For anyone that might not have heard the news today, we lost one of the comic greats last night. Michael Turner, after waging a valiant fight with Cancer for the last 7+ years, Passed away last night at the age of 37.
To say I knew Mike would be a vast overstatement since I only saw him once or twice a year and it was usually just to say hello but I knew many of his friends very well and have come up in the industry hearing stories of Mike's kindness and devotion to his thousands of fans and the smile that always donned his face even when the Cancer he suffered from was at it's worst. year after year, even when in great pain, Mike would travel around the country to as many conventions as he could to show his appreciation to anyone that loved him or his work as well as pumping out cover after cover month in and month out even when the pain got so bad that he had to draw flat on his back. Mike set an example for all of us to follow whether it be work ethic or a general positive outlook on life even when things are at their worst.
They say that an artist is special because he or she is the only being in the world that is immortal. The works they create can live on forever far after the artist is gone. Mike proved this by showing all of us what is possible with hard work and determination and he created characters and worlds that will stand the test of time and keep him living in the artwork he drew.
If you knew Michael or his work, please take a moment tonight to pray for Mike as well as all the family and friends that are mourning his loss. If you're not familiar with Mike, please take a second to look him up and see the kind of art he created. We lost one of the great ones today at far too young an age and our industry is poorer for it.

If you would like to send condolences to Michael's family you are encouraged to do so. Please send them to:

Aspen MLT, Inc.
C/O Michael Turner
5855 Green Valley Circle, Suite 111
Culver City, CA, 90230

His company Aspen Comics is also encouraging anyone wishing to do so to send a charitable donation big or small in Mike's name to The American Cancer Society http://www.cancer.org/docroot/home/index.asp or the Make-A-Wish Foundation http://www.wish.org/help?s_kwcid=make%20a%20wish|917760391

Till we meet again,
-Mark

I’ve been doing the business we call comics for about 7 years now professionally and I’ve drawn a lot of different stuff. Some I really dug working on and others I did just for the paycheck. It’s rare that you get a dream assignment that not only makes you want to up your game to a whole new level but makes you so nervous that you’re going to fuck it up that you get stomach aches just thinking about it. That being said, I got the news a few weeks ago that I’m going to be the new artist on Ultimate X-Men starting with issue 94! Not only that but I get to work with famed Heroes writer Aron Coleite! Anyone that knows me knows I’ve been an X-men fan going on 25 years now and have only got to touch on the team in fits and starts over the last 4 years with Marvel so this is a dream come true and I’m trying my damndest to put in some of my best work.
Anyone that’s followed the book should really dig what Aron has planned for the story and anyone who’s never read the book really should start because it’s going to be a balls to the walls ride right from the first page of our first issue. Look for 3 huge reveils in the first issue alone with many more to follow in the 4 issue arc. I’m getting the chance to design not just one but an entire team of Ultimate characters that are going to take on the X-Men in a way that leaves them decimated and a few X-Men changed in a way you’ll have to see to believe. Any Marvel reader will know the new team by name but the faces have drastically changed in the Ultimate Universe. Not going to give it away but I’ll just say that these this isn’t your mothers team of super beings!!
I’ll post up previews as I get the chance and the permission but, in the meantime, head to your local comic shop and make sure to reserve your copy. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed!!

best!
-Mark

Hey dudes and dudettes! I'll be heading to Wondercon in San Fransisco at the Moscone convention center this weekend (Feb 22-24)!! If you're in the area or plan to attend please come by my table and say hello. For more info you can check out the website at http://www.comic-con.org/wc/
 
  I might not be listed in the program book since I was a late entry but I'll be sharing a booth with fellow Marvel artist with Ale' Garza so look for him in the program book to find our location.

Hope to see you there!
-Mark

I have done a lot of artwork in my day, some decent and some down right terrible but the single greatest thing I've ever created(or helped create) wasn't done on paper or canvas.
My son was born on the morning of July 10th and came into the world 6 pounds 4 ounces and 20 inches long. He was 4 weeks premature so my wife and I never got to go to the birthing classes so, when her water broke unexpectedly, we were freaked to say the least and the next 12 hours was the strangest period of time I've ever experienced. It was a blur of contractions, epiderals, and ice chips but in the end it was all worth it. Nothing prepares you for the sight of your first child and suddenly all the words of advice and stories from my friends that already have children made sense. The biggest champion in all this is my wife who went through something I would never have the courage to do. I have so much greater respect of women having witness what they're capable of. The pain and stress and stamina required is amazing and you gotta respect someone that can go through such pain and still come out smiling.Millions of children are born everyday but I still can't help but think of it as a miracle.
Was it gross? You better believe it! Absolutely positively the grossest thing I have ever seen in my entire life(and I'm a horror movie freak) but when it's your wife and your child it's amazing how little it bothers you. It was only in hindsight that I looked back and realized how truly disgusting it was but you know what? I wouldn't change a single second of it. I love the little guy more than I could have possibly imagined and I hope I can be the kind of father he deserves. In the meantime, I'm just going to continue to marvel at every little thing he does and try to savor every second. From what I understand, they grow up in a flash.

Please head over to this link and check out his Myspace page. Add him a friend if you like and leave him a comment. Kids today are so savvy when it comes to computers. 2 months out of solitary and he's already setting up a Myspace page!Jack Preston's page

This Thursday night, tune in to the BIGFANBOY LIVECAST #7, featuring myself and inking master Jaime Mendoza.  Host Mark Walters runs an interactive internet radio show, where listeners can call in and participate in the chat room, or just listen online live.  The show begins at 9pm Central (10pm Eastern) this Thursday night, January 25th.  For full instructions and info on the show, head over to
http://www.bigfanboy.com and look in the CREATOR INTERVIEWS section. We'll be talking about everything from Comics and movies to video games and the seedy underbelly of professional comic work (i.e.- booze and strip clubs). Not only that but I've agreed to do a shot of tequila every 15 minutes during the duration of the show(that's 8 shots for anyone that's counting) so please sign up and call in to make fun of me or just listen to me make a complete and utter fool of myself.

This is sure to be a fun couple of hours, so please tune in!

instructions for signing up and calling in for free are at the following link:
http://bigfanboy.proboards39.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=1169539580

It's easy to do so I expect all of you to be listening or calling in. I need all the support I can get!=)

-Mark

Adam Hughes and I will be doing a comic sketch demo this weekend on Saturday the 21st of October at Binder's Art Supplies near Lenox Mall in Atlanta from 1pm-3pm. We'll be demonstrating how to do a drawing from start to finish using the complete line of Copic artist tools. The demo is open to anyone that wants to come by and watch so, if you're into comics, animation, manga, or just art in general, bring your kids and bring yourselves!

http://www.bindersart.com/

best,
-Mark

EXCESS BAGGAGE!!!

PLEASE READ THIS FULLY! ALL ORDER INSTRUCTIONS ARE IN THE JOURNAL!

Well, it's that time of year again! The 2006 sketchbook is hot off the presses and available for your immediate consumption. The book is a bit more impressive this year with 42 pages of doodles, sketches, and linework I've done over the last year. Over 100 drawings crammed into one handy dandy book. The sketchbook comes SIGNED and square bound(no staples for this bad-boy) with a glossy cardstock cover. As a little BONUS, I like to doodle original sketches on the inside cover from time to time so you might be lucky enough to randomly receive one of the sketch editions!!

NOTE- DO NOT ASK FOR A SKETCH EDITION! These are random and asking for one is a sure fire way to guarantee you won't get a sketch copy. I do these when I have time and completely for fun so trying to fulfill everyone's request for sketch copies takes away from my regular work I have to do for Marvel Comics on a daily basis. The good news is that if you do get a sketch edition you get it for the same price as a regular edition!=)

The sketchbooks this year are $15 plus $5 shipping anywhere in the 48 states. Hawaii, Alaska, and international orders will cost a little more based on your location. This is just for the 2006 sketchbook. The 2005 sketchbook is out of print and sold out so we won't be able to fulfill any orders for last years addition.

ORDER INSTRUCTIONS: Simple! Just shoot an e-mail off to Markbrooksart@msn.com saying you'd like a sketchbook and my lovely wife Lisa will get back to you usually within 24 hours with full details for ordering the book. We accept checks, money orders and PayPal so shoot off those e-mails and you'll have a copy in your grubby little hands in no time!

Thanks to everyone that ordered my sketchbook last year as well as anyone that took the time to come by my little corner of the universe to look at my work or leave a comment!! It means a lot that you like what I'm trying to do!

MYSPACE PAGE: [link]
YAHOO GROUP(please sign up!): [link]

Ignore that last bullshit bulletin I posted. I clicked a link someone sent me and it posted that crap. I can't stand that high school kinda shit.