2008 - Sneak Peeks

I won't go into a big Year in Review, I honestly cannot remember which movie I liked best this year (loudQUIETloud, a Pixies Documentary) or any music that rocked my world. It was a year of personal upheaval and change which I choose not to discuss much, but I feel everything will work out. Professionally it was a bit of a let down as well, the VILLAINS trade did come out in 2007, but was finished in 2006, so it felt like, to me, that I did not accomplish anything. I hope to rectify that big time in 2008. Here are some sneak peeks.

This is for a project I hope to self-publish next month (if I can get the pages to the printer in time)


This is for a project that should already be ready to come out, it's just a matter of the writer, myself and the publisher getting back on the same page. This was approved back in July.



and here is something for summer 2008 if everything comes together as planned -



On top of those, I also have hopes to re-launch The Hurricane Kids in the spring as a web-comic and plans to work with a writer whom I have been wanting to work with for a year or so, that should start up after I wrap Villains in July.

Wish me luck.

* Also, to those kind few who are worried about my feet, I have begun wearing shoes on a daily basis and it has helped my pads immensely, and I'm supposed to get a pedicure tonight if I can stand the tickling.

Dear Diary...

Sorry for the lack of updates, I made some minor changes to the site here, nothing drastic. The lack of posts is due to a non-comic job I have been working on for the last few months, and while it is in an area I think I might like, this one has turned out to be a noose around my neck and has taken much longer than I originally thought. Hopefully I will wrap this up tonight or tomorrow and I can move on to one of my several other projects. 2007 saw no new material from me, so I hope to change that in 2008. I'll keep you updated. For now, here are a few character head shots for Villains Vol.2 I'm messing with and a couple Hellboys, because you can never have enough of the right hand of doom.

My foot!

So, there actually is a downside to wearing flip flops every single day. Let me say that I currently do not own a pair of shoes that do not have massive holes in them or peeling leather insoles, what I do own? Flip flops, and I wear the shit out of some flip flops. I can honestly say, out of 329 or so days so far this year, I have probably only worn shoes maybe 10 of them. So what do your feet look like after 300+ days of flip flops and 100+ days of over 100 degrees and flip flops?


this.



My heels and balls of my feet are stained from my last pair of black flip flops and my heels are cracking badly. Sometimes I feel like there are little needles penetrating them. My girlfriend says I need a pedicure, I say I need some money for a new pair of Sambas.

Oh, and don't forget to come see me this weekend if you're local (see previous post below).

December Events

Comic Script Writing

When I'm feeling good about myself and conceited, I like to think of myself as a writer more than an artist. I really see myself, 10 years from now, if I'm still doing comics, writing, not drawing them. The short stuff I've written has generally gotten great feedback from other writers and creators and I enjoy writing much more than any other aspect of comics, except possibly inking. I would love to be a writer/inker, that would be the ideal situation for me. From observations I have made, there are still 2 dominant forms of writing for the comic book medium.

FULL SCRIPT - A panel for panel breakdown of what is happening, what panel the dialog fits in and where everything goes, this usually leaves very little decision making up to the artist.

LOOSE SCRIPT - Usually all the dialog is there but instead of panel descriptions, there are usually just page descriptions which let the artist choose how to tell the story and how to break down the panels.

I would like to say I have worked with both types, but in actuality I have not. All of my scripts from all of the writers I have worked with have been of the FULL SCRIPT type. Both have their positive and negative aspects to it, the FULL script ensures that the writer's vision comes through 100%, and that they know what to expect on the page when they see it, there is little doubt of what will come across and it makes for an easy collaboration. I should also say, that the FULL SCRIPT method is used very much in work for hire situations, where the artist (and often the writer) are just hired hands there to tell a story. While this script type is common, it does leave a little to be desired for the artist who generally would like to have a little more say in the graphic storytelling department, especially in a visual medium.

When I write for artists I almost always use the LOOSE SCRIPT format, unless it's such a short story, or I have such a crystallized idea in my mind that I need to be more direct. I love seeing a page come in on a project and not knowing what to expect, it is very creative and keeps the energy moving. This type of writing generally occurs in a book that is co-created between the writer and artist and each has a personal and often times emotional attachment to the book. On a book where I co-create, this would be the ideal type of script I would get.

Please note, I also take into account the writers I work with and I am comfortable enough with them to know that I can alter certain panels and pages to fit my storytelling approach, and with a little conversation, everything goes swimmingly, and also, many writers only feel comfortable in the FULL script mode, but are more than willing to listen to and agree to the artists input. With VILLAINS for instance, the only long form work I have done up until now, I read all the scripts and suggest changes that are sometimes, but not always taken into account, and only after both myself and the writer, Adam Cogan, agree 100% do I start on the artwork, and we have a great working dynamic where I feel in the art phase I can make whatever changes, though few they may be, to tell the story my way visually. An artist as well, Adam has a very visual approach to his writing which makes it easy.

This whole post was spawned by this great link I came across that points to published comic scripts on the internet. Download the 2 scripts by Brian Wood, the DEMO script, an indie book he co-created with the amazing Becky Cloonan, he wrote in the loose script format, and then the DMZ script, for Vertigo/DC, he wrote in the more common Full script mode.

* On a personal note, I was introduced to Brian by a retailer friend of mine in San Diego this summer, and I was too insecure to even offer polite conversation or praise. I just acted like I was part of the conversation and then skulked away. A couple years back Adam and I entertained the idea of getting Brian to design the cover layout for VILLAINS, but we could not afford him at that point, and I think he was starting to lean away from design also.

sketch

rejected character design, I like her face.

Self examination part 2

So, while Alyssa Milano was my ultimate woman I would never have, Gwendolyn "Winnie" Cooper was the girlfriend I always wanted. Wonder Years might be one of my all-time favorite shows, a very well rounded program that I always felt was very honest and fun. So here's to you Winnie, cheers.



and here is what she looks like now...

I (Heart) You - Dear Diary - 10/30/07

So I was thinking the other day after answering some email that I am currently in some sort of contact with almost every girl I have had a crush on or dated/married since I was in the 4th grade. There might be one or two that have slipped through the cracks, but I have never had a problem committing so the list isn't that long, but I found it semi-fascinating that I can email almost any of these girls (women now), that I have met over the last 21 years or so. Keep in mind that I have lived in 3 or 4 different states/countries since that time. Fascinating or pathetic, I'll let you all be the judge of that. If only I could track down Bethany Stallman and Melissa Guzman, my completion list would go to about 99% for my entire lifetime. How rare is that? So in celebration, I provide for you today, my first true unrequited love (of which there were many).



Who's the Boss of my juvenile loins?

Villains ad on Beauty and the Geek

Back at comic-con in July the crew from Beauty and the Geek were shooting a segment at the Viper booth while Javi and Les signed, on the back of the free copies of their book Middleman was an ad for VILLAINS. So my book got about .5 seconds of screen time.




Javi and Les got a second of screen time too. Volume 3 of Middleman just came out through Viper Comics, I highly recommend it.

Brains

this weeks artJumble

Wednesday

Halloween 2005 we had a Halloween party at the big yellow house and as always, I did not plan ahead, and as always, the results were disastrous. I tried to pull off a rockabilly/greaser look, and instead came off looking like a redneck on laundry day.



x-posted from ARTJUMBLE

FINALLY

Script pages have started coming in for an upcoming book I will be working on for Image comics, hopefully the book will be out in early 2008, probably about March by now. Here is a random sample of 2 panels, I'm doing a new process with this book where I pencil the pages loosely on standard paper, scan them in , enlarge them to full size and I'll be inking digitally, hopefully this will speed up my production time, since I plan to work on this and a sequel to Villains at the same time. Wish me luck.

Updates???

Sorry for the lack of updates, personal stuff has come up, but this time it's good personal stuff, but it has still interfered with my production. I hope in the next few weeks or so to be able to balance both appropriately. Heres are two pieces for this weeks Artjumble.



and a process shot....

the final bigger piece can be found on the ARTJUMBLE site.

Artjumble image

This one was a blast but I swear I have seen this design somewhere else. Anyone know what I'm talking about? I might use this guy in Villains Vol.2, but I can't be sure I didn't steal a Matsuda design or something. Done for the Artjumble blog. Comment here or there.

Dear Diary...

It's not you, it's me.

New Art tomorrow. Promise.

Artjumble

My artjumble image this week -

Kind of straightforward, some anatomy issues with our detective, but it was just fun to work on paper again after a couple weeks.

** edit, larger, toned version of this up on the Sketchjam blog.

Thursday watch the walls instead.....

My new contribution to ARTJUMBLE is up, check it out. Also, on a weird coincidence vibe, I stopped drinking Cola and eating so much fried foods about 10 ago and it has had 3 glaring effects. Not surprisingly, I feel better even if it hasn't shown up on the scale yet, I am having a hard time figuring out what to drink now besides water, tea and coffee, I'm used to having that 4th option. Also, I am dreaming again, not to say I wasn't dreaming before, but these are noticeably more vibrant and lifelike, and it's ALL NIGHT LONG, no kidding, it's insane. It makes sleeping fun again. Too bad I haven't had any of those dreams yet, but unfortunately, I'm not 13 anymore either. Updates forthcoming.......

Bring your Monster to work day!

Yesterday I got to bring my youngest to work because of a snafu with the sitter. It was great, he behaved really well and we took some awesome photos. I don't post pictures of my kids on the net, but here is one he took of me, he's 4 years old. And Awesome.

Monday stuff

My interweb is on the shit at home, I have plenty of access at work, but posts may be slow in the next few weeks. Had a good weekend with the boys and my parents, saw some great scenery, if you feel the need to jump over to the SketchJam, I posted a few new pages of a little side project I'm slowly working on.

Artjumble

Here is my first post the wonderful and inspiring ArtJumble blog.



Vegas was great, I golfed, went skeet shooting with a shotgun for the first time ever, drank a beer in a way I never have before, ate amazingly well, and saw one of my friends do the greatest dance ever while mocking a group of frat boys. I wish I could have stayed longer, but life happens.

I get by with a little help from my friends....

Ever hear the saying "a good friend will help you move, but a really good friend will help you move a body"? Well I personally believe in that wholeheartedly. My Boys Momma (MBM)and I often discuss how I am anti-social and don't make new friends often (or at all), and she considers that a negative aspect. I on the other hand, consider the fact that I have a small cadre of amazing friends to be a HUGELY positive personality trait. If I meet new people, I often forget their name and sometimes I don't even remember if I had met them previously. I attribute this to the fact that my brain is at 110% capacity, and I often have to clear out space to retain new information. I'm a whiz at trivial pursuit and pop culture knowledge, but I can't remember the names of the parents in my kids' school, so sue me.

I have a small group of friends here in the Phoenix area that I have known for over 10 years, 1/3 of my life. They are great friends and I see them as often as I can and I enjoy hanging out with their kids and BBQ's and bar sessions and everything that it entails. I am blessed to have such great, loyal companions.

There is a smaller group though, that I consider my greatest friends, my brothers, my family, I have known since I was 13. 18 years ago I met these guys, and if a really good friend will help you move a body, then I have 3 that will commit multiple heinous felonies and help me flee the country, after burying the bodies and aiding me to exact my bloody revenge. And I would do that for them, because that's what true friendship is about. Not that I have anything liked that planned, but it's good to know that it is an option, if such an extreme situation arises.

I'm going on a short vacation this weekend to Vegas and seeing 2/3 of the trifecta, and I can't wait, I'm like a child on Christmas eve. Nothing overly amazing ever happens on these weekends, nothing to write home about, but a good time is guaranteed, and it's always nice to visit family.

I can see MBM's point about me making new friends though, if I don't learn how to be more sociable, I might never date a woman again. My apologies for the weepy eyed sentimentality, here is some art for no good reason.

Dear Diary

Friday night was the first ever meeting of the Arizona Chapter of the Drink and Draw Social Club, it was a fun time, we had about 17 people show up and I hope everyone had a good time, I know I did.



Hop on over to The AZD&D site for more pics and fun!

Also this past weekend I took 2/3's of my brood to see Surf's Up, the Sony Animation feature about surfing penguins. This movie was really, really, really, good. The way they "shot" it and animated it, f-ing brilliant, I loved the story too, although it was super predictable, but the performances the voice actors and animators put on were amazing. Go see it, if you're local to Phoenix it is showing at the budget theatres now. It actually touched that sensitive spot in me as well, you know, the tiny little spot I keep far behind the anger and bitterness I usually project. I really need to learn to let go of my aggression and negativity of the way things have been going the last year or so. I need to learn to absorb and be "in the moment" when positive and calming events are happening. I think I have started to take advantage of that over the last few days, but it's a work in progress and I need to to adjust 10 years or so of negativity.

Okay, diary, enough of that, I am also doing a bunch of inking while waiting on more script pages, jump on over the SKETCHJAM! blog to see a Kirby page and Wieringo pin-up I did.

Dear Diary - Thursday

I feel like I should post something to get into a rythym of some kind. I made the decision, for the first time in years to put together a proper portfolio to show around to try and line up some more work. My first target is the Marvel Adventures line, I got a script from one of the MA writers so I'm going to pencil a few pages from that. Meanwhile, I am also putting together some inking samples as well. So I spent tonight inking a 'Ringo pin-up and a Kirby Thor page. Here's a shot of my table -



Since I don't have an 11x17 printer, I printed up the Kirby page in 3 parts and I'll put it together in Photoshop.

Also, I got the hardcover collection of Ultimate Spider-Man #100 Project from Marvel & The Hero Initiative yesterday. Once again I can't believe how great it was to be a part of this thing, and the book will only raise more money for the charity. To date it has raised over $81,000. Here's a quick shot of my page in the book, it's alphabetical so I'm next to the amazing Frank Cho.



Tomorrow night is the first ever Phoenix Drink and Draw session, so I'll post about that over the weekend.

hmmmm

I want to start posting at least 3 times a week, even if it's just something small.

A Noble Causes pin-up I did because I like the look of the character and Jay seems to like my stuff at least a little bit. I totally used every cheat and was very lazy on this one.



My weekend was uneventful, but fun. Got tipsy on Friday and finally saw Borat. Saturday I cooked myself a lovely little bit of seasoned catfish with roasted potato. Yummy.

I'm bored 99% of the time, even though I am busy 150% of the item. I need someone to talk to that's over the age of 10.

Yes, I am a dork.

One of those "you are most like" quizzes, this one for Harry Potter. Pretty dead on tho.

Ron Weasley		78%
Hermione Granger		78%
Remus Lupin		75%
Harry Potter		75%
Bellatrix Lestrange		72%
Oliver Wood		72%
Sirius Black		63%
Neville Longbottom		63%
Luna Lovegood		59%
Percy Weasley		59%
Severus Snape		59%
Draco Malfoy		56%
Lord Voldemort		44%
Albus Dumbledore		44%

Harry Potter Character Combatibility Test
created with QuizFarm.com

A sad day

I heard this morning that Mike Wieringo died yesterday from a heart attack. I never knew Mike personally but I did exchange an email or two with him in the past and I never heard a bad word about it from a fan or a pro. By all accounts, one of the best guys around. Whenever I feel like I need to decompress and ink something, to loosen up or to study how another artist spots blacks, I always grab and image from Mike's blog and use that. His blog posts were always insightful and honest and he always seemed just a tad bit sad that he wasn't doing more personal, creator owned stuff. I will miss him although I never knew him, and the industry just lost one of it's classiest creators. Here is a Tom Strong of his I inked earlier this year, and I totally screwed the right eye, but Mike only said nice things about it.

Projects update -

Finally started work on my new book last night, had a lot of fun on the first page, I will post more on that when an announcement is made. Still doing a fun little inking project and I'm looking for an artist to work with on a book I'm developing. I've been searching DeviantArt and man is there a ton of manga art on there, and a lot of it is really bed. I am not, looking for a Manga artist,

a face

SketchJam

Hop along over to the sketchJam blog, I've posted a few new pieces there done on the Wacom. I like it alot, but I'm nowhere near ready to ink actual pages on it yet.

San Diego Comic-Con 2007

What is it about San Diego that drains every bit of energy I have? I was only there for about 48 hours, hardly drank anything, and I am still tired. Maybe it's the constant barrage of noise and color. The excursion started out on a down note as I left my cell phone back in Phoenix, my lifeline to everyone I know out there and all the people I wanted to see, and I had no way to get a hold of anybody. So, consequently my social schedule suffered a bit, but the Viper Comics crew are a great bunch of guys and I enjoyed their company immensely. I was also able to hang out with VILLAINS writer/superstar, Adam Cogan, as well as see my buddy and ultra talented artist, Robbi Rodriguez while I was out there. We had dinner at a fabulous Japanese place on Friday.

The con itself was cool, I picked up some great stuff, said hello to the usual fellows and got to spend alot of time at the booth. I appreciate everyone who came by and had nice things to say about Villains, and to all who picked up the trade. Even though 3 days sold out, I didn't think it was as busy as last year, but I was able to avoid all the media/gaming areas, and that's where the kids go nuts. I left a little re-charged about my upcoming project (now if only I could get a script so I could get started). One thing about being around all those talented artists, it makes me strive to show that I am better than what I have shown in the past.

A very special thanks to the waitress at Trophy's who liked my tabletop Hellboy drawing and I want to leave this post with a super-sized recommendation of Ted Mathot's Rose and Isabel books. I have been wanting them for a while, and I picked them up at the con and I must say, they are simply amazing. I was so inspired and I think I might actually do my "Ronin" series of books in a similiar, square-size format. Go to his site, buy his books, you will thank me later.

Leaving on a jet plane....

I leave EARLY in the morning for my 2-day whirlwind San Diego Comic-Con adventure. I will have a hilariously funny report when I return. While I'm gone, hop over the THE SKETCHJAM BLOG and look at a stupendous Harry Potter pin-up I did.

Random Potterness.

Read the last Harry Potter book over the weekend, and while I didn’t immediately love it upon first read, I thought it tied everything up reasonably well and I plan to re-read it in a few weeks, so I can get a better grasp on it. After being initially disappointed with book 6, I re-read it and liked it much more a second time. I do think part of the problem is that I love books 3-5 so much, that 6 was a bit of a letdown. Also, it seems that parts of the book she retreated to easily explaining it all, like she did earlier in the series, obviously catering to a younger reader, although I think the average Potter reader at this point doesn't need that storytelling tool any longer. Overall though, it was a fabulous coming of age story, with all the proper epic elements thrown in. I hope she does stick to her word and not do anymore books; it would be a shame to cash in when one really doesn’t need to. I wouldn’t mind a few anthologies though, filling in some back-story characters or introducing new ones, it’s a world filled with wonderful ideas, I just don’t want anymore to do with the 3 main characters.

So, for the record, not that anyone cares:

Favorite Potter Book = The Order of the Phoenix

Favorite Potter Movie = The Prisoner of Azkaban

On other news, I’m waiting to start my new project once the funding happens, I’m also very anxious about San Diego Comic-Con, I’ll only be there 2 days but I’m pissed because I’m missing an awesome party on Thursday, and then Friday and Saturday are so insanely busy down there. I hope I get plenty of time to sign and I look forward to seeing everyone, so it should be fun, CROWDED, but fun.

Nerd Prom 2007!

All Official like....

Ryan Cody, artist of the critically acclaimed VILLAINS for Viper Comics will be signing Friday July 27^th and Saturday July 28^th at the Viper Comics booth inside the Independent Press area at Comic-con International in San Diego. On top of having copies of his graphic novel for sale, Ryan will also have the first ever Sketchjam Sketchbook collection featuring over 50 pages of sketches by artists from all over the globe. The Sketchbook is an off-shoot of The Sketchjam Blog which is an online home for over half a dozen talented international artists and illustrators.

Artists included in Volume 1 include: Ryan Cody, a creator based out of Phoenix, AZ, whose previous work has included Viper Comics critically acclaimed “Villains”. Federico Milella is an Italian artist and animator currently working in Luxembourg. His work is frequently seen on the popular Drawing Board website, and is at the forefront of a great new wave of young Italian illustrators. Brent Schoonover is an illustrator and comic artist from Minnesota. His past work includes the best-selling “Horrorwood” from Ape Entertainment and the upcoming “Astronaut Dad” from Silent Devil. Derek Toye is an animator and artist from British Columbia who has previously worked for Mainframe Entertainment as a character designer. Finally, Daryl Walker is a UK based artist that is best known for his wonderfully stylistic versions of classic film and music icons.

On top of a wonderful crop of sketches and illustrations, there is also a short 7-page original story entitled “The Ronin & The Island of Beralku” by Ryan Cody.

The Sketchjam Sketchbook is 52 pgs, Black and White interiors with a full color cover and a “sketchpage” inside the book for a custom sketch if you’re lucky enough to catch one of the creators at a convention, or you can contact and order from your favorite creator online. The Sketchjam Sketchbook will be available worldwide this summer, for more information please visit the Sketchjam blog at http://sketchjam.blogspot.com/ or contact super75press@gmail.com

HULK SMASH!

a pin-up to donate to the CBLDF

Ultimate Spider-Man #100 Project.

Something I was very proud and honored to be a part of, I did a sketch cover for this project that was auctioned off at The Emerald City Comic Con this past spring. Click on the cover and go read the press release and find out how to get this awesome book and help out a great cause.

New Pin-Up

quick portrait style pin-up for my buddy Ben Hall's forthcoming masterpiece, Knucklejelly.

Updates

Here is a random selection of panels from my chapter in the upcoming Expendable One Vol.2 that is coming out this summer from Viper Comics. Now that I have wrapped this project, I am moving onto a HUGE project for me, a monthly book that should be hitting sometime the end of this year, but I'll let you know when the time comes as I plan on becoming a promotional machine about it. I'm also doing a small side gig with Brent and I've finally set plans in motion to actually get the SKETCHjam Sketchbook Vol.1 out in the next coming weeks. It should be an exciting rest of the year, career-wise at least.

06.18.07

Here are some pics from last night's work (3 pages pencilled + inked), luckily I got to use alot of blacks and not alot of backgrounds on those pages.

...

A project I illustrated a pitch for a few months back is up for discussion at Comics Should be Good. There are a couple comments there that I enjoyed reading and a couple that even like my artwork so check it out and feel free to post.

shitAY!

I did a pretty shitty thing tonight, but I'm watching Sarah Silverman on cable, so it's a toss up for how this night has gone.

ugh.

I haven't uttered a word out loud in 3 hours. Normally that is not so alarming, but it is becoming an unwelcome trend.

Random

Here are a bunch of random panels from a project I just started, it's essentially a fill-in for an upcoming Graphic Novel for Viper comics, can't post too much, it has a tight deadline but I never turn down work, hopefully it comes out looking fairly nice. So I have been working fairly hard, just not alot of stuff I can show right now. I hope to have much bigger news to announce later this summer.

The greatest thing on earth.....

A little departure for me today, I normally do not post very personal thoughts on here, I believe that every little piece of my soul is a chink in my armor of baddassery, so every little bit I give away is potentially arming my enemies against me. Today I'm willing to take a chance to tell you about something that is very dear to me.



UCC Apple Tea. The nectar of the gods and the well of life I drink from. During my time in Okinawa I drank as much of this as possible, and thanks to a very generous allowance from my fine parents, I drank a lot. Since my departure, it has been sparse and my longing for it continues to go unfulfilled. I think I have found it online, packaged differently, but tasting very similiar at Ito En. However, besides being very expensive for a case, my longtime confidant, and world renown Okinawan Tea expert, John Feller, has informed me that they are not indeed the same, and UCC is only available in Okinawa.

So in my quest to quench this raging beast inside my taste buds, I have searched long and far for a substitute (although it is an insult to UCC Apple Tea to do so). I have tried and failed to brew my own, but the recent surge in flavored bottled teas has brought some satisfaction. Lipton makes a citrus flavored tea that is decent, but sweetened with High Fructose Corn Syrup. My current selection is Snapple White Tea, Green Tea flavor. It is very good, not UCC good by any stretch, but it does the job.



So until I find a source for importing the UCC at a reasonable price, I will continue to search for a reliable substitute, and long for the times, few and far between, when I am able to smell the aroma of the Gods, and taste perfection in a bottle again.

thoughts...

so, I really like X-Men: The Last Stand, and I don't care who knows it. It's the closest to a comic book I've seen on the big screen. Also, some serious shit has been dropping on the SketchJam blog lately by Charlie Clark, damn that kid is good, if he doesn't get in his own way. Go. Look. Comment. Be Happy. Make me happy.

New Stuff - May 2007

Here is some new stuff I have worked up over the last couple weeks for a potential project, these pages were made to show the publisher, the first batch wasn't what he was looking for, so per his request I went back and slightly altered some stuff and my style, so hopefully the second group will pay off.



and the newest batch, done this week -