HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Looking Ahead, Part 2.: Buffy the Vampire Slayer

The other big news for my 2015 in comics, which broke in mid October, is that I am drawing three issues of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 10" for Dark Horse Comics!

I was introduced to the Buffyverse in college, as the series was coming to a close, and then watched Angel religiously until its heartbreaking finale. So needless to say, I knew my way around the characters, at least as the TV series left them.

Some of the headshots I submitted before being hired:

Looking Ahead, Pt. 1: Ares & Aphrodite

...whew.

Yesterday was the first day that I think I fully returned to reality. The last months of 2014 have been a blur of travel and deadlines and coloring. So. Much. COLORING.

This was so not me.

Between mid-October and the week before Christmas, I colored NINETY comic pages. (If that doesn't sound very impressive, well, I'll tell you about running a marathon and you can tell me that 26.2 miles doesn't sound very far either.)

And then, suddenly, my second (but really first) book with Jamie S. Rich was done! We began work on Ares & Aphrodite back in 2012. Over the past two years the book has steadily come together, with one incredible final push since the summer of this year to wrap it up and get it ready for release in April 2015.

It's an odd feeling to go back to a project like this, to color line art that you finished inking over a year ago. But as the final pages came together, Jamie and I quickly remembered just how much we loved this story and these characters. It was our first major project together, and we're incredibly proud of the final book.

So now it's on its way to the printers, and soon, to you, the readers! Oni Press will release it serially
on Comixology starting in late February, then the book itself will arrive in printed glory on April 15. Add it to your pull list. Pre-order it on Amazon. Do what you gotta do to get a copy in your hands! 

Crazy In Love

We Are Groot

Are y'all sick of the "Guardians of the Galaxy" fever that's swept the Internet? Too bad! Because I caught it too. My short, spoiler-free review is that it was one of the most fun experiences I've ever had in a movie theatre. It was just...joy. There are plenty of better films from recent years, plenty that I have enjoyed thoroughly, but GotG is the first movie since, well, ever, that had both me and my roommate laughing, clapping, cheering, and dancing in our seats for two hours.

So, naturally I drew some fan art, of the show-stealing Groot and Rocket Raccoon (not necessarily in their film incarnations, but, my own versions of them). And proceeded to nearly destroy it while inking!

Oops.

Marvelous

A couple of fun drawings I did while waiting for approval on some ongoing projects! I've become a huge fan of the new Ms. Marvel, Kamala Khan: 

And then there's Black Widow, because, well, everyone loves a badass redhead. (I might be biased.)

The Uncanny (and fabulous!) X-Women

Life is still crazy here in the lab! Cranking away on the final issue of Madame Frankenstein, while Issue #3 arrives in stores on Wednesday. Storyboards continue to flood in. Friends' wedding programs need illustrating. And I've gotten confirmation that I will be at both NYCC and Comikaze in October! Details to follow on those two shows but if you're planning to attend either, make sure to stop by Artist Alley and say hi.

In the meantime here's some eye candy from a recent commission, featuring some of the women of the X-Men. This was a fun project to do because my introduction to comics was through both the Knightfall saga of Batman, and the early 90s X-Men. So drawing the X-ladies as they appeared when I read the comics (with the exception of mohawk-era Storm, of course) was a bit of fun nostalgia.

Elizabeth's Canvas

Whew!

The last two months have quite literally been the busiest since I began freelancing back in 2012. Between the sudden onslaught of my "day job" storyboard projects, and the release of Madame Frankenstein (#2 hits stores on Wednesday!), I have been at my drawing table nonstop with a few breaks to eat, sleep, run, and occasionally sneak off to yoga to stretch myself back out of a permanent hunchback shape.

So it comes a bit late in the game that I share with you guys my newest project, contributing art to a short story in the IDW anthology "Elizabeth's Canvas".

I was introduced to the project by Jud Meyers and Scott Tipton of Blastoff Comics, where I spent Free Comic Book Day last month. You can read a bit about the idea behind this book over at Bleeding Cool. I was immediately drawn to the mission of the organization Elizabeth's Canvas---to provide creative outlets for cancer patients through free classes in art, writing, dance, and other forms of creative expression. The idea is that art can be a very powerful form of therapy during cancer diagnosis, treatment, and recovery.

The most exciting and humbling part of this is that the story I'm drawing is that of Elizabeth herself, whose personal battle against breast cancer and discovery of self-expression and healing through her art inspired her son to create this organization. The script is written by Chris Ryall and Scott Tipton, and I'm a few pages away from completing pencils. It's been a great opportunity to do the kind of work I feel I'm best at---highly emotional character work---and to hopefully help expose a larger audience to the work that the great people at Elizabeth's Canvas are doing.

Stay tuned here and to my Twitter feed for more news about this project!

Modern Pygmalion

Tomorrow, May 7th, Issue #1 of "Madame Frankenstein" hits shelves!

So go hit up your comic retailer, or if you're digitally inclined, download it directly from Image Comics or from Comixology.

If you're in the LA area, stop by Earth-2 Comics in Sherman Oaks between 6-8 PM, and I'll be there to sign your copy of the first issue! I might even give you a hug, too, if you're really nice.

May The Fourth Be With You!

New Star Wars illustration of padawan Ahsoka Tano, from "The Clone Wars" animated series, which I recently binge-watched my way through and am in love with. Expect more geeky fan art to follow. (Since I'm a professional, I get a pass, right? Right?)

Float Like A Butterfly

Just added to the Etsy shop, restocked Venture Bros. prints of Dr. Girlfriend and Brock Samson/Molotov Cocktease, plus an all-new print of the Monarch! $10 each plus shipping.

Etsy Store Is Restocked!

Just restocked my Etsy shop in the wake of Wizard World STL! I added a few new originals, and you can now buy prints from me online as well!

Newly added, this original color sketch of Rogue drawn
at the Wizard World STL convention!

Currently available as prints are my Mad Men ladies series, Han Solo and Chewbacca, Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and Dr. Girlfriend from The Venture Bros. In the next week or two I'll be replenishing the sold out (or nearly) prints, and also adding a few new characters, based on popular requests from fans at the show! (Hint: The Monarch will be making an appearance due to incredible demand!)

Wizard World STL recap!

Wizard World STL was a smashing success! I went into it not knowing really what to expect...I had only worked tables at two conventions prior, and both times I shared the space with other artists, so this was my first solo show. (I had a six-year streak of perfect attendance at SDCC, but, never as anything other than a spectator/consumer.)

First commission of the weekend...Obi-Wan Kenobi,
from "The Clone Wars" animated series.

There's No Place Like Home

Flying out tomorrow for St. Louis...home sweet home! LA, and the whole Pacific area in general is getting a little too wobbly for my tastes.

If you or someone you know is in the STL area, or traveling there for Wizard World St. Louis Comic-Con, come hit me up in Artist Alley at booth C13! I'll be selling original artwork and prints, like Han Solo and Chewie here...

I'll also be doing sketches and promoting the hell out of Madame Frankenstein as the May 7th release date gets ever closer! 

"Only boring people are bored."

One more week until I fly out for Wizard World St. Louis! As always, of course, the week before travel means a sudden flood of all the freelance work I've so desperately needed, and crunching to get it all done before I take off. I can ink on the plane, right?

But, I squeezed a few moments today in between storyboard frames to finish up the last two pieces I plan to sell as prints at STL Comic-Con...Mad Men's Betty Draper and the truly badass Peggy Olson.

Joan

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away...

Just a few fun pieces...I drew Leia a while ago, and decided she needed some company, so I did the boys as well! They'll be colored similarly, and hopefully I'll have these available as prints soon! 

Bad Romance

Happy Valentine's Day from the labs of MADAME FRANKENSTEIN!

Madame Frankenstein

So, today it's official.

Jamie S. Rich and I have spent the last several months creating a monster...MADAME FRANKENSTEIN. This morning, Image Comics posted the press release for this 7-part miniseries, the first issue of which hits comic book stores on May 7th. I've been teasing samples of artwork from this book since I started on it last year, but now you guys can see what it's all been about, and start getting excited for it to hit shelves!

Do you smoke cigarettes, or...do you eat them?

I'm a little late to the party, but I recently discovered "The Venture Bros" and I'm hooked. So here's my version of Dr. Girlfriend, right hand woman to the Monarch.

Bonne année!

Happy New Year!! Here's a drawing I drew and inked in 2013, but is the first piece of artwork I've finished in 2014...the fabulous Mrs. Megan Draper.