Featured Illustration: Rachel The Wolverine

This was a fun little piece that Rose asked me to do for her friend, Rachel. I really wanted to go with turning her into X-23 but I guess there was an inside joke that she was Wolverine. I figured I would continue to test out Procreate for this too. It sounds strange but I don't think I fell in love with it until the very end. It's funny what my process is like sometimes.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad (Anubis)

Comic Review: Steve Rogers: Super Soldier #4 of 4

Ah the final issue of Steve Rogers: Super Soldier finally came out. I have enjoyed almost everything about this mini so far. I hate to say it but this last installment was a little disappointing. The finale just seemed to by the numbers for me. The way Steve gets an assist from his Secret Avengers teammate, Beast was a nice nod. I thought that was cool how it was tied in. Even the way he defeats Machinesmith was pretty interesting.

Overall I did enjoy reading it and seeing the story close. I just think the way the previous issue played out overshadowed this one. There is a surprise ending that was very intriguing fortunately. Things kinda get turned on it's ear. The payoff is nice. I'll give Brubaker credit where it's due. I just hope that this storyline will be continued in Secret Avengers at some point. That's the book that Steve Rogers is regularly in. He does have Nick Fury's old job after all.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad (Anubis)

Featured Illustration: Human Torch from The Invaders

This is my first real ArtRage painting. I went with The Human Torch from The Marvels series by Kurt Busiek and Alex Ross. Doing this helped me warm up (no pun intended.) to how the app works. I just love that I can keep my reference in the corner. Blending all the reds and yellows wasn't as difficult. I've always loved painting with oils so that's what I used to tackle this one. Alex Ross has always been an inspiration to me. Perhaps I'll do a series to pay homage to his work.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad (Anubis)

My Halloween as Ultimate Captain America

Last Halloween was a disaster for me. I dressed up as Ultimate Nick Fury and went to work for the party. Unfortunately none of the kids or adults recognized me. Comic fans know him from the Ultimates and his cameo in Iron Man after the credits. Too bad the general public doesn't. Every one thought I was a pirate. This time I wanted to not only be someone at was instantly recognizable but someone I really liked. For me the Ultimates put Captain America on the map. It made him cool again.

This iteration had a harder edge and an attitude. He wouldn't just take you down he'd make jokes while he did. This Captain wasn't afraid to take lives when necessary. Ultimate Captain America quickly became my favorite Marvel character. After deciding Gabranth would be too expensive and time consuming I went with Cap America. I owe a big thank you to my Mom and my girlfriend Rose for helping me design and finance the costume.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad (Anubis)

Comic Review: Steve Rogers: Super Soldier #3 of 4

The Super Soldier miniseries has been a very intriguing character study of the former Captain America. Machinesmith has him captive and managed to deactivate his super soldier serum. His plan was to lure Steve to experiment on him. The issue opener sets the tone for the issue. It's the Great Depression and skinny Steve Rogers is taking another beating.

Ed Brubaker writes an excellent Steve Rogers. He really gets into the character's head. Thankfully Dale Eaglesham's work continues to improve from issue to issue. His rendering of Steve without the serum was excellent. It really seems like he's at Machinesmith's mercy. This issue shows that you shouldn't underestimate Steve Rogers no matter what. He's still a highly trained and very dangerous soldier. That doesn't just vanish.

I enjoyed reading this installment. Every thing is coming to a conclusion next month. Like I said before. I would definitely read this as an ongoing. I like Bucky as Captain America but I look forward to when he takes back his mantle.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad (Anubis)

Creative Expression and Trademarks

As an artist sometimes I have to tread carefully. I'm free to draw whatever I want. Does that mean I would draw something offensive and then post to this blog? Of course not. There are limits for creative expression. My aim is to attract people to my art for various reasons. Sometimes that involves creating works that use trademarked characters, symbols or logos.

My intention is not to sell this work. Copyright infringement is a serious issue. If I were to go around selling work based on other people's designs what kind of artist would I be? My point is that it's my right as an artist to post my work. That said if the owners of any copyrights requests me to remove the art I'll do that. Who really wants a lawsuit anyway?

Other than that pieces like Bayonetta, and the Skippy painting will be featured on my blog from time to time.I am aware of what I can and cannot do as a cartoonist. It's an important part of the work that I do.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad (Anubis)

Location:Sherman Pkwy,New Haven,United States

Comic Review: Steve Rogers: Super Soldier #2 of 4

I just got the second issue of the Marvel miniseries, Steve Rogers: Super Soldier.
It's written by Ed Brubaker and drawn by Dale Eaglesham. After a solid first issue I was eagerly anticipating issue two. Thankfully it doesn't disappoint. At the end of issue one Doctor Jacob Erskine is shot and Steve needs to find out why. The opener picks up right after this. The bulk of this issue has Steve squeezing the underworld to find out the identity of the shooter.

He figures out since no one knows anything it's an inside job from the Nextin Security Company. Steve goes to find them and protect Erskine's wife too. As the doctor was on his deathbed he made Steve promise he'd do this. Unfortunately that's another mystery. This woman appears to be his first love, Cynthia Glass. He met her when he tried to enlist in Project Rebirth. She was a Nazi spy that died saving Captain America I. WW II.

Steve doesn't understand how she's still alive. He confronts her on the beach and the truth is soon revealed by the story's antagonist. I won't spoil any of the details but the ending is very satisfying. Again I love the combination of good storytelling, witty dialogue and gorgeous pencils. I'm starting to wish this was an ongoing series. Steve Rogers: Super Soldier is a blend of intrigue and super hero action. Can't wait for the next one.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad (Anubis)

Location:Sherman Pkwy,New Haven,United States

Featured Illustration: Spider-Man

This was an illustration I did of Marvel Comic's Spider-Man. It's a few years old but I still like the composition. It was inspired by Todd McFarlane and Bryan Hitch. I drew it, inked it and then colored in Photoshop CS4.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad (Anubis)

Location:Blake St,New Haven,United States

Featured Illustration: Ultimate Captain America

This is an old illustration I did of Ultimate Captain America in Photoshop. This is the no nonsense version (He broke Hank Pym's jaw, and dropped a tank on the Hulk.) from The Ultimates 2 by Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch. I love the design because the mask is a helmet this time. That makes sense in the story. They did deploy him to Iraq after all.






- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad (Anubis)

Location:Onyx St,New Haven,United States

Comics Review: Steve Rogers: Super Soldier

Let me just say whether or not Steve Rogers is Captain America or not (It's Bucky now.) he'll always be my favorite superhero. Steve Rogers: Super Soldier is about the former Captain America in his new role as the head of S.H.I.E.L.D. It's written by Ed Brubaker and drawn by Dale Eaglesham. I won't spoil the story but basically Steve learns that someone is trying to mass produce super soldiers for private gain. He goes to investigate and stop the threat before it gets serious.

One of the things I enjoyed about this issue is the vibe. The art is top notch and it feels like 007 meets Marvel Comics. Brubaker has been writing the Captain America story for some time now. His attention to the core traits that make Steve who is are on full display. What I like is how he makes Steve seem human even though he's superhuman. I'd never heard of Eaglesham before but he does a great job of rendering the story. Steve's leap from a skyscraper comes to mind.(So well done.) I like how the style has a silver age look to it also.

I could've done without the inner dialogue during the fight scene but what can you do? All in I thought it was a strong number 1. I hope the whole miniseries is this consistent.






- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad (Anubis)

Location:Central Ave,New Haven,United States