Variants on a Theme

The first DW-published issue of Love and Capes is in the Previews catalog now. Have I mentioned that yet? And that it's order code DEC10 0406? Hmm, I should make a note of that.

Editor Chris Ryall suggested that we do some variant covers for the issues. The first issue, coming out in time for Valentine's Day, has a retro Valentine cover that I designed. Chris and I were so in sync on this one that we independently suggested doing a Valentine cover as well as both referencing the I Choo-Choo-Choose You card from The Simpsons.

Mira:

Issue two will sport an awesome cover from Tom Beland, the guy who does the romantic comic that I aspire to. Of course, his is autobiographical, so maybe I can give myself a pass having not met his lovely wife. His cover is based on something that happens in the issue, so you'll have to check it out.

Pencils and inks by Mr. Beland, and colors by me!

And, as Chris posted on his blog and later picked up by Robot6, I was lucky enough to get Darwyn Cooke to do a cover for issue #3. Darwyn's New Frontierwas a huge influence on me and Love and Capes. I kept the absolute edition next to my drawing table as I worked, so this is a huge treat.

There will be another variant for issue #4, drawn by my friend and phenomenal talent Chris Bailey. Chris was nominated for an Oscar for his Mickey Mouse cartoon Runaway Brain. He's worked on Disney films, and did the animation direction for the Garfield films, the Alvin and the Chipmunks films, and the forthcoming Hop. He also mixes a mean mai-tai.

We're still working on that one, so I can't show it yet.

Issue #5 will have a variant by me again. Yeah, less impressive, I know, but this is going to be one of those "special" issues and I didn't want to hand that one off to anyone else. Wouldn't have been fair.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I actually draw some pages of the next issue. Yikes, that's coming up fast!

Thirteen Down, Five to Go!

Love and Capes #13 is done! And that means it's time for…

…the Mocha of Victory!

The Mocha of Victory is a grand tradition dating back, oh some two or three years. It's a celebratory Starbucks drink when I accomplish something big with Love and Capes. Usually there's one when the story and art are finished, and one when the book prints. What differenitates a normal venti mocha skim no-whip from a Mocha of Victory? It just tastes sweeter.

Issue #13 came together much faster than I would have thought, and much better, too. Honestly, I wasn't quite ready to start this issue as soon as I did, but I pushed through and everything tied together nicely. You'll see the results May 1st on Free Comic Book Day (and then available through the website and Haven Distributors shortly thereafter).

I always try to do a little better with every issue. You've got to keep pushing to get better. In this issue, the story went places I hadn't expected. In fact, if you'd asked me last year if I would have done the plot I have, I would have said "No way!" The characters really took the reins from me. And, as always, I tried to make the art better. Here's a panel that shows what I mean. Mark's pose as he's reacting to his ring is a lot more animated and fluid than anything I would have done a year ago.

I read the Walt Stanchfield Drawn to Life books, and those have just been my taskmasters trying to make my drawings come even more alive. I'm not "there" yet, and for that matter, I don't think you ever actually reach an end point in your artistic journey. You should keep striving for more and better.And big thanks to my friend Chris Bailey, animation director on the animated Alvin and the Chipmunks features, for recommending those books. They've been invaluable.

Today, I'll be doing the things I ignored most of yesterday to draw the final two pages. Then, eventually, I'll do production work and get the book to the printer. And don't forget, there are still advertising spaces left!