It's Mocha Time!
Whew! What a week. And there's still a weekend left!
I did HeroesCon in Charlotte last week. Stories will follow, seriously, but I also needed to finish up the first issue of Love and Capes: Ever After. Yeah, it's not due out for a while, but it'll come out monthly, so I need to get way ahead.
So, today I finished the first issue. It was an odd process this time, as I took some tracing paper and the grid sheet… the same one I've used since issue #1… down to Charlotte so I could pencil pages at my table. Over the three day show, I did the three pages, so that I could bring them back and ink them on Tuesday, and start coloring thereafter. And now it's done. Yay!
I'll be starting on the next issue next week. After I appear at the Kids Read Comics event in Dearborn, Michigan this weekend. If you're around, come on by. It's my first year, but Top Men who have been at the event have raved about it. I'm looking forward to it.
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!
The Mocha of Victory, part nine
…The Mocha of Victory!
Guest starring Supergirl, from the Alex Ross collection, wearing my favorite of her many costumes.
In a day or two, I'll be getting a proof of the book and it should be printed and out to stores the first part of January. Then you can all find out the resolution to last issues exciting cliffhanger!