New Years Eve! 9:40 AM

Well, I think I'm only too ready kiss the last decade goodbye and good riddance- Sure, personally a lot of amazing things happened to me for which I can only consider myself very fortunate and grateful. Beyond that and aside of a too few good points, the last decade demonstrated a rapidly shrinking world scares those who rely on fear and ignorance for power and drives them to anger and violence to maintain that power.

Let's hope the next ten years are a whole lot better- Here's a preview of my contribution to the next Rabid Rabbit. Enjoy!

Happy Holidays 11:49 AM

Okay it's been nearly a month since my last post of any sort- I've been busy to say the least. We're getting the new Rabbit almost together and out. I've been featured in the new comic anthology "Supertalk" and I'm working on the scripts and sample pages for Zombie Cat and Tubman. On top of that been busy-story boarding away. So, Hopefully, crossing my fingers- I'll be back with more regular posts.

Enjoy my very first Zombie Cat comic way back... in 2005

The Fog of Doom 11:43 AM

Here's a short two page comic I did for a new anthology which at the moment is so far nameless- but as soon as it does have a name I'll let you know all about it. This is a continuation of my attempt to create compelling non-fiction comics.

I had a great time at the Brooklyn King Con 3:38 PM

Considering we had no idea what to expect- the Brooklyn King Con was good fun all around for Ben X. Trinh and I as we represented for Rabid Rabbit. It was a bit cosy/wow, that's a tight fit, but once everyone settled in it created a friendly atmosphere.

I sold my last copy of "POW!" the collection of one-page experiments. I may get more printed- but until that point you can get a free- yes FREE pdf of it at the Literate Machine- Click here for the Link.

King Con 2:11 PM

I'm going to be at the Brooklyn King Con this weekend at the Rabid Rabbit Table! So cross the bridge and come to Brooklyn to check us out! Here's the cover of Rabid Rabbit #6 that I did.

Happy Halloween Part 3 12:25 PM

Hail Completion! Have to admit it was pretty cool see my work blown up to this size! Luckily Everyone but Anuj Shrestha was happy to pose with it! See the previous posts to see the whole process of this coming together!

Happy Halloween Part 2 3:23 PM

The colored version form the previous post-

Happy Halloween Part 1 9:07 AM

So, Halloween is this weekend and at the big'ol ad agency I do storyboards for asked me to something down right fun- They asked me to design a life size movie monster cardboard cutout in which people can stick there heads through and take photos- good fun all around. Here are the inks for that project. I'll update it as I finish things and they print it.

Society of Illustrators 10:22 AM

I had a great time last Thursday at the reception of the Original Art Show at the Society of Illustrators. It was cool and rewarding to have a spread from Gettysburg up on the wall next to the work of some incredibly talented illustrators (it was the spread featured above). I didn't have to celebrate alone, Lauren Castillo and Tae Eun Yoo, both Rabid Rabbit illustration contributors and in 2005 grad class at SVA had pieces in the show. Paul Hoppe the co-founder of the Rabid Rabbit was there as arm-candy (no- not for me, but for Ms. Castillo). Not mention many other amazingly talented folks who I got a chance to chat with- including my two editors for Gettysburg- Brenda Bowen and Molly O'neill! It was a great show and is now open to the public so drop on by and check it out!

Crabby Sailors - 1:53 PM

Ahoy! it be the Sailor Crabby O'Malley. He might or might not be in something I'm brewing partly cause I'm brewing too many things and must pare back a bit so at least a couple of things get finished.

Zombie Cat 8:13 AM

Hey there- The witching hour is approaching and once again during this time of year I've returned to working on Zombie Cat. Here's the inks of the first page- it will eventually be in full living color. The script for the story is finished, now all I need to is wrap up some more sample pages and off it goes... knock on wood

Society of Illustrators- Original Art Show 12:49 PM

Just a reminder that a spread from my graphic novel "Gettysburg" was chosen and will be on display at the Soceity of Illustrators Original Art 2009. So if your free and are willing to purchase the tickets I'll humbly be there amongst some of the greatest illustrators out there.

Click HERE for more info on the show

Giants at Sea 12:34 PM

I read an article about Giant Squid and got that irrepressable urge draw one- I hope you all enjoy it.

October 1st- this month will end well 1:38 PM

Working up some new sample pages for Zombie Cat and here be a comic I did about brother sad little fat cat- CT. Cheers to having a good October!

End of September 8:15 AM

I like September, I'm sad to see it go. The lovely early fall days, the air becoming brisk and the hints of changes in the trees. I also like wearing light jackets and September is the beginning of light jacket weather. But alas, it is the end. October is nice and it does have Halloween, so there are things to look foward to.

SQUAREBACKED again 8:28 AM

I hope you realize the actual reason I've dedicated so much time to drawing a comic/endless sketches of my old Volkswagen Squareback is to remedy my inability to draw cars well. I, like many comic artists I suspect learned to draw cars from John Buscema's lessons in "How to Draw the Marvel Way". This convinced me that every car was basically a rectangle and I've suffered ever since (yes, there is basic truth to it, but just try it and see how swell your cars turn out). Don't get me wrong though- that book taught me more than a half a dozen public school art teacher combined. So, please extend your patience as I tumble through these drawings!

Growth pattern for the Creature from the Black Lagoon 12:32 PM

Yay! hand-painted! watercolored! It's been along time since I've hand painted anything so it was a pleasure to break out the brushes and paint this concept piece for the project Adam Eye and I are collaborating on! What might that be? well, this is only a concept drawing- so I don't want to go into any specific details- cause they'd likely change. but I really enjoyed doing this so I can only hope the project pans out!

Zombie Bartenders! 9:09 AM

I did this image for the Bartender of my local watering hole here in Greenpoint who loved the centerspread that Choi and I did for Rabid Rabbit's Horror issue. Aside of that, it's all storyboard work... endless to the points I draw them in my dreams.

Lightning Roy preview 3:41 PM

Here's a preview of the next page of my "Lightning Roy Sullivan" series. The type is only temporary and the finish will being full color like the pages I posted before. I have a few more pages inked, but won't post them until I've colored and lettered them- until then enjoy this preview

presenting the creature from the black lagoon 2:38 PM

Yikes, nearly half way through the month and not a new post. But it is September in New York and that means I actually enjoy being outside! So yes, it's sad that there aren't more posts but it it's good I'm outside!

Enjoy this guy. If things work out right there will be more of him.

New good review for Gettysburg! 3:15 PM

Always happy to post a good review for my book Gettysburg! This time from the Reading tub blog! check it out here!

Another beautiful September day in NYC maybe I was just waiting for Fall to kick in!

Gettysburg is Selected by Society of Illustrators 8:06 AM

My book- "Gettysburg" was selected by the hallowed Society of Illustrators for their 2009 Original Art show- "The fine art of Children's book illustration. "The Original Art", an exhibit celebrating the fine art of children's book illustration, is on display at the Museum of American Illustration at the Society of Illustrators from October 22 through November 25, 2009. I am very much pleased and honored that I was selected to participate in this show!

The price for the reception is a bit hefty- so if you can't make that- please stop by later and check it out!

To purchase tickets for the Opening Reception please 212-838-2560
Tickets are $30 and are limited.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kate Feirtag kate@societyillustrators.org

Squareback part 2. 2:42 PM

Another drawing of my old volkswagen squareback. Yes, this is leading to what I think will be a non-fiction comic about a car I once owned. It's already in the works so stay tuned.

nearing the end of a long wet New York Summer 1:46 PM

Humph! I'm not sure what to complain about. Normally, at this time of year I would be wallowing in a pool of my own sweat- wondering when the terrible, horrific, unyeilding humidity (I really dislike humidity mixed with heat) would subside and I could just return to my normal cranky self sans-the perspiration. Aside of what was a week high temps, New York had a long wet summer- Which- I have to say is worse- especially when you're from Oregon and they had a spectacularly sunny summer. So- humph!

Oh- we've started put together the next Rabid Rabbit- Tune into this station for more on that later- here's the pencils I did for Issue#5 centerspread- based on a Layout by Paul Hoppe- then inked by S.Y.Choi, and finally colored by Ben X. Trinh-

The Horror! 10:22 AM

This was my contribution to Rabid Rabbit #9. The Horror of Rabid Rabbit. Yes, it's a lot of tiny little panels, which I hoped would draw the reader into the story. not sure if worked, but it was good fun to do!

If you don't know about Rabid Rabbit check out this link!

Drawing Squareback 3:09 PM

I am not the best when it comes to drawing cars so in a small bit of free time I decided to practice a bit by drawing the second car I owned.

For the birds- a pigeon drawing 1:31 PM

I don't usually "ink" my drawing digitally- in fact, other than retouching hand drawn images- this may be my first digitally inked image. It obviously has it's pros and cons- but I don't think it was any faster than had I just done it by hand- that may just be the need to practice- but nothing beats the lovely textures and touches of hand drawing!

sketchbook funtime 4:19 PM

I've been knee deep in historical research- whether it be for the Tubman book or the Lighting Roy Sullivan story I've been creating and sometimes that backs up the mind into a creative corner that explodes onto the sketchbook page as this silly gentleman.

Lightning Roy Cleveland Sullivan Preview 1:53 PM

As I've had to spend most of my time either a) drawing storyboards or b)writing manuscripts, so my itch to draw "new" comics is driving me bonkers. So I've decided since I haven't the time to write/draw three graphic novels at once(I'm writing two- well one manuscript is finished and at the publishers- made it to the final editor... pray for me!) I'm trying to put together a collection of short comics by next Stumptown. That collection will focused an all time favorite of mine- non-fiction comics. These are the first two pages of one of the longer stories in that collection, the truly strange and sad story of Roy Cleveland Sullivan.

John Brown revisited 11:39 AM

A couple of years ago I started a comic series based on the life of the pre-American Civil War Abolitionist John Brown. I finished the first chapter and put it together as a comic book so I could see if anyone was interested in publishing it. Well, I had a very good response from everyone I showed it to and the it literally was the source that lead me to writing and drawing "Gettysburg, the Graphic Novel". After Gettysburg I had intended in returning to it and completing another chapter-but- always a but, John Brown was a controversial figure, which some consider a hero and others a terrorist. In other words it is a hard sell, especially for an unknown artist to boot. So I wrote some other things- (which so far so good! keep your fingers crossed for me!) Currently I'm writing a graphic novel on Harriet Tubman- She and Brown were friends and fellow militiant abolitionists. John Brown was an important figure in Tubman's life and she equally in his- He referred to her as "General Tubman". In "Gettysburg" the townsfolk solemnly sing "John Brown's Body" outside of Lincoln's window the night before the address. Brown will be featured in my Tubamn book- eventually he'll appear in enough of my works to warrant his own graphic novel. Until then I'll just keep doing books that feature him. Since I've been writing so much it's been nice to revisit these old pages and massage the art work a bit and sharpen the script- and add some pages here and there. Presented here are the first three pages in which I've added grey tones to. Obviously these pages are not "action-packed" in fact they are a slow opening- I'll add more as I finish them.

American Bob in French Sci-fi 3:25 PM

This is my homage to great Moebius. I had drawn the original my sketchbook and it's gone through many subtle versions before it arrived at it's current state.

The work of David Mazzucchelli 7:52 PM

Tonight I attended a discussion/talk of with comic creator David Mazzucchelli at MoCCA conducted by by Dan Nadel of Picturebox. It's no secret to anyone that I'm a huge fan of Mazzucchelli's work from his early superhero stuff to his most recent book, the incredible- jaw-dropping Asterios Polyp (I cannot recommend strongly enough getting this book). So much was I an enthusiast of his work that I was exceptionally lucky when he agreed to be my graduate thesis advisor at SVA. I was pretty lost in grad school- I had been a professional illustrator for years but really wanted to draw comics but I wasn't sure exactly how to do that (it's the reason I was there). David patiently and expertly guided me as I terribly stumbled both in style and storytelling. I still have much to learn about creating comics- but the the foundations He taught me have made all the difference.

I love creating comics- David has been a direct and important influence on my work.

If you're in New York- or near check out his his show at MOCCA!

ASIAN AMERICAN COMICON 3:16 PM

I'll be attending- though not exhibiting this Saturday at the ASIAN AMERICAN COMICON. I'll be there with my pals and long time Rabid Rabbit collaborators Anuj Shrestha and S.Y.Choi. This is the first "asian" comic fest at least in NYC so I'm curious to say the least- I wonder if my Korean half is more so than my American half- I guess we'll see! There are very limited tickets so if you haven't purchased one yet better hop on it! The comics are from the "the Future of Rabid Rabbit" our sixth issue.

Teaching Nonfiction Graphic Novels- Gettysburg 1:59 PM

Gettysburg the Graphic Novel was recently used by Dr. Katie Monnin of the University of North Florida in this article and will be featured in this book "Teaching Graphic Novels: Practical Strategies for the Secondary ELA Classroom from Maupin House". Dr. Monnin has done some exceptional work on the methods and practical curriculum of reading and teaching Graphic Novels. So, don't take it from me- check out the article and buy the book when it comes out!

JUNE almost over- good riddance to crappy rainy June 12:00 PM

Yes, it was crappy June. it rained nearly every stinking day here in New York. It's sad that a month that normally is the best part of New York summer was so... soaked. Now it seems we're being thrown into a hot, humid, and stinky July without a nice June. Damn you Global warming.

Spaceman! drew this up a few days ago in those actual colors- no photoshop foolery there!

SketchBook Mania 9:18 AM

My sketchbook is a literal mess. I'm always envious when I see another person's sketchbook and it's a pristine collection of drawing fit to be housed at the Met. But then again, I'd miss the random styles and explorations that plague and sprout up in my sketchbooks. I guess if you were to dig up some of my old books, I was more precious with them, but today. The sketchbook is where ideas, frustrations and "gee, I wonder what happens when I draw..," happens. So, If you see my scribbling away in a cafe and ask to see my book- be prepared to see a mess with a few gems hidden inside. Here's some selected pages from my current book. You can almost see some consistency if you haven't seen any of my other work! So we have "kung-fu Money Cat" which, is a tribute to my growing obsession with Maneki Neko. Next we have "process page" that's literally how most of my comics start. Last, but not least- the Swiss-German Dr. Franky and his horrifyingly horrific creation of Franken Kat. oh- for anyone who cares (or doeasn't) I was born today 35 years ago. cheers

work work work 10:03 AM

Been exceptionally busy as of late- but wanted to drop a quick post. I've been doing storyboards and comps at the JWT, an Advertising agency with mondo-clientele as Microsoft and Johnson and Johnson(not said too impress you, just to put in scope how fricking ridiculously huge these guys are). The work is light on thought and fun at times, but boy does it eat hours. At the end of the day I just want to crash into the couch as opposed to drawing my own stuff- Well, I'm only freelancing, so it isn't forever. In a rare down moment we drew up this exquiste corpse- to see more of them check out Adam Kidder's Blog.

Gettysburg "Top Ten U.S. History Graphic Novels" 5:46 PM

Author Judy Drury has recently informed me that she has chosen "Gettysburg" to featured in her book on the top non-fiction graphic novels for publisher Neal-Schuman. She then told me that she thought it was in the top ten of "U.S. History" graphic novels- with the works by Jason Lutes and James Sturm out there, I consider that a huge compliment! Drury particularly favored this spread!

Long, Great. Often Sweaty sometimes Smelly weekend 11:21 AM

It all started with the Rabid Rabbit Release Party last Thursday, June 4th. It was a great party and it seemed everyone dug the Rabbit. There was much jubilant cavorting and it was nice to see many of the contributors show up (The photo is from that party- that's Ben X. Trinh).

The Friday I attend the release party for the latest issue of Syncopated in which Rabbit co-founder Paul Hoppe had contributed to at Rocketship comics in Carrol Gardens. That was good fun- but we skipped out early cause I still needed to prepare somethings for MoCCA the next day.

MoCCA 2009- last weekend. It was good and bad. No one in there right mind could argue that the heat was not a major a problem, but on the other hand I sold a ton of Gettysburgs and Rabbits. I also got to converse with a lot of really cool people. I have to say though I'm disappointed that MoCCA has decided to raise the table costs so severely. The reason why this particular festival works so well is small press, self-publishers, and mini-comics. The $400 price tag for a table next year is pushing it- and that's the discounted price! This price makes me wonder how the funds are distributed.

Finally- the Mazzucchelli show- for those who don't know David was my Thesis advisor in Grad School and it was a delight to see his dumbfoundingly amazing work be celebrated so well!