#149: Grinding on pages

Art Deco exclusive advance, MCM, Dec Recs, Tape Dec, Operations peek & more...

Jun 04, 2024

ALL THE LATEST

-Had a fun weekend at MCM, sold a good few books at the show, which was really great. Started the weekend by catching up with Marvel Jen Gruenwald who happened to be over on holiday, and a great chat with Tom Muller who happened to be around too.

At the show itself, A lot more people now have copies of OLD DOG now, as well as BOG BODIES and my Marvel art book. Signed a lot of THUNDERCATS and TURTLES too. Caught up with fellow creators such as Marc Laming, Jacob Phillips, Alison Sampson, Joshua Cassara, Werther Dell'Edera, Khari Randolph, Stephen Byrne, Derek Landy, Marc Ellerby, Dave Baillie and was introduced to writer Jordan Thomas who gave me a couple of his books that I look forward to checking out. I got to say hi to Klaus Janson, which was a huge honour. I did that thing where I was so nervous to meet a hero, I just pretty much said hi and ran away.

Funniest moment [as best I recall] was when I got to have a chat with table-neighbour Jacob Phillips when I asked him how the hell he was so prolific to which he replied

“…uh, you do a lot of stuff yourself. How do you do it..?”

“I have no idea,” I replied.

I didn’t really do that many proper head-sketches, aside from what I did in each copy of OLD DOG. those wer done mainly to sell copies of the book, which was a good strategy as I sold everything I brought aside from a couple of copies. Pretty much sold all the books I brought over, which is what you really want at a show, to return home with a lighter bag than I came over with, so quite happy with that.

I also did these small sketches for ReedPop, who run the show. I think these will be given away at NYCC or a future ReedPop show. Tried to bang out the greatest hits. Had a great catch-up dinner and drinks with Rory McConville and Eoin Marron in London town too.

-I finished the script for THUNDERCATS Issue Seven finally. Will need to get moving on the

-Working on the script for PROJECT TATTOO this week as we’ve locked in an artist for the story. I wasn’t previously familiar with his stuff, but it’s very impressive work, excited to see what he’ll do. I’m glad I know who’s drawing it just before I get writing, I always like to have some familiarity to an artist’s work when writing for them. In fact, I think I’m pretty lucky in that I’ve never had to write a ‘blind’ script to this point.

-Once PROJECT TATTOO is written, I’ll have to get on the script for PROJECT RAVEN #2 as I’ll be wrapping up art on #1 soon and will need to know what to draw :-P On that front, I’m deep in the weeds trying to wrap up Issue one of PROJECT RAVEN. I’ve finished the pencils for PROJECT RAVEN #1 and have started on inks. The cover is all done, it’s had a lot of revisions [more than I’m used to on a cover] but this is a new series so I understand there’s a bit more oversight. I expect the news for this book will break next month.

-I handed in a bigger series outline as well as the outline for Arc One of PROJECT NETWORK. I think we’ve found an artist too, someone who I think is great and is going to go far.

-I was de-weeding my balcony on a lovely sunny day and got a visit from this happy chap! My mum popped round and brought her ‘lil dog Loki. I love this guy so much. Some sunny days have been welcome, I tell ya.

-Trying to make arrangements for SDCC. Not easy.

-Did a couple of recent podcasts interviews, one for ComicsXF and another for Comic Book Yeti’s The Cryptid Creator Corner.

-Got some new comics! A chink of single issues but excited about these collections. I loved the NIGHTWING run back in the day, though I have big holes in my reading from the run I’d like to now fill in. Stephen Mooney’s second ROCKETEER collection with David Messina on art is now out, looking forward to giving that a read. Also the smash hit TRANSFORMERS by Daniel Warren Johnson which I just read in one sitting over the weekend and really loved it. Caught myself saying ‘well done’ out loud a couple of times while reading. The hype is real with that DWJ fella, which is very unfortunate for the rest of us mere humans. Ah well.

-Speaking of Mooney, here’s my variant cover [coloured by series artist Triona Farrell] for his upcoming Image series FREE AGENTS with Kurt Busiek & Fabian Nicieza. This is for Issue Two. You can still order Issue One, so I encourage you to order both issues.

DEC RECS

I’m not attached to this book in any way but I was sent ULTIMATES #1 by old friend Deniz Camp. He and artist Juan Fregeri have a dynamite debut issue here. I am very happy for Deniz to be knocking it out of the park on a book like this and kudos to Marvel for trying out a new and exciting writer on a high profile book. He’s been in the trenched oing his own stuff for years and it’s so heartening to see good, talented people break through like this.

I was also sent the first issue of PRECIOUS METAL. It was a real treat to see a new Image book that is so brilliantly realised. D’arcy Van Poelgeest, Ian Bertram and Matt Hollingswoth have reunited with a follow up from the amzing LITTLE BIRD and I am very much here for it.

THUNDERCATS

Issue Six is out next week featuring the writing/drawing styles of one aforementioned Stephen Mooney. Just to be clear, it was Stephen who wrote this issue as well as drew it, I essentially oversaw the issue, looking over the script and lettering, but there wasn’t much input from me, as Stephen nows what he’s doing. I appreciate that he leant into the story we told in our first arc while also contributing some amazing visuals.

I believe the issue also featuring a preview of CHEETARA #1 by Soo Lee and Domenico Carbone so there’s plenty to look forward to next week.

There’s also this short interview with Soo about this spinoff that’s worth checking out

I saw the proof of VOL 1: OMENS and it looks really, really nice. I can’t wait to get a copy of it in my hands. With Issue Seven written, will be hopping straight onto Issue Eight, which might be the most complicated issue so far, to be honest.

I shared an advance look at my cover for Issue Seven last time, the other covers have since been revealed. As I mentioned then, this issue is more focused on the Cubs, and I really love seeing the cover artists jump on that.

ThunderCats #7 covers by David Nakayama, Jae Lee and Lucio Parrillo

THUNDERCATS artist Drew Moss is close to wrapping Issue Six and it’s looking great. Such a fun issue. He’s going to be at HEROES CON [a show I ablolutely love] this weekend, so go to table C-AA307 and get your issues signed!

Finally, how cool is this…?

Feel like I really should be getting myself some THUNDERCATS action figures. Or maybe hold out in case they make toys of our ‘Cats..?

OLD DOG

Operations continue, very happy with the latest assets!

I’ve talked around this project a bit without giving specifics. I’m assuming most of you have figured out what I’m doing but the official word should be revealed in the next couple of weeks! I’ll speak more on it in the next Declarations.

OKAY. I just handed in the FINAL FINAL version of the DOSSIER to the printer. Jesus, that took a while. Been hard to make the time to go over it all with everything else going on, but happy to report it’s done.

TAPE DEC

Latest TAPE DEC is out! Great chat with ALIEN artist Andrea Broccardo. Was great to dig into a proper chat, as Andrea is an artist who I’ve worked with quite closely over a longer run, especially at Marvel Comics. In face I think we could even dug in more! Talked a bit about his love of the franchise, working on licensed comics, and more, give it a watch! Oh, and maybe like and share it too, if you please.

I’m thinking I’ll do the next one with Stephen Mooney, ahead of his THUNDERCATS issue and his upcoming series FREE AGENTS. I haven’t actually asked him yet but I’m pretty sure he’ll read this so Mooney; you free to talk sometime this month…?

SCREEN DEC

Been watching a lot of stuff in the past few months. Here’s a rundown of what I liked

Films: Triple 9, The Outfit, Bullet Train, In the Land of Saints and Sinners, Defiance, Bull, Little Dixie.

TV: X-Men 97, Tires, Ozark, Sugar, Shogun, Mayor of Kingstown, Fargo [Season 4], Mr& Mrs Smith, Ray Donovan, Invincible.

I’ve also been playing episodes of SWAT and Criminal Minds in the background while inking/colouring when I need to be prodded when 45 minutes have passed. Not for any real creative stimulation, just helps when you’re grinding on pages.

ART DECO

Marvel officially released the style guide piece I did for the DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE movie as part of its ‘Weapon X-Traction’ variant cover program.

Which means as a Declarations reader you have an exclusive window to pick up the original art on the ART DECO store right now!

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE Cover

What, someone’s already bought it? Damn, well my original art for my AVENGERS: TWILIGHT cover is also available on the store. Both will be made publicly available in 24 hours. As always, you Decolytes get first dibs.