The New York Four, San Diego Commissions, etc

Hi I'm Ryan. Who are you? Naw, seriously....

First up, The New York Four is in stores this week, July 10! (comics on Thursday because of the holiday). This is my second Original Graphic Novel. It's my second project with Brian Wood and we worked on this alongside Local and everything else this past year. Help feed and clothe my children

I think it's good. I hope. The first 10 pages look really crunchy to me but by the final 50 pages, I think i'm really singing. My only regret is I didn't make enough "white space" for the "eye to rest", so I'm criticizing myself before anyone else gets to do it. That's what Minnesotans do.

I'm eager to read Ross Campbell's Water Baby. I think that's going to be the best of them all. Ross is one of the 3 or 4 artists I'm seriously jealous of. "Jealous" isn't the right word. I need a word to describe, "I wish I was making the art that he's making, but I'm not, Although I'm glad he's the one making the art that he's making because he's a nice guy." Ross should get more credit as a writer. his books are scripted very naturally without all the attitude and overt self-awareness. A lot of books aren't written, but toss off sarcastic one-liners. But some people do that really well. I just think writing is more than piecing scenes together. I'm getting picky about writing. Writing should be really good, right? I pretty much like 98% of all the art out there. But the writing?... hmmm, maybe 50%. But I ain't got no right to talk-- Writing is hard. Good writing is hard. Harder than the art part. I haven't written anything yet. Yet. Plus Ross Campbell has written and drawn, like, 5 big graphic novels in 4 years or something. That's a lot if you think about it.

Also, out this week is American Virgin VOL 04: Around the World. This isn't really my book, but I helped out! Helping is helpful. I drew about 50 pages in this book including the "Paris" and "India" chapters which were a lot of fun, even though I had to draw them in 2 weeks each.Buy it why not you?



I went to Wizard World and drew some pictures. Thanks to Will Dennis , Brian Azzerello and Jill Thompson for taking me to a real restaurant. San Diego ComicCon is in a few weeks. Me have artist table. I wish i was making mini comics and buttons and coin purses with cute woodland animals like everyone else but I've been too cramped for time. I'm going to be painting custom commissions and selling prints of my favorite pieces so if you want a commission, make a request and maybe I'll do it before the show. If not, I'll certainly do it at the show. For San Diego, I do $5o for Black and white and $70 for color on 9' X 12" paper, but I try to make it really good. I probably do about 5 a day. Doodles are free.



I'm inking the last little bits of The Vinyl Underground. One thing that I've noticed, talking to people and in reviews, is that the people who are reading this book, REALLY REALLY like this book. It's all because of Si Spencer and Simon Gane. I just get to do the easy job. The final Volume 2 comes out in December, and you can Order it here

I've been doing character sketches for Northlanders. A new experience for me is seeing characters of my design realized in a pretty cover by a great cover artist. This will also be my first 22 page, full art comic job for a Big-2 publisher. Hard to believe. The notion probably is that i'm this sloppy, brushy artist that can't draw but I think I'll surprise people with the art. Well, I hope. I want people to like me. Do you Like me? JK. I'll post my sketches after the cover comes out.

Wow, that sucked. I hate long posts. That will never happen again.

Here's how we get it done in Saint Paul--