That's Why they Call It the Blues

Let's take a break for a little process stuff.

With this issue of Love and Capes, I've started using a Col-Erase pencil to do my layouts. These are colored pencils that are far less waxy and more erasable than the more prevalent Prismacolor pencil. Prismacolor's a fine product, but it's the right tool for the right job.

I'd heard a bunch of my artist friends talk about these pencils, but it wasn't until the inordinately kind Yves Ambrun gave me one to mess around with at New York Comic-Con that I fell in love with it. I found some at Pearl during my Los Angeles trip and have been using them this issue.

The advantage is this: Previously, I'd go through three pieces of tracing paper to make a page of Love and Capes. There would be some really rough pencils, a second more structured drawing, and then the third tight pencils, from which I'd ink the page. But now, I can combine steps one and two into one page. The colored pencils allow me to do a second pass with my standard lead mechanical pencil. I can use the blue as an underdrawing without having to have like colored lines compete.

I think it's keeping a lot more of the energy to my artwork, too. Roughs always have more pop than the tighter pencils, and trying to keep as much of that intact is one of the constant battles of the cartoonist.

Plus, I think the rough pencils look cool this way, too. Like a lot of animation drawings I've seen.

There's More to See Than Can Ever Be Seen

Ahead of schedule, I have finished page ten. Now, don't get all hyper, I'm taking a little holiday until Friday, so part of my Barry Allen-like approach to the book has been to make sure I was clear before I left. I do have a post or two scheduled on the Blogginator, so I won't be completely quiet. I know you'll miss me.

In this exciting panel, we find out Doc Karma is a Broadway showtune kind of guy. Or a Disney film fan. Maybe both.

Nine, Nine, Nine!

Amazonia also gets a makeover in this issue, including a new hairstyle. After I've drawn her for a couple of pages, I've started to think that Amazonia looks a bit like Olivia Munn. What do you think?

I'm kind of proud of this page. If it goes right, there will be two "Holy Smokes! That was surprising, and yet so in character!"

This is probably the last page before my well-deserved vacation. Nine pages down, and one left to go before the end of the month. I think I can do that. It's good to be on schedule.

Darkerblade

For reasons which will become clear when you actually read it, Darkblade gets a costume redesign in issue #12. He gets darker (hence the internal name Darkerblade) and a little more intense. You know, gritty, 90's style.

Or maybe there's something else going on.

Here, he makes a dramatic declaration. As I will saying "Eight pages down! Twenty percent there! I am on a roll, baby!"

Get to Know Me

Here's another reason to follow me on Twitter. Sometimes I run contests. In the panel after this, Doc Karma talks to his receptionist. I needed a name for her, so I put out a Tweet saying "Next female who Twitters me her name gets the receptionist named after her." (Not to be all Mirror Universe District 9, but I had already drawn a lady, and calling her "Dave" just makes no sense.) The winner, Vaneta (yes, Newsarama's own Vaneta Rogers) now has her name in the next issue.

I'd show you that panel, put it's the beat panel. Besides, I really like the body language here with Doc Karma confused and whipping around, and Abby really does look smug.

I need to do three more pages before the end of the month to stay On Pace for the new issue. I've got a little holiday planned next week, so it's not quite as safe as it sounds, but I still think I can do it.

Sixes other than Tricia Helfer

I've come to the realization that the storyline for this twelvth issue of Love and Capes has so many surprises and twists that I just can't post any artwork. It'd give away too much.

But I like posting artwork.

So, I'm going to write fake dialogue. It'll be some lame joke, or something I think is kind of funny. As seen here. In the real issue, Abby and Charlotte aren't really discussing the 2008-9 TV season. And as a little visual cue, the word balloons will be a little different than the traditional LNC balloons. Just so you know they aren't the real words in the issue.

Page Cinco!

It's occuring to me now that there's going to be a lot of panels that I have to hide dialogue on during this book. If I do this one right, there will be a lot of surprises.

I continue to try to push my poses and body language. If you pay attention to such stuff, you'll notice that there's a lot more curve to the ladies' stances. Abby is definitely leaning against the refrigerator, and Charlotte is hunched over her coffee.

Also, I got this page done, start to finish, in a day. That's good. I think I need to try to keep up that pace.

The Sleep of the Just

Four pages done! And with the fourth page of Abby sleeping, you can tell this may be the most exciting issue of Love and Capes evah! Although, I promise, lots of stuff happens. Also, lots of stuff doesn't happen.

Oh, heck, you'll have to read it to understand it.

Lego my Crusader

I'm blessed with great Love and Capes fans. There's something about the book that draws people in and hooks them. And they're so supportive and so cool. Here's an example:

One fan, David, makes custom Lego characters. He repaints them, adds to them and makes them awesome. He's done the Justice Society, Watchmen, and now the Crusader.

I met him in San Diego a few years ago. This year, in his display case, was this:

From left to right, it's the Plutonian (Irredeemable), Samaritan (Astro City), a little character called the Crusader, and Black Adam.

Man, that's just a gallon and a half of awesome sauce. You can see more of his work here.

Reviews on #11!

Reviews are starting to float in for Love and Capes #11. I guess on the West Coast it was delayed a week. I don't know why. But the important thing is that the book's out now and you can buy it!

Anyway, reviews and comment. First from Blake Petit at Comixtreme.com:

Words just can’t express how much I love this book. Each issue is steeped in superhero trappings, but the core is invariably about the heart, the relationship, and everything that comes with being in love – both the good and the bad. Zahler is a brilliant storyteller, both in words and visually, and Love and Capes is the smartest, sweetest, and most honest love story I have ever read in comic book form.

And from Dave Van Domelen:

…there's loads of conflict that flows naturally from the setting and characters while not involving fistfights (which mainly happen off-screen). Oh, and love the Nick Castle reference. Strongly recommended.