Cover's Got Back

Yes, it's true, I've been bad about posting artwork lately. I'm trying to break the story for my next project, which is not going well, but I'll wrangle it down.

In the meantime, I've been working on designing the second Love and Capes collection. (What's that? You want a link to pre-order? Here you go!) It's not just dropping the pages into inDesign, but reformatting the covers, writing and creating the back matter, and designing new sidepapers.

I don't know if sidepapers is even a real term, but that's what I call them. My stories are 24 pages (with #10 being 26 and #12 being 45) which means that if you want to maintain the page-one-on-the-right, page-two-on-the-left reading order, you've got a blank page on the back side of the cover. Not wanting to have a completely empty page, I designed some filler art for each chapter. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but now it means creating them for this second edition.

I don't know if sidepapers is even a real term, but that's what I call them.

In the first trade, there were six images (Crusader, Abby, Darkblade, Arachnerd, Charlotte, and Amazonia) but in this one there are only five. The back of the issue #12 cover is the alternate cover. So I drew these.

All of them are original, except for Amazonia which reuses the art I did for the Comic Creators Alliance's art jam to end human trafficking. (By the way, the art raised over $10,000, and that is all kinds of awesome!) The art is below, and feel free to click and embiggen!

I Believe the French Call It...

So what's Amazonia offering that Mark needs to check with Abby? You'll have to read the book to find out.

I was stuck on how to handle page eight, but I think I've broken that, too. This book seems to be coming a little faster than I would have thought, which is great because I just signed a contract to do some children's book illustrations that will take up a bunch of time. Can't complain, of course, but things are looking kind of tight, and could always get tighter.

Hmmm, perhaps I've said too much.

Page Six

It's a little early in the run to be blocking out dialogue, but I'm doing it now. There's a plot twist early in the book, and I want to keep it secret. So, we have faded lettering here.

And, with this page, I am one-quarter of the way done with #11. It's fun to watch that number count down (or up, I suppose) and see completion come so fast. Of course, #12 will be extra sized, so things will go slower the next time.

I like the coloring and staging in this sequence. It's fun doing the night scenes in Chronopolis, and the cathedral may be the most visually interesting set I have there. And I like the body language, Darkblade working his iPhone while holding a cup of coffee. Apparently, a futuristic iPhone that allows you to swipe while wearing gloves. Or maybe Darkblade has special electrostatic gloves. You never know with him.

Pin and Win!

I've been working with Pop Culture Trading Pins for a few months now. I've designed some Archie pins and designs, and we're even doing some Love and Capes pins. The initial set will be Crusader and Abby, Darkblade, and Amazonia. Here, you can see everyone's favorite Nuclear Man with the prototype for the Darkblade pin. As soon as they're available for sale, I'll let you know.

Until then, check out the Pop Culture Trading Pins site here.