Like so many folks of my generation who were/are comic book fans (oh, boy…. I feel old when I start a sentence like that…), I was a big fan of Jack Kirby. Maybe not as much a fan as I was of some of the other artists working during that time….. stuff like early George Perez work… Jim Aparo, Dave Cockrum’s work on LEGION OF SUPERHEROES….. stuff like that. But there was something about Kirby’s work that was so appealing to my young eyes. It was the power and energy that was so evident in his drawing and the pure awesome imagination his art and stories embodied. His work might not have been as precise or elegant as some others working during that time– but his creative spirit was always so blindingly brilliant that there’s no wonder that so many people gravitated toward it. It’s sad to think that the younger readers of today don’t have much of a sense of Kirby’s work and legacy.

My father bought a lot of Kirby’s work that was published at DC during the 70’s. He had copies of the JIMMY OLSEN stuff and the DEMON comic as well as OMAC. But it was Kirby’s FOURTH WORLD comics that really grabbed me. I really loved his MISTER MIRACLE, FOREVER PEOPLE…. and in particular, his NEW GODS work. It was a fantastic new world for young eyes to behold. So– naturally… I had to have my own version of ORION, the lead character from NEW GODS. It’s funny looking at the old drawing now– I even NAMED him in a way that was a copy…. ORION– ARAON. It’s so funny to look back and see how my young mind worked….. or copied.

So, anyway– here’s the old drawing followed by my new drawing. Man, that helmet is awkward looking….

Mike

I’ve had several folks asking me to post photos of my studio because it’s something that interests them. I guess it’s something that interests me as well. It’s fun to see the work space of folks who draw for a living– so I can relate. So, here’s a few shots of my studio space, including my sweet new computer system.

And I’d also like to share some pictures of little Charlie, my cat– who really isn’t all that little anymore. He’s grown into quite a big fella, and when he stretches out, he’s like a giant sausage with legs….. as you’ll see.

Here’s Charlie, barely tolerating me taking YET ANOTHER picture of him. I think his face says it all…..

And here’s a picture of a creature who is a MASTER of relaxation and deep sleep.

The fine folks at COMIXFAN did an interview with me recently and you can find it here. It centers on my recently ended run on FANTASTIC FOUR and looks slightly ahead to the FF team’s upcoming run on the new SPIDER-MAN title that begins in October of this year.

Mike

Here’s a sketch of DAREDEVIL that I slapped some colors on in Photoshop. I can tell that it’s going to take me a LOOOOOOOONNNNNNNGGGGGG time to get any kind of handle on what I’m doing with this program. It’s so foreign to me, being someone who’s used to the feel of actual traditional art tools to try to use this digital one…. it’s like I’m a 12 year old again having to learn all over. It’s very frustrating– but I can’t be the only guy in comics that DOESN’T know how to use it….. I just CAN’T….!

Mike

Here’s a first on two counts. One, it’s my first shot at drawing Mary Jane since my last issue of SENSATIONAL SPIDER-MAN all those years ago (it seems like half-a-lifetime by now…)– and second, it’s my first time trying to color something in Photoshop. I can’t say I’m entirely happy with the results, but as frustrating as it was to do, I’m not going to try to futz with it anymore and possibly make it worse. I’m a very slow, slow learner as a rule anyway– but Photoshop to me just seems like something that’s almost alien in its complexity. My brother was here at my home this past weekend (with his lovely wife as well as my parents– we had a wonderful Easter visit) and he gave me a tutorial on the software. Watching his hands fly over the keys and play with various functions as he showed me everything that PS can do– he made it look so effortless. But of course, when I sit down to try a few things, all that “learnin'” flies right out of my head. I guess I was lucky to just be able to set up the layers properly.

Anyway, I’ll be playing with PS more to try to get better with it, but the frustration factor might keep me from posting too many colored sketches in the future. So for now, here’s my crudely colored Mary Jane……

Mike

Here’s another take on Peter’s look. This time, I tried a look with slightly longer hair– a softer and less rigid look. I always liked the idea of a Peter Parker who is so busy with his photography for the BUGLE, taking care of his Aunt May, his part-time teaching, dating (or marriage) AND TO TOP IT OFF, being SPIDER-MAN whenever the need arises. This wouldn’t leave him a whole lot of time for maintaining an immaculate coif at all times. Something about this look makes Peter more accessible and kinder.

There’s more work to be done on ALL the cast…!

More later….

Mike