Sweet Science #3 WIP pt3

It's coming along. Been adding more freckles, and working on the tatoo. Drew the tatoo on an overlay, over the original drawing. Then I scanned it, dropped it on the arm and tweaked it till it looked right to me.



So far so good.

Mike

Sweet Science #3 WIP pt2

Still fighting with the third print in the series. Some things I like better, like the cooler/lighter skin tone and the freckles, but I'm still not sold on a couple of other things. Expect more changes before this is all said and done, especially once I start on the tatoos. :)

Mike

Layouts to pencils for The Goon

A while back I wrote and drew a short for The Goon. I absolutely loved working on it, and wish I could do more with the character. Anyway, here's the "script". You'll notice that there are more pages here then I ended up with. Check them out closely, and you'll see that I trimmed it down to bring it in at six pages.





Here are the pencils, some of my favorite ever.








I'll post the inks later.

best,
mike

American Splendor

I got the opportunity to do a short with Harvey Pekar for his American Splendor series over at Vertigo. Had a ton of fun on it too!

If you're not reading American Splendor, then you should check it out. They've got some fantastic artists on it, including some of Harvey's old colaborators.

best,
mike

Sweet Science prints for sale!

Hey all,

So, I'm officially making the first two prints in the 'Sweet Science' line available online. I'm really excited about these prints, especially after the reaction to these at the Baltimore Con.



Anyway, I'm using Pay Pal to process orders. Just check over to the right to order. I'll be using priority mail, and mailing them flat in sturdy cardboard envelopes. Each will be signed too. If you get both prints I'll cut you a break on shipping costs by just charging for shipping one print.

Thanks in advance.

Best,
Mike

Un-men #3 sneak peek

Here's a penciled page from #3. Can't show too much, as I'd be giving SOMETHING away in terms of story. Just about every page has something on it that might be a hint, and I don't want to ruin the shock at the end of this issue!

Oh, and #5 is available for Pre-order now. Be sure to ask your local shop to get you some! ;)

Mike

Sweet Science #3 WIP pt1

hey all,

Been working on the third print in the series (in between pages of the Un-men) and figured I'd post some work in progress stuff.

First, if you didn't see the line for this then scroll down ( or follow the link)

The line art

My first step is usually to set a warm, dark brown of some sort down and do a monotone underpainting. This is an old habit from my oil painting days. In this case I went lighter then normal, and ended up with this peanut butter kind of color, which I can tell you now I don't like. I'll change it later on.


Next, I have a "glaze" layer - which again is a hold over from when I painted exclusively in oils. This skin tone is way too dark, as I wanted to go with a very pinkish light skin tone. I'll change that later too.



Here's the glaze without the underpainting.



Here's where I've left off. I dropped in the hair color and shorts, mostly to see if the skin tone would look lighter with something to contrast it against. It does NOT, hence me wanting to lighten it more.




So, basically everything here will more then likely change a good bit. BUT, this blog's all about works in progress, right? ;)

Anyway, more soon.

best,
mike

Hysteria Vol. 0 - the web comic

During the Fanboy radio interview we talked about the up coming launch of the Hysteria web comic. I'll be republishing my original, four part series from 1998. This is the book that started it all.

Jamal Walton and Erik Swanson and I are hard at work trying to get the comic ready. Here's a sneak peek.




The site goes live on Oct. 8th. Sign up for the newsletter to get up to the minute info on the new site.

ThinktankComics.com

Mike

Once again, Sweet Science

I'm actually working on the digital paints for this one now. I'll post work in progress through out the coming weeks.

Also, thanks to everyone that tuned into Fanboy Radio last night! The interview went really well, and Scott/David/Brita were very welcoming and gracious. Thanks to them for having me. I had a great time.

Check out their website for a download of the interview.

Fanboyradio.com

Mike

Un-men at Newsarama, me on Fanboy Radio

hey all,

Newsarama.com just posted an interview with me about the book. Thanks to Micheal Lorah for having me, and for doing such a good job.

Check it out

Don't forget to also check out #2, in comic shops now!



Also, I'll be on Fanboy Radio this weekend. Tune in this Sunday 9/16 at 7pm / 6pm Central for me and Open Lines Comic Talk LIVE!

Fanboyradio.com

Call up and say "Hi"!

Best,
mike

Un-men #2 out on 9/13/07

Hey all!

Un-men #2 ships this week, so I thought I'd give you guys and gals a sneak peek of the book. These are a couple of pencils, and unfinished inks for that issue.

Be sure to check the book out and ask your local shop to carry the book.

best,
mike

More Sweet Science

Working on more Sweet Science prints, in between breaks on the Un-men. I have a few more penciled, and will get them scanned and uploaded shortly.

Best,
mike

Umbra at the Harvey's

Hey all,

As you may have heard, we did not win the Harvey awards for best writer and best series. BUT, Steve and I were treated to a great dinner and the award show was plenty cool!

Thanks to EVERYONE that got us nominated in the first place, and thanks to everyone that voted for us to win. Murphy and I appreciate the hell out of your support, and we're honored that you all thought we were good enough to compete.

ALSO, special thanks go out to Marc Nathan for having us out and for putting on a great con!

We were both set up on Saturday and got to meet some great fans. The prints were a huge hit with folks too! So thanks to everyone that came by!!

Best,
Mike

Ape-law sketchbook PT.4

Just wanted to wrap up the last of the Ape-law sketchbook, so it's all on here now.

This last batch is pretty good. There's a How-to page for the Hysteria FCBD cover below as well as a pencil to ink breakdown of an Exterminator page and even some designs for Un-men and The TMNT.

Portait of my daughter at age 2

Page 91

Page 92

Page 93

Page 94

Page 95

Page 96

Page 97

Hysteria FCBD How -to

Page 98

Page 99

Turtles designs

Page 100

Page 101

Page 102

Extermiantors pencils and inks

Page 103

Un-men designs

Page 104

Best,
mike

Sweet Science Finals

Hey all,

Ok, so the printer here is working on the prints. I got back two proof's which came out beautiful!

The prints will be 12" x 18", full color on a really nice heavy stock paper. I'll be selling them for ten dollars, signed. I'll have a small batch available at my booth in Baltimore and will be selling them through the site a week or so after that.

I'll also be doing some painted commissions and selling original art from my comics.

Hope to see you there!

Best,
Mike

Sweet Science PT. III

Here's the other print I'm working on for the con in Baltimore this weekend. This one will be 11" x 14". Again, still working on it so it may change a bit when I'm done. I'll post the final here later in the week.

Happy Labor Day!

mike

Sweet Science PT. II

Here's the second print I'm working on for the con. This still needs a little tweaking, but I thought you guys might like to see it so far.

Mike

Sweet Science

I love my job drawing comics, but I gotta do stuff on the side to let me stretch my legs in ways I don't get to do in comcs. One of those "side projects" is a series of full color prints called "Sweet Science". All boxing related drawings, with a twist ;)

I'm hoping to have two prints ready for the Baltimore con this coming 8th and 9th. Here's a link for more info on the con

Baltimore Comicon

I'll be there as a guest of the show and set up with UMBRA writer and my pal Steve Murphy.

I think I'll also be doing a panel for Vertigo. Come by and check us out.

Mike