Obligatory Christmas card type post.

I don't normally get time to do this- in fact, technically, I haven't really got time to do it this year- but here it is anyway:



Hope you all have a good one-

Matt

Impaler # 5, interior page

It feels like I've been doing this forever now and I'm finding, more and more, that once a page is done, I really don't want to look at it again! That said, I read issues 1-4 for the first time the other day and was pleasantly surprised to find that enough time had obviously passed that I was able to enjoy the experience and look at what I'd drawn without wincing. There's still odds and sods that I'd like to redraw, or tinker with, but I think that's pretty normal. At least, I hope it is.

Anyway... Interior page from Issue 5. I'm posting it because I really like the final panel. When I first started drawing this series, I really thought of Wagner and Trippe as secondary characters- almost cannon fodder for the story- but as time has gone on, I've found myself caring less about the main characters and more about these two- especially Wagner. Out of all of the characters, I feel like I get him the most.

Outrageous bloomin' cheek!

Now I'm not suggesting that everyone should immediately give this guy their cash (although it sounds like he could do with it)- but please read the article at the following link and spread the word at the very least. If you've got a blog- post the link. If you're on Twitter, re-tweet it and ask others to do the same.

You never know when you could be on the receiving end of something like this:

http://www.johntunger.com/legal-defense-fund.html

Bill Mantlo ROM Benefit Book

I finally finished this, between pages, a couple of weeks ago- but I've been too busy for blogging. Or sleeping. Or washing, if it comes to that...



I'm pretty pleased with the way it turned out, but I almost wish I'd done something a bit cheerier now. Oh well!

:D

Holidays and other stuff

So I'm finally back from two weeks of overeating, drinking and lazing around in the sun. Ok- that last one was a lie- there was no lazing to be had as the kids still wanted to get up at the crack of doom and then they wanted to play in the sea or sand until it was time to go back for the night.

Parents ought to get a separate holiday to recover from their kids, I reckon.

Anyway- after wading through huge amounts of guff this morning (email, post, and wotnot), I decided to ease myself gently back into work with this:



Mrs T. has been poking her head around the door every now and then, before tutting and suggesting that I get on with some real work. Rather than instantly file for divorce, I've patiently explained that I'm like an engine that needs warming up- but I don't think she really gets it. She's made me several lovely cups of tea today though- as well as my lunch and tea- so I'm not complaining.

This week, I'll be finishing off the Rom piece and laying out issue 5 of Impaler.

Birth of a Spaceknight WIP

Rom- for the Bill Mantlo benefit book. Unless I change my mind and decide to go with something a bit more user friendly!

Still a few more hours to be put in yet, but it'll have to wait a couple of weeks now...

The return of Marvelman

Having just heard the news from SDCC, I have to say that I'm pretty excited to hear that Marvel have acquired the rights to Marvelman!

I love Marvelman...

Fantastic Four doodle type thing.

Having packed the family off to Cornwall for the week (just in time for a heatwave, the jammy sods!), I thought I'd have an early night and prepare for the marathon week that lies before me.

And then I started doodling this instead. It's a bit ropey and nowhere near properly finished- but it's about as good as it's going to get.

I can't even remember the last time I drew something just for fun!

There will be violence!

It takes ages to draw, but this is what I really love about Impaler- Vlad slicing and dicing the vamps! I could draw this stuff all day (and frequently do).

Pretty pleased with the way that this one turned out- but if I was going to change anything, I'd have Vlad punching right through that vamp. Needless to say, now that I've thought about it, I'll have to make sure that it happens between now and issue # 6...

:D

45 all done

Well, barring any last minute changes, it's finally done.

It took quite a bit longer than I thought it would and, as ever, there are bits that I want to fix- but I'm trying to learn how to let go and accept that things are done when they're done and that endless tinkering is just a lot of wasted time and energy.

To be honest, I'm just glad I wasn't the last one to hand his work in- although Andi tells me that I wasn't far off!

Hooray! Even as I type, Com.X have signed off on it- so I'm officially done.

45 WIP

Don't panic, Andi- I've done a bit more than this! It's actually the backdrop to the rest of the page, which means that most of it will be covered up by other panels- so I thought it might be worth showing it off before that happens.

If it looks a bit familiar, it's because I was inspired by a pic of the Flash I did ages ago.

Come to think of it, that Flash pic was a direct lift of another super speeder I did (Mike Carroll's Quantum)- so it's officially been around the block a bit! Needless to say, this latest version is my favourite...

Impaler # 6 Cover

As promised, a wraparound cover for issue 6. It's taken me practically all week from start to finish- but I'm really pleased with the way it looks. Until tomorrow, of course, when I start to tinker with it...

Action!

This is the kind of page that makes it all worthwhile, kids...

Impaler #5 cover

Yes, it's an absolute flurry of posts this weekend. People everywhere are wetting themselves with excitement. "Will he post again?!? I can't stand it! Oh my God- he's posted something else! Somebody call Reuters!"

Anyway...

I have to admit, I really like this one. It's based on the variant cover of Vlad that I did for the first issue (you know- the one I accidently did for free. Yes, it still burns). What I particularly liked about it, apart from the simplicity, was that it didn't take me very long- which ultimately leaves me with more time on my hands to tell the story. Not that I have anything like time on my hands, of course.

I've tried to go for a simple, understated pic for all of the covers so far, but I've been talked into pushing the boat out for #6. I've got a couple of great ideas in mind that will be a bit of a departure from the covers seen so far.

I hope I haven't bigged myself up too much now...

Happy Easter, by the way. I've been on my own all week, so had to buy my own Easter Egg, which I will be scoffing down shortly. I'm also praying that the good Lord allows my local pizza place to open today as I'm bloody starving, but can't face cooking for myself again. That and the fact that I've yet to wash up any of the pots I've been using and there's nothing left to cook with.

Mrs T will be back sometime tomorrow, but I don't think I can wait that long. My only other option is McDonalds- but do I really want to do that to myself? One 'meal' is never enough and the temptation to buy two is almost overwhelming when you're on your own- but these things never end well. I owe it to my bowels to either cook something or get a pizza.

Please let the pizza place be open...

Impaler #4 cover

I actually did this ages ago, but just never got around to posting it (big surprise there, I'm sure)

Andi Ewington's '45'

"Forty-Five is a series of superhero interviews documented by James Stanley. As a soon-to-be-father, James wants to find out what lies in store for his family if his unborn child turns out to have a super power. It features forty five different industry artists, all having just one page to capture the essence of each interview."

Published by Com.X, 45 is written by Andi Ewington and features some seriously cool artists and absolutely gorgeous artwork. I laid out the roughs for my page (about a super-speedster called Zip) months ago, but just haven't had the time to draw it up yet! I know, I know- it's only one page- but there's a lot on it!

More info can be found here:

http://thefortyfivecomic.blogspot.com/

Impaler #3 Cover

This wasn't the original cover- but what looked great as a rough looked blummin' 'orrible once it was drawn up! It was tweaked over and over until, finally, I snapped and drew something completely different- which was only ever going to be a good thing, believe me.

If I ever get over the intense feelings of anguish and despair that the original provoked in me, I might post it so that people can point and laugh...

:D

Good news and a sneaky preview

Yes, Issue 2 is finally finished and I am about to start issue 3. Apologies and thanks to everyone who has waited- I guess I'm still trying to find my feet.

Cheers-

Matt