Emerald City of Oz #1

Back to Oz we go! Not much to say about these, to be honest. I've been coloring the Marvel Oz books for what now, five years? It's pretty familiar territory for me at this point, but it was still lots of fun to revisit Skottie's Nome King, and I have to say I have a fondness for the muted palette of Kansas. I try to mix it up a little with each new series, and this one is no different, though the overall look is still similar-- it just amounts to subtle variations on the same basic technique. I'd love to go crazy and really experiment with the style and colors, but I can't deviate too much from what was established oh so many years ago.

Sadly, I colored this issue before I got the new monitor, so it suffers from excessive yellowness. This is something I got around to mitigating on the second issue and beyond, but for now try to see past the drabness of it all. ;)

Avengers Arena #13

Skipping ahead a little here. There was nothing wrong with issues 11 and 12-- they were both fine issues which I enjoyed quite a bit. But I'm lagging behind with these posts, and issue 13 is a bit different. First off, this was the first time I worked with my new monitor and calibrating kit. Second, this was also the issue where I "found" my coloring style for this book. Moving forward, I started to like my work on this title more and more. Even if I still can't touch the original colorist.

Anyway, this was a slower issue, with a bit of a "meanwhile in the real world" feel to it. Artwork by the awesome Karl Moline, in an attempt to give the regular guy some breathing room (this book was on a crazy release schedule).

Eric Shanower's Emerald City of Oz cover

Alright, we're going back to Oz! Just thought I'd kick things off with this variant cover illustrated by series writer Eric Shanower. On top of doing a kick-ass job adapting Baum's original books into comics, the man is also an accomplished illustrator. If you're a fan of Marvel's Oz books, check out his site and give him some love!

Anyway, this was a fun piece to color, with lots going on. Sadly, I kindda messed up some colors for some characters (why is Henry wearing red?!)-- this was colored long before I actually started on the book proper, and I didn't really know what they would ultimately be wearing. Also, I think I may have gone overboard with the yellowing of it all (though I blame my old monitor for that one)... Still, I just love Eric's old-school style!

Avengers Arena #10

Wow, I'm having a hard time keeping up with Avengers Arena pages. We're putting out these issues at such a blistering rate that I can barely remember where I'm at. I think 13 is the current issue now? And I just finished coloring 15? Anyway, here are some pages from 10! ;)

This was apparently a pretty controversial issue (as far as this controversial series is concerned). Things got pretty graphic, and I was even asked to tone down the gore in some parts. Personally though, I think it's worth it. This was a great issue and set up the rest quite nicely. In fact, I have to say I really quite like this book-- and I'm not just saying that because I'm coloring it.

Anyway, this one featured art by Riccardo Burchielli. Different style, but talented nonetheless. Issues are coming out so fast that Kev can't possibly keep up-- heck, I don't even know how I'm doing it-- so every once and again there will be a "guest artist".

Well, enjoy!

Tank Girl

Here's a little Tank Girl doodle I colored recently. Obviously illustrated by the masterful Skottie Young, he asked me if I could put some color on there. Naturally, I agreed. Who am I to refuse? WHO, I ask?

Anyway, this one was just a blast, and I got to really reach out and try new things. Gotta say I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out.

Avengers Arena #9

Wow, I know this is getting old, but I really AM getting sloppy with these updates. Might have something to do with being so busy. And part of the reason why I'm busy is Avengers Arena. So here's some pages from that!

I've decided to post a few choice pages from issue 9. This was a slower issue-- mostly dialogue and back-story-- so nothing too crazy going on with the colors. Also, it mostly takes place in one location, save for some flashbacks. I still wasn't really comfortable with the coloring style on this one (currently working on issue 13 and 14. and it's getting better), but I think it turned out alright.

Anyway, enjoy!

Road to Oz #6

Boy oh boy am I getting lazy with these updates. Here's a little something to remedy the situation!

This was the last issue of the Road to Oz, which wrapped up the series nicely. Sure, it wasn't a very action-packed issue. But, there were a lot of crazy characters popping up, wild stuff happening, and there's even a freakin' sweet Santa-Claus design by Skottie. In the end, it was still a lot of fun.

Anyway, enjoy these pages, and keep an eye out for the next Oz book!

Road to Oz #5

It occurred to me that I just stopped posting pages from Road to Oz. Let me correct that at once! Here's a few select pages for issue 5. It was hard picking just five pages, as this issue has lots happening with many different locations and plenty of reunions.

Anyway, enjoy!

Human Fighter

Seeing as I'm a big nerd, I also play Dungeons & Dragons (as well as numerous other RPGs). Naturally, I have to draw my character, because it's tradition. Right now I'm playing in a 4th edition D&D game as a human fighter, the most boring and ordinary of all race/class combinations. To be perfectly honest, I pretty much despise 4e. The only reason I'm playing is because one of the players in our usual group wanted to try his hand at running a game and it was the only system he felt comfortable enough with. Oh well; beggars can't be choosers, they say.

Anyway, since I'm an old school guy, Adler the human fighter is as old-school as they come in terms of visuals. I'd even say he's the antithesis to 4e art direction, and he really wouldn't belong in any of the books. But I think that's not such a bad thing. I also gave him a bardiche, even though the book says glaive, because bardiches are where it's at, baby!

Avengers Arena #8

Good gravy; and update! Well, I've been insanely busy lately, and here's part of the reason why! I was recently asked to do an issue of Avengers Arena (#8, incidentally), which I gladly accepted. Seems folks were pleased with the results, since I was then asked to be on the series full-time. Needless to say, I was thrilled at the news! It certainly is great to be working on a superhero title once more, and now that the issue has been released I can finally share a few choice pages.

Overall, I'm not sure how I feel about the results on this book. Most of it is due to the fact that I can't hold a candle to the previous colorist (who I inexplicably seem to have replaced), but a lot of it is also due to a lack of... insight? It's hard to explain, but I've been doing so much experimenting with my coloring lately that I sometimes don't know what I'm doing anymore. I seem to lack vision, and a clear understanding of how to make that vision come true. I really felt like I was stumbling through my work process and happened upon a result that I didn't really understand. Anyway, enough of my crazy jibber-jabber!

This was also my first time using a flatter, so mad props go to Kyle Hilton for helping me out (he's also an accomplished illustrator-- check out his stuffs, yo! www.flannelanimal.tumblr.com). Oh, and the artwork is by the masterful Kev Walker, with whom I worked on Marvel Zombies 3 and 4. Fun time reunion!

Fantasy cover art

During my brief foray into fantasy art, I managed to catch the eye of a few independent RPG publishers. As a result, I was commissioned to provide some artwork for various products, and the biggest of these gigs was an actual cover. I was pretty thrilled at the opportunity, and had a lot of fun working on this. In the end, it took me way too long to complete for it to be cost-effective, but it was nonetheless a great experience-- one I wouldn't mind repeating in the future. Plus, the client was quite pleased with the results, and asked if I could do some interior art as well.

The cover was for Blueholme, which I believe is a retro-clone of the Holmes version of Classic D&D (if you didn't understand that sentence, I can't really explain it ;) ). You can find out more about the game at http://dreamscapedesign.net/

Anyway, here's the cover! Didn't turn out exactly like I wanted it to, but nothing ever really does, now does it. Old-school D&D fans should recognize a few themes and flavours. NOTE: I did this cover based on a sketch provided by the client, along with a few notes and ideas. While I did make a few changes here and there, I still can't take credit for the basic concept.

The Rocketeer

Just a quick update here; this is another commission by Robert Grove (http://www.rahbgee.com). He did a real badass job on this one, and I was happy to oblige! Not much to say really-- the thing practically colored itself. I went with a more "comic book" style of rendering, but it's nothing fancy. At any rate, he liked the way it turned out, and I suppose I did too. ;)

Things that I did-- Avengers Origins: Luke Cage

Phew-- been a while since I posted anything. Being insanely busy will do that, I suppose. While I can't show any of the stuff I've been working on yet, I can always reach into my back catalog. Here's something I coloured about a year and a half ago, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

First, I should admit that I never really read comics as a kid, and even today I can't find the time or inclination to "get into it" (it's bad enough I have to drive an over an hour to find a decent comic shop). One of the nice perks of working this job is that I get to read comics-- and often times I end up really enjoying them. Luke Cage was another character I knew pretty much nothing about, except that he was in Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 (awesome game, by the by), but was introduced to and educated about through my work. Always fun to learn some of this stuff!

Anyway, here's some choice pages from Avengers Origins: Luke Cage, featuring some sweet art by Dalibor Talajic. Enjoy!