July 8th 2019
Composition
For new subscribers: These are drawn in minutes, each page ( on ruled composition book pages)- freehand, with a fountain pen, and sometimes prismacolor; notation, rough ideas, dynamic gestures, layouts for sequences that I imagine ( costumes, maps; stories, names) – the fastest way to get them down on paper. They aren’t ‘finished’ works of art. But likeshorthand, for ideas; that I can later go back and redraw. I post these to give an idea of the upcoming comics I have planned.
Drawing Pad
These are studies, using graphic design pencils ( HB, 3B), often taking between 1 hr to 6 hours or more; using references, including: comicbooks, vintage covers and images stored on my pc ( photos, illustrations). I study comics with physical copies in mylar and toploaders, on a 1 foot high stool, outdoors; and the pc images, from a large screen monitor, indoors on a custom PC( upgraded PSU, MoBo, GPU, SSD internal HD) ; at a painters adjustable wooden easel.
Original Character: Carenna
Carenna was the first main female protagonist which I wrote a years worth of story for ( meaning, it would take approx a year to draw the comicbook story I planned out: I later revised, added to , developed and surveyed genres: and came up with a more layered world – a larger cast; that enabled the stories to have more depth ).
14 x 17 ” – Original Character ” Carenna” – a protagonist: an armor version.
The first story was simply structured- a travel across a variety of land regions , with 2 other protagonists, while being pursued by a usurper’s henchmen. There was a key artifact – fantasy quest goal – and a supernatural villain, that had a cthulu -type power source. The 3 hero’s had unique abilities, and would help people on the way, as Carenna discovered some of her unique supernatural abilities. At the beginning she was on the run, and the heroes were towers of strength that protected her. By the end, she became the only one powerful enough to overpower the villain using supernatural abilities.
She has a relationship with the fighter; the other man meets another woman. The dynamic of the couple and the still single is illustrated. The concern of the couple for the well being of their mate, is a factor that is illustrated, as the fighter considers the situations he places himself into. The other man, is skilled with technology, and uses his knowledge to perform miracles, that are farther reaching than the virtually unstoppable elite fighter.
The artifacts and power upgrades revolve around armor, that is increasingly impenetrable, and weapons that are increasingly devastating. Some ethnicities included ( Asian varieties: Burmese, Tibetan, Vietnamese, Thai, Filipino and Japanese. Also, others: German, African American and New Zealand. Latin: Spanish, Mexican, Brazilian. With an emphasis on authenticity of ethnic facial structure – as opposed to a’ how-to-draw’ stereotype, or using the same face for all ), and regions for the scenic appeal.
The story is a sojourn of several people, who become friends, and overcome adversity, in a colorful adventure/quest. Demonstrating real clandestine martial arts forms, training, and illustrates ways to eat for optimal tendon/organ resilience ( such as eating every part of the animal), performance, and compares trendy accessible workout martial arts, to ancient elite styles reserved for the emperor’s elite squad, personal body guards, and regarded the most arduous of systems to practice: formerly called Black Tiger style.
Where the practitioners hands become like iron, and able to tear through a man’s flesh, ripping out bicep’s tendons, and leaving a room full of bloody, torn open opponents, – those whom the fight didn’t instantly go out of, in shock, at their blood spilling, as the Black Tiger practitioner’s fingers inserted into their skin; have their bones shattered, by forearms, shins, elbows, ect,.. conditioned against tree trunks, concrete, stone, and metal.
Essentially, old school iron-hand. versus, transplanted grappling/judo. Perhaps, an elegy, for the martial arts power that is absent in the styles accessible to the masses, and promulgated for profit.
With author inserts; girlfriends inserted; and martial art’s teacher, school, and training partners; various employ, and family – personal messages. Esoteric expertise. The story, was too personal to be a subject I felt comfortable to be my first ‘published ‘ comicbook series, to share with strangers, and open to criticism.
Especially since it was barely more than a one dimensional gung-fu plot. After several more years of writing stories- I came up with stories that contain a few more dimensions, (a bit more than dressed up creative non-fiction). Creating a sort of metaphorical alphabet, to convey things meaningful to me, in stories whose overall appearance I feel comfortable with drawing for the time it takes to finish a ‘Graphic novel’ and share over the internet.
Dystopia
