Zoot!

So, Zoot's coming along. The contents are drawn (toning the last pages now) and the cover is done. Here's a first pass at the cover design – I'm undecided whether or not to continue the original numbering, as there's an element of confusion around it, inasmuch as Andrew and I worked on a seventh, unpublished issue which was incorporated into the Zoot Suite collection (which, itself, is essentially the real #7, I guess). I'll have to make that call in the next day or two. Feedback welcome.

Anyway, work in progress.

Return of the Duchess

I would like, if I may, to draw your attention to the fact that there will be a new edition of The Iron Duchess coming out from Fantagraphics in September 2017. It’s now available in the Previews catalogue from your local comic book store if you’ve an inclination to preorder it - ordering information can be found here:

https://previewsworld.com/Catalog/JUL171896

The new edition will contain ten new pages of story material. As many of you have already bought the self-published version from me, I thought it only fair to make this new material available to you, as a free download, by way of saying "thank you" for your support. There's a CBR file and a PDF, so take your pick.

Apart from that, I've been working on a new issue of Zoot!, which I intend to have available for the September/October convention season (which in my case means Thought Bubble, the Lakes International Comic Art Festival and the Nottingham Comic Con). If that means nothing to you, I should explain that Zoot! was a comic book which my brother Andrew and I produced for Fantagraphics in the 1990s. This new edition is being put together without Andrew's direct input (just his blessing) – although he does appear as a character in one story. I'll be self-publishing this one and it will also be available through the web store when the time comes.

Hellboy

Here's a piece I did for the Cartoon Art Museum in San Francisco – they're doing a fundraising auction on a Hellboy theme, so this is my contribution (inspired by The Nightmare by Henry Fuseli). There's more information about the auction here – well worth your support.

Betty Boop!

So it looks like the collected edition of the Betty Boop series Gisèle Lagacé and I did last year is being released today, under this frankly fabulous Howard Chaykin cover. It's a fun, all-ages-friendly book, and the artwork is a delight. Please pick it up from your local comic book store if you can (or get it online or digitally).

Atlas!

Just for fun, as an exercise, I took a stab at inking a 1970s Jack Kirby drawing I found on the internet, in the vague hope I might learn something. It's a character who appeared in DC's First Issue Special in the 1970s. I'm posting the pencil drawing as well, for comparison.

You know what? I rather enjoyed it.

Leipzig Sketches XV

Leipzig Sketches XIV

Leipzig Sketches XIII

Leipzig Sketches XII

Leipzig Sketches XI