Sunday, March 28, 2010

ARCHIE & the GANG


Last week's Comic Twart subject was ARCHIE & his gang. Here's the piece I posted.

To be honest I was going to skip this week, as I didn't think I had any good ideas for the ARCHIE gang. Then it hit me, I could reinvent the comic as a prison drama :)

There's a made up back story here, and a bit of an expansion on Andy Kuhn brilliant piece. Teen age pregnancy caused Archie's life to start to slide into the wrong direction. Veronica, coming from a wealthy family, was pressured into an abortion. Betty gave birth to Archie Junior. Archie would have to skip college, and take menial jobs to get by. Reggie would rub it in every chance he got,



which would lead to a fight with Reggie. Archie would end up killing him in the process.

Jughead, not being able to bare the idea of his friend going to jail, tries to help Archie hide the body. When they're finally caught, both were given long jail sentences for Reggie's murder. In prison Jughead and Archie would expand on their volatile relationship.



Jughead would also come to understand his issues with women once in jail.



"Moose" Mason's size and clumsy strength would lead him to a career as a correctional officer, but the murder of Reggie would affect him on a personal level. He'd hold it against Archie, but would secretly envy his friendship with Jughead.



Betty, now a single mom, continues to pine for Archie while raising their son. Archie Jr. would begin to develop psychological problems from his father's incarceration, leading to overeating and an attraction to gangster rap music.

Veronica would finally move on and leave Riverdale, which was always too small for her anyway.



Unfortunately her past would follow her when the rumors of her hidden abortion would come to light, based on tips from an "anonymous informant".


It's all a very sad affair ;)

Best,
Mike

PS -I found these images on a cool blog called Bully Comics. Special thanks, and props, to Bully! :)

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

"Raising Crazy" on Twitter



After tons of requests to start this, I finally gave in and began a Twitter feed for my son's crazy antics. It all started with me posting funny things he'd say or do on my own Twitter page, but has grown into plans for a web comic. For now I'll be posting all his nutty adventures on his own Twitter feed, "Raising Crazy", and eventually I'll use the material for the comic strip.

Anyway, enjoy...and if you're on Twitter please follow along :)

Best,
Mike

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

ARCHIE work in progress PT.I



This week on Comic Twart, Ramon picked ARCHIE & his GANG. Which, I'll be honest, I didn't like at first. I was ready to bow out this week, for the first time. But then the bestest idea ever hit me! I could do a revamp of the characters, set in the future a bit, after ARCHIE's life has gone terrible wrong.

The funny thing is that the brilliant Andy Kuhn kinda did the "Year One" of what I wanted to do. Teen pregnancy leading up to where I'm gonna take ARCHIE and his gang makes perfect sense!

My piece is gonna have almost the entire gang in it. This sketch has ARCHIE, JUG HEAD, BETTY w/ LIL' ARCHIE (expanding on Andy's idea), AND MOOSE. You can't see it yet, but VERONICA is in there too. I'm was hoping to have MR. WEATHERBEE in there as the warden, but he may have to be cut.

Anyway, if I pull this off then you will all crown me king of Riverdale! Or Warlord. Haven't decided which I want to be yet.

Mike

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Dan Dare



Here's my piece for DAN DARE week on Comic Twart. Check the rest of the awesome pieces out here.

Best,
Mike

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Sunday, March 14, 2010

DC Sketchbook PT. I

Every year DC Comics sends a cool gift out to freelancers for Christmas. This year was a cool little sketchbook. I've been exclusively doing Batman sketches in it. Just feels right.

Here's a few of them.







Best,
Mike

Tuesday, March 09, 2010

Comic Twart art blog, JOHN CARTER of MARS pt. I


Between sessions of work I've been whittling away at this. Now, usually I post the process for my Comic Twart pieces AFTER they're complete, but in this case I'm not entirely sure this is right. Which is why I'm posting it here unfinished. I have a LOT of work to do this week, and will have to work on this in bits and pieces, but something tells me this will change a great deal before the final is done. I'll post bits and pieces here as it proceeds...hopefully :)

Anyway, check it out.

Mike

Monday, March 08, 2010

Comic Twart art blog, week seven - CLARA DE NOCHE



I got to pick last week's character, and chose another Jordi Bernet classic - CLARA DE NOCHE.

I have a little back story on this piece, and the character, over on the Comic Twart blog. While there, be sure to check out all the awesome renditions of CLARA. You'll love them ;)

Best,
Mike

Wednesday, March 03, 2010

Game Changer part V

Started the inking on my "Game Changer" book a few weeks back, but I'm taking a quick break from it to work on another project, so I figured it's a good time to post more teaser art.





Previous "Game Changer" posts here.

Enjoy :)

best,
mike