Colin Panetta, creator of the comic book DEAD MAN HOLIDAY, asked me awhile back to contribute the back cover to his latest issue, DEAD MAN HOLIDAY -1 (Yep, that's 'minus one').
Colin's book is done in b&w, including his cover. But when he told me that I could create my piece in color, I immediately thought of the basic design. I think the fact that I could show a green, glowing ghost made me choose this scene! I had a great time working on this piece, and was really happy with the way it turned out. What I really liked was after I sent it to Colin, he wrote back and told me he was thinking I was going to do something entirely different. It's always satisfying to produce something that people weren't expecting, as far as my 'style'.
I'm a big fan of Colin's comic. He refers to it as 'haunted science-fiction', and describes work that he does ( as well as everyone from Mike Mignola to Mike Allred) as 'personal genre fiction'. Whatever you want to call it, it's unique work from a totally individual point of view, whether it's a crime story or a ghost story.
Besides being an imaginative storyteller, Colin is a very forward-thinking publisher, always working on getting the word out about his comics. He's participating in the upcoming Indy Comic Book Week, for example, and in fact is tying in the release of his new issue to this event.
Colin has free PDFs of his first two issues at his site, as well as a blog he updates with his latest doings. Take a look at his haunted science-fiction, DEAD MAN HOLIDAY!
I've sent my new comic book, MANGA MUERTO VOL 1, off to the printers, and I've just finished the artwork for the back cover of my friend Colin Panetta's comic, DEAD MAN HOLIDAY. I will, of course, update everyone here on the availability of those two books (and I'm going to check with Colin on when we can show the artwork online). It's my first full-color, back cover artwork, and I couldn't be happier doing it for a book I really enjoy reading!
Now I have to get ready for 3 comic book conventions over the next month and a half. First up is the 2nd SAN GABRIEL VALLEY COMIC BOOK FESTIVAL, being held on October 10 from 11am-5pm. The festival will be held at the Monrovia Library, running concurrently with the Monrovia Arts Festival the same day. Presented by the Nuvein Foundation, a local non-profit arts and literature advocate. C'mon down and visit local comic creators, and let's continue to grow our own hometown comic book festival!
I'll also be exhibiting at APE in San Francisco on October 17 & 18 (my 11th consecutive appearance!). Swing by and pick up both MAN-SWAMP and MANGA MUERTO VOL. 1, my two newest comics hot off the press! Plus new buttons, and more surprises!
And on November 15, I'll be making my first appearance at the Portland Comic Book Show. I'll actually be a guest of the show, and I'll even be conducting my seminar, "DIY Comics: The Secrets of Self-Publishing" at the show! Thanks to Richard from the PCBS for extending the invitation, and to my good friend Jason Martin for letting Richard know about me. I'm really digging the Portland comics scene, having been there previously for the Stumptown Comic Festival (which I blogged about here).
Here's the back cover/front cover spread for MANGA MUERTO VOL 1, cause every blog post should come with at least one pretty picture!
