SPRINGCON 2013

Kitty Pryde

I think I'm going to be at The SPRINGCON Comicbook Carnival this weekend.

Anyone want a commission/sketch?  To pick up at the show?
No? Okay, just checking.

But if you change your mind, email me at funrama@gmail.com

C2E2 2013

Mr. Miracle and Big Barda

So, yeah, I don't know.  I don't know, I guess I might go.  It's just that... I don't know.  I don't really have anything to sell or promote. I mean, everything I'm working on is being worked on, so nothing on the book stands to promote.

Sigh: FUNRAMA #3 was very much going to be ready for this show and well, I just got overloaded with work as you could probably tell. It half-done though. Just not yet.

So, I guess the only reason I'm going is to do sketches. And eat pizza? Maybe go to the art museum? Does the Fireside Bowl still exist?   So if you want a sketch/commission it's probably a good time to get on that if you want one. I can't promise anything but I don't take money upfront. I don't know, it might be my only convention besides the local one. Maybe I'm just not into conventions right now? I don't know, I'll have to investigate that further.

Oh yeah......Artist Alley Table O17.

COCOTTE Chapter 2: SUSHI

I'm proud to say that Chapter 2 of our free webcomic COCOTTE has begun!

I cringe at the idea of calling it a "foodie comic". Food is the main ingredient. It's about working in a professional kitchen...but much more! We work hard at this and we're proud of it so far. Please check it out. Thank you.

written by Kat Vapid.

Read it at http://cocottecomic.com/

STAR WARS

Star Wars #7

A NEW ARC OF BRIAN WOOD’S BREAKOUT HIT!

STAR WARS #7

Brian Wood (W), Ryan Kelly (A), Dan Parsons (I), Gabe Eltaeb (C), and Rodolfo Migliari (Cover)

On sale July 10
FC, 32 pages
$2.99
Ongoing

Princess Leia takes the Rebels’ secret mission to the next level! Playing it safe has gotten them nowhere, and they are running out of resources and time. What’s the fastest way to get inside info on the Empire? Have your top pilots get themselves captured!

• Ryan Kelly, the artist from Brian Wood’s Local series, joins the Star Wars team!

“From the first scene in this new series, it is not hard to imagine playing Star Wars action figures with Wood sometime back in my childhood. That unbridled imagination, energy and excitement is exactly what Wood brings to this story.” –Comic Book Resources

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I'm really excited to be joining the Star Wars team as Penciler for three issues starting in July. Also, It's great to be working with Brian again (even as our comic, Anthem, is on temporary hiatus). He has really captured the fun and adventure of the original trilogy in this book.

Obviously, it would have been great to do full art, but I opted for pencils-only as it was just impossible to do full art while still drawing Saucer Country and all my other projects. But, I'm super excited to be working with inker Dan Parsons, who has done plenty of Star Wars work, I do believe. And look at that awesome Migliari cover. I've always liked his work. 

Anyway, I'm drawing issues #7-9 and I hope you check out the series. I do believe the first trade collection is coming out about the same time as my issue, so you can catch up if you need to.

Here's some small details of my pencils for the upcoming issues:

Darth Vader

Emperor Palpatine

Luke Skywalker

C-3PO

Princess Leia

SAUCER COUNTRY Gets A Hugo Award Nomination

Saucer Country #14, The "Final Issue", will be hitting stands next week, April 10. Please check it out!


Saucer Country Vol.1 "Run" has received a Hugo Award nomination for Best Graphic Story. Congratulations to writer Paul Cornell and all the artists and creators involved! Awards will be presented at LoneStar Con 3, Aug 29-September 2, 2013


ART FOR SALE As a special treat, I have put up all my Saucer Country art for sale. Most pages are only $60 only for the month of April! International buyers must add an extra $15. Take a look at all the art here


What's next? There are plans in place to continue Saucer Country!  If you're a fan of the series, please stay tuned and we'll keep you informed of the details as they materialize.

Earthworm

Earthworm

Ink with digital tone

The Big 2013 Blog Update with Dipping Sauce

Saucer Country #14

So, Saucer Country has been canceled and issue #14 will be the last issue as we conclude with the 3-part story "Presidents Day." There's not much for me to say. Paul explains it best on his blog. This book is very special to me. I know it's good and I think you know it too. I want to thank all of you who buy and support the book. You make the difference.

There's no sour grapes from me. But I will say that this is the year I found out how important buzz and word of mouth is for a comic. Getting people,  as well as "big name" people, to say "This guy is killing it on this comic, you have to check it out, best comic of the year!" on Twitter is the absolute way now. Making a great comic isn't enough. You have to create a constant "buzz". It's annoying, it's often out of your hands, and It's not something I naturally enjoy doing. It's an ever-changing market out there. There's never been a better time for comics, but as a comic creator you really have to "hustle".

Okay, so what now? I  just took a new job. I'm drawing 3 issues of a pretty big thing. I can't say much yet. Just think of a big thing and that's probably it.

So, I have to two more issues of Saucer Country to draw. 

I'm juggling 6 comics right now and yeah, I'm not getting much rest and relaxation. It's painful.

 6 comics!

Funrama #3

I've been hard at work on Funrama #3 and I'm half way done with it! With help, I've had a site http://www.funramacomic.com/ made for Funrama where you can read #1 for FREE and download or purchase #2. Go read #1 for free. Check it out!

I've been trying to get Funrama #3 done so I can make it a C2E2 convention release but since I took on this new job, Funrama might be delayed. This makes me sad because I put all my heart into Funrama. It's the most personal work of my life. And, I know Funrama fans are waiting for the next chapter. I hope to finish as soon as possible, please stick with me! When you find out what this new gig, you'll see why I took it on. But don't worry, I'm working on Funrama #3  a little every week.

ANTHEM #1

 ...phew. And I'm also drawing ANTHEM with Brian Wood. This is the most frustrating thing. Mostly because I feel that publishers should be throwing buckets of money at us to make this comic.  Oh well. I'm gonna make it anyway. I have one issue done, y'know! But I have to put it to the side. It's sad. It's frustrating. I feel that Anthem is a "return to form" for us and LOCAL. If you've ever wanted a sequel to Local, then you better support this!

THREE

...oh yes! It doesn't end! I'm also drawing THREE with Kieron Gillen. What is Three? This is Three. In fact I'm drawing it right now as I write this blog. It's the more difficult project of everything in my stable because of the historical accuracy...but I'm trying. I'm working on 6 comics, but with Saucer ending, I consider Three my main 2013 project. Stay tuned! I'm very excited about Three. The first issue is one of the best first issues I've ever read!

Cocotte

And of course there's COCOTTE, my beloved webcomic written by the lovely Kat Vapid. Cocotte is not going anywhere! We have A LOT planned and we will be releasing the next chapter soon! Check it out. We just want you to read it. I'm really proud of this, probably more than anything I've done- It's such a unique creative experience - and I hope to take it into print some day.

Phew. So, so tired.

BEST FRIENDS FOREVER

Here's some illustrations I did for the film post-apocalyptic film Best Friends Forever.

The film is debuting this week at the Slam Dance Film Festival and you can view the trailer here

Saucer Country #13 Cover

Random Illustrations

SAUCER COUNTRY #10 Preview

Saucer Country #10

4-page Preview of Saucer Country #10 right here
It's in stores tomorrow, Wednesday, December 13.
The thrilling conclusion to the "Reticulan Candidate" story!

November 26-30 is COCOTTE WEEK!

As you know, I publish a free webcomic, written by Kat Vapid, called Cocotte. 

For this week only, we will be updating Cocotte everyday, Monday through Friday! That’s Everyday! and not only that: each day! After that we will resume our normal schedule (yeah, right).

Our project has no money or publisher at the moment, and we work on Cocotte in our free time, so 
we count on you readers to subscribe and support it.

Please check out the latest installment at http://cocottecomic.com/

Saucer Country #12 Artwork

Saucer Country #12 cover art

ink and digital color.

SAUCER COUNTRY #12
Written by PAUL CORNELL
Art and cover by RYAN KELLY
On sale FEBRUARY 13 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • MATURE READERS
It’s the run-up to election day, and Arcadia is racing to close the gap on her Republican rival. But meanwhile Prof Kidd’s life is falling apart, as he discovers the secret of the Pioneer Couple. Secrets are revealed, an election is won and lost, and several steps toward the truth are taken in Part One of the three-part tale “President’s Day.”

Best Of Twin Cities

Unpublished illustration.
ink and digital color.

ANTHEM

This is a new music-inspired project I'm working on with Brian Wood. While you wait for it, you can buy the Anthem t-shirt at Northern Boy/Northern Girl. It's a limited edition shirt so go get one if you like it.

Saucer Country #11 Artwork

ink on paper and digital color

The NY5

Pencil sketch

THREE

Announced this weekend at NYCC is my new project "THREE" with Kieron Gillen.  This 5-issue series is slated for a 2013 release from Image Comics.

This story, I hope, is a more honest tale of Spartan culture in Greece at the time, no offense to Frank Miller's 300. It focuses on three amazing characters - slaves - and how the spartans were these big scary jocks that went around and used helot slaves as punching bags for training...but it's much more than that. After all, these young Spartan warriors were victims in a way. Born to be superhuman warriors since birth, and the slaves were real people with real lives. I've read Kieron's script and it's gut-wrenching. It's probably the most suspenseful script I've ever worked on. And his wit and humor is top notch here.  I can't wait to do this!

An informative feature on THREE made its way to Comics Alliance. Thank you CA and Sarah Jaffe for that. See you in 2013!

You Hunted Slaves!: Kieron Gillen On Spartan Culture and his New Series 'THREE'