For quite a while, Marvel has had sort of a “generic iconic shot” approach to their cover images– but thankfully that seems to be loosening up a bit. The last few covers I’ve had to do for FANTASTIC FOUR have actually had something to do with what is going on in the interior of the book. (Imagine that…..). But when “ICONIC” was the rule of the day, it was very, very difficult to come up with something for each successive cover that would be distinct from the one before. Even with a team book like FF it was a hard thing to do. Just take a look at any ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN cover if you want the… well, ultimate– proof of that. I can’t tell one from the other. ANYHOO– I went through many variations of sketches for each cover when the old policy was in force. Here are a few rejected sketches that were all done for the same cover (although the issue number escapes me now).

Jeff Parker over at MYSTIFYING ORACLE has posted a couple more audio blog entries for us all to listen to. On these, Parker does what I was HOPING he would do, and he interviews (as best he can with new technology and lots of crowd noise) various comics luminaries. It’s funny to listen to as you can imagine trying to do the same thing under those conditions. Unfortunately, Parker didn’t win the EISNER for BEST NEW TALENT (I voted for ya, buddy…!)– but if Jeff couldn’t be the one to win it, I certainly can’t complain about Derek Kirk Kim being the recipient. His book SAME DIFFERENCE and OTHER STORIES is an amazing achievement of art and writing. Besides being a phenomenal illustrator, his writing has that sort of insight into the human condition that I wish -I- could have and do my own sort of comics in that mode. Amazing stuff.

You can get a full rundown of all the EISNER AWARD winners over at THE PULSE. I don’t think they have permalinks– but right now, the EISNER WINNERS item is at the top of the main page.

It’s Saturday, the biggest day of the show at COMICON INTERNATIONAL, so if there are going to be any huge announcements that will shake the comics world, today’s the day they’ll come out. So far, it’s been pretty quiet news wise. I’ve been scouring the comics news sites for any great tidbits, but the biggest story so far has been the sheer size that the show has become–and how much less of a comics show it has morphed into. Fortunately, I think that even though comics creators, publishers and retailers are getting squeezed to the edges, there are just so many fans attending that sales seem to still be quite prodigious from the accounts I’ve been reading. That makes me happy.

I just noticed recently that I’ve made it to the BLOGROLL at Kevin Melrose’s THOUGHT BALLOONS blog…! Thanks so much for adding me to the list, Kevin. I really feel like I’m becoming a part of the comics “blogverse” (if that’s the right term).

OK– that’s it for now.

Mike

I’ve got a couple of pieces for you today. The first one is yet another BLACK CAT sketch. It’s something I started to perhaps sell on eBay, but lost interest in finishing the background (I THINK that’s why I never finished it…) and put it aside. I have always liked the BLACK CAT character for some reason. She’s incredibly visually striking with her cool, sleek black costume and her flowing white hair. And it’s a ton of fun to draw beautiful women. I’d love to work on a BLACK CAT series for Marvel, and even spoke to my editor about the possibility, but I couldn’t think of a driving overall theme to make the series go. She’s a great supporting character, but as a lead in her own series…? I’m sure someone could make it work. Anyway, here’s the piece….

The second sketch is of the two main characters from a wonderful comic called DAVID AND GOLIATH by Jay Ju (writer) and Leonel Castellini (artist). Leonel’s art is absolutely beautiful– it’s reminiscent of a Disney movie in its style, and the story is wonderfully done… set during the lead up to WW II (so it’s got some dastardly Nazi villains). You can see a preview of the great first issue over at the IMAGE COMICS site, even though there’s already been three issues published. See for yourself how beautiful it is.

As promised, Jeff Parker over at MYSTIFYING ORACLE has begun audio blogging from COMICON INTERNATIONAL in San Diego. I like the one from the restaurant after the show one night– you can actually hear someone in the background asking “Are you AUDIO BLOGGING….??!??”. I really DO love modern technology…!

See you tomorrow, folks.

Mike

Now that the COMICON INTERNATIONAL in San Diego is in full swing, I thought it would be alright to post today’s sketch without stepping on the toes of the character’s owner. This is GRETA, an evil female Nazi antagonist from Bill Presing’s wonderful comic book REX STEELE: NAZI SMASHER.

I first saw REX STEELE and cast in a wonderful digest sized anthology called MONKEYSUIT. It immediately captured my imagination and blew me away with Bill’s fantastic style of drawing. He’s got a really unique way of drawing that sort of blends hints of manga with 1950’s inspired illustration. Heck, I’m not doing it justice in the description, but when you see some of his work, you’ll know what I’m attempting to get at. On the MONKEYSUIT.COM site, you’ll also be able to order a copy of a DVD of the brand-spanking new REX STEELE: NAZI SMASHER animated movie! By clicking on THIS link, you can get a glimpse at the trailer, some stills and ordering information as well. It’s absolutely amazing how well they managed to capture Bill’s style.

You can also go here to see some examples of Bill’s drawings. There’s not a lot– but the ones that are there are mighty sweet…!

Bill’s put together a collection of all the REX STEELE short stories that originally appeared in the first three MONKEYSUIT anthologies as well as some new material — and a bunch of pinups and sketches by some of his artist buddies that he’s selling at the COMICON INTERNATIONAL. The sketch I’m posting today is included in the collection. I’m thrilled to be even a teeny part of Bill’s wonderful book– and I can’t wait to get my hands on it and that DVD!!!

OK– that’s it for now.

Mike

I’m posting a couple of sketches today. The first is a BLACK CAT sketch (I’ve got a two-day BC theme going, it seems…) I originally did to auction off on eBay. Then I was contacted by A.C.T.O.R. about doing something for one of their auctions to raise money for retired comic book folks (or ones in need/out of work and in dire straits)– and I thought it would make a nice piece to do a finished/inked version for their auction. Unfortunately, I didn’t make a nice scan of the finished/inked piece, but I DID make a scan of the original sketch. So, here’s the BLACK CAT pencil sketch to start with:

The second sketch is something I did for a thread over on the THE DRAWING BOARD that was a “fan art” thread dedicated to the wonderful Enrico Casarosa’s character MIA. Enrico’s work has a wonderful Hayao Miyazaki and Mobius crossed influence to it. And his MIA comics are incredibly well drawn, designed and are charming as hell. In fact, there a terrific interview with him over at NEWSARAMA. It’s got artwork from his MIA books, as well as links to his website, and to MONKEYSUIT.COM, who published some MIA shorts originally, and a link to a new web comic he’s doing called HAIKU 5-7-5. You’ve got to check out this phenomenal talent’s wares. You’ll be happy you did.

There’s also a great interview with NICK BRADSHAW at NEWSARAMA about his work in the ARMY OF DARKNESS comic book being published by– I think– DYNAMIC FORCES… the article isn’t specific. But it’s got a bunch of art from the book in the article, and it’s mindblowingly awesome. Nick is a HUGE EVIL DEAD fan, and it shows in ever page. I also first saw Nick’s work, like Enrico’s, on the DRAWING BOARD run by Shane Glines (I TOLD you it was populated by some incredible artists, didn’t I…?)– and I’m thrilled that I’ll be able to have some Bradshaw goodness to hold in my sweaty little hands.

In another demonstration of the wonders of modern technology, Parker over at MYSTIFYING ORACLE promises to upload audio files of stuff happening at the COMICON INTERNATIONAL in San Diego this weekend. He missed his flight last night, but he’s heading out on another this morning. I’m looking forward to hearing the madness he’ll be giving us a little glimpse into at the show.

OK– another day down.

More tomorrow.

Mike

Unlike Parker, I haven’t yet made a habit of asking folks I do commissions for to send me scans of them for my records. Heck– it’s mostly because I always FORGET to do it in the chaos and noise of most big comics shows, so I don’t have much to show by way of convention commiissions like he does. But recently, I happened to stumble on an eBay auction that Doug Resnik was having, and it was a piece that I did for him at WIZARD WORLD PHILADELPHIA 2003, where I was sketching to raise money for A.C.T.O.R. at their booth. Doug has a massive collection of SPIDER-MAN related sketches/commissions, and he’s always combing through them and selling various pieces to help finance other, more ambitious ones. Anyway, I had really liked the way this one came out, so I emailed him and asked him to send me a scan– and he was nice enough to do so. So– here it is.

The COMICON INTERNATIONAL in San Diego starts tomorrow– so I expect that there will be very little traffic going on in the “comics cyberspace” during that time– but I’m not going to be there *choke*… (I’m probably one of only a HANDFULL of comics pros not going… I think the entire FANTASTIC FOUR creative and editorial team will be there but ME) and I’ll still be here posting sketches and blathering on for anyone who is left that actually checks this page out.

So– see you next time.

Mike