Double cover for Bullseye: The Perfect Game - Issues 1 and 2.
When it rains it pours. Entering into August things were already packed. Comicon throws everything leading up to it into a frenzy, but the aftermath is even more chaotic. I like to work. I love my job (if you can call it that) but the simple fact is you can't do EVERYTHING that's thrown at you. Unless you're insane, and I must be. It's strange not being on a big monthly book like Punisher Max, or Hellbazer every month. When that constant, ever-present friend at your side suddenly leaves it's rather daunting. Personally, it's daunting because I miss working on those titles but there is also that regularity, that visibility you get used to. Trust me, it's nice. For the past 2 years I've been bouncing around like a pin-ball working on lots of nice projects but it's a hodge-podge, you never know where I'll show up next.
So for those of you with interest I'll list a few. First up is a couple of Punisher one-shot covers. Both have great scripts and both are illustrated by the incomparable Shawn Martinbrough. First up is The Punisher: Hot Rods Of Death - Total lawless road picture in the spirit of The Road Warrior. The second is The Punisher: Tiny Ugly World, a great little script about a very disturbed man, and I'm not talking about Frank Castle. Frank's got his little peccadilloes but he's flat-line sane next to this fella. Sweet stuff.
Then we got a nice departure, Bullseye! I've loved the character since Frank Miller's first go-round on Daredevil back in the early 80's. Getting an opportunity to do covers for Bullseye: The Perfect Game, was a nice chance to delve a little further into Marvel's other brands. The covers I illustrated for this 2-issue series was done as a single illustration. Take a look at the pic above, that's it. This story was one of the best comic reads I've had on a LONG time so I hope you all go grab this thing cause it's worth your time.
Early July I got an offer I couldn't say no to. Longtime pal, and editor extraordinaire, Axel Alonso invited me to take a shot at Iron Man for a 4 issue series entitled, Iron Man: The Rapture. I've loved that character since the 'ol JR jr/Bob Layton days. I've been offered superhero stuff plenty of times, it's not really my favorite thing to do but that also REALLY depends on the character. And wait'll you get a gander at the incredible artwork by Lan Medina, I mean WOW. Check this one out for sure.
Now we hit August. First up was a cover for Iron Siege, a fun as hell little WWII horror yarn. The 3-issue series is written by James Abraham and Andrew Hong, and is illustrated by my good pal, Trevor Goring. Assisting them is my longtime color-partner, the uber-talented Mr. Grant Goleash. Goleash puts the perfect amount of sauce on Goring and the results are spectacular. Coming soon from IDW.
Next was a project I cannot name for a VG company. I cannot wait to show this thing off. Huge challenge and it was a total blast. The kinda shit that's right up my alley. I'll announce this as soon as I'm able. I only mention it because of the insanity I mentioned at the top of this book I'm writing.
Next up is the poster design for The Grand Masquerade, the 20th Anniversary event celebrating the creation of White Wolf's World Of Darkness. The event takes place in New Orleans the latter half of September. I'll be one of the guests of honor. Again, how could I refuse? I was there at the beginning and we somehow created lightning in a bottle with the release of Vampire The Masquerade back in 1991. Those illustrations helped to really launch my career. Working on this as we speak.
Juggling happens all the time in my line of work. I actually started my cover for Mob Rules: Book II - Skeleton Crew, prior to The Masquerade stuff, but as it falls, I'll finish it on the tail end of the Vampire goodness I'm crunching on currently.
How about a break? Nope. Toss in a cover for Zadura Magazine featuring my take on Frank Darabont's upcoming launch of Robert Kirkman's opus, THE WALKING DEAD. The new AMC series get's fat coverage in this issue and they'll also have some sweet coverage of yours truly.
Then another Iron Man cover is due, and the next cover for the new series from Garth Ennis (more on that soon). Then I've got a Rob Halford interview to write and draw for ROYAL FLUSH MAGAZINE. Then off to Toronto for a 3-day Comic Convention, then back to wrap up my latest cover for Rogue Angel. Phew!