#174:FantasDEC Four
No more puns, but plenty of recommendations.
Welcome to DECLARATIONS a bi-weekly newsletter by artist/writer Declan Shalvey.
This is a regular workblog featuring exclusive peeks at upcoming projects with advance releases of original art/merchandise.
ALL THE LATEST
I’m just tipping away at various jobs at the moment. It’s been nice to have a bit more flexibility of late, to not have everything pushing in on me from every direction, etc. Mainly, these days it’s all about keeping everyone fed: covers drawn to get flatted in time to colour, outlines done so I can get writing, getting scripts done for those who need them soonest, etc. At the same time, I need to roll up my sleeves soon and get my hands dirty on a bigger project. Trying to build up some stamina with PROJECT WESLEY and then; something bigger. Also, trying to get ahead on some script stuff so I have the brainspan to start working on some new stuff, including new OLD DOG. I think I’m starting to sound like a broken record on all this, sorry. Anyway, here’s the latest worklog:
Wrote outline for THUNDERCATS 18/19
Wrote rough outline, THUNDERCATS Arc 5
Outlined PROJECT METAL #1
Wrote THUNDERCATS #18 script
Rough for secret Dynamite crossover
Rough for upcoming Marvel cover
Coloured THUNDERCATS #20 cover
Coloured THUNDERCATS LOST #7 cover
Pencilled/inked Ghost Machine cover
Pencilled/inked/coloured DC Comics cover
Worked on PROJECT LAZARUS pitch, nearly ready to submit
-I’m glad to have the TMNT: MUTANT NATION story all done, that was a slower process than I’m used to, I do have some notes to deal with today, but then it’s all done. It’s always good to cross a project off the whiteboard. Next ‘side gig’ will be PROJECT QUIET which I’d like to get done in the next month, though I need a bit of room to do some research.
-I’ve pretty much outlined PROJECT METAL with my co-writer. We’ll be writing our respective pages this week and will massage it all together over the weekend.
-A copy of FANTASTIC FOUR: FATE OF THE FOUR was sent to me last week. I was initially confused as I haven’t really worked on a FF book before but I then realised it was a collection of the TWO-IN-ONE series that Chip Zdarsky did with Jimmy Cheung, Ramon Perez, Valerio Schiti and others. ‘And others’ being myself as I drew the TWO-IN-ONE Annual, also my last collaboration with Jordie Bellaire. It was a really fun issue as I got to draw DOCTOR DOOM and THE THING a lot, and even designed my own FF costume. Pick it up, it’s really fun stuff, and not a bad book to read ahead of the new FF movie.
-Speaking of FANTASTIC FOUR, my good friend Nathan Stockman has a new story running on Marvel Unlimited following from his excellent LOCKHEED series. This time; H.E.R.B.I.E.! It debuted on the app last week with Part 2 out this Friday, I believe.
-You Declarations readers may remember a couple of months back that I coloured a drawing by one of my cousin’s sons? Well I was at a family event recently where he produced a new drawing he did and asked me to colour it for him. He didn’t understand when I told him I had actual paying work to do …so I relented. Here’s his drawing, I tried to give it a proper go with the colouring, rendering, textures, colour holds, the lot. He better bloody like it…
-I spent more time working on my PROJECT LAZARUS pitch after getting some feedback from friends. I’m going to hand it in this week, hopefully that’ll start to get the ball rolling. Or, it’ll go nowhere, but at least I can draw a line under it either way and concentrate on something I know I’m definitely doing next.
-My old pal Shawn Crystal, the excellent artist and host of the gret Inkpulp Podcast is releasing a new artbook and it looks great. Shawn is big on analog craft, is an expert with ink and a brush, I’m often in awe of his penmanship. A book like this is right up my alley and I imagine it’d be up yours too.
Spotlighting another Kickstarter; I see that KAYA’s Wes Craig is doing a new book with artist Kevin Castaniero running through Lethal Comics’ Kickstarter. Plenty of art on thelaunch page, go check it out.
PS Congrats to Colin Craker for hitting his The Agency Case Files Kickstarter goal.
-Been a few months since I shared what I’ve been watching. A lot of great stuff, too much to really get into anything specific, but here’s the list of what I’ve watched or am watching…
FILM: Hail Cesar, The Dead Don’t Hurt, The Order, Matt and Mara, The Iron Claw, Havoc, Sisu [a surprising jem!], Escape from Alcatraz, Spartan, The Contractor, The Wall, Mission Impossible; Final Reckoning.
TV: Mythic Quest S4, Invincible s3, Yellowstone s5, Reacher S3, Silo S2 [so good, wish more knew about it], Daredevil Born Again, The Studio, Andor S2 [unbelievably great!], The Righteous Jemstones, We Own This City, Mobland, Murderbot, Eastbound and Down [rewatch], The Sopranos [rewatch], Battlestar Galactica [rewatch].
-Here’s a couple of new timelapses, one of NICK FURY JR…
And another of Moebius’ AZRACH
-Lastly, as it happens sometimes, one of my cover releases slipped by my radar. GHOST RIDER VS. GALACTUS #1 came out last week with a variant cover by myself, it’s only out a few days so shouldn’t be too hard to track down.
-Did a recent count, I’m at about 270ish Marvel covers on my belt. I realise it sounds silly but I’m eyeing to hit 300 at some point. The Marvel covers have slowed down a bit lately, averaging out at about one every two months, so it’s gonna take me a while to hit that target. I’ll get there though!
ART DECO
There are still some full figure commission slots available from the list I opened in the last Declarations. I always try to make sure you subscribers get first dibs but it’s been a couple of weeks so as of tomorrow, I’m going to open it up publicly.
Below is the link to get a commission for GalaxyCon New Orleans or mail order slots, last change to secure one before the link goes public.
DEC RECS
Been sent upcoming work by a few friends. Had the chance to read them all and wanted to share with ye.
THE UNCHOSEN is a new mini-series by X-MEN superstar David Marquez, with colours by Marissa Louise and letters by DC Hopkins, published by Image Comics. I got something of an X-MEN meets WILDCATS vibe from the book, some fantastic character designs, dynamic while also seeding a deep lore to the word he’s building.
It comes out Wednesday, July 9, the final order cutoff was last week but you can still order via your local retailer with Lunar Code 0525IM311
WILD ANIMALS is a new 5-issue miniseries out in July by [my ThunderBro] Ed Brisson, art by Andy Kuhn, colours by Dee Cunniffe and published by Mad Cave Studios.
It’s well established that I’m a big fan of Ed’s writing, particularly his more crime-focused work. WILD THINGS is no exception, I was immediately pulled into this run-down reality he establishes so well, with wonderfully restrained, stylized mundanity by the excellent Kuhn, backed with tonally perfect Cunniffe colours. It’s emotionally charged, darkly motivated with an inevitable sense of dread. I didn’t get to post about this in time for FOC [yesterday] but that doesn’t mean you can’t tell your retailer to order you a copy. I highly recommend it, I’ve been itching to read a book like this again for some time.
Lastly, my old ‘Pool-Pal Gerry Duggan has a new series with another Thunder-Bro [yes, everyone’s getting nicknames now!] Jae Lee! Along with co-writers Kelvin Mao and Robert Windom and colorist June Chung, THIS ENDS TONIGHT comes out July 16th, and there’s just enough time to order before FOC. You can find out more about the book in my TAPE DEC episode with Gerry below…
TAPE DEC
New TAPE DEC A day early for you Decolyte readers. This ep is with Gerry Duggan, who wrote The Good, The Bad & The Ugly storyline for me on my arc-long stint on DEADPOOL. A gig that significantly raised my profile and on a story that really clicked with me. Gerry is a great soul and had been a champion for me ever since we worked together [13 years ago!?!] and has been a great friend ever since. As mentioned above, Gerry has a new book out THIS ENDS TONIGHT. We talk about it along with various projects he has on the go, our work together on DEADPOOL and various topics that jumped around the place. It’s a great time, I could have easily gone another hour, I was enjoying it so much …been wanting to have this chat for ages and really glad we did so.
This episode goes public tomorrow, would really appreciate it if ye could like the video and from Wednesday, spread it around. Would be great to boost the reach and help the creators featured get the word out about their projects.
THUNDERCATS
Here’s an advance peek at the cover for THUNDERCATS #20. This will be an issue that looks at the secret history between MUMM-RA and JAGA.
Issue 18 is all written, I’ll be starting on Issue 19 next week. I’m nearly finished working out the next/fifth arc that will lead up to/end on Issue 25. Drew is currently drawing Issue 17 and it’s looking great, of course.
I’d like to get a bit ahead on THUNDERCATS script while my workload has softened a bit, so I can be prepared for the next primary gig, once that comes together, and have a bit mote headspace to develop some new stuff. In planning the lead-up to Issue 25 though, I’m really trying to lead the story to something big, so that has its own challenges.
TERMINATOR
Issue Eight came out last week. Here’s the preview pages if you missed them. Colin Craker did an excellent job. As with all the TERMINATOR artists we’ve had on the book, I wish I could just make a new book for Colin to shine.
Joe Mulvey is currently pencilling Issue Nine at the moment, and Luke Sparrow is just wrapping his pages for Issue Ten. Colin has started colouring, here’s a peek at the first page.
We’re really going to end this series on a high note. Sad to see it wrap up, but very satisfied to have made the book I was hoping to make, with every issue hitting the right notes.
OUT SOON
July 02nd
X-MEN: HELLFIRE VIGIL #1 [A]
DEADPOOL KILLS MARVEL U ONE LAST TIME #4 [VC]
July 09th
TERMINATOR #9 [W/C]
THUNDERCATS #17 [W/C]
THUNDERCATS LOST #4 [VC]
July 16th
MYSTIQUE MOST WANTED TP [W/C]
TERMINATOR #10 [W/C]
THUNDERCATS #18 [W/C]
STAR TREK: RED SHIRTS #1 [VC]
July 23rd
TERMINATOR VOL 01: OUT OF TIME [W/C]
August 13th
TMNT: MUTANT NATION #9 [W/C]
THUNDERCATS LOST #6 [C]
August 27th
THUNDERCATS #19 [W/C]
THUNDERCATS VOL 03 APEX [W/C]
DEADPOOL/ WOLVERINE #8 [VC]
Ha! That Doom story we did is probably in my top five favourite issues I've ever worked on!