First Responder's Supply

I was blessed by this company and they trusted me to create a logo for them. I like the way it came out. For those out there, a new police / fire / emt supply store is opening in the Lawerenceville, ga area. Check them out! First Responder's Uniform and Supply!

working spread eagle in the dark...

shewwww.... 3/4 of the way finished with SOAH issue #2 pencils and inks. Here is a snippit of the Luck Lady Bath House scene. This is a 2 page spread where things are getting a little steamy between our main bad guy and his one of his hench-women (Koi Dragon) . I am trying to get a feel of creating environments more than backgrounds. (a term and trick I coined from Jason Cheeseman-Meyer in his Book Vanishing Point: Perspective for Comics from the Ground Up. )

I want a feeling of steam and darkness for this room. I am relying on the colorist (Dony Armstrong) to help bring this out by adding some sweat beads on the characters, with some steam haze and shadows as well as moister beads on the frames for the final render.

It is taking WAY longer than projected to get this issue up and out. The reasons are good, bad and indifferent. The Good - I have been SWAMPED with other projects. The Bad - There is only 24 hours in a day and this thing takes ALOT of time. The indifferent - all kinds of personal issues around the job and home.

Stay Strong, SOAH fans!

More characters for issue SOUL OF A HERO 2

Taking a much needed break from working on other projects to knock out some The Soul of a Hero development stuff. Here are two characters that you will see in this next issue. You will be seeing more of these two the newer episodes of the webcomic.  The Koi Dragon and The Luck Lady Madam. This is the final concept and development for Koi Dragon. For those faithful blogfans you would have remembered her from the initial concept and design sketches. If you are a new fan check here. It was a challenge designing an elderly asian female as a character. I didn't like how the arms turned out and they look way too long. I really like how Koi came out. I wanted her to have a Anna Mae Wong vibe but like most of my characters, once I started drawing... the pen took over and she took on the persona that she wanted. The tatts took a lot of work too. But now that they are designed, I have a great reference and and high resolution images to use. Don Armstrong did a great job in coloring these Yakuza Styled tattoos for the special edition prints that were given out as IndieGoGo perks.

Dorina Green... Broz Grimm Ol' Lady

meet Dorinda Greene. She will be featured in this upcoming episode of The Soul of a Hero.  Dorinda started out (as her name sake) as a hommage to Nichelle Nichols. (you know Lt. Uhara from Star Trek) in her role as Dorina from the Movie Truck  Turner. Now Dorinda was off the damn chain. Ms. Nichols went totallyout of  her normal refined, regal and classy character and acted a damn fool as this female pimp gangster. I saw this movie as a kid and thought "Who is that fine foul  mouthed chick!?" I never realized until I became and adult it was Lt. Uhara. I then found out that the Gene Roddenbergh original name for the Star Trek series was "Dorinda in Space Runnin'  Sh!t" but the networks were racist and were not having it so they changed the name to Star Trek. I think that is why Star Trek conceptually sucks compared to Battle Star Galactica, but Battle Star  was not as successful as it could or could have because  make it because it failed to cast Nichelle as "Dorinda, Bad B!tch Space Cylon"   also in that series. But I digress enough about my Uhara stories and back to the art at hand. 

The SOAH version of Dorinda has the same sass and fire and its hommage but I wanted a challenge, so chose to recreate the visual look of the character. And since Dorinda in SOAH is supposed to be a Bad Ass, the role needed someone who was cool, tough and looked like they could take a punch, all the while gussing up well. So I thought  hmmm? While watching Orange is the New Black episode where they did the back story of Cindy "Black Cindy" Hayes (played by Adrienne C. Moore) I thought, THATS IT! she is from pittsburgh AKA Steel CIty. She is defiantly a hard ass, and she gussies up well. It was a plus that she rocks the lady of rage afro puff from time time. So Adrienne C Moore was the new inspiration for Dorinda Greene. And there you have it!

Chinese Take Out

working on page 10 of The Soul Of A Hero Episode #2. 

As you can see the page is not finished. I wanted you guys to get a view of what it looks like when the pages is rough and raw compared to the final inks. I so love blue line pencils! I might just do an entire issue no inks, no colors just blue line pencils. If I do, it will be a side story.

This is a fun issue because I am pushing my limits. (But those who know and love me realize nothing else is new). In this scene Steel City's dirtiest cops Detective Okeefe and Johnson are taking bribes. The story is coming together and flowing after a yeas worth of development and work. Like what you see? Read the comic for free at www.thesoulofahero.com

The Steel City Bridge

Working on the backgrounds. I am trying to get the scenery on point for this issue. I took Freddie Williams, II's digital comics tips to better design backgrounds. I would like to get your feed back. 

Back on tha Grind!

Ah it feels so good to sit at the art studio desk, listen to smooth jazz and just draw! I have been trying to get do this for over 2 months. For those of you who don't know, putting together a comic book takes a lot of work. Going from script, to breakdowns, to layouts to drawing is just very involved. I have developed a pretty good process but I never seem to have the time to put it in play. I thankful though that God has blessed me with the creativity to do this type of work. As some of you family, friends, and fans know it has been my life long dream to work for Marvel Comics. So I am putting a lot of effort into these next issues, as the pages will be subjects for my portfolio for them to review. I really want to do a good version of Misty Knight, Power Man and Iron Fist. But as for SOAH the story is developing well, I am have plotted out most of the entire web graphic novel. It will prove to be a story that is fun, interesting, action packed and will keep you on the edge of your seat wanting more... 

Soul of a Hero Action Figures!

Yup, it's true... you are not dreaming. These are the prototypes for The Soul of a Hero action figures. The first run is HellYeah! and BombShell from issue #1. I designed the packaging to have the logo die contour cut at the top and rounded corners at the bottom. (yeah I know HellYeah! is not wearing the biker outfit in episode #1, why? read the editor's notes on that page for episode #1. Be the first to comment on it and I will send you a FREE pair of The Soul of a Hero Underoos!

Daughter of the Dragon, Hero for Hire!

Here are the blue lines for the commission cover sketch for my mother. This one took a while to get to and I am thankful that she is patient with me. She said to make her a hero when she was younger. Hands down I had to use Misty Knight. Back in the day as a SteelCity Kid, when reading marvel universe, I thought that character sketch of Misty Knight reminded me of my mom back in the day. There was even a photo of her my dad took back in the early 1970s when she was holding his Smith and Wesson 357. You can support The Soul of a Hero Episode #2 by purchasing a commission sketch, this go around we will be drawing you as any comic book hero you want, AND a printed on high resolution poster AND a YOU as a SUPERHERO on a T SHIRT! HOW COOL IS THAT!

Inking Finished!

Finished inks of the VIRTUOUS LIFE. Finished the digital inks for Mel Todd's upcoming book. This is a children's devotional comic book about the Biblical concepts of money. I have inked Mel's art before. Is always a good experience in working with another artist's lines because I learn so much. Mel has a great feel for anatomy and a unique look and feel to his art. I am glad to be a part of his project. Stay tuned to see some of his artwork in a cameo appearance in The Soul of a Hero Episode 2 : Hard Knox!

Whats up Doc?

This is a t shirt for some of my favorite guys, the SWAT Medics. These guys are awesome. Not only can they shoot and do all the GI Joe stuff that SWAT Operators do, they have to render EMT/Paramedic first aid while doing it.

Need a cool t shirt for your tactical team? hit me up!

Running from the Po Po!

logo design for this years jail break challenge. This is going to be a fun event, raising money for a great cause... the GCSO youth program (Explorer Post #699). I miss being an adviser to these young guys! But I am doing my part by attempting to spearhead dynamic visual marketing campaign. Stay tuned for more fun stuff!

get ready for issue #2

a little sample of things to come

This layout is an alternate cover. I always wanted to do a 1970s Kung Fu movie poster, and what better way than for a cover of The Soul of a Hero!

A little Valentine's Day Tongue and Cheek!

Yup! Just when you thought the good (well really bad) Detective could sink no lower. I found this vintage print of FunBunny Magazine. The magazine was actually in perfect condition. This is actually part of a fun project done in collaboration with Stef, the creator of the SarahZero web comic. Stef's work in web comics is ground breaking in that she follows NO RULES! Its awesome, her art and design is liberating and its great to see a comic creator that is able to come up with such creative work! Check it out at http://sarahzero.com/index.html

Blue Lines and Colors for New pages of Raegan & RJ in Space: Satellite Rescue

I am at it again, working on finishing up illustrating another book of Raegan and RJ in Space. This issue is called Satellite Rescue, and covers R&RJ's first mission in space. In this issue you will be able to see my talents as a colorist. I will be coloring most of the sequential pages in Manga Studio with some special effects done in Photoshop. The client wants this book completed by mid February. Its going to take some pushing but I think that I can get it done in time. Be sure to pick up your copy when its done, it will be well worth it.

Taking a Hot Bath with the Koi Dragon!

We are gearing up to produce The Soul of a Hero, Epidsode #2: HARD KNOX! In this issue we will get to see more of the SOAH and FALLEN JUSTICE universe.  This post I am giving you a sneak peak at The Koi Dragon's lair... the Lucky Lady Lounge. Yup here is your all access pass to the infamous bath house of the lady of fire.  I did the whole room in sketch up. I want to get some crazy camera angles for these scenes. I want to put the reader in the mindset that they are a wisp of steam watching the whole scene play out. By putting in the time and effort to make a 3D model of the entire room, I will be able to achieve that effect. Want more SOAH insider info? Then its as easy as liking us on facebook!