This time, from the Paradox Comics Group... Matt T: Bristol Comic Expo legend Ben McCool finally puts his rather twisted imagination to better use than tell insane stories over curry. A noirish tale that sounds like Fell with a late night sci-fi twist sees a disgraced detective with Alien Hand Syndrome (???) have to catch the uncatchable to get his job back. As the first issue is called Pain I'm expecting McCool to churn out something suitably disturbing, and with Ben Templesmith adding his wonderfully gothic style the end product should match up perfectly.

Did you know? My print collection is large. http://sayunclecomics.deviantart.com/store/

Two important links today. As Bleeding Cool points out, next February...is actually CHEBRUARY. It's impossible to ignore, what with CHEW, CHASE VARIANT and CHOKER all coming out from Image Comics that month. It's going to be...err...chinsane? And next up, yup, it's been officially announced I'll be down to Heroes Con in June next year. Never been but the organizers are as nice as pie. ( A really nice pie, one your nan might make that's extra tastey, with cream on it even, if that's the sort of thing you're into...you get the idea. )

One of the Baroness images I did up for the one-shot from IDW coming out in February. No idea if this is a regular cover or not. There's like ten covers to the book and I only did two. This here's the pencils! Took it from a pose of a lady leaning on something which I uh, turned into a chick in lather holding lots of guns. What can I say. Chicks 'n guns eh?

Did all the basic line work with a micron or a Uni-ball pen, or both. Just started filling in the blacks here. This was all done on an 11x17 inch bristol board, white. Planned on lots of watercolour on this piece.

Filling in more blacks. A bit of a bugger considering her costume.

Black inks all done!

Water colour washing begins
.
Lots more water colour and even a splash of red for the Cobra logo. Everything is generally just tonal greys though, since the real colour happens on computer. Just thought it'd be nice for the actual original piece. If you dig it, it should actually be for sale sometime soon over in my section on www.splashpage, my art agent bloke, Mark Hay, who handles all my work for hire stuff. Drop him a line via the site if you're into the Baroness as he should be getting all the pages/covers I did for the book in his hot little hands sometime soooooon. ( I promise, Mark! )
Almost finished. Just some standard tones, some dodge and burn and faded a bit of photo nose with airbrushing on the face. BUT, I was told the eyes were a little too asian ( the original photo, the lady *was* Japanese...so...

...I rejig the colour, add in some slightly different eyes. This one goes down much better.

New HE COMIC: Solid Gone http://ping.fm/ILzy4

I stuck another one of those Bram Stoker Dracula "Draw your own cover" books from Penguin up on ebay. Just too much damn fun they are.

How I plan out all my comics.

if you are in dallas i will be there seeing family for christmas and doing a signing at lonestar comics on dec. 23rd. okay

i will be closing book orders on thursday morning i think so i can finish shipping and not think about that over christmas. i will reopen them early january

animal tropical - 20 miles

Updated shirt shipping info in this post: http://ping.fm/E2V2G

Well, six weeks, considering I've been in the US and sick with a virus the last two. These are in no particular order...



Emma, Antony, some git and Mr Diggle. Photo by the always awesome Jock. This was the afterparty for the ThoughBubble Festival up in Leeds. One of the best/busiest cons I've ever done. Short though, only one day!



Shifty bastards. Hatching plans.



Essad Ribic, Andy Tong, Al Ewing and a few others. I didn't get any sleep at Leeds. These people know how to drink and they just don't stop!



You could say we had a good turnout. Infact, I WILL say we had a good turnout. This was for the panel I did at Thoughtbubble.



My line didn't stop for 6 hours. Quite possibly the most signings I've done in one day apart from maybe a really busy day at SDCC. It was insane.



It's not a monkey, it's an ape. Took this photo just to ensure I hadn't taken drugs, that it actually did exist.



Lucky me, I never had a reputation to uphold.

This was actually a rather sweat laden "wizards wig".

Things you do in a pub at 2am.





Any bar/club that has a Dalek in it is my sort of place.



Kirk porn on the walls.



My sort of weather.



My NYC 11am Guinness during a photoshoot with Ben McCool.





Up high in a building during a meeting. I would get NO work done if this was my office.



I ended my NYC trip in this bar. We even got a free round because the barman was a comic guy and had too much fun overhearing our comic book bitching/stories. He's sworn to secrecy though.



Just before my little comic book chat thing in London for Comica. ( Phil is the director of Heartless, among other things )



Drinking with Declan, Al, Jock and some crafty bugger named Dingle.

London Expo is always a blast. Definitely planning on going back next year.

New Comic/Signing Sketches from Webcomics Rampage http://ping.fm/exeaB

New HE Comic! I Am… Smeagol Fierce http://ping.fm/Wd5SY RT FOR FREEDOM!

Writing Process and Rough Comic for "The Down Underdome" in THE VAULT! http://ping.fm/FdAGv

new HE Comic: O.W.L. Or G.E.D? http://ping.fm/uasqT

Hi guys and girls,
I'm settled in at my Mom's place for the next few months. After funding dropped for my next books, I found myself unable to pay rent and unable to find a new job in time to pay said rent. So now I'm back living with my Mother. At 31 years old, this is both embarrassing and humbling.

2009 has been a very difficult year for me on many fronts. I've been having a hard time deciding whether or not to continue trying to make a living from my art. Last week, I set up for Las Vegas's First Friday art walk. While I received nice praise and encouragement, I also sold $30 worth of stuff out of a potential $500. Which leads me to believe that if I'm to have any success as an artist, I should no longer depend on my art to pay my rent.

So, here I am, back at square one again. No idea what to do with my life and even less idea what to do with my art. I named my webcomics 'Say Uncle' when I was doing the Daily Grind Iron Man challenge in hopes my competition would eventually 'Say Uncle'. Now, I'm the one who feels bent to breaking.

I don't suppose I've given up entirely, but I either have to wise up or pack it in completely.

Your confused friend,
JB3

I was severely humbled when I realized how much space Image had given Ben McCool and I for CHOKER's debut issue. 6 bloody pages! Huge thanks to Eric, Joe and the gang for the opening promo kick start there.

I've been a bit ill since I got back from the UK, this bastard virus will not die, but I got a copy of Previews while over there and took some quick snaps. Basically, you can go to your friendly retailer type person and show them this stuff ( I'm sure they'll see it anyway ) and tell them you'd like to make sure you get a copy reserved for your good self ( if so inclined ) and that the order code they need to use is: DEC090342

And then, magically in February, you will have one in your hot little hands. Promise.


Yeah, you gotta harp on this stuff now as it's the time to order the damn thing and I do like to pay rent, feed my kitties and such mundane things.



I've also got a G.I. Joe Baroness one-shot, look for it out in Feb from IDW! Written by Marc Andreyko. Since it's G.I Joe, it pretty much orders itself really. Hope I did decent by the Franchise. Apparently Hasbro really dig it because it's a little different.



Not to mention of course, The Popgun Anthology #4...yeah, looks like February is kinda Templesmith month. Didn't plan it that way, honest! Most importantly, it's order code is: DEC09 0379 This code gives you much powah with which you can order it. Definitely check the Popgun link for a whole swag of info on the book.

New HE COMIC: The Down Underdome http://ping.fm/fap5l