What's meant to be will always find a way

The Deco City convention center is one of those places that's so big that they're able to host two shows: a Bridal Fair and… a Comic Book Convention. I've had this idea in mind since I did my interview with Sequential Tart last year. So, if you've read the article, or are clever enough to click the link, you might find out what's going to happen.

There's one more page in this sequence, and I'll be glad when it's done. Trying to render a convention is a lot of work, even with some of the repeated background elements and people I've been able to use.

What's really heartening, though, is that this is already page fourteen. Sure, I'm worried about fitting all the story I have in mind into the last ten pages, but I usually get worried about that around this part of the process. But I've only got ten pages left, and thirty days or so before San Diego, so I'll hopefully have it done before I go. It'll be a nice thing to have off my mind while I'm in the big ol'convention.

If last year was any indication, I'll be sitting there at my table and then have a whack of inspiration for the next issue. Although I did have a moment in church Saturday where I had a couple ideas about #9. I figure that was either divine inspiration or a boring homily.

And it turns out that he was a missing person who nobody missed at all

It's lucky page thirteen! We're now more than halfway through issue eight, and Mark and Abby are going to a bridal fair. There may be another convention going on at the convention center, too, which we'll see in forthcoming pages.

And, speaking of conventions, have I mentioned that this issue will be debut at Mid-Ohio-Con in October? The very same Mid-Ohio-Con at which I will be a guest! Amazing coincidence, isn't it?

As long as we're talking conventions, I should mention that I and Toon Tumblers will be sharing booth #2000 at Comic-Con International in San Diego. Paul and Toon Tumblers will be at WizardWorld Chicago next week. And neither of us are at this week's Heroes Con in Charlotte, but I've heard nothing but good about the show and intend to do it someday.

Okay, it's time for a victory nap... and planning out the next exciting page!

In Stores This Week, Maybe Even Today

It's the special "Mighty" version of Love and Capes #7. Fair warning, Major Might does not appear inside the issue. He should be in #8 for a bit, though. Maybe he was flying so fast that he showed up an issue early.

I wake up, and tear drops, they fall down like rain

Page twelve is done! And with page twelve, I am halfway to home on book eight! Can I get a "Hell, yeah?"

I love doing this book. I also like having done this book. And now I'm coming out of the woods.

This one has had some harder patches than I expected. Lots of writer's block on the first page two, and another bout recently. But, I always have the end in mind, and the closer I get to that, the less that happens. Things should start happening faster now. Twelve pages in... what does that orange counter say? Thirty-five days. Well, it's definitely doable.

My characters sure drink a lot of wine, don't they? I wonder where they get that from?

More laughs than a stack of comic books, a wild imagination, a college education

I'm about one day off of my proper pace. It's halfway through June now, and I should be halfway through the eighth issue. I'm a page back from that. Don't worry, though, I think I can catch up by then.

Here we introduce Jason, the new regular character in the book. He's going to be taking Charlotte's place at Abby's bookstore. It took a little while to figure out what I wanted the new character to be. Hopefully, he'll blend with the group well. He should work out fine. Well, I'm still on the fence about his name, so that might change before the book sees print.

You'll notice, too, that Tim Russert's books are on display at Abby's bookstore. I just had to do that.

Seeing Green

Guess what movie I'm seeing tomorrow?

I've been meaning to tackle She-Hulk for a while, but I could never find a look that I liked. She's harder to draw, as she has to look strong and muscular while still being sexy. I don't think she's ever had a uniform or look that worked, aside from her time in the Fantastic Four. So, for this one, I went back to those Savage She-Hulk roots and did the ripped blouse look.

When I roughed this out, I just saw a green field and worked backwards, adding the non-green and the darker green areas. It's a decent piece and a great experiment.

She ain't into wine and roses, beer just makes her turn up her nose

So you want to know what the next exciting issue of Love and Capes will feature? Here it is, True Believer, it's going to be people having dinner and not talking. In fact, I may just repeat this panel over and over for the next fourteen pages.

Okay, it won't really. In fact, there's dialogue on this page, just not in this panel or the two before it. And it'll be funny, trust me.

I also like the sportsbar setting for this page, too. It's different than most of the other restaurants I've had scenes take place in. And you may not be able to make it out, but that's a Lake Catholic Cougars banner above them, although what it's doing in Deco City, I don't know.

Except a scene or two erased by sweet red wine

After a ten-day block, I've finished page nine. Worry not, I know exactly what will happen on page ten, so I shouldn't get so stuck on the next one. This one came out better than I thought, and has some pretty solid artwork. It's also got a couple of in-jokes, too. And, I did managed to make it funnier after I drew it, thanks to a kickboxing epiphany. (Finally, one that didn't happen in the shower.)

There's also a reference as seen in this posted panel to one of the inspirations for Love and Capes. That's the TV show Mad About You. I loved the show. I thought Paul and Jamie were two wonderful, well rounded, interesting characters. Jamie's sister, Lisa, was one of the major inspirations for Charlotte (who has since morphed into a character of her own). And, they've just started replaying them from the beginning on TV Land, so I've told the TiVo to grab the episodes as they air. They're great to work to.

And Mr. Rieser's book Couplehood is just great. It's inspired by his stand-up, but it holds together tighter than a lot of stand-up based stuff. The book starts on page 46, as I recall, so that you feel like you're really flying through it.

I also managed to pump this page out thanks to a bout of insomnia that kept me awake from 3:00am today on. On the upside, I caught a fantastic biography of Alexander Hamilton on PBS. I highly recommend it.

Wonderfully Powerful

I did this Wonder Woman and Power Girl piece for a client who wanted it for his daughter's room. I think that's pretty cool. It's also the second time that I've drawn the Amazon Princess with someone (the first being this Wonder Woman/Wonder Girl image) but I've never done a commission of her, solo. This pic came out nicely, and there's some nice characterization between Diana and Karen.

Anyway, click, embiggen and all that.

In other news, Apple announced the new iPhone, releasing on July 11th. I think this may be the one that I get, even though it still doesn't have voice dialing. Why, Apple, why?

Widow's Pique

I think I only bought one issue of Daredevil when I was a kid, but I know it had Black Widow on it. I don't like her earlier outfit, of her later black/gray outfit, but this one worked well. So it's the one I used.

Process-wise, I tried simplifying as much as I could. Cartoony basic shapes, just a little bit of airbrush (that I'm torn on if I like it or not) and just a graphic, sharp image. It's also one of the few sitting and profile shots I've done, so that was interesting, too.

By the way I've recounted, and I only have four spaces left in the new Powerful Women. I'll probably have to suspend commissions until after San Diego then, so I can continue to prepare for that juggernaut of a show and pound out some pages of Love and Capes before I go.