Sneak peek of a new project! And more...

No time for me today? Here are the highlights:

• I have completed my training.

• Let's talk about Batman: Mask of the Phantasm.

• Sneak peek at a new webcomic

It's been about a month since the last issue. In that time, I finished the perspective lessons I was working on.

There are a couple of lessons on 4- and 5-point perspective, but I'm going to skip them for now. I think I know everything I need to know to work on some pages.

Here's some 3-point from a time I wanted juice:

And my office:

I was hoping to have some pages to show, but let's save that for next time. I've had some other priorities to juggle these past few weeks, but am working my way back in as we speak.

Here's another X-babe drawing:

I think that's it for mutants for a while. I'm thinking about doing some Americanized Neon Genesis Evangelion art soon.

Every once in a while, I like to grab a drawing I thought I liked from a few years ago and update it to see how my skills have progressed.

I did a bunch of fan art ahead of Blade Runner 2049's release in 2017 (you can find it on my Instagram) and at the time thought that this was the centerpiece:

Updated for 2019, here's what we're working with.

To me, the difference is just striking -- in the lineweight, the details, and particularly the background (which yes, I did completely by myself in CSP).

Is it better? In some ways, I think it is. But more importantly, I think it's more distinctive as a style, which is ultimately what you want.
 

I recently grabbed Batman: The Animated Series on Blu-ray. I watched it when I was a kid like every 90s kid who turned out okay.

I picked it up again in college when it was released on DVD. Out of nostalgia.

I remember being struck by how mature the show was. How that stuff totally flew over my head. But still, it made me feel like I was 5 years old again. It was fun.

Now it's about 10 years later and I'm watching the show for a third time with a more learned, critical eye. I am appreciating the differences in animation quality between episodes, the themes, and the structure.

Basically, this third time through, I'm studying it.

Which brings me to Mask of the Phantasm. I have probably seen this movie 100 times. I destroyed my VHS copy.

But I think I've always watched it the same way -- as an extended episode of B:TAS where the bad guys smoke cigarettes.

How naive.

The sheer difference in quality, from the animation, the storytelling and pacing, even the voice acting, is almost impossible to talk about coherently. 

"That's not the answer I want!"

Sidenote, Animated Series Batman is still the scariest interrogator of all the Batmen ever.

I'll cut an already-long diatribe short to say the movie totally holds up.

But next time you watch it, try your damndest to watch it with fresh eyes. Like it's the first time.

Let me know what you think.

As an X-fan, I'd be remiss not to recommend Hickman's House of X/Powers of X run, currently on its 3rd issue. 

The X-books fall into a rut every 10 years or so and need a Grant Morrison type to swoop in and make things weird again. That's exactly what's happening here.

I don't do theory or speculation, but I will say that I am running -- running -- to my LCS every Wednesday for this book.

I don't think I have ever done that in my life.

Lastly, I picked up Neil Gaiman and Colleen Doran's Snow, Glass, Apples on a lark. This may be an offbeat recommendation for a guy who draws mutants in bikinis, but I implore you nonetheless.

This book is largely without panels. Most pages are more like stained-glass windows or tapestries.

According to Doran's notes in the back, everything was meticulously hand-drawn. 

When you see it, you will appreciate how absolutely insane her level of discipline and dedication to the craft are.

If you want to join me in studying at the feet of the master, you can follow her on Twitter. She's active and friendly.

Gaiman's writing is pretty good, too. I think that kid has a career ahead.

Here's something fun.

I'm working on a new webcomic with formidable writer and mental jiu-jitsu sparring partner Milton Lawson called Event Fatigue Podcast. Here's a teaser:

It will be an episodic comedy/pop culture comic featuring a Marc Maron-esque host (please don't sue us) interviewing Big Two superheroes (from the movies, shows, comics, whatever will be funny) in a raw WTF-esque format.

We will be releasing it exclusively on Instagram in 2020.

You can follow the dedicated account right now by clicking the big button below:
 

That's it for this week's adventure. 

As always, thank you for your support.

I don't have a Patreon, nor do I ask for donations. If you want to help me, the best thing you can do is share this content with your followers if you enjoyed it. 

And even if you don't share anything, I love you 3,000 just for being here.

Back to work.

*rent