jasonlatour.com

WAR FACE

2012-01-31T06:11:00.000-08:00

Brahm Revel does a comic I enjoyed called GUERILLAS. He asked if I might do a pin up for the forthcoming second volume of the series. The chance to draw chain smoking, automatic weapon carrying chimps? I know a good sales pitch when I hear one, so this is the start of that.

Anyway. More soon...

OVENHEAD 2003

2012-01-30T05:39:00.000-08:00

I found this guy rooting around in some old back up discs from 2003.

Good Ol' Ovenhead. I want to draw him with a whole pie in his jaw basin.

More soon....

Writing vs. Art

2012-01-27T08:33:00.000-08:00

So yesterday I willingly slogged through some comics. Afterward I got on ye olde twitter...

I guess the writing in the comics I just read was good, but can I honestly say that when there was basically no point to having art at all?
— Jason Latour (@jasonlatour) January 26, 2012

What followed was a series of posts more or less decrying the lack of harmony between art and writing in comics. Posts made out of frustration, sure, but hopefully less from the view of a comics creator channelling his grief and more so as a reader who just can't catch his high.

Look, I know the playing field. As a reader I can accept that all the things I take interest in aren't going to be masterpieces. As a creator I know that every story fights a never ending battle against entropy. I don't need all comics to exhibit some prodigious hand in glove writing/art hybrid. I simply want both art and writing to be an active part of the story I'm reading. I need them to be. Because the absence of that means there is nothing comics do even half as well as a movie, or a video game or a painting or a novel.

For better or worse I believe the comparisons to those other mediums dominate our creative process. Movies are a particularly sloppy analogy, but with the onus on more complex and engrossing stories, movie production is the mind set that's taken foothold. I doubt anyone would argue that more ambitious stories are a bad thing. It's simply that those ambitions have grown in large part without consideration for the practical concerns of crafting visual stories, let alone comic books.

What movies do very well is recognize that no story is fully conceptualized on the written page. A movie script doesn't define the actions, the sets, or the look of a story past a point. Visual considerations are not an afterthought and there is plenty of room left to work those things out before production begins. They accept that no writer, no matter how great, can fully anticipate the problems that arise converting words to images. They accept that there are a very small number of artists who can come into the last step of the story process and make any sort of real contribution.

Drawing a page, creating a visual world, is as equally complex as crafting a script. Until that's acknowledged at the (pre)production level you'll continue to see a wider divide in the art and writing on the average comic. You'll see artists become less and less invested in giving their all, and writers increasingly concerned about compensating for the artist's lack of interest. I think it's that simple. After all, if the contribution art makes to your story is an afterthought then why is it drawn at all?

More soon...

5 Minutes Figures

2012-01-25T22:32:00.000-08:00

Pen, paper, 5 minutes each.

More soon...

Eat Me (Drink me)

2012-01-24T06:55:00.000-08:00

Don't know how you'd drink a rabbit. More soon...

Undead?

2012-01-17T06:50:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I put what I hope to be the final nail in the coffin on BPRD: THE PICKENS COUNTY HORROR. Keeping a sharp stake ready just in case...

It was a real dream to get to play in Mignola's sandbox and to work with such talented people as he, Scott Allie & Dave Stewart. I'm eternally grateful. If you're interested the first issue is in the new PREVIEWS (Order code: JAN120072) or you can just ask your retailer to order it.

More soon..

Geezer

2012-01-10T10:06:00.000-08:00

"Geezer" is a great word.

More soon...

Out with the Old?

2012-01-06T18:49:00.000-08:00

In 2011 I had 275 pages published. 202 drawn. 7 colored solo. 74 written and hand lettered. I think I did one or two illustrations too. To many of you that may not seem like much but it's significant to me because it probably accounts for at least half my total published work. Of course many of those pages were done prior to 2011... but for 2012 I've already drawn 60 pages, and written at least 22 more.

So thanks to everyone who's supported, challenged and inspired me. I'd name you all but I'd be afraid I'd leave someone out. No promises but this year the tortoise is gonna try to pin his bunny ears back and leg it out.

More soon...

Desk shot 12-25-11

2011-12-26T03:20:00.001-08:00

This is called pulling a McClaine...

More soon...

Naughty or Nice?

2011-12-25T10:33:00.000-08:00

Happy holidays, y'all.

COMICS COMICS COMICS COMICS

2011-12-24T02:14:00.000-08:00

More soon...

And When The Sky Was Opened

2011-12-19T08:54:00.001-08:00

Twi-sky-09, a photo by jaslatour on Flickr.

Screen shot of a scene from the Twilight Zone Season 1, Episode 11: “And When The Sky Was Opened. “

Felt the direction of the scene perfectly underscored both the character at that moment and the episode as a whole. The whole set HERE

More soon...

Desk shot 12-15-11

2011-12-15T23:54:00.000-08:00

The Pickens County Horror is crazy in all the best ways. Crazy enough that I can't show much.

I've been listening to a lot of old Twilight Zone episodes while I work, and this story reminds me of one. That or an old EC comic. It's got that kind of spirit. It's a kick to do something like that and it's really opened up my mind to reconsidering and revisiting the power horror stories.

Anyway, more soon...

Deskshot 12-13-11

2011-12-13T05:50:00.000-08:00

More cabin. More trees. More fog.

More soon...

Coffee Coffee (tribute)

2011-12-09T04:49:00.000-08:00

Have a great weekend. More soon...

Deskshot 12-07-11

2011-12-07T08:57:00.001-08:00

More soon..

SOON

2011-12-02T12:56:00.000-08:00

CBR has posted a little interview with myself and the other 3 artists of the BPRD/Hellboy titles for 2012.

Check it out by clicking HERE.

Again, I'm drawing a 2 issue mini called "BPRD: The Pickens County Horror" . Written by Mike Mignola & Scott Allie, with color by Dave Stewart. Click the image to enlarge:

Hope everyone has a good weekend. More soon...

SUMMER 08-WINTER 09

2011-11-28T23:50:00.000-08:00

Life drawings and studies from Summer 2008 through Winter 2009.

More soon...

SPRING 08

2011-11-21T05:39:00.000-08:00

Some life drawings and studies from Spring and early summer of 2008.

More soon..

FEB-APRIL 2008

2011-11-19T06:49:00.000-08:00

More old life drawings from Feb to April of 2008.

More soon...

December 2008

2011-11-18T07:06:00.000-08:00

Life Drawings and studies from 2008 that I found in an old file (which might as well have been a beat up shoebox):

I'll probably post more of these in the coming weeks, as I'm kind of swamped with work. Apologies for any boring redundancy. More soon...

Chickens. Don't. Clap.

2011-11-15T05:39:00.000-08:00

More soon...

Desk Shot Nov 10th

2011-11-10T11:30:00.001-08:00

More soon...

LOOSE ENDS #3 this Wednesday

2011-11-07T07:23:00.000-08:00

A friendly reminder that LOOSE ENDS #3 (of 4) is in stores this Wednesday.

UPDATE: Preview pages are available HERE

Writer: Jason Latour
Art/Cover: Chris Brunner
Colors: Rico Renzi
LOOSE ENDS #3 (of 4)
"Welcome to Miami, Sonny and Cheri. Here you'll find it all. Gorgeous people, beautiful weather and the decadent life you so richly deserve. Let the rhythm of the night drive the worry from your mind. Wash the blood from your hands in our crystal blue waters and party like there is no tomorrow. Because if the vicious drug cartels and crooked cops waiting in the alley have their way... there just might not be one."

I can't speak for my part of the book but if you've enjoyed the art in first two I think you'll be amazed by this one. Some of the best work Chris and Rico have ever done. I hope you'll check it out.

More soon...

A DARK HORSE

2011-10-20T02:40:00.001-07:00

I'm very excited to announce that the BPRD mini-series I'm drawing for Darkhorse comics has been officially announced .

"The vampires are also about to cause more than a bump in the night over in the Hellboy corner of Dark Horse. "B.P.R.D.: Hell On Earth" addresses the mysterious absence of vampires in the Hellboy-verse, an absence that Allie called "deliberate." "If you read '1946' and '1947' then you know something has been going on with the vampires." This something will be written by Allie and Mike Mignola and illustrated by Jason Latour. Also, Allie guarantees it will be a "nasty approach" to vampires. Atkins nudged fans to watch the news over the next few weeks as some announcements regarding "B.P.R.D." will be made. "There's some exciting stuff happening next year.""

It's tremendous honor and dream to play in Mike Mignola's sandbox & to work with him and other really talented folks like Scott Allie and Dave Stewart. I hope I can post some preview art from it and the Marvel gig I've been working away on soon. It's a good thing there's no time for nerves, there's work to be done.

More soon...

NYCC post game show

2011-10-18T06:24:00.000-07:00

NYCC has come and gone. An exhilarating, exhausting time from the tip off to the final whistle and beyond. Very happy I could make it up and see friends new and old. Heaps of gratitude and thanks to Ivan Brandon, his lovely wife Kristyn Ferretti and Jason Aaron for helping it happen.

Anyways, here's a few sketches I did at the show:

Dash Bad Horse

Red Hood head shot

Hulk

Plenty of big news and goings on from the show that I'd like to share but I've got a plane to catch home. (Plus I think they're about to boot me out of this fancy Park Avenue hotel lobby that I'm squatting and stealing internet from). So... more soon...

THE COMICS JOURNAL/NYCC 2011

2011-10-07T04:36:00.000-07:00

Two news items I wanted to make sure I pass on--

First, a conversation cartoonist/journalist Michel Fiffe and I had over coffee this summer in Brooklyn is up at The Comics Journal.

(click the image to continue to the interview)

I'm really flattered that Michel took the time and extremely honored that TCJ chose to run it. It's a little long but it was fun and I think we both got a lot out of it.

Secondly, I'll be in New York City next weekend for NYCC 2011. I will be seated in artist alley playing Kitty Pryde to Jason Aaron's Wolverine (table 014). I will be doing a few con sketches and should have copies of pretty much everything I've ever done on hand, including the first two issues of LOOSE ENDS for those of you still seeking it. Hope to see you folks there.

- Might as well mention that the posts might slow a bit for the next couple of weeks as I'm on lockdown with a couple of big art projects slated for early next year. I hope you'll stick with me. I'll do my best to put something worth while up and not let the blog fall into total disrepair.

Anyway, more soon...

FALLACIES, FAAL-A-CEEE-HEEES

2011-09-28T23:27:00.000-07:00

I had to attempt a Jesse Pinkman to go with Mr. White.

These have been challenging, as I'm trying to push myself to keep them all on one piece of paper and in as few passes as possible. You play how you practice my coaches always used to say.

More soon...

Walter White-out

2011-09-26T10:16:00.000-07:00

Another warm up. If I were a rapper my stage name would be Walter White...

I hope its a decent likeness. I really love the show and want to do a more substantial tribute at some point. It's seems a bit daunting though.

Anyway, more soon...

Buttaflygirl

2011-09-25T01:59:00.000-07:00

Warm up study. Brush pen and white out on a phone note.

More soon...

SCRAP

2011-09-21T06:38:00.000-07:00

More soon...

RIVERSIDE PARK

2011-09-20T08:40:00.000-07:00

It's rare and special thing when a drawing has such an impact on you that it changes the way you think. This image by Dave Mazzucchelli was one of those moments for me.

I've been fortunate enough to talk to him twice and in both cases he left a real impression. The last time was a couple of years ago at New York Comic Con. At the time I was really over doing everything in my art, guitar solo-ing every note. He was nice enough to look at some of my work and in a moment he untangled a lot of the mess I'd made for myself.

"You just need to decide what, when and where something needs emphasis"

More soon...

Still Wistful, Bub. Still Wistful.

2011-09-14T09:34:00.000-07:00

Just some proof of life.

Yes, still alive and still drawing comics.

More soon...

NEW COKE?

2011-08-31T20:40:00.000-07:00

I was talking with my non comics reading brother about the new DC relaunch, specifically the Superman stuff (of which I'm excited to see Grant Morrison's take on). His exact words: "That stuff all looks like New Coke". I dunno about DC but that's definitely what I'm selling here.

Drawn in 2007 and recolored/cleaned up today.

This was actually for a Superman try out that never came to be. That's probably for the best, given that at the time I would have screwed the pooch on it. I've no clue what to truly expect with all this DC re-launch stuff. All I know is that John Byrne's Man of Steel was big to me as a kid and (probably) introduced me to Mike Mignola's work.

I'm clearly more of a Batman kinda dude but Superman has definitely made an impact on me over the years. So here's hoping for the best.

More soon. ...

HOMAGE

2011-08-28T13:26:00.000-07:00

Happy birthday, Jack Kirby.

More soon...

INTERVIEW PANTHER

2011-08-26T09:55:00.001-07:00

I recently did an interview with my friend Seth Peagler of Heroes Aren't Hard to Find about writing Loose Ends and juggling creative pursuits.Click the Guinea Pig to read.

.

And since this is an art blog, here is a Black Panther con sketch I did last Saturday in Baltimore--

Y'all stay safe and dry through this approaching hurricane. More soon...

LOOSE ENDS #2 in stores tomorrow

2011-08-23T12:45:00.000-07:00

Some how LOOSE ENDS #2 was released in some parts of the country last week, but as of tomorrow it is officially in stores.

If you're still on the fence about the series, here are a few links to help you make the leap:

REVIEWS/PRESS

ISSUE 2 PREVIEW

In other news, I had a blast at Baltimore Comic Con. Thanks to everyone who I drank, ate and bullshitted with, to all the people who stopped by the table and to Marc Nathan and company for having us.

More soon...

HOME FRONT/ Baltimore 2012

2011-08-16T23:44:00.000-07:00

Yet another panel from FEAR ITSELF: THE HOME FRONT #5. In stores today...

As you can see I tried some things with the color. I hope you guys enjoy it.

This weekend I will be in Baltimore for Baltimore Comic Con 2012. BCC is one of my favorite shows, full of good friends and good food, a very refreshing comics centric atmosphere. Rico Renzi and I should both have copies of LOOSE ENDS #1 on hand. So I hope you'll come by and say hello and give the comic a try.

More soon...

The Ghost of Geoffery Lewis

2011-08-14T13:40:00.000-07:00

Below is a 2 page preview of Marvel's FEAR ITSELF: THE HOME FRONT #5 featuring the AMERICAN EAGLE short I did line and color art for. Written by Si Spurrier. In stores this Wednesday.

I've always wanted to put Geoffery Lewis in a comic. Dream fulfilled.

More soon...

Run A Way

2011-08-11T19:44:00.000-07:00

A warm up I did from a still of Kanye West's Runaway video. Started as an observational drawing and ended up this. Sometimes these things have a mind of their own.

(click image to enlarge)

Have a great weekend. More soon...

Desk shot 8/11/11

2011-08-11T12:28:00.000-07:00

More soon...

WHAIR?

2011-08-08T09:27:00.000-07:00

A warm up that I drew lookin' at a photo.

More soon...

Wistful, Bub. Wistful.

2011-08-05T06:00:00.001-07:00

Have a great weekend. More soon...

Joshin'

2011-08-01T05:17:00.000-07:00

Trying to get the hang of drawing a character...

I find it funny how often teenagers look indistinguishable from adults in mainstream comics. I guess that's no different than say any TV show up until about 1995.

Anyway, more soon...

-J La

Your Friend Isn't Here

2011-07-28T11:56:00.000-07:00

In case you wondered, despite my forays into lettering, I do still draw comics:

Looked over the lettering for the AMERICAN EAGLE short I drew and colored for FEAR ITSELF: HOME FRONT #5 last week. I believe you can expect that in stores next month. I'm presently hip deep in another Marvel one-shot (tease above) featuring a familiar and favorite character. After that I have a super secret, super exciting gig at a new company all lined up that I'm just chomping at the bit to talk about, but can't.

So yeah , I'm still happily chained to the desk.

More soon...

Band of Covers

2011-07-27T09:06:00.000-07:00

I don't think any of us ever really expected other artists to do their rendition of LOOSE ENDS, but man, I'm glad they did. :

Robbi Rodriguez

Magic Mike Hawthorne

Doc Shaner

Declan Shalvey w/ Jordie Bellaire

See them in all their glory at COMIC TWART . Thanks so much y'all. A really flattering and surreal experience. Truly an honor.

More soon...

Poppa Colla

2011-07-21T06:36:00.000-07:00

An observational pencil drawing I did to warm up.

More soon...

SiDEBAR EPISODE 159: Tying up Loose Ends

2011-07-18T09:25:00.000-07:00

The fellas at SIDEBAR were gracious enough to have me on for a conversation about making comics & the debut of LOOSE ENDS.

CLICK HERE to listen

Thanks to Swain, Dwight & Adrian for putting up with me. It was a lot of fun and remember to stay past the outro music for some idiocy. Here's a hint:

Something I feel the need to address is that at the end of show I got a little caught up in the moment & stupidly said something to the effect of "when comics aren't good it's b/c people don't care". It's obviously more far complex than that. Especially when it's a business. Definitely when it's art. Making any comic is hard. Period.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy. More soon...

THE LIGHTS OF OLD NATTY...

2011-07-14T07:48:00.001-07:00

I want to thank EVERYONE who came out to the LOOSE ENDS release party yesterday. It was literally 10X the response we expected. You guys are amazing. Even the weather co-operated, as it was nearly 100 degrees, making it a method signing. It was as if the Devil himself knew we had a comic coming out. The most special thanks go to HEROES and Shelton Drum for having us. The best comics shop there is.

LOOSE ENDS Is officially sold out at distributor level. I'm told this was anticipated, so we did a hefty overprint. Tell your retailer to use code MAY111222 and place a reorder.

If you can't wait HEROES is offering a NEON NOIR 3 pack (includes the rare Coloring Book Cover and Limited edition Silkscreen) for order through their webstore. (CLICK HERE) .

(ABOVE: The Death Star had not yet moved into orbit over the Forest Moon.)

If you're still hesitant about the book, I've compiled some REVIEWS HERE to maybe help give you read of the landscape. Mostly far too kind. I hope we can live up to the hype as it were. I'm sure this comics thing isn't all wild nights of partying and signing people's body parts...

See more great photos taken by our friend Heather McKinney HERE

A fun, fun day. But it's time to move forward. From this point on it only gets rougher.

More soon...

LOOSE ENDS #1 TOMORROW

2011-07-11T17:12:00.000-07:00

We're in labor. Tomorrow our baby is coming whether we're ready or not...

The advance reviews have started to roll in and thus far they're beyond kind. If you're interested there are several below, as well as a short interview I did with Tim O'Shea of Robot Six...

The ladies of the 3 Chicks Podcast

When World's Collide- "Loose Ends": Crime Comics Done Right

Robot 6/Talking Comics with Tim interview

Daily Blam review

Newsarama BEST SHOTS

Also if you're in the Charlotte, NC area don't forget to drop by HEROES AREN'T HARD TO FIND for our LOOSE ENDS RELEASE PARTY . (Click those all caps for info). I can't say how much it means to me to have our debut celebrated so lavishly by my first and only comics shop. I hope you swing by and check us out.

More soon...

NY (WAS) KILLING ME (?)

2011-07-10T07:10:00.000-07:00

At some point I think everyone who's ever moved to NY has felt this way:

I love you, New York City. I swear.

More soon...

I SHALL BE RELEASED (party)

2011-07-06T05:56:00.001-07:00

So according to Diamond, LOOSE ENDS #1 will hit stores nationwide on July 13th. That's next Wednesday on your calenders. So mark that date and if you're in the Charlotte area, then please come by and join us for the in store release signing at Heroes Aren't Hard to Find...

Here's a look at the silkscreen print we'll be giving away with purchase of issue #1...

Art by Chris Brunner and Rico Renzi.

Anyway, I'm very excited. I hope to see some of you there. More soon...

Aww Crap?

2011-07-01T10:22:00.000-07:00

Sometimes a guy wakes up and tries to draw Hellboy..

More soon...

-J La

LE LIVES

2011-06-30T06:58:00.000-07:00

Hot off the presses, into a cell phone camera and soon in stores... LOOSE ENDS #1

FCBD version vs. actual size

It done got real. More soon...

SAM I AM

2011-06-29T06:01:00.000-07:00

Trying to limber up the drawing muscles with some observational pen drawing. Did this quick one while watching 13 Assassins...

‎13 Assassins is like if Kurosawa's ghost ate a bunch of steak & set out to remake his own remakes. Highly recommended for people who hate action movies populated by male models and slow motion explosions. Warning--requires the ability to read:

More soon...

Snikts and giggles

2011-06-13T01:33:00.000-07:00

I like to think I drew this just to make that terrible pun in the title of the blog post, but that's just not true...

This clearly wasn't the first time I'd ever drawn Wolverine in costume, but it felt like it.

More soon...

snikt v. SNIKT

2011-06-11T16:29:00.000-07:00

My Heroes Con 2011 auction piece.

Thanks to Michael Ridlen for sending me a snap of this. Hands of Lil Wolvie people, he's mines.

More soon...

Basterd, Inglorious

2011-06-09T07:09:00.000-07:00

A sketch of Lt. Aldo Raine that I did last weekend at Heroes Con. Due to which, I now have a bunch of ...dreamy---er... I mean reference photos of Brad Pitt on my iphone.

I forgot to take snaps of any of my other sketches so if you have one and could get in touch with me I'd be grateful.

Anyway, I would write up a big blog on Heroes Con but it was honestly such an overwhelming experience that I don't think I could do it justice. I'll just say that I want to thank everyone who was in attendance and behind the scenes for all that they did. I don't think I've been more creatively charged in years and that's all thanks to you.

And with that, it's back to work. More soon...

HEROES KHAN E-LEVEN

2011-06-02T12:26:00.000-07:00

And I looked, and behold, a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Heroes Con, and exhaustion followed with him.

In all seriousness I'm rested and ready for my favorite holiday. When I'm not confusing the fellow guests with my marble mouth hillbilly rabble I'll be at Table AA-611. I hope if you're in the area you'll pop in and say hi.

More soon...

Hero Loaf

2011-06-01T05:10:00.000-07:00

I was fortunate enough to be asked to contribute the cover to Creative Loafing's Heroes Con centric Summer Guide. Just in time for everyone's favorite comics convention:features profiles on 7 local comics creators like Rico Renzi, Chris Brunner, Dustin Harbin, Bridgit Scheide, Chrissie Zullo, John Hairston and myself.

Here she is in print:

Speaking of which, it's rapidly approaching zero hour so I should get back to it. I'll post again with info on the show and how to either find or avoid me. More soon...

IPSO X-FACTOID

2011-05-31T05:44:00.000-07:00

Finally finished this little homage to the book that hooked me. I took some liberties with the costumes and chronology of it all. This is the version that lives in my head---

Maybe this will kind of balance any bad karma I may have been saddled with when I opened my big mouth and decided to try to dissect Simonson last week. Uh... shit, I guess it could make it worse..

Anyway. I'm off to prep for Heroes Con. More soon...

LOOSE ENDS #2

2011-05-26T10:53:00.000-07:00

A look at the cover to LOOSE ENDS #2 (art by Chris Brunner and Rico Renzi) and a reminder that today is the last day to order #1 (Diamond Code: MAY111222)

More soon...

-J La

A real American hero

2011-05-20T17:28:00.000-07:00

My next Marvel gig has been announced and solicited. These are the title credits to an American Eagle short story I drew and colored for FEAR ITSELF: THE HOME FRONT #5. Written by Si Spurrier, etc, etc...

This my first time handling color chores solo in a while, so I tried to use it to experiment with some things. I hope you guys will dig it. I believe it's out in August.

Barring something unforeseen, LOOSE ENDS is the only new comic I'll be involved in between now and then. But really, I'm confident that's more than enough comic for any man, much less three. That said the summer is already booked up with some amazing new opportunities and some familiar ones revisited. I'd say more but I don't want to blow the surprises.

Anyways, more soon...

The Knot?

2011-05-18T23:31:00.000-07:00

I felt the need to put down some late night thoughts on making comics. So if you do find the courage to wade toward the abyss of my mind I hope you'll forgive me any soapbox I might end up on and the bad grammar I may use while on it. I'm clearly no authority, these are simply thoughts I felt I needed to see in order to help process--

The common area in our studio space here is generally home to dozens of castaway comics. Usually the victims or survivors of the fickle, abusive needs Chris and I might have for them. So often times I will find myself re-examining something out of casual interest, just some odd or end that I happen to pick up out of boredom or strange unknowable attraction. This "morning", looking for some inspiration for a dynamic pose, I casually thumbed through an old collection of Walt Simonson's Thor that I'd found in the pile. As I flipped through the pages one literally leapt out to me--

Aside from it's aesthetic and and imagination, I believe that the page above is worth looking at as a way to illustrate a common predicament that all comics face: How do we use the tools at our disposal to control the flow and rate at which a reader takes in information?

In the simplest, most reductive sense I'd like to think that a reader begins with the first panel and navigates from word balloon to word balloon, processing the visuals along with the words in a perfect balance. But I tend to believe that no matter how engaged they might be, a reader is unable to completely narrow their focus to one panel at a time. In reality, as a they physically flip from page to page, a reader takes in the entire page as a whole. A first impression that, be it either active or passive, is unshakeable.

That leads me to the page above. As best as I can remember I believe I followed the hammer in panel one directly to the image of Odin "growing" in panel 3. The problem being (aside from skipping panel 2) is that as my eye was drawn downward with the momentum of the page, causing me to read panel 3 as Odin shrinking. Given that the earlier story informs me of the fact that Surtur (the big red devil) is a giant, it's a confusing notion to see the "shrinking" Odin suddenly appear to be the same scale as Surtur in the last panel.

I realize it's a bit unfair to pass judgement on a story I'd only wandered into the middle of, but before I'd even started to read the page the perfect balance of art and story had been broken. Initially that struck me as a rather poor choice by Simonson. No great sin mind you, in fact something I could have just tossed off had I not attempted to read the page. As I did read it I realized that following the dialog balloons as intended lead my eye upward from the word balloon along the bottom of panel 2 and up into panel 3. This seems to create the illusion of Odin growing and seemed like a much better solution to a tough problem (how DO you go against the natural downward flow of a page on a panel that's not the last of a page?). But the fact remained that I had already taken in the page as a whole and I was never going to shake seeing "shrinking" Odin.

So what I was left with is a kind of storytelling knot. It works and it yet it doesn't work. In my very short and modest career I've realized that you're going to encounter a lot (I mean like a metric lot) of storytelling problems like this. It's just inherent in the job of balancing a dozen to half dozen images every 2 page spread against the needs and wants of the story. These ideas are competitive. You're at every turn trying to narrow focus in a sea of information, without losing a sense of the waves that crest in the distance or the wake you leave behind you. In that sense I believe what Simonson is taking on here is monumental. As such this story's failures and successes should perhaps be weighed more against his ambitions or lack thereof and less so against the scrutiny of too many individual moments or pages. Basically what he's doing as a whole is TOUGH work.

So my point... my point.. Well, what I take away from this page is this---We could debate the success of this scene forever, but I believe that were it "silent", with lettering and dialog as just an afterthought, it would be a story telling failure. What saves it and possibly catapults it into the realm of success is the consideration of the entire process used to create a comicbook story. Here the lettering and design are used in aid of the storytelling. The word balloons and their placement is nothing less than a measured choice. Be that it were made by Simonson or John Workman or an editor, doesn't matter. What matters is that all the tools of making a comics story are at play to the benefit of the scene. The page above may not be an optimal solution when broken down into it's components, but balanced against the intent of the larger goal the result is that the story is better for it than it would be had those details not been considered.

We're entering an age in the production of comics where, for whatever reason, those considerations are becoming of less and less value. While the success of modern comics vs. comics of the past is up for debate, there is one sure thing... as modern comics move away from such considerations and lessons we will continue to lose more and more of our center. It's a center that I think is essential, not as a rule but as a guidepost. Awareness of why things are or are not done is essential to telling better stories. And frankly better stories are good for everyone, from the most pretentious arteest to the most cold hard numbers minded businessman. Solutions like the one above may not be the best, but they provide us with some gauge when we are making our own choices as to what directions our own stories should go.

As long winded and winding as that may be I think it's something worth thinking about.

More soon...

The Son of the Beast

2011-05-17T00:02:00.000-07:00

Sketchbook vol 6(66). The Son of the Beast. (Hopefully) coming for Heroes Con 2011.

Front.

Back.

La Tour Tee?

Just seemed right with the world ending this week and all. More soon...

A PRETTY STRICT DRUG REGIMEN

2011-05-11T21:29:00.000-07:00

Not completely happy with this. Strikes and gutters, I suppose.

More soon...

A STRANGER IN THE ALPS

2011-05-10T19:00:00.000-07:00

My first take at pencils for an overdue commission.
Lots of pressure being that it's The Dude.

find a stranger in the alps - Watch more Funny Videos

More soon...

(The Real) LOOSE ENDS FCBD PREVIEW

2011-05-06T16:05:00.000-07:00

Looks like the entire 8 page LOOSE ENDS Free Comic Book Day preview is up on Comic Book Resources. Click the image below to check it out:

Seems they used the edited version in that preview. Muthas will remain unf@cked until July I guess. You should be able to grab a copy for yourself as part of the 12 Gauge LE/ICE Free Comic Book Day flip book. Please do us a favor and spread the word if you dig the work---

Speaking of Free Comic Book Day--- Tomorrow is the day and I'll be at Heroes Aren't Hard to Find where the world will attempt to play Ivan Drago to my Drawing hand. So come on by and put me to the test. To quote Apollo Creed: "Ding. Ding."

More soon...

Desk Shot 4/28

2011-04-28T10:04:00.001-07:00

This is what's on my work desk today:

More soon..

FOUNDERS HALL

2011-04-27T08:01:00.000-07:00

I've kind of let the old blog slip a bit the past two weeks, mostly because I'm hard at work on my next gig. Another short story for Marvel featuring a cool old C-lister. More info on it when I can, but till then this cryptic panel:

Hope everyone had a good holiday. More soon...

Life Studies- 04/14/11

2011-04-14T03:35:00.000-07:00

Did some long overdue life studies as a warm up. Brush pen and copic marker.

There are worse ways to spend a morning than drawing purty ladies.

More soon...

ROUND 2: FIGHT!

2011-04-13T01:05:00.000-07:00

Wolverine sketch cover. X-Baby Logan vs. The Samurai Master of the Red Right Hand. Someone please put that in a video game.

That background was a bitch. Thanks for nothing, paper. More soon...

X baby bay baaaay

2011-04-11T20:16:00.000-07:00

More soon...

-J La

RALEIGH COMIC BOOK SHOW

2011-04-09T10:22:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow, some friends and I will be at RALEIGH COMIC BOOK SHOW:

"Heroes Aren’t Hard To Find will be out in force at the Raleigh Comic Book Show this Sunday, April 10th! We will be set up with great comics including modern back issues, a great selection of Silver Age books and more. Our friends Andy Smith (WWE Heroes, Dean Koontz’s Nevermore, Superman Confidential), Budd Root ( Cavewoman), Chris Brunner (Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight, Boondock Saints, Loose Ends), Jason Latour (Captain America, Daredevil, Loose Ends), and Rico Renzi (Yo Gabba Gabba!, Stumptown, Loose Ends) will be making the trip with us too. I’ve even heard if you come by and say the password to Chris, Jason, or Rico that they might be able to let you flip through a preview of their new series Loose Ends. See you there!"

Holiday Inn Crabtree
4100 Glenwood Ave.
Raleigh, NC 27612
(exit 7 off Hwy 440)
Hotel: (919) 782-8600

Hope to see you there. More soon..

BOOGRILLA

2011-04-07T19:52:00.000-07:00

No matter how high you climb, they'll always drag you down.

Star of his own comic strip. Hopefully sooner than later.

More soon...

ALTERNATE RE-AL-I-TEASE

2011-04-06T23:17:00.001-07:00

Bob Atkins from Skylab Letter Press ran off a bunch of alternates and mash ups of the Space Girl prints. In their way I like some of them better than my intended version.

I should also mention that I've added a very small number of the original print to my store.

Speaking of alternate realities, I really dug Duncan Jones new movie SOURCE CODE. As successful a true sci-fi Hitchcock popcorn mash up movie as I've ever seen. Probably much more than that even. If you've never seen his other film MOON, I highly recommend that one as well.

Anyways, hope you dig. More soon...

Dash, Smash!

2011-04-01T07:57:00.001-07:00

I drew this upon the request of Dash Aaron. Add a love of The Hulk to the list of the many things I have in common with a 5-year-old child.

Hope y'all have a good one. More soon...

Captain America #616

2011-03-29T05:47:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is the release of Captain America #616, which features an 11 page story written by my buddy Cullen Bunn with art by myself and my tag team coloring partner Rico Renzi. Here's a look at the first two pages of our story:

"It's the 70th Anniversary of Captain America's debut and we're celebrating by beginning a bold new direction. A double-size main story by award-winning writer Ed Brubaker sees Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes both struggling with the shocking ramifications of the Trial of Captain America and what comes next!Â A forgotten portrait of Captain America, painted in the waning days of World War II, brings up nearly forgotten memories of those turbulent and frightening years for Steve Rogers -- memories of yearning, of loss and of innocence betrayed, brought to you by writer/artist Howard Chaykin. Captain America falls under the vampiric Baron Blood's spell in an untold tale of the Invaders! Plus: Steve Rogers: Super-Soldier, and the Secret Avengers investigate a modern day Hitler!

This special issue is written by Ed Brubaker, Howard Chaykin, Frank Tieri, Mike Benson, Alec Siegel, Kyle Higgins, Cullen Bunn and much more. The artwork is from Butch Guice, Howard Chaykin, Paul Grist, Paul Azaceta, Jason Latour and more too, cover is by Travis Charest"

Hope you dig it. More soon...

Grundy luv Teekl?

2011-03-28T07:16:00.000-07:00

KC Planet Comic Con is over. Not to be presumptuous but it seemed that a great time was had by all. Extra thanks to my gracious host Jason Aaron for helping line up my trip and for putting up with me for 4 days. My conceptions of Satan worshipping hill people have been forever changed. Also a thank you to B Clay Moore for letting me crash on Sunday , for opening his home to everyone for a Pre-Con party and for confirming that Kieffer Sutherland is a pale Jack Vincennes.

Big thanks to my comics buds new & old and everyone who stopped by to say hi. I'd list you all but I wouldn't want to forget anyone.

Anyways, here is one of the sketches I did this weekend---Solomon Grundy and Klarion the Witch Boy, America's favorite Sitcom.

More soon...

12TH STREET AND VINE

2011-03-23T15:53:00.000-07:00

Just a reminder that I'll be in Kansas City this weekend for KC Planet Comic Con.

KC PLANET COMIC CON
Overland Park International Trade Center
6800 W 115th St, Overland Park, KS 66211
(1/4 mile East of 115th & Metcalf, behind Jo-Ann)

Saturday March 26, 2011 from 10 am to 6 pm
Sunday March 27, 2011 from 10 am to 4 pm

I'm really looking forward to catching up with old friends and eating my weight in BBQ. The plan is actually to consume more cows than meals. Also very much looking forward to seeing how the limited run of SPACE TIME GIRL prints I did for KC's Elite Comics turned out.

While there I'll be doing a limited number of con sketches. Due to the amount of stress they tend to put on me and the fact that I've got outstanding pieces to do from past shows I'll likely cut them off pretty quickly. My list is filling up so if you can let me know early that you're interested by all means do so (jaslatourATgmailDOTcom). It would help to get a jump.:

As always the more interesting and the better. I love Superman as much as the next guy but lets be creative. It's more fun for us both that way. Above is the start of a Batman and Robin sketch but the curve ball villain is why I said yes (Rhymes with Domingo).

How about this. You let me pick the subject? I really hook you up. Sound good?

More soon...

JUST ASK THE KING!

2011-03-18T10:32:00.000-07:00

I was in a whiney mood yesterday so I asked the King for advice. (CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE:)

I'm sure the real guy was much more of a sweet heart. I still think it's ridiculous to compare his career path to anyone else's though.

More soon...

Store Frontin'

2011-03-17T02:20:00.000-07:00

So it took ten years but I finally have an internet store. Just follow the link to the right under PATRONIZE or click the image below:

Right now the only available items are NOCHE ROJA and Sketchbook vol. 4. Though in the next couple of weeks I hope to add limited edition SPACE TIME GIRL prints and possibly a reprint of Sketchbook vol. 5.

All money will change hands via Pay Pal for now and flat rate shipping is for the lower 48 states,(though if you're outside the U.S I'm sure we can work something out.) Every order will also come with a little postcard sized print of ZIP POP NOIR:

The last thing in the world I want to do is under cut comics shops, but I keep hearing from people who say their store doesn't carry NOCHE ROJA. So given that I have a decent little stock of them I'm going to offer them through my store for a while. So if you can't find it via your local shop or bookstore and you do want it, rest assured I have it and will trade it to you for good old fashioned American greenbacks (well the digital facsimile thereof that is).

Beyond that, I don't know, what would you like to see? I'm definitely open to suggestion, so lemme know.
More soon--

SPACE TIME GIRL

2011-03-14T07:29:00.000-07:00

So Nathan Fox , Kevin Mellon and I were invited to do limited edition prints for this year's Planet Con, Kansas City . The theme was "Space Girls" and we were limited to a red black and white color scheme. This one really caused me to beat my head against the wall, but after a lot of hemming and hawing this is what I came up with. The background and dialog are from an old Kirby 2001 comic adaptation (which I re-inked and tweaked to suit my evil purposes). Much respect and many apologies to Arthur C. Clarke, Stanley Kubrick and Jack Kirby.

I really wanted to go for a classic silkscreen kind of look. I hope it works that way and isn't a confusing mess. Anyways, more soon...

-J La

Radioactive blood

2011-03-12T07:35:00.000-08:00

"Is he strong? Listen, bud, he's got radioactive blood."

This is the first color pass. It may be subject to revision and/or variation. I wanted something neo classic, like retro fitted sneakers. That's the idea anyway.

Dig these crazy buildings, Dad:

More soon...

- J La

Cave, man.

2011-03-09T23:30:00.000-08:00

I was kind of late to Nick Cave but these last few years he's managed to carve his face on my Mt. Rushmore of songwriters . So I tried to doodle him. Attempted to go for tone and feeling more so than likeness--

Despite having done it for a few summers in High School I remain a so so caricature artist. I may have picked up too many bad habits there. But this little Mort Drucker on caricature article is helpful. Stolen from Brunner , who got it from J. Scott Campbell who got it from God knows who or where.

Speaking of Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, unearthing their album No More Shall We Part is turning out to be the cherry on a year in which he's dominated my headphones. Strange, haunting ruminations on fame and faith and love-- Every track is like a novella orated by a mad preacher. Even as a largely non-religious person I can appreciate that. I feel like most worthwhile art is existential in some way or the other anyway, so I have no real problem with an artist probing religious themes and questions. I'd guess the line is drawn for me when the personal becomes too much of a pulpit.

But I mean shit it worked for that hack Michelangelo, right?

He's a bit younger in that than the version I tried to draw. Blah, blah. Excuses. Excuses. More soon...

ACTION! (is his reward)

2011-03-08T21:56:00.000-08:00

Spider-man was one of my earliest comics loves. The cartoon fascinated me and once I started collecting comics I bought nearly every issue for about ten years, beginning with the McFarlane stuff and barreling right through the clone saga. I'm a bit out of the loop these days but even the most cursory glance reveals that the art on that line of has never looked better. Paolo Rivera, Paul Azaceta, Javier Pulido and Marcos Martin just to name a few.

In fact the last issue Marcos Martin drew (AMS #655) inspired me to tackle a long overdue commission. So here is the work in progress layout. About half way into it I decided to treat it as practice cover. (Do I want to do covers? Uh... maybe?)

What's difficult and fun about drawing Spider-man is knowing where to break and where to bend, when and where to focus on or ignore anatomy and reality. Like many of my favorite takes I feel I do a better job when I veer away from "showing off". His costume tends to fight against a lot of bending and crazy acrobatics I generally want to inject. All those lines become something of a mess to deal with when treated like a traditional over the top superhero. Maybe that's why he's generally worked better treated more like an indie comic. I don't know. That's a challenge that might be worth tackling.

Anyway, as you can see. It took a few passes to figure out this pose.

Now that I think about it I guess I technically drew Spider-man for print once, in Daredevil: Black & White #1. Below are the pencils for a Spidey wanted poster that ended up In that story. In print I went with the black costume, which every cartoonist under 40 seem to prefer, because it's a black and white comic and because it's more criminal and menacing. The text is lifted from an old Ditko Spidey.

Anyway that's my little trip down nostalgia lane, True Believer. More soon...

CAROLINA BLUE

2011-03-07T23:17:00.000-08:00

It's official, by God it's official. Chris Brunner and Rico Renzi's cover for the LOOSE ENDS Free Comic Book Day preview:

. Big thanks to Jason Aaron for the amazing pull quote. I can't be sure but I think he actually meant it. Now go tell Chris and Rico how much you love them.

More soon...

Chapel Hill Signed

2011-02-28T04:47:00.000-08:00

I had a good time at the Chapel Heel Comics signing. A few snaps of the signing and sketches I did:

Wolverine's best costume is and will always be flannel--

Thanks to Andrew Neal and the folks who came out. Hope to do it again one day. More soon--

Capto Ameriface #616

2011-02-25T16:18:00.000-08:00

A page from Captain America #616 or Capto Ameriface as it's become lovingly known around here. Written by Cullen Bunn , drawn by myself & tag team colored with Rico Renzi.

I think they may be releasing a few more images from our story. If so I'll pass them on. It's the 70th Anniversary issue and ours is just 12 pages of a 100 page giant filled with talent. See more HERE .

More soon...

DORIS THE FINKASAURUS

2011-02-24T04:34:00.000-08:00

Tried doing pen doodles of the Beasties from back in the day when they still looked like jerk offs. I never knew Ad Rock had a Silver Surfer tattoo.

Best description of a subway ride ever? :

More soon...

FRUIT OF THE LOOMIS

2011-02-24T01:52:00.000-08:00

Andrew Loomis on drawing:

Amen. *

*I think it also helps to be a big old human mess every now and then too.

.

Field Trips

2011-02-22T09:41:00.000-08:00

Just a few drawings from the sketchbook today. A life doodle done on my "commute":

An old drawing/brush test I found:

If your predilections run more towards Superheroes, I'm told Marvel is running a preview of the new Captain America story I just finished and I'll be able to share them soon.

In other news, the good folks at Chapel Hill Comics will are having me up for a signing this weekend. I hope you'll stop by:

Saturday, February 26, 2011 from 2-4pm
Chapel Hill Comics
316 W Franklin St
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 967-4439

Okay I think that's about as much as I got today. I promise to try to be better next time.

More soon...

Domo Arigato Mr. Ro-Butt-O

2011-02-09T06:24:00.000-08:00

I don't suspect I'm known for drawing tech, but like every red blooded American boy I did draw a lot of robots growing up. Once I even submitted a Transformers design to Hasbro and got a nice form letter back. Made my year.

This one is supposed to be 20 years old, so I tried not to go too wild and futuristic. This guy doesn't see any action, but there are a lot of robots in this story . I'm grasping at a vague mix of Steran-Kirby, Clement Sauve , the aforementioned old Transformers and industrial whatever I used to see around my dad's warehouse growing up.

Anyway, more soon...

Lost in the Woods (again)

2011-02-08T06:39:00.000-08:00

Got on kind of a roll with a crappy pen and ended up making up some trees. I don't regularly recommend that, but it mostly worked out this time---

Drawing Trees is more relaxing and fun than it should be, a travesty that it's not high on the Ron Swanson Pyramid of Greatness.

More soon...

Thoughts on Creator Owned Comics

2011-01-31T16:22:00.000-08:00

Against what might be my better judgement I’m going to wade into this creator owned thing. So I ask patience for a second. Mostly what I have to say is in reference to the following video and the proposed creator owned movement around it.

I posted these thoughts to twitter yesterday, so I beg your forgiveness for redundancy and for the choppy "sentences". I'm reposting it here with a few new thoughts in order to clear my own mind of it and for people who may be interested.

-I’ve committed a large portion of my life to the pursuit of creator owned comics, so I understand the sentiment driving the "revolution".-We absolutely need more variety in comics. But an informed, practical discussion about how to actually produce that content is is over due. -Few people are prepared for the practical demands of producing a comic, far fewer for the business required to make a living at it.

-It’s a romantic, but admirable notion to believe that with a piece of paper you can move worlds and I don't think that should be discouraged-It requires a tremendous patience, enthusiasm and self belief to endeavor to make comics. But it also requires knowledge and self awareness

-What will create and sustain growth on that side of the industry moving forward is educating future creators of the hurdles they face.-If you’re going to throw down the gauntlet, do it responsibly. Talk costs as well as the benefits. Costs like money, time and effort.-It’s a bit irresponsible to assume that future creators are aware of such costs. How many of us knew or know what we're doing?

-I believe in doing creator owned work. I believe in it as an artist with a capital A. But (unfortunately in this country) it's not an artist's right to make a living-There is an argument that an artist's rite of passage is poverty. That may be true but it shouldn’t be due to ignorance.-It’s not punk rock. There is no getting by on a few hours of rehearsal a week. It’s a life decision. It's 12 hours a day. 7 days a week.

-So my message for the aspiring creator owned comics creator? Educate yourself .-Talk to pros,retailers, and publishers. Ask them their stories and their advice. No one person has a achieved success the same way.-And lastly: don’t waste energy. Painting your plight as a war against a corporate boogey man is divisive and unnecessary. Just do good work.-Because I assure you, you aren’t as good as you think you are. No one is. Any opportunity to make comics is a learning experience.

-Ahem... also... Comics pros? The best thing you can do is lead by example. Continue to show people what's possible.

-Okay, that's two cents of my dollar on the subject. No one asked, but there you have it.

-PS- I love Eric Powell. He's a great dude & amazing creator. I appreciate him stirring the pot. Frankly he can & so he should. I'm certainly no expert on the topic. I just want to make sure that if there is an army that they're carrying more than just a flag. I personally find most of this argument and discussion reductive, but I do think it can be a positive move. Getting people to think about the issue is no small thing and in that sense I commend Eric and company for taking that step.

More soon..

One For the Angels

2011-01-27T03:12:00.000-08:00

A warm-up ink drawing done from a screen shot of ONE FOR THE ANGELS, which is the second episode of THE TWILIGHT ZONE:

Basically it's about a cartoony little street salesman who tries to cheat death. It's not a particularly stand out episode, but I liked the amoral business-like portrayal of death. It feels like that was a rather atypical thing for television of the time.

More soon...

"If you need it defined you don't have it"

2011-01-26T06:50:00.000-08:00

I'm frankly not that happy with this drawing but people who attended Mini Con keep asking me to share it, so...

Apologies to the people I had to turn away. I have commissions outstanding and I felt that it was in poor taste to bring anything home when I have others waiting on drawings from me.

Priorities, right? What are yours?

More soon...

This is your life

2011-01-21T06:58:00.000-08:00

It lives. 180 pages of "It lives"--

I've had a couple of proof copies for months now and the early reviews have been pretty good. That's taken a little of the edge off the anxiety, but it is still a very strange thing to see a year plus of your life bound into 180 pages and reproduced times X.

Drawing comics is a Herculean task. Nearly every comic you've ever seen on a shelf is there at the expense of large amounts of effort, time and Lord knows what else on the part of the people making it. Sometimes 20 plus hour days, weeks on end. It's not a glamourous life behind the scenes, even for the rich superstars. You still have to get up and put in the work.

In the case of monthly comics, it's a mad sprint, you run like your head's on fire for that deadline. Generally when you cross it your reward is feedback, a reason to plug ahead with confidence or indignation or feigned indifference. Doing a graphic novel is fight training. It's a pre-dawn Rocky style work out. In the darkness, every day, for months, in anticipation of a bout that won't occur for years. Your investment is going to wax and wane and there are very few people to pat you on the back or tell you that you're fucking up. In my case even less so because I'm not a big name. No one was really anticipating my work. In fact there were probably a lot of people who'd rightfully written me off. This book was my first real foray back into the world of comics after a few false starts and there was nothing to back up that I could actually finish it.

So I guess the point of this is to thank all the people who had my back. To my family, friends, peers and editors. All the people behind the scenes who I will be eternally grateful for recognizing my potential and nudging me forward when I needed it. I'm indebted to you all.

As for the work? I'm fairly happy with it. I stand behind it. There are some problems sure, some my own, some due to things beyond my control. But I also feel there are also some real moments, some genuine surprises. The lessons it taught me are invaluable.

It comes out in a few weeks. I hope you guys like it.

In other news:

I'll be a guest of the CHARLOTTE MINI CON this weekend. It's a fun little one day show that Shelton Drum puts on. This will be my third year in a row and it's always a good time. I'll likely be doing some sketches, but I'm not sure how many as I'm really slammed with work. You guys should definitely come by if you're in or around the area. I mean shit, they have Pony rides:

Hope to see you there. More soon...

ROCK-A-WELLA?

2011-01-20T01:19:00.001-08:00

It's a shame that Norman Rockwell is kind of lumped in the "posters of Starry Night on dorm walls" category. I've been rifling through a book of his paintings for work and on the back was this photo of Rockwell posing with a cigar and a mad look on his face. So I thought it would be an interesting warm up sketch. Done quickly with office supplies. Typing paper. Ball point pen. A little white out. No pencils. Not a great drawing, but it was well needed exercise.

Somewhere Rockwell rolls in his grave.

In other news:

WOLVERINE #5 is on stands today. It features another back up by Jason Aaron and myself, with a big color assist from Rico Renzi. The issue concludes the WOLVERINE GOES TO HELL arc, our chapter providing a glimpse into how Logan ended up there.

And Rockwell rolls.

More soon..

RECOMMEND NATION

2011-01-17T11:35:00.001-08:00

So unfortunately(?) the X-Factor piece is on hold for a bit as I've signed on for my next short Marvel gig (which is good news. Right?). This time I'll be collaborating with my buddy Cullen Bunn (The Damned, The Sixth Gun). Rico Renzi will also be back helping me tag team the colors. Chances are high this character is involved:

As you can see it's just some prep work, an attempt to nail down an approach to color and that armor tunic thing he rocks. I've always kind of loved Cap, in part because at face value he's such a seemingly nonsensical character. He really works or fails based on the sum of little considerations. That's a real challenge, but when he does work I like him as much as any superhero around. So, fingers crossed.

Speaking of Cullen, the first collection of he and Brian Hurtt's THE SIXTH GUN is now out on shelves. I did the creator bio illustrations in the back, which are really just a couple of sprinkles on a delicious cake. If you're on the fence you can read the first issue here . It's a fun little genre bender. Reminds me of a good Sunday matinee movie.

While I'm recommending things, in a similar vein is Brahm Revel's book GUERILLAS. Brahm gave me a copy at NYCC and when I finally got around to reading it I was disappointed I hadn't done so sooner. It's soldier chimps for christ sakes! That said, for a book with a concept so seemingly broad it's really handled with a refreshing subtlety. I'm looking forward to more of it.

Anyway, due to the power of magic head phones i just realized that Tupac has a lot of sad trombone in his songs. So I'm off to explore that. More soon...