Comic Book Art Sweatt Shop

Daliy Sketch Challenge Gladiator

2012-02-01T14:16:00.000-08:00

Gladiator drawing. Work in progress.

Silver Surfer kills Jason Vorhees on Friday the 13th.

2012-01-16T12:09:00.000-08:00

Spiral Character Sketch

2012-01-13T09:44:00.000-08:00

Spiral (Rita Wayword) is a fictional character, a super villainess in the Marvel Comics universe. She first appeared in the Longshot miniseries by Ann Nocenti and Art Adams.
Before being known as Spiral she went by her real name is Rita Wayword, though better known as 'Ricochet Rita', a professional stuntwoman who befriended Longshot when he first appeared on Earth. Rita was attacked by her evil, future self which led to her meeting Longshot and falling in love with him. When Longshot sought to return to his home dimension, the Mojoverse, the love struck Rita went with him, only to watch Longshot fail and be captured by the dimension's evil overlord, Mojo. Longshot was promptly mind wiped to forget all about Rita, while a much worse fate was left for Rita.

HEROES!

2012-01-08T06:01:00.000-08:00

From the creator:

"My (pen) name is Eyz. I'm a graphic designer, comic book fan and live in Switzerland.

I draw stuff that I put on my own deviantArt here: http://theeyzmaster.deviantart.com/
And review stuff that I make available on this blog: http://eyzmaster.blogspot.com/

HEROES! is a little webcomic series I started first on deviantArt, that I moved over this blog (without as much success I gotta tell ya) and is now also released on this website with some other friends' own comic strips.
I'm not advertising anything here, I don't make any money with this, it's just for fun!

HEROES! are the way I call my various DC and Marvel parodies.
They might not be "professional" or hilarious, but I started making those because some characters I like haven't that well portrayed in modern comics and I wanted to share my luv for 'em and have fun while at it :'3
I'm currently working my way through the strips I call "Season 2" on Outcast Studios!"

How to get good at drawing

2012-01-05T20:47:00.000-08:00

Draw Every Day!
“How did you get so good at drawing?”
Published By Drezz

I get asked this question a lot. The answer is simple. I draw ALL the time. Sure there’s some latent talent that I tapped into, but let’s face it – EVERYONE can learn how to draw. It’s imagining WHAT to draw that is the difficult part. I’ll use a scientific rationale to explain:

The physical act of drawing is merely rendering what you see before you by using the muscles in your arm to translate the positions of shapes and spaces you see visually into a representation on paper. In layman’s terms – you use hand-eye co-ordination to draw stuff. There’s very little magic to it – it’s all about kinesiology.

So how do you go about getting better at hand-eye co-ordination? The exact same way athletes and people other professions that require the use of skilled movements. Consistent practice and repetition. Think about this – Michael Jordan used to shoot hundreds of basketballs outside of regular practice – from different angles, free throws, in-motion, blind, etc. He was building muscle memory, and that is why he was the man to go to on the court when the game was on the line and a shot had to be made. His body was honed to making shots due to the huge number of repetitions, the variety of situations and the consistent actions he performed after practice.

Drawing follows some of these same principles. The only way to get better at it is by physically picking up your pencil, pen or stylus and trying out some basic, repetitive drawing drills. One of the easiest ways of developing that muscle memory is through the use of the daily sketch session. It doesn’t have to be long – simply take 5 minutes and draw the first thing that comes to your mind – and if nothing comes to mind, draw what you see in front of you. Remember, the subject of the drawing isn’t important. You’re simply drawing to increase your skill.

When I have a hard time thinking of a subject to draw, I’ll grab 4-5 random items that are nearby, arrange them in front of me and start to sketch. After doing this every day for weeks on end, it has become a healthy routine. These sessions are my starting point for the day, and the sketches usually end up on any scrap of paper floating around my desk, and once there’s a number of them I’ll collect them like clippings and save them in a sketchbook for later use. Sometimes, the random sketches turn into a solid idea for something bigger later on.

Many of you are thinking – “I don’t have time to sit and draw…” – stop lying to yourself.

You always have time. You just don’t know where to find it yet. Here’s a tip: The best time to sketch randomly will occur at a random time – like when you are just sitting around waiting for something to happen during your every day routine. THAT is when you bust out the sketchpad and doodle. It sounds silly, but it totally works. Eventually, these bursts of spontaneous sketching will creep into your daily life and you’ll have created a set time when you can draw daily.

Here’s an example:

When I get into the office, I’m usually the first one in. I disarm the alarm, bring in the newspaper, hang up my jacket and start up my computer and make some coffee. The idle minutes while I’m waiting for my machines to start up and do their thing are the best time to start sketching. Jason Barton of Almost Sketches calls this the ‘boot sketch’, a sketch drawn while waiting for his computer to fire up. You don’t have to do this while you’re waiting for the computer – others do their daily drawing work during their lunch breaks (here’s a great example – Derek Benson’s Lunch bag art where he draws on a lunch bag each day for his kids!) or before bed, or any time where you have 5 minutes sitting idle (I’m sure there’s someone out there who doodles while hanging out in the bathroom!).

Don’t forget to keep all your sketches and scribbles, doodles and drawings as clippings in a folder for later. Or start your own blog and post them online! Eventually you’ll have a huge library of hidden gems you can rifle through later. Don’t think that scribbles and sketches aren’t worthy of keeping. Use them as a creative outlet and inspiration for bigger things.

Andrés ‘ Drezz ‘ Rodriguez is the new guy here at Webcomic Alliance and is the author of the modern noir Online Graphic Novel entitled El Cuervo. In his spare time he works as a stunt man on MTV’s Jackass and as a punching bag for UFC Fighter Georges St. Pierre. If you have any suggestions for upcoming tutorials, feel free to connect with him on Google+ or you can follow him on Twitter at @ElCuervoComic

Source: http://www.webcomicalliance.com/helpful-hints/draw-every-day/

Mission Comics & Art on Live Local

2012-01-05T18:27:00.000-08:00

Mission Comics and Art is an amazing comic book store. Leef keeps the shelves stocked with an incredible variety of cool shit. He has quality comics in every genre. If you’re into comics, this is your Mecca. If you want a suggestion, just name off a few of your favorite books or movies, and Leef will have a comic book that’ll hit your sweet spot. And with the new graphic novel rental program, you can read more comics without spending as much money or running out of shelf space.

Recently, Laura (the owner of Ruby), came in looking for a particular Japanese comic that she liked. Leef was out of the one she wanted, but asked her a few questions about her tastes. She’s into food, so he introduced her to Chew, a comic set in a world where chicken is illegal and the protagonist sees psychic impressions from the food he eats. By eating bits of corpses, he solves crime. It’s a weird, offbeat, awesome story, and Laura never would have found it without Leef.

Mission Comics is also a loyal supporter of Mission artists. Works by local artists are well marked, and Leef hosts events featuring their work, like the recent release party for the Comic Book Guide to the Mission.

Whether you’re looking for epics, fantasy, humor, graphic novels, heroes, villains or corpse-eating psychics, Mission Comics and Art will have something for you. Leef will let you flip through his selection for hours on your own, or is happy to help point you in the right direction.
10% off

Find them here: Art and Comic Books Businesses featured

Shatterstar Drawing

2012-01-05T17:41:00.000-08:00

(Gaveedra-Seven) is a fictional character, a mutant superhero in the Marvel Comics Universe. Shatterstar first appeared in The New Mutants vol. 1 #99 (March 1991), and was created by Fabian Nicieza and Rob Liefeld. Since his debut Shatterstar has mainly appeared in the original X-Force title, with some issues devoted solely to him. In 2005, the character was featured in his own limited series, X-Force: Shatterstar. Gaveedra-Seven later became a member of X-Factor in X-Factor #45 (August 2009).

Dinner for Five hosted by Kevin Smith (Part 1, 2 and 3)

2012-01-04T21:18:00.000-08:00

Dinner for Five - season 4 episode 09 - Kevin Smith, Jason Lee, Stan Lee, Mark Hamill and JJ Abrams discuss Alias, MI3, Tom Cruise, Star Wars, Comics, Lost, Regarding Henry, The Incredibles, Kiss, Auditioning, Mallrat's, screen writing, Batman, Joker, Chasing Amy, Enemy of the State and Clerks.

Part 1

Part 2 - Marvel Comics

Part 3 - Directing

Velocity Sketch

2012-01-03T02:23:00.000-08:00

Velocity, (Carin Taylor) is a fictional character of Image Comics/Top Cow Productions character from the comic series Cyberforce, created by Marc Silvestri in 1992. She is one of, if not the main character in the Cyberforce series, and often serves as the reader’s guide or eyes through the story arcs. Most of the early story arcs focused on her burgeoning friendship with the members of Cyberforce, and her struggle through meta-human teenage development. She is the younger sister of Ballistic, a part time member of Cyberforce.

Daily Sketch Challenge at Outcast Studios

2011-12-31T01:03:00.000-08:00

Daily Sketch Challenge - YOUR CHARACTER - Fri, DEC. 30, 2011 - Vol.18 No.5

Outcast Zero - Copyright 2011-2012 Dennis M. Sweatt

So today is a little bit different. I want everyone to draw one of their own characters. Your own original character BUT do not create one just for this challenge. If you don't have one of your own already then draw someone elses that you know. OR for that matter draw any character owned by it's creator. Hint: All Image Characters technically count. :)

So don't get too caught up thinking about it. Either you have a character from now/childhood that you've created and we want you to draw that OR you don't have one and you'll need to draw someone elses Creator Owned Character.

No time for questions, if your still not sure just draw Mike Mignola's Hellboy, or Robert Kirkman's Invincible.

Deadline Saturday Dec 31st 2011 2pm Pacific time.

LA’s iconic Golden Apple Comic Shop For Sale

2011-12-27T13:05:00.000-08:00

If you have $679,000.00 sitting around, you can buy Los Angeles’s The Golden Apple, one of America’s best known and longest running comics specialty stores. It’s for sale on eBay right this minute.

The sale price includes $300,000 in inventory in comics, games, toys and so on. You can make an offer.

Founded back in 1979 by Bill Liebowitz, one of the leading retailers in the rise of the direct market of the ’80s, The Golden Apple was a forward-facing store with a wide range of merchandise and a steady stream of events and signings – some of them historic. LA celebrity comics readers were regular customers over the years, and the store was frequently used as a film location when a comics shop was called for.

Liebowitz died in 2004, leaving the store to his wife, Sharon; son Ryan soon came in to run the business at a new location on Melrose Avenue and La Brea.

In a statement, Ryan wrote:

“My father passed away several years ago, Mom is nearing retirement age & I have many other career aspirations. I am currently a partner in a Production Company, Motion Comics company & a Catering business. I am looking for a chance to put the necessary time & effort into those and other projects.

“The fact is…Golden Apple is the most well-known Comic Shop in the world and we’re looking to sell it. We are NOT going out of business, bankrupt or ANYTHING that is negative.

“Moreover, we just had KISS sign autographs in the shop a few weeks ago and Tom Morello is scheduled for January 14…we are still THE PREMIER SHOP!

“We are simply selling our amazing precious rare collectible item on eBay…Golden Apple and ALL its assets.”

http://www.comicsbeat.com

Free Comic Books On the Internet

2011-12-16T14:33:00.000-08:00

Free Online Comic Books:

Not an advocate of new comic books online but the oldies are more than welcome there.
Used for research, entertainment or referencing our growing comic book collections, these lists have great value.

ActionComics I do not know who put this up, but it is worth a look at. This is the first issue of Action Comics from June, 1938, and features the introduction of Superman to the world of Comic Books. A year later Superman got his own series.. Viewable online as JPEG. This issue sold for 1.5 million last year (and it is yours for free).

AdventuresOfSpawn Spawn X, the Redeemer and the robotic Omega Spawn team up to fight the evil Mammon, Overkill, Cy-Gor & Tiffany and prevent them from obtaining the 13 relics of ruin. Available for online viewing in JPEG are the preview and 2 issues.

AlphaShade has 4 comic series. These vary in length. Not sure if they are still ongoing. Some are multi-frame color and some appear to be black and white.

AlterMeta is a multi-frame color web comic that has been running since June, 2009. A story of "sex, dragons and rock & roll."

AndyRunton offers some of his "Owly" comic books for download in pdf and some mini-comics for online viewing as GIF. These are children's books, but also have appeal to adults.

BBC Cult BuffytheVampireSlayer Ecomics 11 full Buffy ecomics for reading online. Can be saved as jpeg one page at a time.

BBC DrWho Writer's Comics 10 Dr. Who comics for reading online through flash player. These appear to all be only 5 or 6 pages long.

BorderWalker Apparently this site has not been updated in quite some time, but there are still 10 comic series available for online viewing (and saving as jpeg). The ones I looked at were no more than 3 chapters long with 6-7 pages each chapter.

BrendanCahill features the flash based web comic, "Outside the Box" for online viewing. Interesting graphics and display and an entertaining run.

CaptainConfederacy An alternate reality tale written some 20 years ago available for online viewing as JPEG at the site or the site has link to download at Internet Archive as CBZ. The second series of this was apparently published by Epic Comics and featured the first black female superhero with her own series.

Cigarro has been running the Cigarro & Cerveja black and white multi-frame comic since 1998. Looks like November, 2010 marked the beginning of a new comic Primatology.

ComicWeb About 20 old time (1930s to 1950s) comics available for free online viewing as pdf. One link I checked was dead, but it appears most all still available. Also old time radio podcasts available for free.

DarkHorse The MySpace page of DarkHorse offers 144 comics separated into 36 issues (4 comics each) for online viewing in flash. Stories and graphics appear to be very good, but I had a hard time centering in my screen. Last updated July, 2010.

DigiLibraries has 20 unique free works in its Comics & Graphic Novels category. All are available to read online or download in ePUB and some are also available in PDF. Thanks to Jonathan Malka for this suggestion.

DigitalComicMuseum Huge collection of public domain comics available for download. A quick adding up by me came to over 6000 files available for download. The ones I checked were either cbr, cbz or rar. Free registration required.

DogstarComics offers volume 1 of Black Opus for online viewing or download in cbr, ePub or pdf.

Source: http://www.techsupportalert.com/free-books-comics

Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance Official Trailer #2 - Nicolas Cage Movie (2012) HD

2011-12-15T15:32:00.000-08:00

Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance Official Trailer #2 - Nicolas Cage Movie (2012) HD

As Johnny Blaze hides out in Eastern Europe, he is called upon to stop the devil, who is trying to take human form.

"Ghost Rider movie, Ghost Rider 2 trailer.

Big Barda drawing

2011-12-15T01:06:00.000-08:00

Yikes, I haven't draw a lick in three months and it shows. Her head is way too big. Well, it is a beginning, again.

45min sketch.

The Innovative Marketing Approach of The Avengers

2011-11-14T14:12:00.000-08:00

The Avengers has set itself up to be one of the most anticipated superhero movies in recent memory. Written and directed by Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon and slated for release next year, it will feature popular comic book characters turned movie icons Iron Man, the Hulk, Captain America, and Thor.

One aspect of the movie that has helped raise a fever pitch of excitement is the use of previously released movies to highlight each Avenger. Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk were released in 2008 and lay out their heroes' respective back stories. 2011's Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger set up these characters backgrounds in the same way. Each of the movies has been building up to the 2012 Avengers movie. It doesn't take a master's degree to see how high production value and faithfulness to the comics has helped to create huge anticipation for the 2012 movie.

This type of marketing is an incredibly clever and innovative way to build up appetite for a product. The trailer for The Avengers has been viewed over 25 million times since its release. Producing five interconnected movie franchises in this way can be considered as a strategy to raise consumer awareness. Each separate movie was a smash hit and hinted at future movies. This created awareness among existing comic book fans and newly interested viewers that new movies were going to be released and that they were all building up to something bigger.

The filmmakers' dedication to creating faithful and high-quality movies is another significant marketing point. It helps raise consumer confidence in subsequent products. All four of the previous Avengers-related movies are rated above 74 percent on the popular Rotten Tomatoes website, with the first Iron Man rated an impressive 94 percent. The expectations for The Avengers are extremely high as a result, which will no doubt cause a flood of fans racing to the cinema.

Another element of this marketing strategy worth noting is the creation of five separate movie franchises that can run concurrently with each other. Iron Man has already had a highly-rated second installment, and a third is in the works. A sequel to The Avengers is of course already planned, and follow-ups to Captain America and Hulk are also quite possible.

Creating five high-quality movie series that work together to tell a complete story is another great, innovative marketing tactic that borrows from the narrative structure and publishing strategy of the comic books themselves. With the exception of Edward Norton as the Hulk, the actors who played the characters in the previous movies will all return, insuring a strong sense of character continuity. Storylines begun in previous movies will be explored in other installments with and interaction between the franchises' lead characters. This continuity and interaction both establishes each movie series' independent strength, and lends to the stability and draw of the collective Avengers franchise.

Creating buzz, confidence, and continuity are three cornerstones successful marketing. This type of filmmaking not only makes for high-quality storytelling, but also creates a huge stir and buzz for each new film. The past decade has seen a major shift toward ongoing movie franchises rather than one-off blockbusters. The Avengers takes this approach to a new level and may well set the tone for the next decade of mainstream movies.

The SF International Animation Festival Starts Thursday

2011-11-10T11:35:00.000-08:00

Perhaps the best-known paean to animation in the Bay Area is Emeryville’s Pixar Studios, whose widely acclaimed computer-animated films have been much lauded as genre-changing.

But along with the accolades come the grumbles from traditionalists, who love hand-drawn films, claymation, and puppets. The San Francisco Film Society’s annual SF International Animation Festival is a nice middle ground for both camps.

The festival, which kicks off Thursday and runs through Nov. 13th, features computer animation, along with a panoply of other styles. The program includes shorts from Annecy, Europe’s premier animation festival, live-action/animation mashups, an animated documentary about the life of cartoonist Yoshihiro, a screening of the latest installment in the wildly popular anime series “Full Metal Alchemist”, and more.

For the full program and ticketing information, go here.

Source: The Bay Citizen (http://s.tt/13LAd)

Phoenix Jones Arrested and Appearing in Court

2011-11-06T14:23:00.000-08:00

Phoenix Jones: 'Superhero, best way to serve my country!'
"I Had To Make A Choice Do You Want To Pepper Spray Women Or Push Girls & That's Not What I Do!"

Top 5 Reasons to shop at Vitacost.com

2011-10-31T18:40:00.000-07:00

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I am the 99% Occupy Wall Street Tshirt gear

2011-10-13T19:49:00.000-07:00

Wear Occupy Wall Street, Tshirt and gear. Get ready!
http://www.cafepress.com/politicprotest.309642925#

Avengers Movie 2012 Actor Photos and Video

2011-10-06T14:25:00.000-07:00

The Avengers movie is the buzz in Hollywood and on cable TV. The chatter over egos and costumes for the 2012 release is replete across forums and social media. We never thought to see a live action super hero team on the big screen and with so many character actors both new and seasoned.

Jack Hawksmoon 13 minute sketch

2011-09-21T13:33:00.000-07:00

I shouldn't do sketches on the back of fax sheets.

Scarlet - G.I. Joe sketch

2011-09-08T14:10:00.000-07:00

16 minute sketch of Scarlet with gun.

16 minute sketch of Scarlet with gun.

Black Panther Drawing

2011-09-01T14:10:00.000-07:00

Black Panther sketch and work in progress.

Dr. Stephen Strange drawing

2011-08-19T17:43:00.000-07:00

Dr. Stephen Strange, Master of the Mystic Arts. Costume redesign.

Nightwing DC Comics drawing

2011-08-05T00:12:00.000-07:00

Daily Sketch Challenge vol.15 #47 - GREEN LAMA

2011-08-04T14:34:00.000-07:00

The Green Lama was an American pulp magazine hero of the 1940s. In many respects a typical costumed crime-fighter of the period, the Green Lama's most unusual feature was the fact that he was a practicing Buddhist. Slightly different versions of the same character also appeared in comic books and on the radio.

The Green Lama first appeared in a short novel entitled The Green Lama in the April 1940 issue of Double Detective magazine. The novel was written by Kendell Foster Crossen using the pseudonym of "Richard Foster". Writing in 1976, Crossen recalled that the character was created because the publishers of Double Detective, the Frank Munsey company, wanted a competitor for The Shadow, which was published by their rivals Street & Smith.

The character, partially inspired by explorer Theos "the White Lama" Bernard, was originally conceived as "The Gray Lama" thinking that he could hide in the shadows and sneak around, but tests of the cover art proved to be less than satisfactory so they changed his color to green. The Green Lama proved to be successful (though not as successful as The Shadow), and Crossen continued to produce Green Lama stories for Double Detective regularly up until March 1943, for a total of 14 stories.

Panthro Member of the ThunderCats

2011-08-03T10:51:00.000-07:00

Just caught the premiere of the new ThunderCats series thru Cartoon Network OnDemand and have to say this show definitely brings a more mature edge to a childhood favorite. Only thing the show is lacking currently is some Panthro. So today's Daily Sketch Challenge remedies that using the character as presented in the '80s animated series.

Panthro is a male Thunderian and noble member of the ThunderCats. His only weakness is his fear of bats. He is the next noble and also the second eldest after Jaga (until Lynx-O is introduced), based on the panther, this warrior is the chief mechanic/engineer and pilot for the ThunderCats.

Ultimate Spider-Man quick pencil sketch

2011-07-28T22:23:00.000-07:00

Ultimate Spider-Man pencil drawing, 28 minutes.

My Art Workspace and Office

2011-07-19T22:53:00.000-07:00

This is where the magic happens in my neck of the woods!

Weekend Drawing Challenge: Tiger Blood

2011-07-10T15:18:00.000-07:00

My name is Stän Li (Like when they replaced Bruce Lee with Bruce Li in the 70's).

Today's Weekend Challenge, should you choose to except it, is to draw thumbnails for the script of my new comic book, Tiger Blood!

All you need is an 8.5x11 piece of paper and any number pencil.

Ready? Good luck true believer!

Panel 1. (Worms eye - medium) Tiger Blood is crouched on a rooftop edge. The moon rising behind him.

Panel 2. (Birds eye - wide) Over TB's shoulder we see four thugs with guns waiting outside an alley way door.

Thug one: "We're gettin' payback tonight"
Thug two: "Hey, maybe cops shouldn't have families. It's a dangerous line of work.

Panel 3. TB leaps into the thugs ripping the chest of one thug, grabbing the gun of another while it fires into the air.
TB: Roooarrr!
FX: tat tat tat tat

Panel 4. TB has the thug by the throat and two others are pointing their guns in TB's direction but everyone is staring at the shadowed figure with the reptile hand.
Reptile: "Ssss, Kitty bleeds now..."

I Want To Be A Morning Person But I Can't Sleep

2011-07-10T14:31:00.000-07:00

8 Steps to a Better Nights sleep

If you are having trouble getting out of bed, it may be the problems you have when getting into bed. The body is on a cycle, going to bed after midnight effects that cycle no matter what your age. Use these steps to improve your chances for slumber.

1. Eating before bed keeps your stomach and metabolism working and interferes with deep, healing sleep.

2. You must realize that if you want to make changes in your life you have to remove the phrase "I can't help it." There is no such thing. The ego makes up that phrase early in our life to make up for not understanding how to change. Now you are a grown up.

3. You cannot fix problems or schedule the next day in bed, in your head, and expect a good nights sleep. As a matter of fact, you will inhibit your ability to recall dates and times by putting unnecessary stress on your body and mind just before you go into the most healing part of your day for your brain.

4. Habit eating after 8pm? You do not need anymore food to survive the night than the 3 or 4 meals you have already enjoyed. Nightmares are caused by late night eating. Your dreams turned into horrors because you are digesting in bed.

5. If you find your mind habitually drifting into problem solving and scheduling, interrupt that thinking with a list of good things in your life. This works.

6. Catch yourself during the day if you say or think, "I'm tired of ___." I'm tired of being fat, I'm tired of being late, etc. Stop feeding your mind junk food that has no emotional value.

7. You can tell yourself when to wake up in the morning, just before you go to sleep. My father taught me this and he learned it in boot camp. After you close your eyes, repeat the time you want to wake in the morning. "I will wake up at 7:30am, I will wake up at 7:30 in the morning, I will be up at 7:30. And you will.

8. When you get under the covers, try breathing ‘The 8's.’ Breath in for 8 seconds, hold it for 8 seconds, breath out for eight seconds. Calms the mind and gives more oxygen to your brain and relaxes your muscles.

A few hours after the sun goes down is when Melatonin starts to produce in your brain. It is time for bed. Go to bed, lay there and get used to being in the bed at that time. Tell yourself during the day you will be in bed by 10pm. And soon you will.

Do not expect these steps to a better nights sleep to work overnight. Realize, this will take time and eventually you will change your current habits. That is really all we are doing is changing a habit into a better one. Not changing your life. That can take years.

Average sleep needed by humans.

Newborns (0-2 months) = 12 to 18 Hours

Infants (3 months to 1 year) = 14 to 15 Hours

Toddlers (1 to 3 years) = 12 to 14 Hours

Preschoolers (3 to 5 years) = 11 to 13 Hours

School-aged children (5 to 12 years) = 10 to 11 Hours

Teens and preteens (12 to 18 years) = 8.5 to 10 Hours

Adults (18+) = 7.5 to 9 Hours

Business Logo Superfluity

2011-07-06T11:35:00.000-07:00

With mass proliferation, logo creating web sites pop into existence every split second. Boasting graduates of various online fine arts or graphic art degrees and cookie cutter logos are replete across the web.

In 2011, getting your company logo to stand out of the digitally manufactured crowd can only be accomplished by an artist. Digital creation in itself is an art, but the true artist creates from whole cloth a unique tapestry.

We support all aspects of art at Business Logo Sweattshop by Dennis Sweatt.
But we respect the true hand on pencil, pencil to paper, creator of original and unforgettable graphic design.

When you are looking for an un-duplicated art for your logo or graphic art need, work with an artist and separate yourself from the cold assembly line of digital repetition.

http://sweattshop-graphic-artist.blogspot.com/p/logos.html

Call: (209) 835-5506

5 Tips on Writing Comic Books

2011-07-04T22:22:00.000-07:00

I usually have a feeling for the arch as I begin, which tends to drive my story.
People and places follow close behind.

What angst I can wring from the turmoil of finding my way through a cohesion of seemingly random events.
Culminating in a new understanding for the principals or the plot.

I get there by giving the characters background before I start. That includes the city, forest, jungle ocean or planet too.
Research, it will show in the work. Your readers are just as smart, if not smarter than you.
Most of it is in my head when I start but my notes and structure lineage make the story more believable, to me and the reader.
Make notes, keep track of evolving and branching idiosyncratic embryos of thought.
Map out a time line! This is one of the major causes of road block.

There is something to be said about the reader picking up on the clarity in which you write and that comes from a core understanding of the world, people and purpose you have created.

Keeping track becomes more difficult as you progress and it isn't a slight to any writers intellect that he or she needs structure to avoid frustration.
In fact it shows good character.

Good luck.

Marvel Versus DC at the Movies 2011

2011-06-29T21:12:00.000-07:00

Thor
Production Budget: $150 million
Box Office Gross Worldwide: $436,784,603

X-Men: First Class
Production Budget: $160 million
Box Office Gross Worldwide: $317,295,408

Green Lantern
Production Budget: $200 million
Box Office Gross Worldwide: $118,389,477

(Yikes! Somebody is getting fired.)

Stats provided by: http://www.boxofficemojo.com

Skurge the Executioner

2011-06-27T21:43:00.000-07:00

From the Daily Sketch Challenge vol.15 #22: http://outcaststudios.com/forums/index.php/topic/10787-daily-sketch-challenge-vol15-22/

"Before you ask, yes. I've been watching The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes on Disney XD a lot as of late (mostly because Young Justice isn't running) and this character has been present on the series and a character I've always found more interesting than he probably is."

Skurge is born in Jotunheim, and later becomes a warrior, gaining his name the Executioner after fighting in a war against the Storm Giants. Skurge has always had feelings for Amora, the Enchantress, and regularly aids her in various evil schemes to gain control of Asgard. However, the Enchantress only manipulates him, using her charms to keep Skurge under her thrall. Loki, the trickster god, also has used Skurge many times."

Will paper comic books cease to be?

2011-06-15T08:57:00.000-07:00

If comic books simply become too expensive to buy or people just can't find them in their local area, will paper comic books become extinct?

The internet definitely feeds the comic reading need beyond having to purchase the same entertainment in paper form. Digital comics are readily available without the drive to the local comic shop, with gas prices still hovering around $3.90. At $2.99 per comic, it could cost you 2 to 3 comic books just to get there.

Without getting too political, U.S. comic book sales are provably intertwined with the current social climate, the White House and how deeply we are at war.
Comic book sales have unerringly climbed in times of war or great need.
Terror was around every corner after 2001 and Bush was a high strung guy.

Obama tends to be more calm, less reactive and more interactive, no "Mission Accomplished" signs. And the wars overseas for the U.S. are winding down. (Thank god)

Nation wide statistics have shown a significant drop in Violent crime.
World wide, although retail profits has ticked slightly higher, personal goods has declined and more frugal spending habits prevail.

Indy comic books and reality based genres will rise in sales (slightly) and the over muscled, masked avenger will see a drop in readership. With tornadoes wiping out entire towns, people need more miracle than macho in their daily reading.

Article Author: Dennis M. Sweatt

Statistics: http://www.esa.doc.gov/about-economic-indicators

Does this Monk look like he is in pain?

2011-06-08T02:26:00.000-07:00

Or at peace?
Thich Quang Duc, Vietnamese Monk performed a self-immolation on 11 June 1963, to protest the killing of monks in Vietnam during the war.
The mind decides what pain is and how much.
Not your situation.

Why I’m (still) not worried about my cell phone hurting my brain

2011-06-02T22:01:00.000-07:00

I’m getting lots of notes from people about the latest press release from the World Health Organization, saying there is a "possible" link between cell phones and brain cancer. My first reaction was, "Seriously?" This keeps popping up every now and again, but this was the first time I had heard it from a group as big as WHO.

The reason for that initial reaction was that I’ve read about lots of studies showing no link at all between cell phones and health issues (besides quadrupling your odds of a car accident if you drive while using your phone), so my reaction was one of fair skepticism. I’d be surprised if a strong connection had been found.

Turns out, it seems, that’s the right call. My Discover Magazine co-blogger Ed Yong explains why on the Cancer Research UK website. Basically, the WHO put cell phones into the Group 2B category, meaning they are "possibly carcinogenic to humans". Aiiiieee! Sounds scary… except that word "possibly", it turns out, needs to be understood a little more quantitatively.

As Ed shows, the graph showing the results from several tests investigating the links between cell phones and cancer shows that any connection is very weak, and honestly cannot be statistically distinguished from no connection at all. Of course, it’s impossible to rule it out, so there’s that word "possibly". From looking at the graph, though, I’d put the odds at being very, very low. As Ed says in his post, "It means that there is some evidence linking mobile phones to cancer, but it is too weak to make any strong conclusions."

I poked around some news sites (like CNN and MSNBC), and while they aren’t over-hyping it, in my opinion they aren’t being entirely fair, either. The claims I’ve seen from people linking cell phones to brain cancer make it seem as if the connection is obvious, but the results from the WHO make it clear that’s not the case. There might be a connection, but if there is it’s not terribly clear. I’ll note the studies only appear to cover a time base of ten years; it’s not possible to know what happens after, say 15 or 20 years. Even then, other environmental factors dominate such studies, making teasing out a weak signal very difficult.

You may also wish to note what other things are categorized as Group 2B possible carcinogens, including gasoline, pickled vegetables, and (GASP!) coffee.

My opinion here is that while a link between cell phones and brain cancer cannot be ruled out, without a strong correlation and a numerical statement about the odds, it seems very unlikely to me that such a connection is something to worry about. I’m far more worried about the dingus in traffic in front of me gabbing to his friend on his phone and causing an accident than I am about me getting brain cancer from my own.

P.S. Speaking of this topic, I’ll be at the Dragon*Con in September, attending the Star Party Thursday night to raise money for cancer research. I did this in 2009 — it’s in memory of my old friend Jeff Medkeff, who died of liver cancer a few years ago. I missed it last year, but I’m very much looking forward to it this time.

Tip o’ the app to Treelobsters for the list of other Group 2B materials.
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2011/06/01/why-im-still-not-worried-about-my-cell-phone-hurting-my-brain/

Hell Boy Mignola study

2011-05-20T23:47:00.000-07:00

Hell Boy

Nexus drawing

2011-05-19T18:40:00.000-07:00

Steve Rude, you may never read my blog but in case you accidentally do, I love your work.
Used to have the record you guys made and the over sized, black and white issues I treasured, until I had to pay the rent back in the eighties. Sorry, had to keep the roof over the wife and daughter.

A daughter which grew into an awesome women who sings like a nightingale.
So I hope my sketch does justice to one of the most unique characters in all of comicdom.

Gollum Lord of the Rings

2011-04-28T00:54:00.000-07:00

Lord of the Rings character Gollum on a mountain top.

Free Comic Book Day Practice sketch

2011-04-23T23:42:00.000-07:00

My local comic book shop has asked me to set up a table and draw sketches for $5 a piece for Free Comic Book Day.
I haven't drawn for speed in front of a crowd before.
At my local coffee shop I will draw for an hour or so but under no real pressure.

This will be a triumph or a disaster, I doubt for anything in between.

12 minute sketch:

King's Comics & Games is in Tracy, California. Located at 245 E. 11th

Green Lantern art: Stage Three

2011-04-23T16:02:00.001-07:00

Green Lantern art: Stage One

2011-04-22T14:57:00.000-07:00

Here's a prelim drawing for Hal Jordan's left arm.

Beginning stages for Green Lantern cover art.

One necessary tool for any comic book artist

2011-04-20T12:40:00.000-07:00

The birds eye view.
After seeing Wildcats DSC Dynamo, I was having trouble doing a draw-over.
This birds eye angle is tough a but necessary tool for any comic book artist.

So I tried one of my own.
I think the left arm or the hand, may be too big.

This piece was drawn on a 9x12 sheet but I reduced it to fit my laptop screen.

Outcast Zero and Cipher Comic: The enemy of my enemy Pg. 20-21

2011-04-18T22:45:00.000-07:00

Everything I have read up to this point in life

2011-04-04T16:33:00.000-07:00

"Dwelling on success creates a departure from what you already have. Being satisfied with what you have doesn’t you mean you lack the drive for more of what you want. Quite the opposite, being at peace increases your awareness and creativity. Allowing you to obtain more of what you need. - Dennis Sweatt"

New Green Lantern Trailer

2011-04-03T22:42:00.000-07:00

"In Brightest Day, In Darkest Night

No Evil Shall Escape My Sight

Let Those Who Worship Evils Might

Beware My Power

Green Lanterns Light!"

Outcast Zero and Cipher Comic: The enemy of my enemy Pg. 20

2011-03-30T01:39:00.000-07:00

So we begin again, where Jeter left us at when the small creature disappeared into a wall/hole.

Our intrepid duo follow the path where it leads and...

Shekinah: Angel with Sword

2011-03-28T17:46:00.000-07:00

Shekinah, Scott Ewing based on the online comic Angelos by Scott Ewing.

My pencil drawing of Shekinah.

Captain America First Full Movie Trailer

2011-03-24T13:43:00.000-07:00

CAPTAIN AMERICA. Our first glimpse of the Captain came on Super Bowl Sunday, when Marvel Studios gave us a tiny taste, a small tease of what was to come… but that was all it was – a prelude to something bigger and something better…
And that leads right to this trailer.

This is an outstanding job to really establish Steve Rogers and what makes his transformation from the scrawny little man he was to the super soldier he becomes. The digital effects to put Chris Evans’ head on that tiny body are kind of freaking me out a bit. I get the feeling they’re going to clean it up just a bit, since there are some seams that could be smoothed out, but… damn, if they didn’t already make you start feeling for this guy.

http://www.infamouskidd.com/captain-america-gets-his-first-full-trailer/

Sinestro Green Lantern Pencil Drawing

2011-03-24T01:02:00.000-07:00

Sinestro, alien supervillain in the DC Comics Universe. Created by John Broome and Gil Kane, Sinestro is the former mentor of Hal Jordan and the arch-nemesis of the entire Green Lantern Corps.

Anthrax Guitarist Scott Ian Shares Five Of His Favorite Comic Books

2011-03-24T00:42:00.000-07:00

Anthrax riff-master Scott Ian isn’t just a thrash-metal pioneer—and the axman in new supergroup the Damned Things—he’s also a big-time comic-book connoisseur, and even wrote a two-issue, Lobo story for DC Comics, with illustration by Sam Keith. Now he’s working on a new mini-series starring the character Etrigan, The Demon, also for DC. Here are some of Ian’s picks for the comic books that belong in any self-respecting metalheads’ library.

Watchmen
(DC Comics)
by Alan Moore, art by Dave Gibbons
“The best ‘comic book’ ever written. It sets the standard to which every story, comic or otherwise, should be held. See the movie, but only after you’ve read the book.”

The Joker
(DC Comics)
by Brian Azzarello, art by Lee Bermejo
“If Heath Ledger was still alive, this Joker-centric tour de force could have been the next Batman film. This is Ledger’s Joker at his insanely, murderous best. Dig Azzarello’s take on the Penguin. Genius.”

300
(Dark Horse)
by Frank Miller
“The ‘true’ story of Spartan King Leonidas and his 300 men, who took on the invading Xerxes and his million-man march. Miller’s Spartan style (pun intended) works perfectly as he unfolds this tale of violent heroism. Read this, then pick up the DVD. You’ll scream, ‘Tonight we dine in Hell!!’ for a week. Well I did, anyway.”

Green Lantern Blackest Night
(DC Comics)
by Geoff Johns, art by Ivan Reis
“Zombie superheroes brought to life by the Black Lanterns. Soooooo metal!”

Batman and Robin
(DC Comics)
by Grant Morrison, art by Frank Quitely
“Dick Grayson has donned the cowl and that little prick Damian Wayne is the new Robin. Grayson is no Bruce Wayne and it’s a good thing. Great story; great new villain, Pyg; and action, action, action. Morrison’s reboot wins.”

Trackback: http://www.revolvermag.com/beta/lists-2/anthrax-guitarist-scott-ian-shares-five-of-his-favorite-comic-books-2.html

DC Comics Blog Closes Comments - Comics Alliance

2011-03-19T17:08:00.000-07:00

Mar 17th 2011 By: Chris Sims

In today's installment of "This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things" news, The Source, the official blog of the DC Universe, has closed down their comments section following a brief but intense flamewar that broke out on a recent post and spiraled into personal attacks against readers, creators, and members of the DC comics staff.

As for what could possibly have inspired so much anger from the readers that the Source had to lock the whole site down to keep things from getting worse -- well, it won't surprise anyone who has spent more than five minutes reading any given forum on the Internet that the vitriol was based on a subject of absolute, life-or-death importance: Who runs faster, Superman or the Flash?

Art Lessons and Study Plan Easy and Affordable

2011-03-17T13:21:00.000-07:00

Learn to draw in the comfort of your home with the No Sweatt Art Instruction Plan.
For art Lessons, email me here: dennis_sweatt@yahoo.com

Here are some samples of my work...click image to enlarge >>>

Logo for Moonlighting Ink Studio

2011-03-17T00:52:00.000-07:00

Logo concept drawn at dinner on an envelope as the idea came to me. Spaghetti would have to wait. Art waits for no one.

Form follows form. A dancer in the moon.

Final version of the Moonlighting Ink Studio logo
http://linkedin.com/in/moonlightinginkstudio

For logo designs, email me here: dennis_sweatt@yahoo.com

Logo design for Simpson Brothers Photography

2011-03-15T14:52:00.000-07:00

Tribal turtle design.

Turtle sketch approved.

Final design inked and vectorized.

At Simpson Brothers Photography we strive to provide you with the highest quality photographs possible. We have shot at locations in all parts of California from San Diego to Fort Bragg, from San Francisco to Yosemite. All photos are available for purchase on this site, and we are available to do portraits upon request.
http://www.SimpsonBrothers.net

THE PERFECT SUPER-HERO FILM OF ALL TIME

2011-03-15T12:39:00.000-07:00

Peter David, writer of stuff

I have finally seen the first absolutely perfect costumed super-hero film. It is called Darkman. And what makes it perfect is the last line.

Now let me make it clear here: “Perfect” is not, in this instance, to be considered synonymous with “good.” Or “quality.” “Perfect” is not defined herein as “in a state of undiminished or highest excellence.” No, I’m speaking of my directory’s first definition: “Complete of its nature or kind.”

The nature of this kind of movie is standard super-hero comic book. Other films have come close– but they haven’t had everything. They haven’t been complete. Somewhere, in some aspect or other, they’ve been lacking.

What’s ironic, of course, is that Darkman is not based on any specific comic-book hero, although he’s pretty much a combo of The Shadow and The Avenger, both from pulps, with Swamp Thing’s origin thrown in for good measure, to wit: A scientist runs afoul of some bad guys and gets himself and his lab blown up. However, due to a homegrown skin project he’s got cooking, he’s able to reconstruct faces, including the bad guys’ and his own. Swathing his face in bandages and a coat and hat Lamont Cranston left sitting around, he seeks vengeance. No specific hero, but an agglommeration.

Because of that, Darkman is the first film, as I have said, to feature absolutely everything you find in your standard comic book. Everything. Even including the last line.

I will endeavor not to blow any major plot points along the way, but if you’re skittish about this sort of thing and intend to see the film, then stop here; otherwise, onward:

Darkman features all of the following, whereas other super-hero or comic-book films have featured only some:

• Constant Movement without Regard to Dramatic Pacing. Standard comics must have something happening every single page, i.e., someone’s getting hit, someone’s in jeopardy, or someone’s in motion. Exposition is usually given on the run. Talking heads are anathema. In Darkman, either the plot is barreling forward with the speed of a freight train, or else the camera is. Sam Raimi, who came up with what can laughingly be referred to as the story, also directed as if he’d been taking No-Doz and washing it down with jolt.

Batman, Turtles, and most others feature some great action sequences, but there are also long moments when absolutely nothing is happening. Ain’t no butlers reminiscing about young master Bruce in this film, baby. Only RoboCop matches Darkman for sheer kinetic lunacy.

• Villains Who Are Evil Because They’re Villains. Darkman comes dangerously close to blowing it on this with a real estate-developer villain who actually tries to explain himself. Fortunately, though, there’s Larry Drake of L.A. Law present to more than make up for it. You think Benny Stolwitz has men- tal problems? You should see the nut Drake plays in this one. Drake’s villain is relentlessly sadistic, right down to his hobbies. He’s nasty and nauseating because he’s nasty and nauseating. All his henchmen are, also.

Superman missed the boat on this with Luthor, as did Batman with The joker– in both cases, they lire much too much style. We find ourselves drawn to them. How many people came out of Batman saving that The joker was the better role? Everybody. Drake’s character exists only to be a bastard. We know nothing about his background, nothing of his family, nothing of what made him the way he is. He’s there to do hideous things and get clobbered by Darkman.

Read full article: http://www.peterdavid.net/index.php/2002/10/30/the-perfect-super-hero-film-of-all-time/

TV Review: The Cape at Comic Books dot com.

2011-03-12T22:44:00.000-08:00

The Cape premiered on NBC January 9th following the standard three month marketing campaign. I was as hopeful as a grown man can be about a new superhero forged on the gritty streets of a crime ridden city willing to fight for us all. But that isn't exactly what NBC created in this new comic book based series.

The Cape began with a bang after Vince Faraday (David Lyons) failed to save his own police chief trapped in an exploding SUV. Faraday, one of the few remaining honest cops left in Palm City, takes his job very seriously with the same unrelenting focus any cop turned superhero should have. But he and the entire city stand against the unrelenting Chess (James Frain) and his demonic campaign of world domination.

Read More: http://www.comicbooks.com/blog/post/2011/03/11/tv-review-the-cape.aspx

Wicked Witch of the West speaking to Dorothy

2011-03-04T12:32:00.000-08:00

"Ahhahahaha...Well! Ring around the rosy a pocket full of -- spears. Thought you'd be pretty foxy, didn't ya? Well, the last to go will see the first three go before her. Hahaha. And her mangy little dog, too."

Dick Tracy drawing

2011-03-03T20:15:00.000-08:00

Art Lessons, email me here: dennis_sweatt@yahoo.com

Drawing of Dick Tracy, (Click to enlarge) a long-running comic strip featuring a popular and familiar character in American pop culture, Dick Tracy, a hard-hitting, fast-shooting and intelligent police detective. Created by Chester Gould, the strip made its debut on October 4, 1931, in the Detroit Mirror. It was distributed by the Chicago Tribune New York News Syndicate. Gould wrote and drew the strip until 1977.

Outcast Zero and Cipher comic book art

2011-03-02T00:45:00.000-08:00

Outcast Zero and Cipher comic book pages posted over at Outcast Studios.com.

Daily Sketch Challenge - DWAYNE MCDUFFIE TRIBUTE

2011-02-26T09:04:00.000-08:00

On Tuesday February 22, 2011, comic writer, animation producer and respected industry veteran Dwayne McDuffie died complications from emergency heart surgery performed the previous evening.

In 1993, McDuffie co-founded Milestone Media along with creators Denys Cowan, Michael Davis and Derek T. Dingle. The company's mission statement involved expanding the role of minorities in comics both on the page and off, and they launched (through DC Comics) a line of superheroes that included Static, Icon and Xombi – all of which McDuffie had a hand in creating.

Over the years, the writer contributed to scores of notable comic book launches and series, always with a keen eye on character, regardless of race. In 2000, his character, Static, made the leap totelevision in the Saturday morning cartoon Static Shock. In 2003, an episode of the show dealing with gun violence earned the writer the Humanitas Prize.

For today's DSC, we pay tribute to Dwayne McDuffie by paying homage to his creation, Static.

Static: 15-30 minute sketch

Outcast Zero Origin Story

2011-02-23T19:14:00.000-08:00

Not man, not machine, not magic but all three.
To meld the man with the program and the machine, magic was used as a binder.

Some magic isn’t meant to inhabit the world of men.

When Brandon was taken from the street to a lab for experiments, he was only 15 yrs old.

Now Brandon has no memory of how he became metal and mesh.

He fights to find his way back, to a home he never knew but a place that may house his very soul.

Only Kellmen Global stands in his way.

FISH POLICE!

2011-02-10T02:32:00.000-08:00

Fish Police is the name of a comic book series by cartoonist Steven Moncuse. The plot centers on law and crime in a fictional underwater metropolis with the protagonist, Inspector Gill, trying to solve various, often Mafia-related, crimes while avoiding being seduced by the extremely well-endowed Angel. The comic featured several marine species as its characters, while the plots and dialog were reminiscent of film noir.

Original Fish Police stories were published from 1985 to 1991, and featured the early work of Sam Kieth (The Maxx) as inker.

Perfect Super Hero English Muffin Mini Pizza's

2011-02-01T20:41:00.000-08:00

This is really a toaster oven affair but if not toast your muffin slightly if you use the oven.

Fully cook turkey burger spiced with Turmeric, Garlic Salt, Ground Pepper and little Chili Powder.

Fully cook Jimmy Dean ground Sausage, regular. (1/3 portion of the Turkey Burger)

Mixed and let cool in the fridge.

Heinz ketchup squeezes into a small bowl, spice with Spaghetti Sauce Seasoning (Spice Island brand for me).

Mix ketchup and seasoning, spread desired layer on to Sour Dough Breakfast Muffins. (Important for flavor)

Sprinkle with meats, cover with three cheese combo and place into toaster oven at 350 degrees.

Cook until cheese melds with the meat and your heroic pizza is ready.
Result equals awesome!

Brought to you by: http://dennissweatt.com

Outcast Zero © and Cipher © Comic Book

2011-01-28T11:54:00.000-08:00

The enemy of my enemy...

So this is a simple, panel to panel, hand-off comic book creative.
The artist picks up where the other left off.

This works best with two people. 48hrs between posting. Any quality is accepted (including stick figures).

Jeter's creation of Cipher © inspired me to draw again.
Without further adieu...

(Must apologize, I found these art pencils at an estate sale, the pencil I chose tonight was lighter than my scanner could read. So I used an adjustment in PS 7 and got it darker but dirtier. I like it, its different.)

http://outcaststudios.com/forums/index.php/topic/9882-outcast-zero-and-cipher-comic/

Batmobile goes up for sale on eBay - One of only five Batmobiles created for the film.

2011-01-17T15:37:00.000-08:00

How many people can say they owned a Batmobile? (Well, we know at least one -- custom car legend George Barris.) Well, now here is your bat-chance to put the Batman Returns Batmobile in your bat-cave.

One of them, the third of the series from the 1989 Tim Burton era of Batman movies, is up for auction on eBay. Starting bid is $299,000, but if you want to skip all that bidding bother, you can skip right away to the buy-it-now price of $499,000.

This Batmobile, the one with the giant jet-engine intake up front, is powered by a Chevrolet 350-cubic-inch engine with performance extras to boost horsepower by another 200. Says the solicitation:

This car runs and drives great and has upgraded fuel injection, and 8-gallon Harwood fuel cell, Monroe air shocks, Mickey Thompson Indy Profile L-60x15 front and Sportsman 33x19.50 15LT rear tires with the famous Batman hubs.

Both the front and rear of the car have full hydraulics, making it very easy to load and unload from it's NEW 2010 Custom trailer (included with your Batmobile).

If it doesn't sell, it's going to be auctioned off through the more traditional means. We don't know. Between the 1960s TV series, the Tim Burton and Christopher Nolan eras, it seems like there are quite a few Batmobiles prowling greater Gotham these days.
By Chris Woodyard, USA TODAY

Related Story:

Andrew Garfield in his Spider-Man movie costume 2011

2011-01-14T11:26:00.000-08:00

First picture of Andrew Garfield in his Spider-Man movie costume, looking as though he's feeling the Great Responsibility.

As of right now, the Spider-man reboot remains nameless, but is scheduled for release on July 3rd, 2012. Here are a few other images from the set, of Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone) and Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield).

http://io9.com/5732980/first-look-at-andrew-garfield-in-his-spider+man-suit?utm_source=io9+Newsletter&utm_campaign=13ef4739c5-UA-142218-29&utm_medium=email

ABC News Amazed By Real Life Superhero Phoenix Jones

2011-01-11T23:04:00.000-08:00

I would be lying if I said I hadn't thought of doing this back when I was 30 something. It was do-able.

Neoprene diving suit.
Rubber impact reductive inner core.
Vulcanized outer armor.
Pneumatic muscle and reaction enhancing bionics hard wired into my brain for faster response time. (Maybe +10-15%)*
Polyurethane pellet gun for low impact distance shots.*
Lite weight nun chucks for crowd control.
GPS Trackers I could throw and they would stick.
Climbing shoes with titanium enhanced toes for climbing walls quickly.*
And a flash light.

What should we call him? Brick. Dirty Justice. Dirty Brick?

(***As time and finance permit)

Every Batmobile from Every Batman movie and Comic Book

2011-01-09T19:07:00.000-08:00

Of all comic book fantasy vehicles, the Batmobile claims a special place among fans and car geeks alike, but few realize just how many variations there have been over the last 70 years. Here's every Batmobile ever drawn or built.

http://jalopnik.com/5726457/this-is-every-batmobile-ever

Draw Over! #1 – Marvel Samples by Matt Zolman | ComixTribe

2011-01-04T18:11:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the very first installment of Draw Over!

What is Draw Over?

Draw Over! is a new ComixTribe featured column, where a professional comic artist reviews pages of submitted sequential art from the portfolio of a fellow comic artist. Where beneficial, the artist will do “draw overs” by taking a digital blue pencil to the submitted page to illustrates areas for improvement (panel to panel flow, anatomy issues, perspective problems, etc.) The artist will also provide some general tips for improving the samples.

This Week’s Artist…

The first artist stepping up to bat is Matt Zolman. Matt is a talented graphic and multimedia designer with a lifelong passion for comics. Over the past several years, Matt’s been working hard to improve his skills as a sequential story teller. Matt is currently working on EPIC, a new super teen comic book series. Matt was gracious enough to submitted five pages of Marvel samples featuring the Hulk for critique. Let’s get right to it! (Click on the images to see in full size.)

The Draw Over! Critique

Page 1

Panel 1 is fine.

Panel 2 I couldn’t really tell what was going on at first. I feel the problem is the foreground. I’m not 100% sure if he caused the crate to fall or not. So I decided the action caused it so I made the pushing of the lever obvious. Either way, I felt pushing in on the guy with the monkey framed the shot better.

Panels 3-5 are fine, but I felt Matt should progress the expressions more to BUILD tension.

Panel 6 I felt the size of the monkey was too large and the flow could be tweaked. I also thought Namor’s pose was weak. Torque the body more. Also focus on the basic shapes before you commit. My pose, though it’s been done before, is a better way to go. That’s why it’s a common pose.

Page 2

Panel 1 I wanted the monkey guy to look like he got knocked on his butt. It also gives us the chance to see where the monkey went and that Namor is still coming.

Panel 2 I’m torquing the body again, and I put the monkey in the foreground. Probably could have taken the time myself to reframe the panel, but I also want a chance to show how little things can really help story telling, even if it’s not the optimal shot. Focus on the basic shapes. Can’t stress this enough. It seems too basic and a waste bit it is 10000% the best route to go.

Panel 3 I thought it was time to push the camera in and punch up the drama. Matt sticks with medium rage shots a bit too much.

Panel 4 is OK

I thought there was too big of a jump in time so I added a panel.

Panel 5 Monkey man is walking up on Namor and Namor is recovering.

Panel 6 Now Namor springs into a back hand.

Panel 7 is fine. Not sure whose hands, but good craftsmanship and spot blacks.

Page 3

Panel 1 is pretty cool.

Panel 2 Hulk’s pose isn’t natural enough for me. Focus on how I connect the hip into the back. The back needs to lean back so naturally a leg should slide under him to balance.

Panel 3 I tinkered with the pose and switched legs. You swing toward the leg in front.

Panel 4 is fine. Reference some water. Even though you are toony you should still reference stuff like this.

Panel 5 Hulk seems thin front to back. Also pay attention to the muscles when you move. You kinda drew the peck as tho the arms are down but he is lifting. They stretch up. Also spot some blacks. Make it an ominous situation

Page 4

Panel 1 is fine. Nice acting.

Panel 2 I posed Hulk a bit more dynamically. Focus on my shapes and how I connect them. It’s really easy once you make yourself do this first.

Panel 3 I feel the need to make the hand grabbing the Hulks leg look like it’s strong enough to pull him through the floor.

Panel 4 Wasn’t a fan of the view so a swung the camera around to kill the symmetry. Pushing Hulk to one sidelLeaves room for a cool sound effect.

Panel 5 Who is the guy standing? Looks like Namor. Isn’t he pulling Hulk through the floor? If it’s another underwater dude then add him in. I changed the angle to get some reaction to what JUST happened. “WHOA!”

Panel 6 Slight mod to Namor. Wanted more gesture and flow for being pulled through the water. Draw a “Line of Action” And make the characters work around it. Changed how Hulk’s head is connected for the same reason. Practice and study gesture a bit more. You probably know most everything to fix issues like these, you just forget you know them. I know I do all the time. Keep everything simple and follow the basic rules of drawing. It’ll make the detailing seem way way easier if you have a proper framework to build on.

Page 5

Panel 1 I really like the layout in panel one. I tweaked Namor’s figure to match a sweeping gesture of the punch. Hulk pose was mostly ok but the forms of the arms got away from you. SIMPLE SHAPES FIRST, then draw them muscles! (Lol.)

Panel 2 I flipped it to keep the eye flowing. It may break the 180 rule so you might flip panel one just in case it bothers you.

Panel 3 Hulk didn’t look like he got punched, so I torqued his body so we felt the punch. Also Namor’s legs needed to be swapped. When you run or punch it’s right arm forward, left leg forward and vice-versa.

Panel 4 is fine. Great acting again.

Panel 5 Really love the layout of this. Letting us breath as readers. Simple shapes just to show how I build up.

Analysis & Recommendations

I know Matt is a bit further along than this and he served as the guinea pig for Draw Over! I don’t know the script, so without words it’s hard to get the full story. No mater how awesome a story teller is, without words some things just don’t make sense. That being said, I think Matt as with most artists close to being pro or semi-pro (myself included) tend to make things harder than they should be. Also, simple things like leaving room for balloons comes with time. Once you see a sweet arm or leg covered by a balloon, you’ll start thinking about where they go.

Matt’s style is easy on the eyes and not cluttered at all. He does however need to think about activating the negative space. Colors can do it, but so can spotting blacks. The last panel on page 5 is a great example of activating the negative space. Not much actual drawing but it feels alive and visually looks great. I suggest Matt take a sharpie and break his drawing down into basic shapes and see where he can improve. Easy to do and you SEE your own work better.

Finally, he needs to push and pull the camera in and out. Page 5, he does this well. Pages 2-4 were kinda lacking camera work. Check out Adam Kubert and Greg Capullo for camera masters.

Thanks to Matt for going first. Follow him on twitter @MattZolman and watch him grow as an artists. I have no doubt he will. I’d guess a couple more years and he’ll be able to think about doing this for a living. Maybe sooner, depending on how much time he has available to put in. Really that’s all is boils down to, using your time to STUDY as you go.

See you next time!

- Tommy Patterson

Draw Over! #1 – Marvel Samples by Matt Zolman | ComixTribe

Jesus Is a Liberal Democrat

2010-12-17T10:50:00.000-08:00

God, how many times did I say this on Twitter? Like 20 over the past year. Always got responses from conservatives. But they weren't very Christian responses.

The Colbert Report

Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

Jesus Is a Liberal Democrat

www.colbertnation.com

Colbert Report Full Episodes

Political Humor & Satire Blog<

March to Keep Fear Alive

Box Office Movie Attendance Hit a 15-Year Low in November

2010-12-06T13:38:00.000-08:00

by Brandon Gray

It's half-way through the holiday movie season, and business has been dull. The November box office came in at $897 million, which was off ten percent from November 2009's record $995 million haul. That represented the steepest year-to-year drop on record.

What's worse, November 2010 was the weakest November in 15 years in terms of estimated attendance, winding up at approximately 106 million. It edged out November 2007 for the dishonor.

Much of the disparity between November 2010 and 2009 came from 2010's programming lacking an event picture in the middle of the month. 2009 had 2012 lined up mid-month, versus the more limited Unstoppable and low-rent Skyline this year. Furthermore, there were no surprise hits in November 2010 to match The Blind Side in 2009. November 2010's brightest spot in terms of flouting past comparisons was Tangled, but that came near the end of the month and wasn't enough to right the course.

November was the fourth month in a row of 2010 that was down in attendance compared to 2009. As a whole, 2010's gross was still running ahead of 2009 through Nov. 30, $9.68 billion to $9.53 billion, but 2010's the least-attended year since 1997 thus far.

As expected, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 was by far the top-grossing picture of November 2010 with $223.7 million. Megamind was second with $131 million, followed by Due Date ($85.8 million), Tangled ($72.2 million) and Unstoppable ($61.7 million).

November Weekend Reports
• 11/8 - 'Megamind' Devises Brawny Start, 'Due Date' Pays Off
• 11/15 - 'Megamind' Stays on Track, 'Unstoppable' Holds the Denzel Line
• 11/22 - 'Deathly' Marks Liveliest 'Harry Potter' Debut Yet
• 11/29 - 'Harry Potter,' 'Tangled' Tower Over Thanksgiving Weekend

Top 40 best free legal movies you can download right now

2010-12-05T19:30:00.000-08:00

December 05, 2010 - by Sean P. Aune

While you constantly hear about how downloading movies is illegal, there are numerous free legal movies you can download. Sure we aren’t talking about the latest summer blockbusters here, but there are some great films out there on the Internet that can be had for free.

The Internet Archive works to bring together anything and everything that resides in the public domain, and that includes movies. We’ve gathered together 40 of the best ones that will keep you entertained for hours on end, all without costing you a dime outside of using some of your bandwidth. Enjoy!

A Star Is Born: This 1937 version of a story of a rising star in Hollywood was remade twice, once in 1954 with Judy Garland and again in 1976 with Barbara Streisand.

Bronenosets Potyomkin (Battleship Potemkin): A major turning point in the production of silent movies that took the camera out of being something that didn’t move to actually being involved in the story.

Captain Kidd: Charles Laughton and John Carradine star in this film of suspense on the high seas from 1945.

Child Bride: A controversial film from 1938 about a schoolteacher trying to end the practice of older men taking child brides in the Ozark mountains.

Cyrano De Bergerac: This 1950 adaptation of the story is widely regarded as the best version by many people.

Farwell to Arms: Based on the novel by Ernest Hemingway, this 1932 film stars Gary Cooper and Helen Hayes.

Great Guy: James Cagney stars in this 1936 film about one mans efforts to clean up corruption in the Weights And Measures Department.

Iron Mask: A 1952 re-release of the 1929 silent film with added narration by Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. as his father had starred in the movie.

Last of the Mohicans: A 1920 silent film adaptation of the novel. Keep an eye out for Boris Karloff in his first role as an uncredited Native American.

Mambo: A 1954 film about the rising star of a female dancer who’s past comes back to haunt her when she returns to her home city of Venice.

Meet John Doe: A Frank Capra film starring Gary Cooper and Barbara Stanwyck about a journalist who makes up a story about a John Doe, and then sees the story take on a life of its own, even launching a political movement.

Shame: Produced by Roger Corman and starring a pre-Star Trek William Shatner, this film tells the story of a man sent into a southern town to stir up race riots. Roger Corman claims this is the only film of the over 300 he’s produced to lose money.

The Boy in the Plastic Bubble: A 1976 television movie based on the real life story of a boy who could not come into contact with unfiltered air, causing him to live his life in a bubble. It was notable for starring John Travolta and Robert Reed, best known as Mike Brady on The Brady Bunch. For some odd reason this film became a pop culture phenomenon, being referenced many times on That 70′s Show, spawning the term “in the bubble” in politics and so on.

The Contender: A 1944 version of the story of a prizefighter that loses sight of what is most important in his life. Stars Buster Crabbe, best known for his role as Tarzan.

The Stranger: Starring Edward G. Robinson and Orson Welles, this 1946 film tells the story of a Nazi who hides in the United States after the war and is hunted by a member of the Allied War Crimes Commission.

The Time of Your Life: A 1948 adaptation of William Saroyan’s award-winning play, this version starred James Cagney.

More... http://tech.blorge.com/Structure:%20/2010/08/11/top-40-best-free-legal-movies-you-can-download-right-now/

Artist Audrey Kawasaki's Creative Workspace (11 pics)

2010-11-30T23:34:00.000-08:00

Audrey Kawasaki just released some in-progress teaser pics of her preparing for her first solo show at the Jonathan Levine Gallery in NY this coming Saturday. The show title Hajimari means beginning in Japanese, and is a word often used in the introduction of a story.

Not only am I in awe at how breathtakingly beautiful her new work is, I love how Audrey has given us an intimate look at her workspace. Seeing her tools, her cat perched precariously on top of her green chair and her little knick knacks that surround her, we start to see a more complete picture of the artist. Also, I love how immersed Audrey looks in those JVC headphones! Now, just what could she be listening to? Your guess?

http://www.mymodernmet.com/profiles/blogs/audrey-kawasakis-creative

The perfect Christmas gift for 2010

2010-11-29T13:23:00.000-08:00

Christmas shopping ideas that work: The Easy Way to Stop Smoking: Join the Millions Who Have Become Non-smokers Using Allen Carr's Easy Way Method [Paperback]

Send this Christmas gift anonymously to someone you want to quit smoking. This method works 85% of the time without going cold turkey. It worked for me 5yrs ago.

Don't wait, save the ones you love or save yourself from a smoker you know.

Wonder Woman comic book art

2010-11-19T01:48:00.000-08:00

Wonder Woman pencil drawing. Defending Superman against Doomsday on a bright sunny day.

Green Lantern (2011) - Exclusive Trailer (HD) DC Comics movie

2010-11-16T23:59:00.000-08:00

This Week's Deals in HDTVs & Video

Comic Book Villains (2002) Comic Book Movie on DVD

2010-11-15T16:48:00.000-08:00

Comic Book Villains
When word hits the street that a nearby elderly gentleman has a cache of old, rare, and very valuable mint condition comic books, rival comic book shop owners Raymond McGillicuddy (Donal Logue) and (Michael Rapaport) both set out to be the first to buy them.

But when the old man declines to sell, the former friends turn into enemies, and a friendly rivalry becomes tainted with greed and turns to murder.

Comic Book Villains

Art School Confidential on DVD

2010-11-15T15:57:00.000-08:00

If you haven't done so already, please make Art School Confidential part of your DVD library.
When I need a pick me up, this is one of the films I turn to.

Funny, unexpected and more than a few references for just artist's.
Have you seen this film, leave your comments...

Art School Confidential

Nightcrawler versus Hydra from Marvel comics

2010-11-09T18:43:00.000-08:00

Nightcrawler (Kurt Wagner) is a fictional character, a comic book superhero in the Marvel Universe. Pencil drawing for the Fight Club over at Outcast Studios dot com.

Spider-Man drawing, inked and colored

2010-11-08T11:36:00.000-08:00

The flu I caught really made me late on this project.
So the colors are pretty hacked and I know the light doesn't match the shadow but Matt won't mind.

Hi, I'm a Tea-Partier

2010-11-01T14:48:00.000-07:00

We refuse to go back to the days when big oil and insurance companies wrote their own rules and ran up record profits, while you paid for it at the pump or faced bankruptcy as health bills piled up. Vote Democrat. We want to keep taxes low for the middle class, so you can pay your bills.

We want to give tax breaks to American companies who create jobs and spur innovation right here in America, not make it easier for them to ship jobs overseas. Vote Democrat.

Thanks Obama for Obamacare, Signed Democrats!

2010-10-30T03:19:00.000-07:00

COMMUNITY PUNDITS

redstateblues69 15 hours ago (2:59 PM)

As of Sept 23rd my insurance can't drop me if I get sick and can't put caps on treatments. Yee-ha! My middle class assets, my home and business won't be vulnerable to medical debt. This is a milestone considering the death tax exemption allows the rich to easily bequeath their assets to their off springs. Now the middle class is entitled to do the same. Why should medical debt prevent that when we've paid

I got the Tweet of the day on Countdown with Keith Olbermann cable news program

2010-10-28T22:53:00.001-07:00

(No that is not me in the picture)

2010-10-24T12:48:00.000-07:00

Page 7 is an introduction for Misty, to show her fearlessness.
Being raised on the farm in a small community, she is more curious than courageous.

Panel 1, the three are flying in pattern searching for OZ. So the helmets are looking in different directions but flying in a delta pattern. Methodical.

Panel 2, is to get a full shot of Misty, in farm girl regalia and to show grandpa isn't phased by explosions or flying debris. Since I kill off grandpa in the first book I want to set familiarity for the reader to justify his unloading of a clip into the bad guy.

Panel 3, Mom is completes the farmer family setting and as protector since grandpa is so detached because of the war.

I thought pulling back on panel 2 and using the discovery of OZ in the barn as Misty's full shot.

Outcast Zero© flies into a barn the hard way - Copyright 2010

Spider-Man Animated WIP

2010-10-23T12:58:00.000-07:00

Spider-Man Animated, work in progress from Marvel Comics.
Different levels of comic book art animated in a gif.

10 Quick Tips on Drawing - Become a better artist

2010-10-23T03:57:00.000-07:00

Learn to Draw Better by Using These Tips on Drawing

Drawing is defined as the action of making marks on any surface with any mark-making material. It is clear, by this definition, that anyone can draw. If you can write your name, well then- you can draw.

Now that we've established that, we all know that some of us can draw better than others.
Becoming skilled at drawing requires several factors coming together.
Some of these factors include desire, instruction, practice, time, and more practice.

This list of tips on drawing is not a "catch all" formula for drawing.
They are purely just some tips that I have picked up along the way that have helped me in my drawing.

1. Drawing is a Skill- This means that drawing is not some magical activity that some people are born with the ability to do. A skill is something that can be taught and most importantly-learned. If you want to draw, draw better, or draw as a professional- you can. Anyone can become skilled at drawing. Don't ever say, "I can't draw."

2. Drawing is At Least 50% Observation- Drawing is about seeing. Have you ever taken a photo of something without pointing the camera at it? Of course you haven't. Yet so many people think they can draw well without looking at an object. Then they become disappointed that their drawings don't look representational. You must look at objects in order to draw them. In fact, you need to look at objects a lot in order to draw them. I suggest that the amount of time you should spend looking at your object should be half the time it takes to complete the drawing. Drawing is at least 50% observation. If you want to draw an elephant, then look at an elephant. Really study it. Understand why you see it that way, then draw it. Everyone knows that one way to cheat on a test is to look at someone else's paper. When you draw, look at your object- the answers are there. Just put them on your paper.

3. Use Resources- This one is related to #2. Gather photos or better yet take photos of objects if you can't draw them in person. Some people may forsake me for this one. It's just not possible to draw everything from life. So when you can't be in the African savannah to draw that lion, use a photo or three.

4. Look for Basic Shapes- Everything in the world can be simplified into basic shapes. When you are studying your subject, try to pick out the basic shapes that make up the over all shape. Usually these shapes are pretty easy to draw. Draw the shapes then draw the contours (outlines). ( This tip will help you with your speed as well.)

5. Good Drawings Have a Full Range of Value- Value is the darkness or lightness of a color. So value is about light. We can't see without light, therefore we see things because of value. It's not about color.(Although color is important too.) Make a value scale and then use it. Make sure that your drawing has a full range of value. (i.e. All of the values on your value scale.) You define the light source through your use of value.

6. Use Line Quality- Line quality is the thickness or thinness of a line. If your drawing is a line drawing, you need to consider line quality. Draw your lines thicker in some areas and thinner in other areas. This will add interest to your drawing as well as variety.

7. Stay Consistent with Your Style- Make sure that you start and finish your drawings with the same style. If you start your drawing loose and gestural, kept it that way. If your drawing begins tight and precise, finish it that way. Make sure the drawing looks like the same artist drew everything on the surface. This will insure that your drawing is unified and harmonious.

8. Know your Medium- Make sure that you understand the correct way to use the medium that you are using for your drawing. It's fine to experiment, but knowing and understanding your limitations with a medium goes a long way.

9. Loosen Up- Drawing doesn't have to be stiff. In fact, it shouldn't be. For example, when you are trying to define the contour of an object, draw several light lines. You have a better chance of "finding" the right line when you draw several of them. (You have a better chance of winning the lottery if you buy several tickets instead of just one.) Try holding the pencil differently than how you hold it when you write. Draw with your shoulder instead of your wrist by moving your whole arm when you make a mark.

10. Practice, Practice, Practice, and then Practice- This is the best tip that there is. You must practice. This is true of any skill. Keep a sketchbook and draw literally everything that you see. Draw everyday. When you can't draw, look at objects and imagine how you would draw them. What shapes are there? What values are there? Where is the light source? What medium would I use? Drawing can take place between your ears.

http://thevirtualinstructor.com/QuicktipsDrawing.html

2010-10-20T00:51:00.000-07:00

Vampire Hunter D

2010-10-12T22:14:00.001-07:00

Vampire Hunter D is a series of Japanese novels written by Hideyuki Kikuchi and illustrated by Yoshitaka Amano since 1983. To date, twenty-one novels have been published in the main series, with some novels comprising as many as four volumes. The series has also spawned anime, audio drama, and manga adaptations, as well as a short story collection, art books, and a supplemental guide book.

Further penciling and shading.

John Constantine - Hellblazer

2010-09-29T14:11:00.000-07:00

The trench-coated mystic and all-around bastard John Constantine is no hero-then again, he never claimed to be-but he has saved the world more times than you'll ever know. Humanity owes a great debt to the chain-smoking magician but don't go thanking him just yet-usually, when he pulls the world's arse out of the cooking grease, it's an unintended side effect from him trying to save his own bacon. It's not that he's above doing good; rather, it's that he's too busy looking out for the only person in this world worth a damn: himself.

Todd McFarlane's Haunt

2010-09-24T13:21:00.000-07:00

Todd McFarlane's newest comic project with Robert Kirkman, titled, Haunt.

"Haunt is the product of an entire year of blood sweat and tears," says Kirkman. "After I confronted Todd in public, he put me to work, and I've never been pushed so hard by an artist/collaborator before. I'm very excited that the news is public, and I can't wait to share this new property with everyone. 2008 is going to be a year to remember for comic fans everywhere - the year Todd McFarlane returned to comics!"

My pencil drawing of Todd McFarlane's Haunt from September 2010.

Outcast Zero - Story Characters, Michael

2010-09-17T14:03:00.000-07:00

Outcast Zero is the copyright of Dennis M. Sweatt 2010

Michael is a get it done kind of guy. He doesn't ask how many will die.

2010-09-12T15:18:00.000-07:00

Book one is almost written.
These are pages 3 plus pg 4 thumbnail.

Page 3 has the final costume.

Red Robin - DC Comic book illustration

2010-09-01T14:18:00.000-07:00

Comic book art for the Fight Club over at http://outcaststudios.com/forums

What came from space…?

2010-08-24T01:10:00.000-07:00

From an orbiting satellite vantage, we witness an inflamed meteor entering the Earth’s atmosphere, without regard for its precious thin outer shell of oxygen and other mute gases.
From heavens view we behold the smoldering space debris parting cumulus like a fastball thrown into patches of fog, vertically outclassing the known laws of gravity.

Ka-Thoom! The last sound a small mountain will ever hear, having stood proudly for over a billion years, as the shock wave strikes out to us.

The rock and dust still falls and settles, nearer to the cosmic catastrophe we come.
Indigenous molten stone throbs with red and amber hues in the dissipation of heat and energy.

A translucent sky blue boulder sized egg is exposed behind fading ribbons of smoke.
The shape of a man, as if waiting to be born, is silhouetted from within by the luster of a desert moon.

The shell fades, then a creature in uncommon armor steps forward with a strong gate but collapses to one knee on the second lunge. His hands slap flat to the desert sand in the epiphany that his legs will not hold his body erect.

One of his human shaped arms bends at the elbow, his other arm collapses, then finally all of him. Lying upon the desert ground, seemingly relieved, the alien knight stirs no more.

Finally, threads of sunlight threaten to unbalance the night and the moon begins cowering behind white capped peaks. The armored orphan stirs and unbends from his regenerative slumber. Slow to rise he is oblivious to the three meteors piercing the morning sky miles above his head. Like a scarecrow, he stands as if waiting to fall but remains vertical, swaying subtly even in the absence of any breeze.

His neck stubbornly bends to a strange heaven so that his cross shaped eye can take in the unfamiliar, sun kissed sky. His helmet pivots to the left, then again to the right and finally to the mountains ahead.
No degree in alien sociology is required to know our newly adopted son, just fallen from the black and endless cosmos, is lost.

Then, his helm tilts just so, as a deer listening for sounds of ambush from a predator. Over his shoulder three clouds of dust follow three knightly runners. Approaching with such unrelenting speed, the earth seems to spin beneath their armored feet.
With one, all seeing eye, fixed upon their prey…*

(Comic Book Art, Sequentials, comic book story)

2010-07-29T16:06:00.000-07:00

Cheetara - Thundercats

2010-07-20T01:41:00.000-07:00

Thursday doodles

2010-05-28T02:28:00.000-07:00

Terra, from Teen Titans, DC Comics