Notwithstanding what cannot now be changed, Neal was regarded by many legends and talents as a father of sorts. An artistic father; second father and many others, reverberate in response to his passing. First and foremost Neal was a nourishing father whose paternal soul drove him to extend his influence over everyone whom he felt needed it. Condolenses to the grieving family and Godspeed, pops.
I never had an opportunity to meet Steve Ditko. His art and ideas in Spider-man were unique to me in the young early days of becoming acquainted with comics. The reality of his enormous creative talent and relentless ideals remained, however, elusive to me until some time after I’d traversed the first few years of my comics career. Continue reading “Have Peace Steve Ditko” →
Third oil painting. The legendary Joe Sinnott for the cover of the 6th Annual Joe Sinnott Inking Challenge Book, from the Inkwell Awards, to be released later this summer.
Flying on Broken Wings is Cathie Martin’s latest book of poems, which finally arrived after a few UPS detours. Produced and designed by Scotland based husband and caregiver Chow Martin, founder and operator of Dark Angels Productions, who also dedicates himself to Cathie’s ability to create, with art and words, and give something back to the generous world he maintains for her. Chow introduces us to Cathie’s inspiring life story, overcoming the limitations and despair of wheelchair confinement, since contracting Multiple Sclerosis at age 16.
The poems are raw and powerful, not laden with the subtlety of most such writings. Cathie is candid, direct and simple. She seems more concerned with the raw ideas than a polished embellishment that can distract from them.
Two page war story for DC Comics. A thoughtful digression from battle. A towering figure lends consideration for a weary soldier, that transcends conventional military discipline.
Yellowed image shows the pages didn’t fare well in storage and need restoration.
Both pages: $1200. Inquire.
A darker look that more resembles Gal than Lynda. Circa 2003.
Wonder Woman. Pencil on 9×12 board. $200.
Drawn while taking a break from an advertising project, circa 2002.
Pencil on 8.5″ x 11″ bond paper. $200, Inquire.
Martin Pasko and I collaborated on a few issues of Kobra back in 1976, including one that co-starred Batman in 5 Star Super Hero Spectacular. We connected some years ago towards DC Comics’ reprinting of these issues. We’ve also exchanged a few comments on Facebook posts. The most recent was in relation to Jeanette Kahn, Paul Levitz and Jim Shooter – and their contribution to comics at the helm of DC and Marvel since the 1970’s. Below are snippets from that thread, posted here for posterity. Continue reading “Jeanette, Paul and Jim” →
In the fall of 1977, I penciled one issue (#3) of a new sci-fi series for DC Comics, created by David Michelene, Don Newton and Bob Layton titled Star Hunters. The cover and a panel from that issue appear below.
40 years later, this recent commission of Donovan Flint, lead protagonist. 13″x 20″, India ink and Gesso.
Soon after finishing this Bjorn Borg color spread for Crawdaddy Magazine in the summer of 1977, I took a long break from comics and never saw the issue published. Just found an affordable copy on Ebay.
At about 22 years old when it was done, barely 2 years into professional work, I remember delivering the large art to Crawdaddy, whose offices were in the same building as Marvel’s . Jim Starlin was in the lobby, leaving the building and asked if there’s new art on the board I’m carrying. I showed it to him and he thought for a second and said: “You’re too good for comics.” I didn’t think so but appreciated the compliment.
The latest in a run of Commissions topping a new gallery on the site menu.
I remember an excitement in the comics community in the mid-1970’s when we heard that a Robert Crumb original was to be displayed in Paris’ Louvre Museum. A first of a kind event for a medium mostly shunned by culture venues of that era.
My recent oil painting of Charlie Chaplin is an effort to extend the drawing horizons past the comics aesthetic. Not especially driven by wanting the drawing to be more “artistic”, but rather an exploration of areas beyond the comic book drawing method instilled in me since youth.
I’m now on my second painting and this time it’s a comics-based commission that I’ll post when done. Continue reading “Vatican Museums Adopt a Comic Book” →
28 x 40″ on stretched canvas.
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