This time, from the Paradox Comics Group...

Matt T: Bristol Comic Expo legend Ben McCool finally puts his rather twisted imagination to better use than tell insane stories over curry. A noirish tale that sounds like Fell with a late night sci-fi twist sees a disgraced detective with Alien Hand Syndrome (???) have to catch the uncatchable to get his job back. As the first issue is called Pain I'm expecting McCool to churn out something suitably disturbing, and with Ben Templesmith adding his wonderfully gothic style the end product should match up perfectly.

Two important links today.




As Bleeding Cool points out, next February...is actually CHEBRUARY. It's impossible to ignore, what with CHEW, CHASE VARIANT and CHOKER all coming out from Image Comics that month. It's going to be...err...chinsane?


And next up, yup, it's been officially announced I'll be down to Heroes Con in June next year. Never been but the organizers are as nice as pie. ( A really nice pie, one your nan might make that's extra tastey, with cream on it even, if that's the sort of thing you're into...you get the idea. )

One of the Baroness images I did up for the one-shot from IDW coming out in February. No idea if this is a regular cover or not. There's like ten covers to the book and I only did two.

This here's the pencils! Took it from a pose of a lady leaning on something which I uh, turned into a chick in lather holding lots of guns. What can I say. Chicks 'n guns eh?



Did all the basic line work with a micron or a Uni-ball pen, or both. Just started filling in the blacks here.

This was all done on an 11x17 inch bristol board, white. Planned on lots of watercolour on this piece.



Filling in more blacks. A bit of a bugger considering her costume.



Black inks all done!



Water colour washing begins.



Lots more water colour and even a splash of red for the Cobra logo. Everything is generally just tonal greys though, since the real colour happens on computer. Just thought it'd be nice for the actual original piece.

If you dig it, it should actually be for sale sometime soon over in my section on www.splashpage, my art agent bloke, Mark Hay, who handles all my work for hire stuff. Drop him a line via the site if you're into the Baroness as he should be getting all the pages/covers I did for the book in his hot little hands sometime soooooon. ( I promise, Mark! )



Almost finished. Just some standard tones, some dodge and burn and faded a bit of photo nose with airbrushing on the face. BUT, I was told the eyes were a little too asian ( the original photo, the lady *was* Japanese...so...



...I rejig the colour, add in some slightly different eyes. This one goes down much better.

I stuck another one of those Bram Stoker Dracula "Draw your own cover" books from Penguin up on ebay. Just too much damn fun they are.

How I plan out all my comics.

Well, six weeks, considering I've been in the US and sick with a virus the last two. These are in no particular order...



Emma, Antony, some git and Mr Diggle. Photo by the always awesome Jock. This was the afterparty for the ThoughBubble Festival up in Leeds. One of the best/busiest cons I've ever done. Short though, only one day!



Shifty bastards. Hatching plans.



Essad Ribic, Andy Tong, Al Ewing and a few others. I didn't get any sleep at Leeds. These people know how to drink and they just don't stop!



You could say we had a good turnout. Infact, I WILL say we had a good turnout. This was for the panel I did at Thoughtbubble.



My line didn't stop for 6 hours. Quite possibly the most signings I've done in one day apart from maybe a really busy day at SDCC. It was insane.



It's not a monkey, it's an ape. Took this photo just to ensure I hadn't taken drugs, that it actually did exist.



Lucky me, I never had a reputation to uphold.

This was actually a rather sweat laden "wizards wig".

Things you do in a pub at 2am.





Any bar/club that has a Dalek in it is my sort of place.



Kirk porn on the walls.



My sort of weather.



My NYC 11am Guinness during a photoshoot with Ben McCool.





Up high in a building during a meeting. I would get NO work done if this was my office.



I ended my NYC trip in this bar. We even got a free round because the barman was a comic guy and had too much fun overhearing our comic book bitching/stories. He's sworn to secrecy though.



Just before my little comic book chat thing in London for Comica. ( Phil is the director of Heartless, among other things )



Drinking with Declan, Al, Jock and some crafty bugger named Dingle.

London Expo is always a blast. Definitely planning on going back next year.

I was severely humbled when I realized how much space Image had given Ben McCool and I for CHOKER's debut issue. 6 bloody pages! Huge thanks to Eric, Joe and the gang for the opening promo kick start there.

I've been a bit ill since I got back from the UK, this bastard virus will not die, but I got a copy of Previews while over there and took some quick snaps. Basically, you can go to your friendly retailer type person and show them this stuff ( I'm sure they'll see it anyway ) and tell them you'd like to make sure you get a copy reserved for your good self ( if so inclined ) and that the order code they need to use is: DEC090342

And then, magically in February, you will have one in your hot little hands. Promise.


Yeah, you gotta harp on this stuff now as it's the time to order the damn thing and I do like to pay rent, feed my kitties and such mundane things.



I've also got a G.I. Joe Baroness one-shot, look for it out in Feb from IDW! Written by Marc Andreyko. Since it's G.I Joe, it pretty much orders itself really. Hope I did decent by the Franchise. Apparently Hasbro really dig it because it's a little different.



Not to mention of course, The Popgun Anthology #4...yeah, looks like February is kinda Templesmith month. Didn't plan it that way, honest! Most importantly, it's order code is: DEC09 0379 This code gives you much powah with which you can order it. Definitely check the Popgun link for a whole swag of info on the book.

Yes, if you've ever read Wormwood: Gentleman Corpse or a few other books I've been involved with, you might guess I'm into squids a bit.

One of the photos I took while visiting the Darwin Center ( you know, that bloke religious bigots who deny science like to hate? ) Well, they have delightful specimens like a rather large Giant Squid and now a baby Colossal Squid in the same tank, so you can see the difference.

Basically, the Colossal, apart from apparently growing much larger, has bloody great claws/hooks on it's 2 longest tentacles. The Giant just has suckers. This to me, is a little bit scary and possibly the most awesome creature on the planet. Sure beats the fuck out of a Panda.

I'll put up way more images of my trip to the museum and the UK in general soon. Have been laid low with a virus upon returning from the UK. Everything is chaos right now.

...or do whatever else you want to it really. The best way to get CHOKER is to ask your nice local comic store type person to "Please put me down for a copy of CHOKER #1 from Image Comics. I have heard this comic actually cures cancer, turns water into wine & can beat a chess grandmaster in 3 moves while toilet training a small effeminate dog. The order code is:

DEC090342

This is what your friendly, most awesome retailer type person will need to know to note down which book to actually order for this month. You order it this month, when it's available, then magically, pixies deliver it to you sometime in February. It's weird how it works, but the pixies apparently run a fairly tight ship.

So, anyway, to make it easier, print this out, give it to them. Hell, maybe print a few out if you like. This all might make it a little easier to get a copy when it hits, into your hot little hands. You see, unless they know people want one, many places may not order a copy, or order enough, since I'm not exactly the same as "huge superhero icon comic X" which is guaranteed to be ordered at least a bit. So if you want it, speak up!

CHOKER IS READY!

So, CHOKER is finally solicited! I'll harp more on it later, as one who's rent depends on it is likely to do but...for now, all you need to know is there's a preview up on CBR and the Diamond order code you NEED TO TELL YOUR RETAILER ABOUT IF YOU WANT THE BOOK ( ahem ) is DEC09 0342.

Tell em that, and the nice people behind the counter will make sure it gets to you this February! And Ben McCool & I will do the happy joy joy dance etc.

Here's a bunch of shots of the first cover, as it took shape...



The rough pencils, already with a bit of a go with the brush pen. ( just forgot to take a picture of the pencils didn't I. ) The idea was for a strongish profile shot, merging in with elements of the seedy city, all detectivy like. Yes, that's not a word, but I'm using it.



Decided on lots of pencil work, shading and what not, apart from basic line work.



I smudged it all on purpose to get some finer shading in.



Added a watercolour wash or two, plus a little acrylic for highlights.



Added some defining white lines with my trusty white pen. ( It's a signo japanese one for those wondering )



The final scan before photoshop work.



A bit of darkening up, some highlighting with airbrush, a hint of my ear ( yes, my ear from a photo ) bits of skin, merging it with airbrush, plus dodge and burn.



Basic colours, plus the blue hue I intended to be the overall colour of the piece.



Added the signage elements I wanted! Mostly generic stuff. I didn't want to pretend I'd be good at designing up too many!



The final! Added some more warm hues to it and tried to make the signage pop a little more.

I talk, half arsed really, about digital comics and stuff. Big props to Sony!

I'm over here in the UK for the Thought Bubble Festival and a bunch of other stuff on the side.

First up though, I'll be buggering about the countryside, going to several places, signing at the Traveling Man comic stores in both Newcastle ( 19th November ) and Manchester,( 20th November ). Check with them for actual times as I don't seem to have that info.

Next, on November 21st, it's the Thought Bubble Festival in Leeds.

Commission info:

If I can get a couple done, I'll be doing painted up commissions there, anything you like ( well almost ) with the exchange rate the way it is these days, £90 for small ( US equivalent of A4 size ) and £150 for large ( The US version of A3 basically,). I'll have a few prints & artist proofs for sale as well, and as always sketches in books to sign etc are free.

Right then, Here's what I'll be getting up to at the festival:

From 10am to 12.30pm I'll be signing and sketching with Antony Johnston.

12:45-13:45 - Do Zombies Read Comic Books? Saviles Hall, Curtained Area. Host Martin Grund. Panel Discussion on the popularity of the horror genre in modern comics. We will be asking guests Charlie Adlard, Ben Templesmith, Antony Johnston, and Sean Phillips what they think the appeal is of titles like The Walking Dead, Wormwood Gentleman Corpse, Marvel Zombies, and Dead Space. ( Thus I will proceed to desperately trying to look like I know what I'm talking about. )

Then from 2pm till 5pm I'll be back at my table drawing/chatting etc.

17:15-18:15 - Crisis of Infinite Crayons. Alea Top Bar, 18+. Pictionary meets Draw the Marvel Way. Two teams of top comics artists complete various challenges to decide who is best! From the makers of the Kryptonite Factor. Guests include Charlie Adlard, Sean Phillips, Mike Carey, and Ben Templesmith.

Then it'll be down to London for Comica!

November 24th I'll be doing an "In Conversation" type thing ( I think ) with writer and director Philip Ridley at the Institute of Contemporary Art, 6:45pm in the Nash Room, followed by a signing. Get tickets at the ICA website here.

Then November 26th sees me doing a right proper signing at Orbital Comics! See their site for details, hopefully up soon.

Well, the news went live yesterday, over at Bleeding Cool, so I can finally show the progressions of how I did the cover! Sorry if this is a larrrrrge, picture heavy post.

& yes, I'll be in the UK for about 2 weeks. ThoughtBubble festival, Traveling Man stores signings in Manchester & Newcastle, Comica stuff down London way and an Orbital Comics signing too. Will blog details later ( Or check the appearances section of my actual website, www.templesmith.com ) but YES, will be doing commissions if I can, and signing as many books as possible for sure.

So...

Was a complete honour to be asked to do the cover to the latest Popgun Anthology from Image Comics.

Why? Well, I wasn't able to contribute to the last one ( no time sadly ) and the previous cover guys have been Mike Allred, Paul Pope & Tara McPherson. That's pretty damn spiffy company that is.



It all starts with a rough. A really rough, rough.



Early pencils, yes, I'm looking at a couple photos for this one, trying to go a bit more realist than cartoony.



Ever wonder how I tweet and watch so much crap on Netflix while I draw? Well, the computer is right in front of me at all times.



Tightening up the pencils a bit, have put the dragon in for placement, even though I actually draw that separately later.



The final pencils before I go to ink. Yeah, this pic is slightly out of order, sue me!



The inking begins. Using a great brushpen the uber talented Nikki Cook put me on to.



Main inks done. Just some bold lines really. I plan on the textures and paint to really be more about this picture than line work ultimately.



Err..no photos of the paint job til it's end! Lots of watercolour washes basically. Tried to get lots of stain type textures going on apart from anything else.



Paper gets a bit wrinkled with all the water I've put onto it. Before I scan, I add all the white lines with a white pen.



The final original real world art, as it looks after I've scanned it in, ready to do all the extra bits on the computer. Wish people would realize I actually draw...often times way more than the typical comic book artists!



I start darkening that stuff up. Also drop in bits of the photos I've been using for ref. A definite hint at a nose, cheek/mouth and bits of hand. Followed by lots of airbrush to merge it all and stuff and generally smooth it over a bit.



Really darken that sucker up. Lots of the burn tool, followed by some dodge as well.



Altering the colours, adding more. Always start with what I want most prominent first...but before the end of this image I change my mind and make the whole thing overall warm colours. ( Instead of my original plan of maybe blues with red bits to pop it out. )



Some colour! Also, add a pattern to her dress. More of the dodge tool as well it seems.



Add the Dragon, which I drew separately on another sheet. With it layered this way, I can do fancy things with it instead of having to pick it out of the background.



Add some overall tones. Not to mention some tricks with the dragon line work, courtesy of some textures I copy/paste into it from earlier things I've done.

I'll actually have a couple artist proofs of this image on me while I'm doing my UK appearances, so if anyone wants one, they are signed, numbered and for sale!



The final as the Popgun guys now have it after I worked out how the dragon should mostly work with their logo/cover style.

A still life of sorts with a bad iPhone pic in some nameless hotel room on the road.

When I get the time I hope to finish the pic, for now, CHOKER from Ben McCool and I is keeping me real busy...be showing off a wee bit of that stuff shortly. Not to mention it'll be a Gem of the month in December's previews, ( so the madness should start early February )

This comes courtesy of the uber talented Freshoil. Whetted my appetite for more stuff like this I think. ( Though not whole comics I think, which would stop them being comics & make them something else. ) If you can't see it just go here directly. Incidentally, if you've never read Welcome to Hoxford, you can find it here with a rather large discount! And yeah, I've been a lazy bugger & not posted too much lately. I need to. I shall soon! I'm off to London again next week though.