Today’s post is of a rejected sketch I did for a comic called SIDEKICKS created by J. Torres (writer) and Takeshi Miyazawa (artist). It’s a great book that I took to immediately– and I was thrilled when C.B. Cebulski (then Publisher of FANBOY ENTERTAINMENT– now Marvel Editor) asked me to do a cover for the book. It gave me the opportunity to draw in a more cartoony manner than I usually do for my “mainstream” work– and it’s more natural and more indicative of the kind of work I’d like to do on a regular basis…. if I weren’t fearful that it would alienate me from that very “mainstream” market.

Over at MYSTIFYING ORACLE, Parker has put up a map of the layout for the COMICON INTERNATIONAL in San Diego this year. I head heard from several folks in the comics creative community of what a “ghetto” that Artist’s Alley has become at that show– but until I saw this little map of the show floor layout, I really didn’t have much of an idea just HOW MUCH OF A GHETTO it has been turned into. As the show quickly morphs year to year into more of a venue for film and gaming (card and video) companies to strut their wares, it’s sad to think that what was once the most exciting and lucrative show in the country for comic book creators and publishers is pushing those very folks who’s presence helped to build the COMICON into what it is today to the side like unwanted red-headed step children. Ah, well– I’ve always got my memories of my first experiences there in 1991 and 1992 to keep with me.

There’s a cool interview with a new buddy of mine, Skottie Young over at NEWSARMA. Skottie is a great new young talent– and his growth is amazing week by week to watch– and he’s incredibly enthusiastic about the comics medium and its potential. He’s one to watch.

I stumbled onto an interview with Kazu Kibuishi over at SILVER BULLET COMICBOOKS. It’s about the incredible anthology, FLIGHT, he’s helming that’s coming out soon from IMAGE COMICS — as well as another project of his called DAISY CUTTER coming soon from VIPER COMICS. I haven’t been so excited by an upcoming comic as I am about the FLIGHT anthology in a looooong time. As I said to Kazu in a message board post not too long ago, I think FLIGHT is going to be one of the greatest comic book “experiences” to be had for quite some time. What I’ve seen so far in previews is just breathtakingly gorgeous.

OK–my head is spinning from coding all the links, so it’s back to work for me.

Mike

Laura Gjovaag, who maintains the Bloggity-Blog-Blog-Blog…blog… is a huge fan of AQUAMAN. She regularly posts sketches that she’s gotten comics pros to do for her at shows. I enjoy seeing different artists interpretations of the character. Yesterday I posted a sketch I did of a LEGION “warm-up” I did a while back in anticipation of the possibility that I might be working on that title. Well, today’s sketch is along the same lines. Mark Waid and I often talk about projects we’d like to work on together– and AQUAMAN is a character that we both have an affinity for…. and we think along the same lines of how we’d like to see the character handled. We had been batting ideas back and forth and I got enthusiastic about the possibilities, so I worked up this sketch to send to Mark and show him how I visualized the AQUAMAN that was in my head. So– anyway, Laura– this one’s for you.

I have to send out a huge “THANK YOU” to Craig Zablo at the STALLONE ZONE for the feature on my blog and web site at the top of his own blog yesterday! He’s got a terrific site– and I was only familiar with his collecton of Sylvester Stallone art! So again, Craig– thank you very much!

Over at NEWSARAMA, there’s an interview with Ted Naifeh, who is, hands down, one of the most talented artists I’ve ever seen. The guy’s art is absolutely gorgeous and I really enjoy his COURTNEY CRUMIN series of mini series. He’s very prolific as well, which makes me envious that someone who draws that damned well can be so fast.

So that’s it for today.

More tomorrow, I hope.

Mike

UPDATE– Thanks to my “unofficial blog guru” Jeff Parker, I now have a comments link via HaloScan….! So comment away, if you’d like.

First off, I’d like to thank The Johnny Bacardi Show for the link to this blog. It’s nice to know that people are stumbling on this little space in the overhwhelming cacophony that is the Web. And as always, thanks to my buddy Jeff Parker for the constant plugs/shout outs and links to my blog. Parker’s the guy who’s been gently chiding me for months to start updating on a regular basis, so I owe him for the inspiration.

A few posts back, I put up a picture of the original LEGION team that I did as a Christmas picture for Mark Waid last holiday. What I DIDN’T say was that it was also a little nod to something that ALMOST happened. Back when there was the incredible internet furor over Mark being “fired” (or removed– depending on your perspective. “Fired” if you’re Mark Waid or any of his fans– “removed” if you’re a misguided Bill Jemas) from FANTASTIC FOUR– Mark was in talks with DC about taking over LEGION of SUPERHEROES as the ongoing writer as a replacement for his lost FF gig. I had removed myself from the FF title in support of Mark– so I was ALSO in talks with DC about DRAWING Mark’s upcoming LEGION run. I’m not going to bore everyone with all the minute back-and-forth details of what actually happened. But as everone who followed this little episode already knows, I ended up BACK on FF (with Mark, of course) when all the dust settled anyway. But I wanted to put up just a little example of a SATURN GIRL sketch I did at the time as a warm up in anticipation of working on the book. It would have been fun– but I think everything worked out the way it was ultimately meant to be in the end.

I’m still looking forward to Mark’s run on LEGION. I know it’s going to be great– it’ll just be without me.

Mike

I just finished a page of FANTASTIC FOUR. It’s late at night (at least for me….), and I’m tired and sleepy. Still– I wanted to keep up the pace of recent days of posting new stuff for anyone who’s still coming here from time to time to look at. It’s fun to do… and hopefully anyone watching is enjoying. (You COULD let me know if it’s something you’re into by going to my message boards/forum and let me know). Anyway, I worked up a quick sketch of a barbarian of sorts to get something up tonight.

So– that’s it. I’m heading off to bed.

Mike

Mark Waid, my “partner in crime” in FANTASTIC FOUR is one of the most generous and thoughtful folks I’ve ever encountered. He’s always sending me wonderful gift baskets full of exotic fruits and cheeses each Christmas–and I consider myself a very scatterbrained kinda guy, and I always end up losing track of time and not sending ANY of my great comic buddies (like Mark, or Todd Dezago and many others….) ANYTHING for Christmas. Not even a card.

So this past year, I decided to do something for Mark to try to make up for all those years of neglect. So, knowing that Mark was going to be taking over writing one of his all time favorite titles– LEGION OF SUPERHEROES– I thought it would be a nice touch to do a pencil piece for him of the original core characters.

And now, I present it for your perusal.

That’s it for today.

Mike