#157: Launch Operations!
FIVE other releases this week too? Bloody hell. And more Thunderverse!
There’s been a good few new subscribers in the past few weeks so I’m going to add this header in future to better explain what people get when they subscribe.
This is Declarations, a bi-weekly newsletter by artist/writer Declan Shalvey This is regular workblog with exclusive peeks at upcoming projects, and advance opportunities for acquiring original art/merchandise.
Sound okay? Maybe it needs a tweak. Hi to all the recent subscribers.
ALL THE LATEST
-Been a hectic couple of weeks [when hasn’t it been?]. More press for TERMINATOR and MYSTIQUE while trying to make serious headway on MYSTIQUE pages and leapfrogging on script pages between THUNDERCATS and TERMINATOR.
-The final edit of MYSTIQUE has been passed around the Marvel offices and I’m getting great feedback. More on that below.
-I missed this for the previous Declarations but my back-up run on ALL STAR BATMAN #1-4 has been reprinted in this lovely looking ALL STAR BATMAN Deluxe Edition. I handed in a lot of process stuff for this edition [like my DUKE design, etc] so I hope a lot of it made it into the book.
-Just handed in 3 covers, TERMINATOR, THUNDERCATS and one for an un-announced project that is THUNDERVERSE-related. I managed to do them all in one go over the weekend, I prefer do that when I can, be in ‘cover-mode’ for 2/3 days rather then mess with my momentum on sequential pages. It’s more efficient that way.
-I have SIX projects out this week. SIX! I’d like you go to your local comic shop and spend on some Shalvey! Here’s a quick rundown of them all…
OLD DOG: OPERATIONS /Anthology one shot set in the world of my Image Comics series
PHASES OF THE MOON KNIGHT #2 /New incarnation of Moon Knight debuts, co created by myself
THUNDERCATS #8 /The saga continues and develops, debuting the mysterious character APEX
TIME BEFORE TIME VOL 06 /Final volume of my time travel crime series
DEADPOOL TEAM-UP #2 /variant cover
STAR TREK: DEFIANT #19 /variant cover
-PHASES OF THE MOON KNIGHT #2 is one of those projects out tomorrow and I feel like it’s getting a bit lost in all the more heavy recent OLD DOG/MYSTIQUE/TERMINATOR promo.
I’m really excited about this, I mean I got to create a whole new MOON KNIGHT for this book, and the art by Eder Messias is fantastic. Marvel have released a couple of lettered pages, here’s a sharper look at one of those pages.
-Got offered a new Marvel cover that I’ll have the time to take on. Have had to turn down a couple lately for schedule reasons but I can take this one, and it’s one of my favourite characters so that’ll be fun.
-I recently strained my back ..taking reference for MYSTIQUE. As I’m wrapping inks, it seems to be okay again. I suffer for my work, you see.
-Was recently offered a DC cover! First time in a couple of years I’d say. I think it might be because I saw some DC heads at SDCC? I dunno,you never can tell. It’s a cool character that I’ve never gotten to do before, so excited to get to it.
-I’d been minding my mum’s dog Loki for a week or so, was great to have a little studio buddy but I had to give him back the other day and I definitely got too attached because I really miss him!
-Otherwise, I’m just trying to keep everything moving as best I can. Means I’ve had to write partial scripts to keep everyone moving, which is not how I like to work at all, but not much I can do about it for now.
PROMO DEC
As ye know I’ve been hoorin’ myself far and wide across the internets. Hitting all my personal Big Three podcasts, as in the shows I’ve been on a few times over the years and have been great to help me promote my stuff:
First, back on OFF PANEL with the lovely David Harper. Doing that podcast is like coming home. [link]
Then, the AIPT podcast with the also lovely David Brooke [link]
The mack daddy of comic podcasting John Siuntres was kind enough to have me back on Wordballoon. As usual, things got nerdy by the end…
I also did an interview about MYSTIQUE specifically at ComicBook.com [link]
Did a written interview for Newsarama [link] about TERMINATOR
And one for AIPT [link]
Lastly, with old pal Chris Aarant at Popverse! [link]
Is that enough promotion…? IS IT!?
ART DECO
OUT WITH THE OLD [MOONEY], IN WITH THE NEW:
At the ART DECO web store, we're preparing for a brand new collection next week. This will be the start of a very busy and exciting fall for those of you who are original art collectors! And to make room we are VAULTING the two collections currently on display.
On Friday, 9/27 at 11:59 PM ET, we will be removing my original art from DEADPOOL "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" as well as Stephen Mooney's guest feature of THUNDERCATS #5 pages. What's coming in its place? Well you'll just have to stay tuned to find out…
But for now, don't miss your last chance to grab a piece from these two stunning collections. There's still some excellent pieces left and once they enter the vault, you'll have to catch me at a convention or special event to purchase!
MYSTIQUE
Just after the previous Declarations went out, I got to see the final PDF of MYSTIQUE #1. To get to read the final version of the issue, after all the back and forth of ideas, tweaks to sharpen things up, drawing the whole thing, refinig the dialogue afterwars, seeing the colours and letters come in etc, it’s VERY satisfying to have it done and I’m really, REALLY happy with it. It’s the book I wanted to make, and that’s not always easy.
It was passed around the X-office a bit to some great reactions [Gail Simone was especially kind] but my favourite response was from X-MEN writer Jed McKay [which I hope he doesn’t mind me including here] which was “woof jeez that goes hard“. Perfect.
Overall, the responses have definitely been the kind I was looking for, and on that note, a [9/10] advance review !
Marvel have released some coloured pages by Matt Hollingswoth which I’m happily sharing here…
My cover reveal for #3 got a great response online last week too, so I have to say I’m optimistic about this book. I haven’t really had the chance to take a break and appreciate what I’m getting to do here, but getting a proper read of the finished issue one… yeah, feeling good.
TERMINATOR
Another book I’ve gotten to read the final PDF for was this first issue! Also feeling really good about this. It’s a different experience from reading a book you wrote/draw… that level of satisfaction is unique. What is also unique is seeing the alchemy of a small group of creators form a comic together, like this project. I had a high bar I was reaching for on this book, that could have just been a run of the mill licensed book, but I think myself, Luke Sparrow and Colin Craker have made something special here, and a great place to start a new take on this franchise.
Here’s all the preview art in one place…
Popverse just showed this splash page so I may as well show it here. Luke is SO GOOD
I met up with Colin for a late lunch last Friday. Wish we’d hung out a little longer as when I got home I saw this headline…
Dynamite Gets Gets Over 61,000 Orders For Terminator #1
Which was nice. I didn’t really know what to expect with this book to be honest, definitely not the same kind of success at THUNDERCATS as this is a very different property. But very happy with this!
Luke is actually jumping ahead to Issue Four, his work is clearly so detailed that we felt it best to give him more time and by then the Vietnam set 2-parter [for #2 and #3] was locked in. So, for the Vietnam story, we’ve invited ANALOG and PALADIN OF AXES artist David O’Sullivan to join us. Another Operator from the OLD DOG anthology, which is a nice fit.
OLD DOG
Yes, this mad idea of mine is finally out tomorrow! I havent gotten my comp copies yet but Luke Sparrow told me it came out reaaaaalllly nice. I was going for a ‘prestige’ feel and sounds like I pulled it off
For those unaware, this is an anthology issue set in the world of my OLD DOG series at Image Comics. Has a story by me, with contributions by amazing creators like Charles Soule, Matias Bergara, Chris Sprouse, Leonardo Romero and many more. I wrote a couple or other creators and have a bookending story written/drawn by myself. I’ll say here that the preorders were [unsurprisingly, for a niche project like this] modest, so I don’t expect it’ll be easy to find but if ye can, hope ye all pick it up and enjoy.
THUNDERCATS
The Thunderverse powers on. I just handed in a cover for the next THUNDERCATS issue [#12] as well as a cover for another Thunderverse cover for a series yet to be announced.
Joe Mulvey has been handing in pencils for Issue Ten and they’re looking great. I wanted to show off this great warm up piece he did before he started pencilling. This issue is gonna look great.
Drew Moss is currently working on Issue Nine and delivering his usual excellence. And yes, Issue Eight is out tomorrow… Here’s a preview.
This is genuinely a very important issue for the book and what’s to come in the next year. Keep your eyes peeled!
AH WAIT… Just as I was about to post this newsletter, I see the next Thunderverse project has been solicited! I expect the official announcement is incoming but I’ll share here that the APEX character appearing in THUNDERCATS #8 tomorrow is getting his own one-shot issue written by Ed Brisson with art by Rapha Lobosco. Ed and I have worked together in the past on various books and I know Rapha well as he’d been a big part of the Irish comics scene so it’s great to see two pals work together, especially on something I’m also involved with. Here’s my cover for the book.
Myself, Ed and Thunderverse editor Nate Cosby have all been developing this new character together which has just been brilliant fun playing with my friends using all these toys.
DEC RECS
Been far too busy to do much reading of late, most of the reading I actually do is friends sending me on their new books, which is one great way to keep on top of what’s new and interesting.
I assume you’ve heard of this Bat man fella? Yeah, I got to read the new ABSOLUTE BATMAN book by Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta. Gotta hand it to Scott, he keeps finding new/interesting angles on the character, and Nick Dragotta [w/Frank Martin colour] are doing magnificent work, delivering a BATMAN you’re genuinely never seen before.
Lucky me! I also got a look at BATMAN AND ROBIN #1 by Chris Samnee and Mark Waid. Wow, this book is a stunner from first to last page. It manages to be dark and moody while also completely charming at the same time. Chris is delivering career defining work on this book [w/ wonderful Mat Lopes colours] and that’s really saying something.
Two good friends have joined together to make a great comic! Michael Walsh and Gustaffo Vargas are releasing a new series called NULLHUNTER. It’s cool to see Michael break into some more high concept sci-fi and I’m very excited to see Gustaffo’s work reach a whole new audience, he’s doing amazing stuff on this book. This series will be released on October 23rd from Image Comics, with a FOC [final order cutoff] date of September 24th, so order ASAP!
This just came out [in more ways than one] but SUMMER SHADOWS is a moody vampire love story set on a Greek island by John Harris Dunning and art by Ricardo Cabral [w/ colours by Brad Simpson]. John and Ricardo previously released a great graphic novel called WIPER so it’s by a creative team who have really found their groove.
OUT SOON
September 25th
OLD DOG: OPERATIONS (ONE-SHOT) [W/A/Col/C]
PHASES OF THE MOON KNIGHT #2 [W/VC]
THUNDERCATS #8 [W/VC]
TIME BEFORE TIME VOL 06 [W/C]
DEADPOOL TEAM-UP #2 [VC]
STAR TREK: DEFIANT #19 [VC]
October 09th
TERMINATOR #1 [W/C]
October 16th
MYSTIQUE #1 [W/A]
THUNDERCATS #9 [W/C]
THUNDERCATS VOL 01 OMENS Hardcover [W]
October 23rd
STAR TREK: DEFIANT #20 [VC]
November 13th
TMNT BLACK WHITE & GREEN TP [W/A/C]
Pages are looking sick dude