redraw it, so everything could be clean and polished. So that will be the next stage (tomorrow)...

TEE DESIGN: A game of previews...

I've got soooo many t-shirt ideas I'm planning and working up, but here's the first of which I'm close to finishing, so thought I'd share the stages of production all week!

Starting with the original rough lines.
It's a fan art, and a likeness, which is pretty off the mark here in this first stage, but not to worry, that's what all the various tools in the arsenal are for...

Here's the reference I was working with...

With Game of Thrones set to return shortly, and it being an amazing show that both I and the wife just absolutely love, I've been working on a couple fan art pieces for it. This is the first one, a t-shirt design of fan favorite character Tyrion Lannister, aka the imp. Peter Dinklage is all kinds of cool at bringing this character to life, so it's also a bit of a fan art for him as much as it is the show and the character.

Tune in tomorrow for the next stage...

More art on eBay

This marker sketch of Psylocke goes off tonight...

And there's also an Amazing Spider-Man 129 (first Punisher) homage AVENGERS X-SANCTION 1 sketch cover...

Check them out HERE

Race to Redline!

I'd been waiting to see the just released (in the US) anime, REDLINE, for over a year. TwitchFilm.com had featured it back before it hit the festival circuit, and it was jawdropping. Insane design, technically flawless, drop dead sexy animation. It's also the directorial debut of Takeshi Koike, whom you may know from the amazing Animatrix "World Record" segment, and he was also a key animator on my all time favorite anime, the blisteringly cool DEAD LEAVES (with Redline sharing a fairly similar style). It didn't hurt that it's produced by renowned anime studio Madhouse either.

Got a chance to watch last weekend, and it does not disappoint!

The animation is sublime throughout, but where Redline maintains the next level cool is with the vision and scope of the story. Sure, it's ultimately a simple race tale, and for those amped up by it's high octane race visuals from previews and scenes online, it doesn't disappoint. However, there's more to this anime then just mindless racing action (not that it might not have been better served with more of that), but it offers a full story, on a few levels, with many sub-plots, character arcs... more than you'd expect from a title like this. Also, with it's intergalactic race circuit, it's of course rich with supporting characters of amazing variety. Basically, there's a lot to love, and that makes Redline utterly re-watchable. It did not supplant Dead Leaves at the top of my anime list though. Here's hoping we don't have to wait several years for another anime to challenge for the title!

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Con wars! (zombie comic style)

Since I have lots of ideas for comics, concepts, characters, and stories, many get through various stages of development, from ideas, to plots, to production art, and beyond. It's often the case, where some time will go by, and I'll eventually see those ideas show up in other places, be it TV, movies, or comics (and I'm sure it's not an occurrence exclusive to myself). It's always frustrating to see new fun ideas you came up with though, creative gold, being mined by someone else, but I've gotten pretty used to it.

Well, it's happened again, but this time it's especially stinging for a few reasons.

 A couple years ago I had an idea for a zombie story centered around San Diego Comic-Con, that I quickly dubbed CON of the DEAD. Plotting a graphic novel, scripting, and actively looking for an artist to partner with (as, at the time I was still finishing Super Real, and also developing Pulp Girls). For a time there were a couple different artists even potentially attached, and I even promoted the title with flyers at Comic-Con, created a page on the SRG site/blog, and again a bit later with a nice poster at the inaguaral ZomBcon (I even ran an ad for it in the SRG Presents: Wolves of Odin GN). So with the various promotional materials and efforts, the concept has been pretty public - an independent comic company hires a booth babe to portray their bad girl comic character, Vampblade, complete with twin 30" replica blades, at Comic-Con International, when a fanboy zombie outbreak occurs, and the model is forced to fight for survival alongside some other rather unique equipped con-goers.

 Now, it turns out, as reported by BleedingCool.com, Boom! has a comic book coming soon called Fanboys VS Zombies, with the concept being that a group of fanboys band together to fight off a zombie outbreak at Comic-Con International. I'm not frustrated that the concept is so similar, as much as I am that it will likely come out before mine. I don't really think the folks behind this idea stole mine or anything. I mean, it's entirely possible, I've had it out there for the taking, but it's just a cool idea, that I think it was just a matter of time before someone else came up with or executed it. It does make it extra rough to know it's set up as comic book though, and that the cover art is so similar to the poster we created for Con of the Dead...

Their cover art (by Humberto Ramos no less)

Our promo image

Our image, to be precise, is from October 2010, just over one year ago, and was posted to DeviantArt as well as my blog. Notice how both covers feature fanboys and zombies pictured outside the actual San Diego convention hall... Again, I don't really think this is swiped or taken from our work, it's a pretty easy image to create for such a concept, but it is at least annoying to see such similarities.

 However, to further make this a tough one to swallow, the artist that's attached to the project also happens to be a good friend of mine in the industry!

 Sheesh!
 Rub it in fellas!
 LOL

 So yeah, I know this is all on me for not getting my project out there sooner, but unfortunately, it never came together like I wanted (anyone who follows me, knows I've been talking about this for some time). All that said, I by no means am throwing in the towel here, or conceding to this other nefarious doppelganger!! Con of the Dead is, beyond it's fun concept, a cool story and cast of characters, that stands on it's own (and also sounds somewhat different from this new concept), and I look forward to competing in the market with it. (And it should be noted, I'm not exactly a stranger to rolling out a concept that has rival projects breaking similar new ground... Super Real wasn't the first or only mash-up of reality TV and comic book superheroes to hit the racks in the mid/early aughts when it finally saw full release.)

I guess it should also be mentioned, that it certainly won't hurt to be clear up front that I've got a similar concept to this new one, should there be any eyebrows raised in a similar fashion on the other side of this zombie Comic-Con coin.

The lesson here is one I've known for far too long, get stuff out asap before someone else beats you to the punch! For once I just wish this didn't come true.

 More to come!

Not80sU UPDATE quatro

I bring more manic 80's zombie production art from my upcoming NIGHT OF THE 80'S UNDEAD comic...

Bill (the fabulous Mr McKay) gets just the right amount of motion and detail jumping off in this partial glimpse of a double page sprawling panel!

Can we outdo ourselves with preview cinco?!?! Stay tuned!!!

Another week...

another batch of sketch cards and art on eBay!!
CLICK HERE

Another round of: Rantz Angels, Pulp Girls, and Galaxgals!

Uncanny X-Men 1 sketch cover (Emma Frost), and Wonder Woman sketch

More sketch cards on eBay!

Just listed another batch of ARTIST EXCLUSIVE sketch cards on eBay - CLICK HERE

Rantz Angels (from my buddies card set), Pulp Girls (from the 5finity series from my concepts), and Galaxgals (from the 5finity series)

Tis the season...

to worry about the end of life as we know it on Earth?!?!?

HAPPY NEW YEARS!!! 

If nothing else, here's some good music to check out from the last year... BEST of 2011 SPOTIFY playlist

Not80sU UPDATE 3

Time for another weekly glimpse at production art from my upcoming NIGHT OF THE 80'S UNDEAD zombie comic...

Since we've been peeking at the zombie action lately, I thought I'd show a panel from some down time.

Calm before the storm!

Looks like quite the party! At least there's a fair amount of 80's action going on there...
It's actually a shot of our protagonist, Jen, having not quite a great time (looks like she'd rather be squaring off with hordes of coke-zombies!).

Artwork by Bill McKay.

Sketch Cover!

Here's another sketch cover I just finished up of the recent Marvel Comics DEFENDERS issue 1 relaunch...

It's done as an homage to GIANT-SIZE DEFENDERS number 1, and features most of the new Defenders; Namor, She-Hulk (red), Doctor Strange, and Silver Surfer!

Listed on eBay HERE

 Here's the original (Gil Kane) cover...

sketchcards!

More of them, back on ebay to be precise...

Like this one, snatch it up for cheap, she's going to be like my mascot and/or future comic character. Right now she qualifies as a Pulp Girl.

My art on eBay can be found HERE

Not80sU UPDATE 2

Thought I'd show another glimpse at production art for my upcoming NIGHT OF THE 80'S UNDEAD zombie comic...

Here's another panel from the first issue's 17th page, with more feral coke zombie action!

"Nose candy!!!!!!!!!"

Artwork by Bill McKay.

Not80sU UPDATE

Just got some new artwork for my in production new book, NIGHT OF THE 80'S UNDEAD, so thought I'd share a small peek...

Coke zombies going gonzo for that foo-foo dust!

Artwork on the book is by Bill McKay.

We're nearing completion of pencils for the first issue.

Artwork on eBay

The winter purge continues...
I've got another round of artwork recently listed on eBay.

This time I've got another Uncanny X-Men 1 sketch cover (and again with Emma Frost, since the last was popular):

A couple of my AE cards from the 5finity Galaxgals Eradication set:

 (I call them Martian Princess and BluBarella)

Another Painkiller Jane, and a Pulp Girl (my Dust Bunny, from my Pulp Girls concept/s):

Contact me if you want anything similar, I have more sketch cover and sketch card blanks!

New Tee design: FROG BROS.

Here's a new tee design I just finished...
For some reason the idea hit me to mash-up THE LOST BOYS' teenage vampire hunters, the Frog Brothers, with the 8bit goodness of Super Mario Bros.

Which gives you Edgar and Alan Frog in the style of Mario and Luigi!!

You can vote for the design over on UK custom shirt site, QWERTEE now: HERE 
Go on and pop on over there now and help me out (they've got some cool stuff)! ;)

Or you can pick it up now from my RedBubble account: HERE

Sketchcards on eBay

Time to do some winter art clean out, which means wrangling up all the loose artwork that's accumulated throughout the year and sell sell sell!

 I've got a bunch of blank artist exclusive (return) sketch cards to get rid of, including; Painkiller Jane, Galax Gals, and more.

I sketched up a couple of the Painkiller Jane cards the other day and posted those on eBay (along with a couple others) with low opening bids...

I've also added a bunch of sketches/originals from various pieces to the for sale gallery in my DeviantArt gallery, as well as marking down old stuff, and offering a buy one get one free and other incentives. You can check those out and details on the offers HERE

 Stay tuned to the blog or LIKE my new Facebook fan page for updates on more winter sale stuff!

Artwork: sketch cover

Did an Emma Frost wrap-around sketch cover for the recent Uncanny X-Men number 1 relaunch...

Sketch cards for charity

Steve Frank runs the sketch card company 5finity, and every year he does a charity auction for March of Dimes. This year I contributed 5 cards to the auction, and they're now up on eBay for bidding. I did my cards right as DC was doing their new 52 comics relaunch, so all the cards are inspired by the new takes on some of my faves...

Wonder-Woman, Batman, Superman (in his Action comics street Supes guise), Superman, and Supergirl

BRONZED BEAUTIES 6: bronze blitz!

The Bronze Age, comics forgotten era.
In the 1970's comic companies pushed their content in new and wildly different directions inspired by the anything goes social attitudes of the times, while also balancing new fan fostered talent at the helms of post Comics Code adherent, kid friendly books.
While not much born of the era had lasting impressions, there's a cool factor to the books that's singular in style, and inescapable if one looks just a bit closer...
That's where I come in, with Bronzed Beauties, my weekly look at some of the books from the era, that feature more were-men, cyborgs, man-things, barbarians, sorceresses, dinosaurs, monsters, and damsels in distress than any other time, all in striking and vibrant (or should I say faded) four color ink!

Since it's been a few months since I last featured any bronze age beauties, before I get back into doing full weekly book reviews, I thought I'd do quick reviews of multiple bronze books I read through a while back, just highlighting some of the key bronze attributes for each, and not fully detailing them this time. With some cool new books in full review to follow, starting next week!

So, let's get started...

Artwork: New 52 Supergirl sketch

Here's a recent sketch (pencil, ink, and marker on 8.5x11" acid free paper) of the New 52 version of Supergirl (loving the new reboots of Supergirl and Wonder Woman btw)...

Which is available on eBay now!

I hope to do more sketches and sketch covers (like this recent Wolverine and the X-Men number 1, I sold on eBay, pictured below) to put up on eBay this winter!

Portland Comic Book Show

My local con, the PORTLAND COMIC BOOK SHOW is tomorrow (Sunday), so just a quick note that if you're from the area too, you can catch me at the show (table 149).

I'll have my new NIGHT OF THE 80'S UNDEAD books, as well as much much more, and will be doing sketches!

New Facebook fan page and store

I recently created a new store with all my comics, sketchbooks, and items in it, including fan art prints (which until now I've never offered online) and more! You can check that out by clicking below here:



You can also get 20% off right now if you visit my new Facebook fan page and "like" that!

I plan to add more material moving forward, including more prints, and t-shirts.
Right now there aren't any t-shirts in there, but don't forget you can pick up some of my designs from my Redbubble store:

New comic available now!

My latest crazy comic creation, NIGHT OF THE 80'S UNDEAD (aka NIGHT OF THE COKEHEADS), is available now in a limited edition full first issue preview!!!

Can you say commie contaminated Colombian cocaine carnage?!?

Check it out now...
The book showcases full story pages, plus script to thumbnail, and character sketch sections (plus a zombie Selleck lookin cover by yours truly)!!

Pick it up HERE