Instead of doing the usual 'year in review' (which you can actually revisit by reading my posts made throughout 2014, just check out the Blog Archive on the lower right-hand side of this post), I'm going to give you a little preview of what I have in the works.
I'm working on a new sketchbook, my first since 2010's COMIC POP SKETCHBOOK. The new one will be 80 pages and will feature b&w as well as color pages. A good chunk of the material will be artwork from my sketchbooks done in the last 4 years, but I've also been digging through books going back to 2006. I've even found a stack of artwork I did back in my teen years, so you'll get to see some of my earlier work (like The Crusader!)
There will also be two comics I've done recently that'll see print for the first time in this book. It's been fun going through all the artwork, so now I need to finish up the compilation and order a proof copy from the printer. My best estimation is that the book would be available by February. I'll keep everyone updated via social networks.
The other project I'm working on is my first EL MUERTO trade paperback, which will compile stories from KING SIZE EL MUERTO, EL MUERTO MISHMASH & EL MUERTO:DAZE OF THE DEAD Pt. 1. The book will include the all-new material for Pt. 2, which I've decided to include in the collection instead of printing it up as a single issue.
A couple of the comics are now out of print, so I figure it's best to make the whole saga available in one collection. Haven't decided on what the cover will be, but I drew this sketch based on an initial idea. We'll see....
Here's a look at some of the artwork:
Still more work to do on this story, then there's the process of compiling all four issues into one book. But that's what I do, make comics!
I'm probably looking at a Spring release for the EL MUERTO collection. Beyond these two books, I know there's another Latino Comics Expo to plan for. As usual, there's several other things in the pipeline in varying stages of development, so we'll see how those pan out.
As for other comics work, I've found in the last few years that I tend to spontaneously whip up a new comic book when I get hit by the muse. I know I want to produce another round of short stories (2, 3, maybe 5 pagers) throughout the year, so expect those to pop up periodically.
Thanks for sharing your time, interest and money with me this past year! I create my stories because I want to see them take a physical form as a comic book, and I'm always appreciative when folks enjoy them.
