The PillBox

Winter 2012

2012-02-06T19:27:00.001-05:00

FrogShway Subscriptions!

2012-01-17T10:41:00.004-05:00

Get the latest issues of "The Chronicles of FrogShway" delivered to your mailbox!
$6 plus shipping gets you a complete subscription to this twelve-issue mini-series.
Visit The Pillbox Store for more information!

Jet Jaguar!

2012-01-10T13:50:00.006-05:00

Here's a drawing of Jet Jaguar from the 1973 movie "Godzilla vs. Megalon."

He is possibly one of my favorite supporting characters from any Godzilla movie.
If you like this, you should check out Joey Weiser's great Kaiju alphabet for the AlphaBeasts project (it so happens that his drawing this week is M for Megalon)!

Studio Clearance Sale!

2012-01-02T11:57:00.004-05:00

My studio space is cluttered with original artwork created specifically for this blog!
If you purchase a 'Zine or Minicomic from The Pillbox Store anytime between now and midnight on January 9th, a signed piece of this original artwork can be yours, free of charge!
Don't be shy! Click on over to The Pillbox Store and place your order.
All purchases will be processed securely by PAYPAL. Pieces will be chosen at random, but if you have a particular drawing you are interested in, please request it in the "instructions to seller" field. I will try to meet all requests, but I cannot guarantee availability.
This offer is good while supplies last! : )

Thanks for your help, and, as always, thanks for reading!

Happy New Year 2012!

2012-01-01T00:00:00.001-05:00

Untitled

2011-12-28T21:22:00.002-05:00

This is a drawing from my sketchpad that was based on an antique postcard of a Native American.

Merry Christmas 2011!

2011-12-25T00:00:00.004-05:00

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

2011-12-20T12:18:00.003-05:00

Here is a cartoon of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe that I did as a present for some acquaintances at the Goethe Zentrum Atlanta.

If you've never been to your local Goethe Institut, you are missing out!
They have German Language classes, Films, Lectures, and more.
There's also an exhibit promoting German cartoonists that is traveling to various locations around the world. It is called:
"Comics, Manga, & Co. : Die neue deutsche Comic-Kultur."

Theatre Posters

2011-12-13T12:03:00.010-05:00

Here are some illustrations I did recently for the Firehouse Theatre Project in Richmond, Virginia. I did the pictures, and the marketing director did the graphic design.

"Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" usually features the character Maggie the Cat on the posters.

I read some essays about the play, however, and they posited Maggie's husband Brick as the main character.

I wanted my poster illustration to stand out from past depictions of the play, so I decided to feature Brick more prominently.

One of the great pleasures of these projects was actually reading the plays that I made illustrations for.
"Why Torture is Wrong and the People who Love Them" is a hilarious dark comedy by Christopher Durang about post 9-11 America.

I also tried out an illustration for a poster combining the elements of three short plays, but it was not used. That picture is posted below.

Knock Knock Joke!

2011-12-04T22:15:00.002-05:00

OhWowOhWowOhWow.

2011-11-28T22:49:00.003-05:00

Timbuur!

2011-11-21T19:06:00.001-05:00

Experimenting with animated gifs!

Sketchpad Tidbits

2011-11-15T20:09:00.001-05:00

Adjoinment--Part Thirteen

2011-10-31T11:06:00.000-04:00

Cartoons in Hell

2011-10-28T20:58:00.003-04:00

I'm a little pissed that FOX is rolling out some cartoon about a little twerp named Allen, so I decided to do the above comic strip mash-up out of pure malice.
Enjoy!
(click the image to view it full-size)

Wuthering Hoots Hoodie & Bas Bleu Cover, Fall 2011

2011-10-27T09:30:00.004-04:00

Here's my latest illustration for the Bas Bleu book catalog.

Below are two preliminary sketches for the illustration.

Also, Bas Bleu is currently selling a hoodie I designed featuring the Wuthering Hoots owl.
It even has glow-in-the-dark ink!
You can order one here.

Thanks for reading!

Adjoinment--Part Twelve

2011-09-27T20:29:00.000-04:00

Adjoinment--Part Eleven

2011-09-23T23:26:00.002-04:00

Adjoinment--Part Ten

2011-09-23T15:02:00.004-04:00

Handmade and Bound Festival 2011

2011-09-19T17:38:00.004-04:00

Okay, I realize this blog has been inactive for way too long. I am a real lout for not posting more frequently. The good news is, if you're in the Nashville area on October 1st, you can come out and scold me in person!

I just finished folding and stapling a slew of 'Zines and Minis, and I am proud to announce that I'll be tabling at the Handmade and Bound Festival at Watkins College of Art, Design, and Film.
I'll have my most recent mini comics: "A Dystopian Present" and "The Highlight of the Prague," as well as a few classics!

Leave me a comment if you can make it!
See y'all in Nashville!

Adjoinment--Part Nine

2011-07-15T23:19:00.003-04:00

"Bookish Beasts" Notecards and Bas Bleu Cover, Summer 2011

2011-06-30T21:47:00.009-04:00

Get your greeting cards!
The "Bas Bleu" book catalog recently commissioned some illustrations from me for their "Bookish Beasts" greeting card series. One of the cards, an owl reading "Wuthering Hoots," was featured on the cover of a Summer edition of the catalog. Check out the illustrations and preliminary sketches below, then visit the "Bas Bleu" website and order a set for yourself or your loved ones!

Adjoinment--Part Eight

2011-06-06T15:24:00.000-04:00

Adjoinment--Part Seven

2011-05-25T09:46:00.002-04:00

Adjoinment--Part Six

2011-05-23T16:05:00.003-04:00

Adjoinment--Part Five

2011-05-19T08:36:00.002-04:00

Adjoinment--Part Four

2011-05-16T19:48:00.000-04:00

Adjoinment--Part Three

2011-05-10T22:36:00.003-04:00

Adjoinment--Part Two

2011-04-29T18:42:00.001-04:00

Adjoinment--Part One

2011-04-28T13:59:00.002-04:00

There are many ways to Planet Hendecalon,
but NO WAY HOME!

FLUKE 2011

2011-04-27T09:12:00.008-04:00

Last weekend (April 23rd), I attended the 10th anniversary celebration of FLUKE, a mini-comics convention in Athens, Georgia!

I got to hob-nob with many of the Southeast's preeminent mini-comics creators and see their newest work, as well as peddle my own comics. It was a great convention, held at the famous 40-Watt club.
I also contributed a four-page comic to the FLUKE 2011 Anthology. For those readers who missed the convention this year or didn't pick up an anthology, I have posted it below.

Thanks to everyone who stopped by my table this year!
I hope to see y'all again soon.

NEWSFLASH 4/29/2011: Read multiple perspectives on FLUKE 2011 in an article curated by Tim O'Shea at Comic Book Resources' Robot 6 Blog!

Bas Bleu Cover, Spring 2011

2011-04-19T13:21:00.009-04:00

Here is a cover illustration that was commissioned by the Bas Bleu book catalog for one of their Spring 2011 issues.

I actually like the black and white drawing better than my final color version because the focus is clearly on the girl's face and head.

Below are some sketches I did from books on flowers, as well as a rough sketch of the girl.

Lastly, a scan of the entire cover:

Trini and the Quest for Very Good Food

2011-04-14T12:41:00.006-04:00

Here is an Earth Day comic strip featuring Trini the Field Mouse that I did recently for the sustainability committee at my church.

Installed at its full size, the printed strip is approximately three feet tall by sixteen feet long.

"Community Supported Agriculture" is one of the many environmentally friendly programs that my church participates in. That's me (above) standing next to Trini and a C.S.A. Box.

That's all for now!

The Highlight of The Prague!

2011-03-29T06:37:00.011-04:00

Here is an eight-page, exaggerated account of my visit to Prague.
Click on a page to view it larger. Any feedback would be appreciated!

Wedding Identity

2011-03-13T17:07:00.006-04:00

I've been working on several projects lately. One that I am particularly excited about is the logo for my sister's wedding, which will be used on wedding shower favors (above), invitations, and other items pertaining to getting married.
I should have some new comics to post in the coming week, so please check back soon.
"Cheers!"

Trini the Field Mouse

2011-02-16T22:05:00.003-05:00

I am currently waiting for my next project to come along, so I have had relatively little to post in recent days.

One thing I am working on is a large-format comic strip pertaining to sustainable, organic food sources.

These are some preliminary drawings of Trini the field mouse, a main character in the strip.

I hope everyone is doing well in surviving the winter weather.
Thanks for reading!

Streaming Television

2011-02-07T14:24:00.003-05:00

I haven't posted anything in awhile, so here are some sketches.

I was thinking about how "streaming television" has just as much capacity to watch YOU (and your statistics) as you have to watch IT.

The Prague

2011-01-30T08:24:00.006-05:00

Every now and then, the Savannah College of Art and Design offers Sequential Art students and Alumni the opportunity to submit short comics to the SCAD Sequential Art Anthology.
This year, the theme is "Travel."

For my entry, I did an eight-page comic inspired by my trip to Prague in the Winter of 2001.
I tried a new working-method for this comic, treating each panel as an individual illustration rather than trying to think about the page as a whole. This allowed me to put more detail into each composition, and ensure that almost every panel got equal development. I had some photographs sitting around from my visit to Prague, so I decided use more photo reference for the backgrounds. Below, you can see the original photographs, the sketches I based off of them, and the inked backgrounds that I used in the comic.

Photo

Sketch

Inked Drawing

Various drawings of the main character walking.

Photo

Sketch

Inked Drawing

Making this comic was a highly stressful yet rewarding experience. I had to push myself a bit to do the very best I could. I do not know whether my submission will be accepted to the SCAD Anthology or not, but I feel that I have stepped into a new realm of cartooning as a result of the project's completion.

Thanks for reading!

About "Franklin's Rescue"

2011-01-19T20:42:00.007-05:00

Realizing that I neglected to properly introduce my recent serialized webcomic and noting that I have failed to post anything to my blog for the past ten days, I have decided to pen this artist's statement for "Franklin's Rescue."

I began over a year ago with the intention of creating a humongous Graphic Novel, but, in time, encountered an equally humongous creative block.

"Franklin's Rescue" was born out of an attempt to overcome my mental blockage and simply get back to producing comics.

The story of Franklin's encounter with the Heinous Hendecalons is most likely destined to become a side story in a greater narrative. I created it one page at a time in numerical order, not knowing what the outcome would be or where the story would lead.

"Franklin's Rescue" is not wholly original, which is probably its main weakness. As a personal friend and seasoned indie-comics veteran once told me, it is "hard to hit a home run in the Science Fiction genre."

"Franklin's Rescue" draws fairly obvious inspiration from classic "Doctor Who" episodes and "Star Wars," a film which is itself an amalgamation of Fritz Lang, Leni Riefenstahl, Akira Kurosawa, and "Flash Gordon." Somehow, George Lucas' creation has permeated Science Fiction and the American subconscious, influencing nearly everything that has come after it. I cannot claim that the combinations in my puny comic are anywhere close to the quality of the "Star Wars" films, but I do feel compelled to point out that neither work was created in a vacuum.

The Hendecalons were first conceived during my undergraduate studies at the Rhode Island School of Design. They stem from the pyramidal symbol of the "All-Seeing Eye" on the back of the one-dollar bill, a somewhat mysterious icon often attributed to Freemasonry.

I first put the characters to use in comics with the self-publication of "Dr. Eisenbart vs. the Heinous Hendecalons," a humor comic that can be read on my website. This comic, among others, was a project I did while studying Sequential Art in the Graduate Program at the Savannah College of Art and Design.

Although the Hendecalons' initial purpose was meant to be humorous, I tried to create something more menacing with "Franklin's Rescue." What seems to have emerged is an expression of the almost universal human fear of emasculation. In the story, Franklin is captured by the Hendecalons, robbed of what little power he has, and, presumably, his manhood as well.

I feel that the excercise of creating "Franklin's Rescue" has helped me greatly in overcoming my initial block. The project assisted me in getting to know a part of my story and its setting through the actual production of pages, as opposed to an endless stream of sketches and plans. Some of the panels turned out well, and some are extremely weak. Most importantly, however, the act of simply churning out pages for "Franklin's Rescue" was an invaluable learning experience.

I hope to improve and grow more original with future installments of "Project: Hendecalon." "Franklin's Rescue" will eventually be self-published and made available for physical purchase. Until then, it can be read online here at "The Pillbox" under the "Franklin's Rescue" tag below. Any comments, questions, or constructive criticism would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for reading!

More character sketches.

2011-01-08T23:59:00.007-05:00

I know, I know--I should be done with my character designs by now, yet I continue to post about them.

Don't worry! I'm still working on them, trying to figure out exactly what poses I need.

There's no need to be resentful!

Ptooey!

That is all for now.

Getting to know my Character

2011-01-04T00:11:00.007-05:00

Here are more sketches I did, while trying to "get to know" a certain character in my next comic a bit better.

I would say that, ideally, a person should be able to "fluently" draw the characters they create from any angle necessary. This requires much preliminary work, such as drawing said character over and over again until you are able to get it right.

When I find that I have created a drawing that appeals to me, I will often ink it on a clean sheet of bristol board using a lightbox. Sometimes, if this is too cumbersome, I simply use rag vellum, which is like an ink-friendly tracing paper. I then use Photoshop to add tones and/or colors.

I often just scribble until I find a line that works.
The drawing below left looked too much like a man at a urinal--it was too static. I needed to capture a pose of my character in mid-walk.

I finally found the right pose, after getting a little carried away.
Here is a by-product of some of my sketches:

Sketches

2011-01-02T23:27:00.007-05:00

Here is some preliminary stuff from the comic I just started working on.

Happy New Year!

2011-01-01T00:00:00.002-05:00

Here's wishing you a fantastic New Year!
thanks for reading,
Allen

FROGSHWAY Mini-Comics available at local Atlanta retailers!

2010-12-20T17:24:00.005-05:00

I am happy to announce that "The Chronicles of FROGSHWAY" mini-comics are now available at two fine Atlanta-area comics retailers.

Oxford Comics and Games on Piedmont Road and Crimnal Records in Little Five Points have issue number one for sale in their respective Indie Comics sections at one dollar a pop. Stop by and support independent publishing!

If you are unable to make it to Atlanta, you can always purchase the comic online at the FROGSHWAY online store. It is available in packages of one, three, and ten. This particular series is suitable for all ages, and each issue makes a great gift!

"The Chronicles of FROGSHWAY" number two will also soon be in circulation, and is already up for pre-order online. Get 'em while they're hot, and thanks for reading!

Bas Bleu Cover, Holiday 2010

2010-12-18T09:52:00.005-05:00

Here is a recent issue of the BAS BLEU book catalog featuring one of my illustrations:

These are two of my preliminary sketches:

. . . and the finished illustration:

Happy Holidays, everybody!

The Pillbox Store

2010-12-17T15:12:00.009-05:00

You may have noticed something strange on the right side of this blog: a column of images with buttons below, urging you to "Buy Now!"

It's not just your mind playing tricks on you--there really is an online store there.

Below, I have listed product descriptions to give people a better idea of what exactly they are buying. Simply click "Buy Now" beneath your product of choice (at right), and process your credit card order securely through PayPal.
All titles are recommended for ages 16 and up.
Buy something for yourself or for a friend!
As always, thank you for reading.

“The Eisenbart Omnibus,” 32 pages, B & W.

The collected adventures of Doctor Eisenbart, the wizard!
Content also available online.

“No Sweat!” 20 pages, B & W.
A collection of doodles and drawings from my sketchpad.

“Sam’s Story,” 16 pages, Full Color.
A playground tale with a macabre twist.

“Goodbye Earth,”5 pages, Full Color.
The story of a dance party ending in disaster.
Page 5 (pictured at left) is a fold-out 8.5 x 11" poster.

“The Secret of Coldberry County,” 16 pages, B & W.
A chilling short story featuring an agent of the U.S. Census Bureau, circa 1923.

11 x 17" 9-11 Commemorative Poster, Full Color.
Read all about it here.

“The Adventures of Doctor Anton Flake, PhD. & Flimsy Whimper,” 8 pages, B & W.
Dr. Flake and Flimsy attempt to solve "The Case of the Missing Mask!"

Franklin's Rescue-Part 12 (Final Part)

2010-12-16T10:24:00.002-05:00

Franklin's Rescue-Part 11

2010-12-14T13:10:00.001-05:00

Franklin's Rescue-Part 10

2010-12-10T17:03:00.002-05:00

Franklin's Rescue-Part 9

2010-12-06T21:27:00.003-05:00

Franklin's Rescue-Part 8

2010-12-01T20:41:00.002-05:00

Franklin's Rescue-Part 7

2010-11-28T22:30:00.002-05:00

Franklin's Rescue-Part 6

2010-11-23T22:00:00.002-05:00

Franklin's Rescue-Part 5

2010-11-14T21:41:00.002-05:00

Franklin's Rescue-Part 4

2010-11-11T18:48:00.001-05:00

Franklin's Rescue-Part 3

2010-11-06T20:54:00.001-04:00

Franklin's Rescue-Part 2

2010-11-01T22:52:00.002-04:00

Franklin's Rescue-Part One

2010-10-31T22:25:00.004-04:00

There are many ways to Planet Hendecalon,
but NO WAY HOME!

Hairstyles

2010-10-29T23:19:00.004-04:00

A Floor-Lift Named Okay

2010-10-27T21:03:00.003-04:00

"OK!"

Graphic Novel Dormant, Not Dead

2010-10-25T23:29:00.002-04:00

Project: Hendecalon, my long-term graphic novel project, is dormant but not dead. I'm finally starting to overcome the block that has been hanging over me since Summer, so expect to see more drawings pertaining to this in the coming months. It's developing at a much slower pace than I had initially expected, and is currently what you might call a "side project."
Above is a drawing I did of the protagonist, Captain X, preparing to fight some Hendecalons!
Help me stick with it, folks!

Recent Cartoons

2010-10-10T22:46:00.004-04:00

Here are some recent cartoons I did just for fun.

Bas Bleu Cover, Fall 2010

2010-09-14T06:58:00.004-04:00

I opened my Post Office Box yesterday to find a few copies of this catalog:

Here are some preliminary sketches I did when designing the cover illustration:

There's also a hoodie illustration I did that was mentioned in one of my previous posts.

Finally, here is the cover illustration itself:

This is the first time one of my illustrations has been on the cover of anything, so I'm pretty excited to have it going out into the world.
Thanks for reading!

Two Cartoon Portraits

2010-09-10T06:11:00.005-04:00

Here are a few cartoony portraits I did of people. I'm not sure if I can call them "caricatures," because the exaggeration is not terribly extreme.

I did this one(below) for an acquaintance who wanted his IM avatar to be a picture of him dressed as Indiana Jones.

The next one is a portrait/caricature of my grandfather, who turned ninety years old this year. The drawing is from the front of his birthday party invitation.
Thanks for reading!

Studious Squirrel Hoodie!

2010-09-02T21:40:00.002-04:00

The kind people at BAS BLEU have featured one of my illustrations on a hoodie. It is available over the internet or via mail order.

To read the product description or to place an order, please click the link below:
http://www.basbleu.com/basbleu/Item_Studious-Squirrel-Hoodie_UD3821_ps_srm.html

International Read Comics in Public Day!

2010-08-27T07:55:00.004-04:00

Tomorrow is INTERNATIONAL READ COMICS IN PUBLIC DAY.
Are you ready?
I am curious as to what comics people are going as.
I plan on finishing up "Heartbreak Soup" by Gilbert Hernandez.
Please comment if you know what comic book you will be reading in public tomorrow!
For anyone not into comics, it's not too late to pick up a graphic novel from your local library, or a comic book from your local comic book store!
Have a great day!

Turtle Drawing

2010-08-26T07:47:00.004-04:00

Someone liked my turtle design in the previous post enough to request a special drawing.
So, here it is (with color!). I hope to deliver the original black and white version today.

FROG-SHWAY

2010-08-25T11:28:00.007-04:00

Anyone who was at FOLK FEST 2010 in Norcross, Georgia will be familiar with the large, copper frogs that can also be seen throughout the Metro Atlanta Area in locations such as the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. These sculptures, now in the process of being branded under the banner of "Frog-Shway," are the creations of sculptor Beau Smith, who has been making them for approximately twenty years.

The folks over at www.frogshway.com have enlisted me to create a mini-comic for them, expressing the principles behind the frogs.

Below are some thumbnails for panels from the mini-comic, which features a turtle, a frog, and, a butterfly.

I based my character design for the frog around the drawing below, which was made by Beau.
The rest of the characters were designed by me specifically for the mini-comic.
I'll try to post more on this project as it develops.
Thanks for reading!

Bumpity-Bump!

2010-08-24T16:01:00.003-04:00

Here are two sketches and a drawing I did of those pesky children that play in nuclear reactors!

Collision!

Hobo

2010-08-23T22:05:00.004-04:00

Here's a drawing I did of a penniless Bindlestiff on his way to spear biscuits.
It's not my fault if you associate him with Abraham Lincoln.

George Herriman: August 22nd, 1880

2010-08-22T19:36:00.005-04:00

Oof! I almost let the day go by without giving a nod to cartoonist George Herriman, who was born on August 22nd, 1880. According to Brian Walker, author of "The Comics: The Complete Collection," Herriman's birth certificate listed him as "colored," while his 1944 death certificate stated he was "Caucasian." This ethnic complexity may have informed the ambiguity of Krazy Kat, the title character in Herriman's best-loved comic strip. Krazy Kat and his antagonist, Ignatz Mouse, had surreal adventures in desert landscapes, usually resulting in the impact of a brick on Krazy's head.
Below is a quick drawing I did based on a panel from a 1916 "Krazy Kat" Sunday page. It caught my eye because of the odd style of the architecture.

Happy Birthday, Mr. H!
P.S.-Herriman was featured today on Garrison Keillor's NPR program "The Writer's Almanac."
Click here to read more or to listen to the program online!

Reactor Man

2010-08-21T08:29:00.002-04:00

This is the guy that keeps pesky children out of nuclear reactors!

SPIDER-MAN, SPIDER-MAN!

2010-08-20T12:32:00.005-04:00

I haven't posted anything to my blog in awhile, so I thought I would toss up these sketches of Marvel Comics' AMAZING SPIDER-MAN!

I'm currently collaborating with some folks on a new and original mini-comic, so check back in a few days for some thumbnails and character designs.
Thanks for reading!

John the Baptist

2010-07-22T08:40:00.004-04:00

Here is a spot illustration I did of the head of John the Baptist.
I was basically having fun with brushes and pens, trying to create something with a little gore like you'd see in the old E.C. Comics.
Below is the blue-line drawing, inked on top of a different doodle on bristol board.

Finally, I present to you my original sketch, done in gel-pen.

21-Year-Olds Say the Darndest Things!

2010-07-06T17:49:00.010-04:00

"Mom, I'm pregnant!"

"I can finally drink using my real I.D.!"

"It looks safe."

"Will you marry me?"

"Trust me!"

"I'll never regret this!"

Figure Drawing

2010-05-23T18:37:00.004-04:00

Whether your drawings are "good" or "bad," there is no substitute for drawing from life. I got the chance to draw from a live model yesterday, and it was a really great feeling to be back in the studio observing the figure. There's always room to learn and experiment. When you are outside of art school, there is nobody critiquing you, so it becomes possible to relax and simply enjoy drawing for drawing's sake. The figure above is what I deem one of my better drawings from yesterday's session.

Untitled

2010-05-16T20:35:00.001-04:00

"SALE" by Theodore Roethke

2010-05-09T17:42:00.027-04:00

Who ran up and down the big center stairs

The what-not,

the settee,

the Chippendale chairs

--And an attic of horrors, a closet of fears.

The furniture polished and polished so grand,

A stable and paddock,

some fox-hunting land,

The summer house shaped like a village band stand

--And grandfather's sinister hovering hand.

The antimacassar for the sofa in red,

The Bechstein piano,

the four-poster bed,

The library used as a card room instead

--And some watery eyes in a Copley head.

The dining room carpet dyed brighter than blood,

The table where everyone ate as he should,

The sideboard beside which a tall footman stood

--And a fume of decay that clings fast to the wood.

The hand-painted wall-paper, finer than skin,

The room that the children had never been in,

All the rings and the relics encrusted with sin

--And the taint in a blood that was running too thin.

To read more poetry by Theodore Roethke, visit ADILEGIAN.

Chick Pea Parade

2010-04-24T12:06:00.003-04:00

Chick Peas, also known as "Garbanzo Beans," are a versatile legume that can be baked straight, eaten cold, smashed into hummus, fried into falafels, or patted into patties. I had the good fortune to sample my first Chick Pea burger last Thursday, and it was good.

Dachshund

2010-04-23T23:01:00.003-04:00

Here's a drawing of a dachshund I did for my 9-year-old cousin, who loves dogs but doesn't have one of her own.

Internet Chat

2010-04-21T09:02:00.002-04:00

Here is a sketch of a woman and a man chatting over the internet.

Nicolas Mahler: An Interview

2010-04-18T16:25:00.011-04:00

Hidden in an obscure corner of the Top Shelf Productions catalog rests a group of books by a cartoonist as inspiring as he is funny. Well known in Europe and perhaps Canada, Nicolas Mahler has yet to make a convention appearance in the United States. This citizen of Vienna, Austria is a master of simplicity and character design. His three major books, available in English through Top Shelf, are masterworks of humor and economy of line.

"Van Helsing's Night Off (Top Shelf 2004)" is a pantomime journey through the more humorous side of the lives of Universal Studios' movie monsters such as Dracula, the Wolf-man, the Mummy, and Frankenstein. It is a European cartoonist's interpretation of what is left out of the films: anecdotes from the characters' private lives.
"Lone Racer (Top Shelf 2006)" is the bittersweet story of a washed-up race-car driver, striving to regain his competitive status.
"Spam (Reprodukt 2009, distributed by Top Shelf)" features lines from Mahler's email account, arranged in brilliant sequence to tell a story. Each page features a depiction of a new character and a line of spam email that furthers the narrative.

If you haven't picked up one of these books, now is the time. Mahler was kind enough to respond to the following email interview concerning his working method, comic book conventions, and the international comics scene.

How do you go about creating a character?
Nicolas Mahler: I usually start with a visual idea, a setting or a character I would like to work with. Then I play around with possible situations the character could fit into. From then on, the character gets his own life. In general, I would say the stronger the character, the easier the story develops. Once I have a good character and environment, the story is easy.

How often to you sketch in a sketchpad?
Nicolas Mahler: I carry my sketchbooks around everywhere, but I seldom really draw in them. Usually, I write down ideas, sentences, names, jokes. I have a huge archive of ideas, but visually my sketchbooks are very disappointing: there are just very simple, basic drawings in them.

Are your sketches similar to the final product in your graphic novels, or do they differ somehow?
Nicolas Mahler: The drawings are similar, yes. It's the texts that differ a lot. I write a lot to finally end up using only one or two lines. For me, it is just as important what is NOT going to be used in the finished work as what I actually use. The main work is reducing things to a minimum that works.

Do you work through the traditional steps of thumbnails, penciling, and inking, or do you produce your pages spontaneously?
Nicolas Mahler: I have the sketchbook as inspiration, and then work on the actual page. I use pencils and then pen and ink. For shorter things, the penciling is pretty basic, but for big pages in format A3 the composition and penciling takes awhile . . .

What kind of plan do you have before you begin a comic?
Nicolas Mahler: It is different from project to project. For some stories I have only a rough idea where it will go, and just draw from page to page ("Lone Racer" was done like this). With others, I have already worked out a lot in the sketchbook. Especially with the mute stories ("Van Helsings' Night Off"), you have to be very precise in the timing and use of space on the page, so it is very planned out before I begin penciling.

Do you write a script for your comics?
Nicolas Mahler: In a way, yes. The sketchbook is my script.

Do you attend Comic Book Conventions in Europe?
Nicolas Mahler: I am in Angouleme, France, every year. It is the biggest in Europe. Since I publish a lot in France, it is good to see what is happening there.

Which European Conventions are the best?
Nicolas Mahler: The best by far is FUMETTO in Luzern, Switzerland. It is not a convention, but a festival with many exhibitions in the whole city. I try to go there every year. It is very inspiring and relaxing, and not so much about selling books like other conventions. Highly Recommended!
www.fumetto.ch

Your comics have a style that some Americans would find peculiar. How normal is this style in comparison with your European colleagues?
Nicolas Mahler: I do not think my style is peculiar, but some people disagree, even in Europe. I think my style is a pretty "classic" cartoon style that is maybe not used so much in comics.

Which cartoonists are your biggest influences?
Nicolas Mahler: I do not really have "main influences." I use work from all ages as inspiration, and the names that come to mind differ from day to day. Today, I would say: George Herriman, Benoit Jaques, KAZ, Fabio Viscoglioso, Tom Gauld . . .

Your books "Van Helsing's Night Off" and "Lone Racer" seem to use famous characters like Univeral Studios Movie Monsters and Speed Racer. What other mass-media figures inform your work?
Nicolas Mahler: Of course I am inspired a lot by movies, more than by comic books. I watch more movies than reading comics by far.

Can you picture yourself visiting any U.S. Comic Book Conventions in the future?
Nicolas Mahler: Depends on the invitation, of course. Are there any really good ones?

Please describe your experience working with L'Association, Reprodukt, Top Shelf, and other publishers.
Nicolas Mahler: I owe Jean-Christophe Menu, head of L'Association, a lot. He published a lot of my books in the last ten years, and doesn't care if a project is obviously not aimed at a big audience. Also, we have (almost) the same taste in designing books. It is fun to work with him on a book, because he does not care about selling the book, but designing it the best way possible, even if it is bad for the sales.
I have a good collaboration with all my publishers, luckily! Reprodukt, Edition Moderne, Top Shelf, and La Pasteque are all run by friendly enthusiasts, not businessmen. This makes work very enjoyable. I cannot stand when the distributor tells a publisher which books to choose and how the cover should look.

How much do you know about the American Indie comics scene?
Nicolas Mahler: I know a little, I guess. I am reading "MOME" at the moment, which gives me a rough idea about what is happening.

If you could work with any artist or author, who would it be?
Nicolas Mahler: Working with George Herriman would have been interesting.

If you could draw a superhero book for Marvel or DC, which character would you choose?
Nicolas Mahler: Plastic Man comes to mind, because I think he is more fun to draw than the usual superhero. You do not have to care too much about drawing muscles correctly.

Do you have an upcoming project that you would like to recommend to your American fans?
Nicolas Mahler: A book with superhero abstractions has been published by my Canadian publisher, La Pasteque, earlier this year. If you are a superhero-nerd and like strange books, this could be for you. It is billed as "the first art-book for comic-nerds."
http://www.lapasteque.com/Secret_identities.html

Learn more about Nicolas Mahler at his website:
www.mahlermuseum.at
and at:
www.topshelfcomix.com

Post-FLUKE Update

2010-04-18T11:10:00.003-04:00

Here is a sketch I did this morning, feeling groggy yet satisfied.

FLUKE is Today!

2010-04-17T05:40:00.003-04:00

poster by David Mack

Come on over to Athens, Georgia for FLUKE, the best mini-comics convention of its kind!
Today only!

"Thank You" from Planet Hendecalon!

2010-04-14T21:25:00.001-04:00

Here's a Hendecalon firing off a small "thank you" to everyone reading this blog!

Sketches done in Transit

2010-04-13T18:22:00.003-04:00

Here are some sketches I did while in transit.

Untitled

2010-04-07T11:43:00.003-04:00

Another something from my sketchpad.

Tater-Tot Casserole

2010-03-31T13:38:00.003-04:00

Last night some friends invited me over for Tater-Tot Casserole. It was really good. Here's a sketch of me preparing to eat it.

THE POOT!

2010-03-27T20:41:00.002-04:00

Here is a two-page comic inspired by a true-life event that happened to me in the second grade.
Click on a page to enlarge.

Wallpaper Designs

2010-03-26T09:56:00.012-04:00

Here are some designs I did trying to break into the wallpaper racket. I always wonder at the designs I see on wallpaper, dixie-cups, napkins, and other such items. Excepting ephemera for birthdays and holidays, the designs are usually unobtrusive and bland--you notice that something is there filling the negative space, but you don't notice it enough to see how boring the design actually is. By contrast, my designs are probably too busy for wallpaper. They would distract people from the rest of the room! I wish I could break into the napkin racket, because I think people would really enjoy wiping their mouth on my artwork.

Kurosawa Centennial

2010-03-23T12:00:00.004-04:00

According to Wikipedia, today is the 100th anniversary of Japanese director Akira Kurosawa's birth, so I thought I would celebrate with a warm-up sketch of Toshiro Mifune, Kurosawa's favorite actor.

"GIANT NAKED BABY: Chapter One" by David Yoder: A Review

2010-03-22T09:17:00.012-04:00

"It's two a.m. in this small, mid-western town.
No one is awake to see the strange visitor . . .
His presence brings many questions--
Who is he? Where is he from? And why is he here?
Some of these questions will be answered,
but not all."

David Yoder's mini-comic, "GIANT NAKED BABY: Chapter One" is a story expressing humankind's interaction with the ineffable. An empty, silent vessel, the Giant Naked Baby can be read to represent great, spiritual mysteries.

Buddha-like in appearance and enormous in size, the Baby walks into a small town and interrupts the routine of Denise Baker and her grandfather, Jonathan, by sitting in front of their house and blocking their ability to go to church. The comic, though humorous in nature, taps into the deep issue of how one should react when confronted with something truly spiritual. Yoder contends that the main aspect of the story is simply dealing with "well, how would you react to this thing being in front of your house?" However, the most telling shot in the comic occurs in panel two of the third page, where the Giant Naked Baby faces a church sign that says "God Welcomes All." This is part of the underlying message of the comic: despite all that various organized religions teach about God's love, we do not often welcome the truly spiritual things in life, even when they are sitting right in front of us.

Yoder's drawings for "GIANT NAKED BABY: Chapter One" are a stylistic departure from the visually-raw journal comics he is best known for. This mini-comic is a breakthrough, demonstrating not only a powerful command of storytelling, comedy, and mystery, but also Yoder's ability to bring a page to finish. The artwork features gray-tones, patterned textures, and backgrounds that give a solid sense of place to the story. The Giant Naked Baby is drawn always with a clean, dead line, sometimes surrounded by a halo, while the other characters and scenery are rendered more chaotically.

Though no longer available in print, you can read "GIANT NAKED BABY: Chapter One" online in its entirety at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/70025387@N00/sets/72157618607119144/
If you like what you see, look for David Yoder at the Toronto Comics Art Festival and SPX 2010 to obtain a copy of the complete, four-chapter "GIANT NAKED BABY" saga, a work currently in progress.

Snack Machine

2010-03-21T21:16:00.001-04:00

Thumbnail to Page

2010-03-20T18:42:00.007-04:00

Every artist has a working method that is right for them, and, in terms of creating comics, I always start with a thumbnail. Usually, my thumbnails are extremely rough ideas created in my sketchpad.

My sketchpad thumbnails mainly serve to give me an idea of the characters, dialogue, and pacing of each page. Once I spew out all my ideas, I redo the thumbnail, taking composition into account and making any corrections to the pacing that I deem necessary. I also try to finalize the dialogue.

After the scene is completely thumnailed, I take it to a finish on a sheet of 11 x 17 inch bristol. I pencil it, ink it, and then scan it into the computer. Below is a finished page from my latest mini-comic, "The Adventures of Doctor Anton Flake, PhD. & Flimsy Whimper."

Sometimes it's fun and encouraging to look at the thumbnails of other artists. Check out the thumbnails of such luminaries as Will Eisner ("A Contract with God," "The Spirit"), Harvey Kurtzman("Frontline Combat," "Mad," "Two-Fisted Tales"), and Hergé("Tintin") and notice the huge leaps they take from thumbnail to finish.

On the D.L.

2010-03-19T15:33:00.004-04:00

Here's a sketch I did of David Lynch, one of my favorite directors. What do his movies mean? "It be's bein' unknown to me!"

Mr. T says:

2010-03-18T09:04:00.002-04:00

"I PITY THE FOOL THAT DOESN'T LOOK AT MY HYPERLINKS!"
I spent at least an hour yesterday morning updating the hyperlinks to "Other Blogs of Interest." I hope readers will take some time to check out the great work that some of my peers and personal heroes are doing! If you would like me to link to your blog, or if you feel that, by some egregious error, you have been omitted, please let me know and I will add you in! Also, if you would prefer not to be associated with me, let me know and I will take you off the list!
Have a great day!

Floating Dwelling

2010-03-17T10:28:00.003-04:00

This drawing has nothing to do with anything I am currently working on. I found it in an old sketchpad, coloring it in on the computer. It is supposed to be some sort of floating dwelling.

Good Morning!

2010-03-16T10:59:00.002-04:00

Here's a sample panel from Project: Hendecalon to help you kick-start your morning.

Time to Deliver!

2010-03-15T18:32:00.003-04:00

As I work on the pages for Project: Hendecalon, I find myself scrambling to find content for my blog. I'm not yet ready to serialize the book online, although the possibility is not ruled out for the future. I'd love to hear from persons reading this post regarding what in particular they would like to see, if anything. I hope to post more reviews and surprises in the future, but, for the time being, I have the urge to keep everything on the D.L. In the meantime, I will throw out the panel above (from Project: Hendecalon) to heighten the mystery! Party on!

New Mini!

2010-03-13T00:02:00.003-05:00

Introducing:
THE ADVENTURES OF DOCTOR ANTON FLAKE, PhD. & FLIMSY WHIMPER!

From the Opening Blurb:

"Doctor Anton Flake, PhD.--Perhaps the Greatest Psychologist of our time--dedicates his life to solving the world's toughest mysteries!
Through logical analysis and the help of local college prepatory student Flimsy Whimper, he will unravel . . ."