(Abandoned) Projects

This brings me to the third reason I was distracted: new projects that were abandoned.

At the time, Greg and I were busy, busy, busy brainstorming pitch ideas. In 2015, we'd finally finished "RE-INFINITY" and we'd also collaborated on a ghost story, putting them out there as Poison Press Presents #s 1 and 3. The first of two ideas stemmed from drawing I made (and posted, apparently, according to the note on the sketch) in 2009. It was a love triangle story.

 

The second idea we were brainstorming was rather dear to my heart. Let's long story short it and say seven teenagers find themselves embroiled in some mysterious goings-on. 

Though neither project made it to the stage of pilot mini comics, both were great exercises in us collaborating... paving the way for the short stories "Star Players" and "Liebestraße." The latter, of course, we developed as a graphic novel for ComiXology as Liebestrasse.

The connoisseur

Oddly not tagged, since headache drawings are in nearly every sketchbook of mine and must have made it to the blog in the past. But let's say Reason #2 I took a break from here: perpetual headaches. In fact, I am a headache connoisseur. Cataloging areas of my brain that hurt, trying to determine how deep the pain is, and the nature of it, from stabbing to stinging to dull to heavy. So much more. Doctors have never really figured out why, despite lots of effort. But sometimes, I just need to let something go...

I do like this drawing, though I can't remember what 48|52 means. But this would have been about six months after our beloved boss resigned.

 

Testing one, two

 Ahoy! I've not been here for a while, and for lots of reasons, many of which I will be sharing with you over the next weeks. Let's start with the first reason: Instagram.

Just prior to stepping away from this blog, I started posting to Instagram, which is fun and quick. But lacks the commentary I always added here at Blogger (or is it Blogspot?). 

This blue line pencil version of this sketch, based on Monica Gallagher's comic series Lipstick and Malice, was posted to Insta. But after, I inked it. So here you go! Blogger exclusive!

Over the years, I keep sneaking sketches in featuring the assassin-model star of the series. I came up with the tagline "She's hot... you're DEAD!" which has become a running joke with us.

I'll be back tomorrow with the second reason. 

We're not whining!

First, I state my regret for not posting my opinion on the election, Hilary, and Trump, back in October as I had intended to. Given the polls, I thought it wasn't all that important for me to preach to my small choir. But I see now how wrong that was. It's important to say what you believe in, so here I'm putting it out on the internet's porch to see what cats lick it up.

I've heard a lot of people describe the Democrats' and Hilary supporters of "whining" and feeling "bitter" that our gal didn't win. Maybe there is some of that. But for many, if not most, it's more of an expression of fear. Fear of losing the rights and privileges that were fought for for so long and we're still fighting for.

This may be very difficult for a straight white male to understand, since these rights and privileges I'm talking about you've enjoyed since 1776. The only significant new right granted to white men that I know of is the right to vote at age 18, and you may not get too fired up about that without a draft (if I understand correctly, the main controversy during the Vietnam conflict was that men were being drafted at age 18 but couldn't vote until 21...).

So let me put it in other terms for you. You're familiar with the religious order of the Shakers, right? Known for their simple living, architecture, furniture, appliances (the modern broom was invented by them!), and equality of the sexes, and (gulp) celibacy. So the celibacy bit drove them basically into extinction, but let's imagine a world in which it didn't: more people joined up in support of the zero-growth population movement or whatever. And let's say they cleverly jerrymandered the electoral districts to win elections despite being a political minority. And let's say a Shaker zealot was elected as leader.

Now do you understand our fear? That this zealot may try to impose equality of the sexes and celibacy on you. And you don't want that! And just when you think, "well, let's go in with an open mind," the first actions the President-elect takes are to appoint an anti-your religion person to a key post. And then suggests a Supreme Court Justice nominee who has publicly stated that it should be illegal for you to have sex in your own home to honor the Shaker celibacy. That this President-elect was going to remove rights and privileges that you value...and in short, to impose their views on you and make you conform to their way of life.

That's exactly what is happening with Trump right now. The appointment of the white-supremacist and anti-Semitic Bannon and the suggestion to appoint the anti-gay Pryor (who believe gays should be jailed for having sex in their own homes) have confirmed our worst fears. So for women, minorities—blacks especially, gays, and people who love any of them, or are married to them, or have biracial children, or have gay relatives or friends, etc.etc. etc., the outcome of the election is more than just a "bummer." It's an attack on our fought-for civil liberties.

Maybe you didn't understand that when you voted for Trump. Or maybe you live in a part of the country that needs work, and you simply want a job and food on your table. I get it, I forgive you. But in the coming months, if you believe in equality, then we'll need you. We'll need your support against the decisions and policies and policy-makers who seek to remove the rights of your friends and neighbors.

Black Lives Matter

All 14 significant black characters in 1970s DC Comics (ish). Who am I missing?

I don't have anything really new to add to the discussion, but I can't delay saying it any further: black lives matter.

I've always thought it, but one bit I read along the way summed it up saying, "it's no longer good enough to not be a racist, you need to declare you believe black lives matter."

My thoughts are pretty much in agreement with John Halstead's as stated on the Huffington Post a few months back. The only thing I'd add is, politically correct labels are tricky. Maybe you heard from the black community while you were growing up that "African American" was more respectful...and maybe now you still can't muster it to say "black."

I've heard often the argument that on a personal level some people feel that they're now losing out on what should be theirs or their children's because jobs, spots at top colleges, are going to less qualified people for the sake of diversity. Maybe that's true, and maybe it isn't. One of my favorite critiques of Gwenyth Paltrow (whom I adore, actually), described her success along the lines of "it's easy to score a run if you start out on third base." Similarly, if you are denied your run from third base, for the sake of someone on first—but that person had to sacrifice a meal to buy their uniform, protest their way into the game, and widdle their own bat, who is more qualified after all?

All this I say, thinking of me, which is what I do best. I have achieved an awful lot for myself, growing up squarely lower-middle class. I attended mediocre public schools, and had no family connections. But still, my parents made sure I had they best they could give, including the uniform and the bat, and of course, I had open admittance to the game. Growing up, they had less than they gave me. And their parents had less. My grandmother was essentially orphaned by age 10 and worked her way through high school with two jobs. You too may think back of your family's historic hardships thinking you deserve certain things.

But the reality it, if we keep tracing our roots back, pretty much all whites, latinos, Asians came to this country on their on free will--and had the means to do so. Blacks, on their other hand, did not. Sold off from their homes as property, and in many if not most cases treated worse than pets. Pretty much the only group of people treated as badly (though in different ways) have been Native Americans.

So please, if you can't say "black lives matter," I simply ask that you ask yourself why you can't. Challenge yourself and your logic. Think of more than just yourself. And talk about it. This country is on a destructive path, and it's up to us to change.

  

Saved by the Bell V2 ANNOTATED

Complete series cover by Chynna Clugston Flores

Have you bought your Saved by the Bell Freshman Year compilation from Roar? Do it!

Sadly, this compilation of V1 and V2 will be the complete run for us. The license ran out, my editor moved on, and it's time for us to do the same. But first, let's walk through the second volume. If you didn't see my notes on my V1 art, click the tag for "Saved by the Bell."

I have mixed feelings about V2. I was crazy busy at my day job during the production of the stories, and the deadlines of everything combined was really stressful. But I look at some of the art here and think, "well, alright, still pretty good."

Overall, there are fewer inside jokes and bits snuck in, but here we go (page numbering from Freshman Year):

"Just Married"

This was my favorite SBTB story to draw. Loved Ox and Lisa; some homo-subtext with Zack and Screech. Just a joy to draw!

P157 P1: Screech is wearing a T with a Mayan symbol I had recently seen at a museum in Paris. Miss Wentworth came from Google image searching from the show--she was an actual character! Eames desk chairs and chairs throughout this story, too! Fred and Daphne from Scooby Doo in the back row next to Ox.

P158 P3: My recurring background character indie gay boy Jeff gets huggy in front of Fred and Daphne; Leslie and Herbert from V1 also still a couple and appear in the backgrounds throughout this story.

P160 P1: Far right, is a girl in a Betty (Bat-Girl) Kane dress, carrying a tennis racket (Betty's first love), behind Kate with her trademark umbrella in mini backpack.

P160 P5: My oft-used explosion effect.

P162: I really liked this page. I hated the Jesse character on the show, but I imagined her as a a lipstick lesbian when I drew her, so liked her more.

P163: More Eames in the library. I loved drawing Lisa and Ox; their dynamic (though exaggerated) reminded me of my sister and pretty much every BF she's ever had.

P164: P1 More touch-action for Jeff. P3-4 "twin sister" poster for my friend Matt, who has a twin sister.

P166: Miss Wentworth sports a dress inspired by Kara Zor-el from the 70s.

P167 P6: Jeff sports a "haifischbaby" T designed and sold me me.

P168 P6: hearts for Jeff and his skinny boy BF.

"Rumor With a View"

I hated this story, it was a lot of talking. From Jesse about Slater. Ugh. But still got kudos from my editor for making some interesting things happen.

P185 P1: another example of me compressing scripted panels 1-3 to make a half-splash. Here, the gang takes second place to Jeff and his skinny boy BF in the center. Happy with this page...though the perspective gave me a run for my money...

P186 P1: Jesse has a book titled Bra Town in her locker!

P186 P6: I haven't used the flower effects since Cavalcade in 2006!

P187 P1: Krueger fiberglass chairs.

P187 P4: Poster for the BBC show Do Not Adjust Your Set.

P188 P1: Kate with her backpack and umbrella.

P189: I loved this page with the shrubbery.

P190: I loved this page more...shrubbery plus shirtless Slater. Plus fun Kelly in P6.

P191: Jeff and his BF bicker.

P192 P1: poster for Slumbrew's comedy night (every Sunday).

P192 P2: poster for Race for the Cure...featuring Robert Smith. :-)

P192 P4: Ox, Leslie, Herbert in BG.

P193 P2: Rabbit book in the locker.

P191 P3: not sure what this poster was.

"Hats Off"

This is probably my second favorite story to draw. Lots of fun stuff going on with the cursed hat, and some fun splashy stuff to draw. Plus Ox. I love drawing him!

P199 P1: Bayside Chess team poster and I can't recall what the other was meant to be.

P200 P1-3: Several glimpses of Backpack Kate and Jeff. More Krueger fiberglass chairs.

P200 P5: McCobb Planner Group dresser 1509.

P201 P4-7: I had to scrap the first draft as the writer and editor wanted to invoke a feeling of a lots of time passing with Zack stationary. Here I drew the background once, and layer over several characters, some which recur over the 4 panels, others don't. A reasonable solution!

P202: I thought this was a prank when I read the script...Slater wrestling in a singlet?!? For me?!? It felt like a gift. Luxuriate on this page.

P202 P1: More Kate, plus Herbert and Leslie milling about.

P202 P5: My friend Scott is really "into" wrestling, and as tribute to him and our friendship, I asked him to send me a few of his favorite wrestling pics. This panel draws from one of them I thought worked best.

P203: Another fun page to draw, Kelly getting nailed by the basketball. I get to use my explosion effect.

P204 P3: Jeff wearing a Tin from Metal Men T; creepy stalker lurking too.

P205 P1:

P205 P2: McCobb Planner Group desk 1561.

P206: Among my favorite pages to draw of the series! I loved the way the bonfire in P3 turned out with the light and shadows. I think I managed to pull off the tiny panels well, against some big splashy stuff. Plus Ox! He may be the unofficially 7th Beller.

P207 P1: Poster is obscured, but it reads, "Cheer try outs and coffee house." Kelly wearing a 1976 Supergirl T & hotpants combo.

P207 P2: Ox carrying a Math for Jocks textbook. Last Ox I think :-(

P208 P1: Poster for my upcoming anthology, Love Street.

P208 P2: Joelle's script describes "a tall hot guy approaches Jesse." and his lines are attributed to "GUY" like so:

GUY:  Are you Jesse Spano?

At the time I was drawing this, one of my co-workers, by the name of Guy, was leaving Boston for Seattle. I made this Guy look sort of like our Guy (tall, insanely broad shoulders and insanely narrow waist). One poster behind him is of a sneaker (Guy had/has a sneaker fetish); the other is a poster from the "we miss you club" with little drawings of my co-workers in a heartfelt tribute to Guy.

"Sandblasted"

By now I was slipping further behind deadline, and really stressed out. Fortunately, this script was much easier to draw with the beach-y backgrounds. Though is did limit the inside jokes and recurring background characters I was inserting. Fun  to draw the guys in swimtrunks, plus lifeguards!

P213 P1: The only glimpse of Backpack Kate. Some weird layering of the title font over Zack's hand.

P220-221: For all you Kelly fans, I gave you as much bikini action close-up as I could!

P224-226: I drew the hospital scene first, since it was the toughest. Lots of talking in bed, but I I like the way it turned out.

***

That's all for Saved by the Bell! I'm both sad and relieved we're not moving on to sophomore year. I wracked up just under 100 pages in the series, and overall, I am pleased with my efforts. Since so much of the script was talking, locker scenes, the Max, and classrooms, I tried to take every moment to do my best layout and inking. And, when it came time for splapstick, I dove in there too. Plus I got to draw a few alt locations (the mall, the studio, the ski lodge, the beach, etc.). So the series wasn't my usual fare, but I 99% loved working on it and am grateful I had the opportunity! Joelle's scripts were spot on in series' tone; my editor Adam (mostly :) pushed me to better places; and it's an honor to be side-by-side with one of my favorite artists, Chynna.

We're in a drought!—conserve

Jay Scott Pike, known for his "Good Girl Art", created "Dolphin" for DC Comics in 1968.

If you're a native New Englander like me, you're probably not used to droughts or conserving water. New England tends to be pretty naturally ample in that regard...no crazy diversions from rivers hundreds of miles away or anything. The reservoirs just fill up. Clearly, I have not researched this.

But here we are in a drought now, and no judgements about you or your water use, but it's time to conserve as many towns are at dangerously low water levels.

Here are a few things you can do that will make a big difference:

1) Don't water your lawn or wash your car. This is an easy one for my city-dwelling friends who neither have a lawn nor own a car. But for those of you who don't, give it a rest. I still see people at the car washes. I want to picket!

2) Turn the water off while you brush your teeth. I think most people do this already, but there it is.

3) Don't use your garbage disposal. They're the worst. You take potable water, and ruin it by creating a garbage puree just so you don't have to scrape your plate into the garbage.

4) Shower European style. If you've stayed with friends or AirBnB in Europe, you know the hot water tanks don't hold much. So one rinses down, turns the water off, then lathers up, then water back on to rinse. And, quickly.

5) Shower less. You probably don't need to shower daily, or the 2-3x daily you might be showering. Read this article by TIME magazine if you don't believe me. It wasn't all that long ago that most people didn't shower daily. Try going retro.

Again, no judgements, but do what you can. Myself, I've done #s 1-3 for years, and started #4 during this drought. I'm not up to #5 yet.

Good luck!