The Swing of Things

Yup, we're getting back to regular Love and Capes posts. Here's a panel from page two, where Abby and Charlotte are discussing Amazonia's book.

This page was kind of rough to write, as I had to toss in a bunch of exposition about Abby and Zoe's relationship, the book signing, and other things, but still cloak it as natural dialogue. I've promised myself I'll never write "as you know" and I'm proud that I managed to avoid it again.

Hey, only 22 pages left to go.

Do You Promise Not To Tell?

The House of Zahler is turning into the House of Secrets.

I just got confirmation that I'll have to head back to LA in a couple weeks. Why? Can't tell you, sorry. But it's a good thing, and potentially a fantastic thing. But I promise, I'll let you know something as soon as I know something.

It makes me feel better about once again skipping WizardChicago, though. If I'd had three week-or-more travel events in one month, it would have been almost unmanageable.

I'd love to show you some artwork, and hopefully tomorrow I can show you something finished... like the first new page of Love and Capes #6. I did just do a huge piece of artwork for a frequent client, but I can't spoil anything for them by posting the finish.

Lest I leave you with nothing, though, I am posting part of the pencils of that piece. Where it appears and why, well, that's another secret.

Dead Trees Society

While I was in San Diego, I got a call from my art director at the Fort Worth Weekly needing a cover designed. When he found out I was on the Left Coast, he offered to find another artist, but I said that I could do it. Hey, work’s work, and besides, generating revenue while I was out there made me feel better about buying a Doctor Who Sonic Screwdriver and my impending annual trip to Amoeba Records.

So, here’s the artwork for the cover I designed. It’s mostly done in Illustrator, with some Photoshop effects. I think it came out pretty well, exceptionally for one done on the road.

Zappity-zap! Don't Talk Back!

Yet another Buzzboy page, and I think it turned out pretty well. This one was done in the morning, as opposed to the last one. The Indians played yesterday afternoon, if you can call losing to Chicago the way they did "playing", so I wasn't working to the Tribe.

Speaking of Chicago, I've mentioned once or twice before a secret project that is now being used in the Chicagoland area. I'll be getting some images of it soon and I will be able to talk about it a little more. Of course, no project can live to this kind of build-up (except, of course, Love and Capes #5, the greatest printed comic in this or any other millenium) but I think it's pretty cool, and it's for a pretty high-profile company, and both the client and I are very happy with it.

Way to Go, Garko!

I've knocked out another Buzzboy page, this time a two-page spread. I hadn't intended to get it done last night, but the Indians decided to throw an extra-inning affair thanks to Ryan Garko. So as long as I was up, I figured that I could do some work. So far, this is my favorite page, both artwise and colorwise in the book. The creator of the book just e-mailed some some digital kudos, too.

You can tell when a page is going to come together. It's when you can't resist working on it, and when you keep telling yourself "oh, one more panel and I'll quit for the night" until the whole thing is done.

Today's Haul

Today's artwork sampling: I'm back on the Wacom, as I'm coloring more Buzzboy.

I've also gotten the complete shipment of Love and Capes now. It'll be in stores soon. I spent a chunk of the day sending out review copies, so hopefully it will be showing up on some comics sites and magazines, too. I also sent out the big Mark and Abby display to my booth in San Diego, so as of now, I think everything is either in California or in transit, with the exception of myself and things that I'm bringing myself.

I've got a goodish weird feeling about this San Diego Comic-con. Let's hope I'm right.

Last One of the First Batch

This is the last of the first batch of four Buzzboy pages. I finally get to color the rest of Buzzboy's gang. And with this done, I'm just waiting for more pages to get my hands and digital crayons on.

Buzzboy, Page Three

Here's the third of the first set of four pages of Buzzboy. In this one, giant walker things attack the city, and yet, the book avoids the stench of Spielberg's War of the Worlds remake.

Page Two

Here's the second of the first batch of Buzzboy pages that I'm coloring. I'm getting back into the swing of things, and I think they're turning out nice so far. Two more to go. As always, clicken to embiggen!

Buzzed Because

It's time for another issue of Buzzboy, and I'm back coloring again. I did a few pages for the Free Comic Book Day issue, but wasn't able to do the whole issue because of my work on my FCBD book, a little something I may have mentioned somewhere called Love and Capes.

Anyway, here's the first page. Click to embiggerize!