How To Draw Comics The Marvel Way part 1

Smilin’ Stan and Big John Buscema show us How To Draw Comics The Marvel Way!

Drawing Superheroes (2 of 3)

Big John Buscema draws Captain America! Bill Sienkiewicz draws Elektra! Nuff Said!

Drawing Superheroes (1 of 3)

Jazzy John Romita draws Spider-Man! Joe Kubert draws Man-Bat! You see kids? That’s how it’s done!

Forgot to mention that as part of my workload, I’ll be working on a new graphic novel for Vertigo! I can’t say who wrote or pencilled it, but it’ll be great! More info will come in the next few months.

It’s been another long while since I’ve posted to the blog… Oh well. I will not shut it down. I will continue to post on my infrequent irregular posts until the day comes that I post every day or every hour! Or until I find my blog voice. Somehow I find a little time to post links and stuff on Facebook, but no time for the blog. I did find (or make) some time to go to HeroesCon up in Charlotte for a few days. That went well. Met some fans and pros, and reconnected with some pros I hadn’t seen in a while. Right now I have to tend to the munchkins and then get to work. Back into The House of Mystery…

Written by MATTHEW STURGES • Art by LUCA ROSSI, JOSE MARZAN JR & CRISTIANO CUCINA • Cover by ESAO ANDREWS

Even good witches are problematic at best. Especially when they show up looking for help from goblins. “Witches plus goblins” can’t be good. A seriouly stressed-out Fig may just be in the market for a witchy role model. Includes the short story “Peter” illustrated by Cristiano Cucina (HELLBLAZER).
Vertigo 32pg. Color $2.99 US Mature Readers
On Sale June 9, 2010

Written by MATTHEW STURGES, BILL WILLINGHAM, ALISA KWITNEY, DAVE JUSTUS and PAUL LEVITZ • Art by LUCA ROSSI and JOSE MARZAN JR. • Cover by ESAO ANDREWS

In this special issue, five writers get together to tell one fantastic tale. Join HOUSE OF MYSTERY regulars Matthew Sturges and Bill Willingham, former Vertigo editor Alisa Kwitney, newcomer Dave Justus, and industry legend Paul Levitz to find out what happens when a single story is passed from one creative mind to the next – each one trying to write the next into an impossible corner. It could be brilliant, it could be utter madness… but it will definitely be interesting!
Vertigo 32pg. Color $2.99 US Mature Readers
On Sale May 5, 2010

If it’s March, then it must be allergy season. Pollen.com says that Florida is at medium-high levels of pollen today. We must have been at level 10 a few days ago… Achoo! Achoo! Snif! Snif!

I did about 200 Fantastic Four sketch cards in 2008. Lots of work! Hats off to the guys and gals who do a lot of these! Some cards turned out nice, and some were just ok. All the cards were done in marker and watercolor. I tried to start out doing them in marker, but found out that I’m just not a marker guy, so I quickly pulled out the watercolors. The final cards were a combination of marker, watercolor and ink. These scans are from Scifichobby’s website. I’ll try to dig up my scans and post some when I get some free time…

Here’s a quickie sketch I did for my wife’s OB doctor, who’s daughter is a big Wonder Woman fan. No discount on the delivery bill though. Guess I would’ve had to do a lot more drawings… Don’t draw Wonder Woman much, so wasn’t sure which way to go with her… but I think it turned out nice for being a quickie.

House of Mystery 24
Written by MATTHEW STURGES; Art by LUCA ROSSI, JOSE MARZAN JR and JOHN BOLTON; Cover by ESAO ANDREWS

In the conclusion of “Management,” someone’s been murdered. Very murdered. And the goblins of the goblin market require a death for a death. But who’s the murderer? And what if the murderer is someone we all like? The terms of Fig’s deal with the Conception are beginning to take their toll, but it may be that the Conception’s enemies are even more dangerous than the Conception themselves! Featuring “Romantic Comedy, With Corpses,” a tale of true love and bloodshed, illustrated by John Bolton (GOD SAVE THE QUEEN).

Time to squeeze in some missed films. In past years I would normally catch pretty much all the Best Picture Oscar nominees, but this year I caught none. OK. I saw one. “Up”. Oh wait. I saw that on disc. Does that count? Between work and the kids, I just can’t seem to find the time to get to the movies. Maybe in a few years I’ll be back to the old routine.

Anyway, I caught “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push by Sapphire” (say that three times fast) on pay-per-view. Very good film, but not as emotionally wrenching as I thought it would be. Some directorial decisions left me wondering as to the time line and continuity of the film. Great performances and recommended.

Purchased “Up in the Air” and “Hurt Locker” on Blu-Ray Disc. “Hurt Locker” certainly deserves the praises it’s been getting. Gritty account of soldiers at war and the adrenaline rush some get from it. OK, some of it may not be realistic, but it’s a movie folks. Entertaining and insightful.

“Up in the Air” may be my favorite film of the bunch. Guess it’s the one that spoke to me and my life the most. Smart and funny film on relationships or the lack of them. Slick looking film that brings it’s message home with class and some laughs. But, what’s up with that lame DVD and Blu-Ray cover art?? The original poster expresses George Clooney’s character, his relationship to his two co-stars, and hi relationship with travel, planes and his bag. The DVD cover art has some boring photo (with some lame type) of Clooney and Vera Farmiga having some drinks. This expresses nothing of what you’ll find inside. It’s the cover art for some stupid unfunny romantic comedy! Ugh. What were they thinking?

So, three very different strong films that I can recommend. Next up: Disney’s “The Princess and the Frog”. Not a best picture nominee, but I’m sure it’ll be fun and will look great.

HOUSE OF MYSTERY #22

Written by Matthew Sturges; Art by Luca Rossi, Jose Marzan Jr and Farel Dalrymple; Cover by Esao Andrews

A boy has arrived at the House of Mystery, and he claims to have a very special relationship with Fig. The problem: Fig has no idea who he is. And she doesn’t much like him, either. Featuring art by indie superstar Farel Dalrymple (Omega The Unknown).

• Vertigo
• 32pg.
• Color
• $2.99 US
• Mature Readers

On Sale February 3, 2010

2009 Harveys Awarded! Best Single Issue or Story

Y: THE LAST MAN #60, Vertigo Comics

The Harvey Awards

The Harvey Awards are one of the comic book industry’s oldest and most respected awards. The Harveys recognize outstanding achievements in over 20 categories, ranging from Best Artist to the Jack Kirby Hall of Fame. They are the only industry awards both nominated by and selected by the full body of comic book professionals. http://www.harveyawards.org/history.html

Congratulations to Brian, Pia, Clem, Lee, Will, Casey and everyone involved in the success of our series!

Written by Matthew Sturges; Art by Luca Rossi, Jose Marzan Jr, and Antonio Fuso; Cover by Esao Andrews

Part 4 of “The Beauty of Decay.” Death rules the City in the Space Between, and as the body count rises, mad ghosts learn to do more than haunt. Will Fig and Peter find a way out? And to make matters even worse, the House of Mystery’s previous owner has returned to reclaim what’s his. Plus, in the short story “House and Home,” illustrated by Antonio Fuso (Fear Agent, GI Joe), we learn exactly what Cain has been up to for the past seven years.

• Vertigo
• 32pg.
• Color
• $2.99 US

On Sale November 4, 2009

JACK OF FABLES VOL. 6: THE BIG BOOK OF WAR

Written by Bill Willingham and Matthew Sturges; Art by Tony Akins and Jose Marzan, Jr. ; Cover by Brian Bolland

When Bookburner’s army attacks Revise’s compound, Jack returns not as a prisoner but as Commander-in-Chief. In this new title collecting issues #28-32 of Jack’s monthly series, secrets are revealed, including the strange relationships between Jack and the Page sisters.

Vertigo 128pg. Color Softcover $14.99 US Mature Readers
On Sale October 7, 2009

I’ve been playing around with different iPhone drawing/painting apps such as Brushes, Layers and Sketchbook (all available in the iTunes app store for a few dollars). I lean toward Layers as my favorite. For my tastes it has the most brush versatility and an easy to use interface. Sketchbook’s interface is to fancy and mysterious for it’s own good. I just want to paint. I don’t need to be wowed by mystery interfaces. Brushes is a good app, but I can’t get it to do what I can with Layers.

Tomorrow will mark one week that I haven’t been able to log into Facebook. Now, it’s not the end of the world. I continue to work, and do things that don’t involve Facebook. However, sometimes it feels like  my information, photos, and  people I need to contact for one thing or another are being held hostage. Ok. I know it’s not that way. I know it’s a technical problem. Facebook’s lack of customer service, and admission to it’s membership, or the press that anything’s wrong is what burns my butt the most. My understanding is that when Google’s Gmail went down, Google keep updating its users and posting periodic updates on the situation. Nothing of the sort from Facebook. Well, anyway… I still can’t log in (just tried it),and I know that writing to Facebok is pretty much useless, and I’m tired and need to go to bed.  I’ve had to much work this past week that maybe Facebook did this on purpose so I could spend time at the drawing board…

If you want to read more about the Facebook blackout, Caroline McCarthy at cnet.com and  Scott Klienberg at chicagonow.com have been covering the news.

Not sure how old this drawing is. 6 years? 10 years? I found it while doing some cleaning in the studio and thought I’d post it. I did some playing with it in Photoshop. Did it just to play and the drawing had faded some and I needed to bring out some of the linework. Have to get out and do more life drawing… But when to find the time…?

Irving Penn, Fashion Photographer, Is Dead at 92