One-a-Day #15 (Conan)

I love Conan. I can't explain "why" or "why" I love Barry Smith's version and not John Buscema's. I would put my money down in a heartbeat if Sandy Plunkett drew a Conan graphic novel, but I still have not picked up a Paul Gulacy's "Skull of Set" Conan story. I like Cary Nord's approach and I loved Corben's pages in the Conan relaunch...but I don't pick it up on regular basis. It's all one big mystery...but here is "Barbarian, a Girl, and a Wizard".

One-a-Day #14 (Corbenesque)

I used a brush to do the fur on the right hand side and I used a dip pen to do teh fur on the left hand side a-la Richard Corben.

One-a-Day #13 (I try to letter and look at Steranko)

Steranko used to do this 3 panel thing showing figure movement in a fixed background, I decided to use that when I sat down to draw and had fun trying to figure out where to fit it in. Ended up in the top 3 panels.

One-a-Day #12 (Marvel trivia!)

One of the early Red Sonja/Conan versions I sent in to Marvel for review. After a while I actually got a letter back from the submissions editor. By the time I got a response I found all sorts of things wrong with the storytelling, so I was not surprised that Marvel did not offer me any work. The editor was actually very kind and encouraging. He commented on the story page by page, and there was even a mention of how he saw some promising things in the pages.

I usually throw letters away, but now I am kind of sorry I got rid of that letter because I would like to be able to reread it and see if I worked on the things that were suggested.

One-a-Day #11

Page two of the story. Done in one session and I am now starting to roll along.

The funny thing about this particular short story (that I call "A Fair Fight"), is that this is the 5th time that I am drawing it. The first 3 times that I drew it, it was Red Sonja and Conan, and the last time I drew it it was Niko and Cherokee (just like this time...only different).

One-a-Day #10

Because I was not happy with that last panel I redrew it and now with the magic of Photoshop I can present the whole page :)

One-a-Day #8 & #9

At first this sketchbook was going to be just me sketching character designs or doodling rough layouts for comic pages, but a few pages into it I started inking the sketches and doing some more or less finished pictures. I figure this is because right now this is my only source of output and I love to ink. Anyway, with this page the sketchbook morphed again. It became a place where I can try to do short stories with a goal of drawing a page every 1-2 hours.

I drew the first 2 panels in the first session and finished it off next time...although I was not thrilled with the composition of the last panel.

One-a-Day #7

I was tired and only had 20 minutes before "bed time", but I felt that it was important to me to try to get a sketch in. It's simple and has problems, but I kind of like it...probably because it is simple and has problems :)

One-a-Day #6

One of the failed experiments...I learned that if I am going to draw a silhouette, I need to think of basic shapes and not try to draw the figure and then just black it in (so it can look awkward and flat).

One-a-Day #5

Just drawing stuff and I tried to do something simple and at the same time interesting with the black shapes behind the figure. It was fun just to grab a brush and swirl it around. I am so used to having tight control over the brush it and doing this felt kind of odd :)

One-a-Day #4

I worked on a lay-out for an 8 page short Robotika story called "Spartan Methods" that David Moran wrote. The idea here was that Niko is undergoing virtual reality training and he is participating with 300 Spartans in the Thermopylae battle. The story will be done in blues or grays to highlight the fact that it is virtual reality (to separate it from fully colored panels that will take place in "real" world). Niko's figure would be outlined in red (or orange) to identify him...of course he would also be the only samurai at the battle. This is pages 1-4:

One-a-Day #3

Still trying to get used to using a blue pencil and just wanted to draw a goth-like girl

One-a-Day #2

Recently I finished reading "The Princess of Mars" and was really taken with the imagery (and all those Frazetta drawings now make a LOT of sense!). I tried to come up with a different idea for a creature with 2 sets of arms and I stumbled upon a concept of one set of powerful arms for fighting and heavy lifting and a second set of arms for delicate work like writing or eating. So here are some visual ideas:

The sketch posted earlier has the same idea, but being an early try at it, is not very clear (the folded arms look like some sort of weird abs)

One-a-Day...and Robotika

The second Robotika double-sized issue is now being solicited in previews (JUN090696) and can be either pre-ordered through a local comic shop or bought right here at Heavyink.com

I finished a few pin-ups recently. One is for an Italian comic book called "Justice and Bullet" and another for a collected edition of "Primordia" published by Archaia. Doing the pin-ups got me thinking that I have been drawing a lot of Robotika lately and not enough of other genres...so 2 weeks ago I started a sketchbook. The idea is to draw something (anything) everyday that is some sort of an experiment for me (either in theme or execution). Here is the first page (I am going to try posting every day a new sketch):

Robotika

Robotika is being published again!! April Previews!!

Archaia Studios Press is back...and so is Robotika.

I had the second Robotika mini-series, Robotika: For A Few Rubles More, finished for almost a year, but regretfully the publisher, Archaia, went into restructuring after releasing the very first issue. However, they are back and Robotika is being published again! I just hope that everyone who has enjoyed the series is still interested and will be curious enough to pick-up the new comics.

To relaunch the series, Archaia is printing a double size issue of 64 pages containing the first issue of "For A Few Rubles More", published back in 2008, and 32 new pages of story and art.

Diamond issue of April Previews (out on April 1st) contains the listing for "Robotika: For A Few Rubles More" double size issue (64 pages). Code: APR09 0652 Price: $4.99

There is also a listing for the hardcover collection of the original Robotika mini-series from 2007. The collection is 128 pages (120 story pages and an 8 page sketchbook section). Code: APR09 0651 Price: $19.95

For those who are interested in ordering a copy, I (with a lot of help from Dan Foskett) created a "coupon" with the order codes. Just click on the picture above, print the coupon, circle which book you want, take it to your local comic book store and ask them to order a copy for you. That simple :)

For those of you who don't get out to the local comics store, you can order on line from Heavyink.com. Just click on this link:

Robotika Double Sized Issue #1 at Heavyink.com

First Robotika Collection at Heavyink.com

You get 20% and shipping is a flat fee of 99 cents...so while you're at it get some more comics including this awesome release from Archaia:

Awakening Hardcover Collection
This hardcover collects issues 1-5 of the award nominated Awakening series from Nick Tapalansky and Alex Eckman-Lawn. Wonderful series that Nick has once described as: "a zombie series...that might or might not have zombies in it." Nick originally introduced to me the whole idea of an order "coupon", so go and get Awakening coupon here!

1, 2, 3...

Sketch...Pencils...Inks...

Something Wicked This Way Comes

WonderCon 2009

WonderCon 2009 came and went last weekend. This was my 3rd consecutive year of attending the convention and trying to promote "Robotika" and "Robotika: For A Few Rubles More". One of the things that was stuck in my mind, as I was driving to San Francisco, was the recent book by/about Dave Stevens. He did such a great job describing the conventions and the whole fandom of the 70's, I just could not help wondering how this convention will compare to his wonderful experiences...I did not have to worry, this was my best convention so far, and it was not because I bought something extraordinary, it was because I got to spend time with some very nice creative people who have inspired me to be a better person and a better artist :)

I started the convention by walking around and trying to find dealers who were selling comics in inexpensive sets because I was looking for a couple of limited series drawn by Steve Rude (Captain America: What Price Glory, Spider-man: Lifeline, Thor: Godstorm, and X-Men: Children of the Atom). I only found the Captain America series, but also along the way I found some $1 bins. I picked up a couple of issues of Frank Robbins "Shadow" and almost complete run of Somerset Holmes by Bruce Jones and Brent Anderson.

You ask: "Somerset Holmes?". Recently I "discovered" the art of Neal Adams, which in turn lead me to read Stan Drake's strips, which in turn made me realize that there is a whole tradition of photo-referenced-realistic comics out there from Alex Raymond through Al Williamson to Tim Bradstreet. "Somerset Holmes" fit in there somewhere and is a great little adventure story.

I also spent some time introducing/re-introducing myself to some folks whose work I have always admired (like Tom Yeates and Alex Nino ) and just catching-up with friends. It was great to see new (awesome) artwork by David Williams (cover artist on Wolverine), Mick Gray (inker on the new Joker graphic novel), and Jeremy Bastian (Cursed Pirate Girl).

I was also simply blown away (and humbled) by the sketchbook that Ryan Sook put together as his first self-published effort...I thought I knew just about all of his work, but I kept finding pieces that I have never seen. All presented in sharp black and white...just gorgeous.

This was the first year that Archaia, publisher of "Robotika", had a booth at WonderCon. Nick Tapalansky (who is a very talented writer of the zombie noir series "Awakenings"...that might or might not have zombies in it) flew out to set up the booth and brought books with him. David Petersen ("Mouse Guard"), Josh Finney and Kat Rocha ("Titanium Rain"), Marvin Mann ("The Lone and Level Sands", "Some New Kind of Slaughter"), Patrick McEvoy ("Starkweather") and I all spent time at the booth talking to fans and promoting the whole Archaia line. The cool result: we just about sold all the books that Nick had shipped to the convention; he only had enough books for 1 box. And we sold out of all the remaining copies of the first "Robotika" collection...so the first printing is now officially out of print!

Every convention has moments that make that convention special, and this was no exception. A huge thank you to: Julia Petersen for being cool, Michelle Sook for being cool and knowing where cool places to eat at are in San Francisco, and to Timothy Green for letting me drag him all around the convention in search of cheap comics!

I also want to thank everyone who stopped by (or thought about stopping by :)) to talk about Robotika. It was great and very inspirational for me. Thank you!

Timothy Green and Alex Nino


David Williams...or is it Wolverine?


Timothy Green and Mick Gray


David Petersen and Jeremy Bastian in artist alley


The Archaia Booth: Nick Tapalansky, Kat Rocha, and Josh Finney


Timothy, Nick, Ryan, and Michelle at Amber


Kat Rocha, Alex "Highlander" Sheikman, and Josh Finney

Ryan Sook's First Sketchbook at WonderCon!

I am very excited to tell everyone that Ryan will have his very first sketchbook available for sale at WonderCon!


I am planning to attend WonderCon, so I will buy one in person. For those of you who can't make it to the convention, you can order a copy here:

Ryan Sook Sketchbook on E-bay