Phoenix Comicon May 27-30, 2010

[Eddy]

This weekend's not only Memorial Day weekend, but it's also the Phoenix Comicon for some of us! There's even a Preview Night going on right now, but we'll be there from Friday to Saturday in booth 100-101 at the front of the show. And don't forget to check out our "This is WildStorm" panel on Saturday 12:00pm - 1:00pm (CC157) too!

This is our first time in Phoenix and we'll have tons of free comics and buttons to giveaway, plus the usual sketches and con goodies for sale. Hope to see you there!

Pictured above from left-to-right are: Gabe Eltaeb, Joel Gomez, JJ Kirby, Michael Lopez and in the second row: Oliver Nome, Eddie Nuñez and Livio Ramondelli.

Earth Fringe

[Eddy]

Another fun project that came through WildStorm recently were these alternate takes on famous DC covers. A lot of fans commission their favorite artist to recreate covers like this, but these appeared on last night's Fringe season finale thanks to chief creative officer Geoff Johns, writer/producer/director Akiva Goldsman, executive producer Jeff Pinker and WildStorm's general manager Hank Kanalz.

It doesn't get much more memorable than these covers and on a show that's highlighted details like NBA star, Len Bias still being alive or "The Obamas set to move into new White House" on newspaper headlines, it's a cool peek at life Over There.

Yesterday's birthday boy, Carlos D'Anda drew the Justice League #1 cover and, with the help of JJ Kirby and Michael Lopez, finished the Crisis on Infinite Earths #7. Colors are by JJ Kirby and Carrie Strachan, respectively and our own Randy Mayor colored the Red Lantern/Red Arrow cover by Ivan Reis and Oclair Albert. Larry Berry also created the Superman Returns and Death of Batman #75 covers with help from fellow art director, Ed Roeder.

You can read more from Geoff Johns and Hank Kanalz, plus see all of the covers in full-color on DC's The Source blog.

Gotta go now. I think I see an Observer nearby.

Happy Birthday Carlos!

The Living Doll

[Oliver]

Hey ya'lls, here's a piece I did of 'Harley Quinn' for fun and practice. She's such a wacky and twisted character and is always a joy to draw.

I used Prismacolor cool grayscale markers for the graytones and a little bit of warm grays for her face and some red for the lips and eyes for that extra 'POP".

Anyhoo, hope you likes;)

Frank Frazetta

I first saw Frank Frazetta's art as a kid. I was probably 8 years old and my best friend and I were HUGE KISS fans. I remember one day we were working on a puzzle that was the cover of the Destroyer album which at the time we thought was just about the most amazing piece of art ever created (ironically done by artist Ken Kelly who was hugely influenced by Frank's work) But my friend had this other puzzle. It was this warrior with polar bears pulling him through this bleak snowy world, and I was like "WHAT is THAT??!"

That's the thing with Frank's work. You know it and have seen it even if you're not aware that you have. I had many moments like that with Frank's work throughout my formative years. I wasn't a comic fan as a kid. As a matter of fact I didn't even own a comic until I was 24 or 25 years old. But Frank's work I've been a fan of and has impacted me throughout all those early years. All my favorite things seemed to stem from a line that went directly to Frazetta. Star Wars, Dungeons and Dragons, all the kick ass concept art you see for video games and movies...all that imagery is influenced and inspired by Frank's work.

I would go to book stores as a kid, and I'd see these covers by Frank and you'd just be drawn to them. They could pull you from half way across a store over to see them.....They almost demanded to be seen. You would just see this abstract design that was so interesting and then as you'd get closer to it. The piece just got better, and better, and better.

That's the other thing with Franks work....it improves over time. The mark of a great artist is to create timeless art and Frank managed to do that again and again. He at times looked like he'd been to these incredible worlds and scenes he painted whether it was moving us into the future or taking us back to primal man...he lived them. I don't know how he did it, and that's why no one has really been able to go beyond Franks work in an INCREDIBLY vast and huge field of "fantastic" ideas. It all seems to go back to Frazetta's art STILL to this day....it's amazing really and a true testament to his brilliance.

Frank passed away last night from a stroke at the age of 82. He's probably my favorite artist and as much as his work has already impacted my life and art....I don't see that ever ending. There are pieces I've yet to imagine, and draw that I am sure will have Frank in there. So he's not gone and really will never be forgotten because I know I am not alone with those sentiments.

All hail the great Frank Frazetta, a true legend and icon.

Richard Friend

A couple of Kick-Ass chicks

[Oliver]

Hey ya'lls, thought I'd treat you to a double dose of goodness, with two recent pieces of two tough chicks.

I luved the Kick-Ass movie (maybe even more than the book...) and like nearly everyone, I luv Hit-Girl! I was inspired to do the Hit-Girl piece the next day, I went a little more manga/exagerrated with her face and proportions and did the colors with Prisma color markers.

As you know, I do luv to draw the darker comic babes out there and had a blast with X-23. I tweeked her costume a lil to match what they've done in the X-Men movies and also used Prisma color marker for her.

Hope you like;)

Brightest Day covers

[Scott Williams]

This was a pretty fun cover. Lots of fat brush renderings on the big guy, and a bit thinner pen line on the Martian Manhunter. Inking Dave is a little bit like when I inked Whilce Portacio back in the day because of dramatic lighting that both these guys are so good at. They both understand form very well and I have to make sure that blacks (shadows) are spot on. The blacks also add drama, and when it comes to art, I'm all about the drama!

This is just about all brush. It was also the cover that had me thinking that doing finesse brush work over Dave is maybe not the way to go. He pencils so dark that for me to erase his markings properly pulls up SO much ink, leaving ghostly ink renderings (not a problem when using the pen). The ink I use (straight Rapidograph Ultradraw 3085-F) is fine for everyone else, but Finch is a beast with the graphite!

Pretty simple cover (simple is good!), but the wings were a bit of challenge from a patience standpoint.

Earth Day

[Oliver]

Hey ya'lls, in honor of Earth Day coming up tomorrow...(and Avatar on DVD!), I wanted to post this 'Avatar' piece I did.

I luv, luved the film and had a ton of fun with this piece. I also colored it and Livio added some of the cool background effects.

The character isn't necessarily anyone from the film in particular but was very much inspired by Neytiri.

Hope you like;)

American Vampire Pencils & My C2E2 Schedule

[jimlee]

Pencils I did for Vertigo book called American Vampire. Scanned the pencils into Photoshop then overlayed with watercolor paper texture and then did some digital coloring and painting work on it.

CHICAGO debut of C2E2 show

FRIDAY, 4/16
2:30-3:30pm: SIGNING - DC booth (#630)
4:45-5:45pm: PANEL – DC NATION (room E451)

SATURDAY, 4/17
2:00-3:00pm: SIGNING - DC booth (#630)
3:15-4:15pm: PANEL – DC UNIVERSE (room E451)*
4:15-5:15pm: PANEL – WILDSTORM (room E351)*

SUNDAY, 4/18
11:15am-12:15pm: PANEL – DC TOWN MEETING (room E351)
12:30-1:30pm: SIGNING - DC booth (#630)

*in audience more than likely than on stage as these are to spotlight creators working on the various title

Simon Dark

[Oliver]

Hey ya'lls, here's a piece I did of Simon Dark for fun...(and for sale;) As you know I'm really attracted and luv to draw the darker characters like Death and Joker, and wanted to do a Simon piece for a little while...(it was on my ever-growing 'To Do' stack).

Anyhoo, I'll be at the Wizard World Anaheim show this weekend and if you are there, you can come see it in person!

Hope you like and see ya at the show!