Pyroman: Origin

A recent addition to the Origins for Project Superpowers... Pyroman! I was not very familiar with the character. I really didn't connect with him in the PSP series as much as some of my favorites, aside from a cool looking costume design. But I was really inspired by the origin details, time period and a wonderful layout to work from. And with a busy month of deadlines, this was a nice project to focus on during the hectic work days. The final grey panels were converted to a green/blue hue in Photoshop. Please pick up issue #10 of Project Superpowers Chapter 2 to see the final printed piece!

Mr Face: Origin

It has been approximately a year since I started painting the Origins featured in the back pages of Project Superpowers for Dynamite Entertainment. It's been an incredible learning experience as I worked (and continue to work) with Alex Ross as my art director and writer. In fact the past year was a big collaboration year for me as I also teamed with artist/sculptor Ruben Procopio on a series of Phantom : Generations covers for Moonstone. I love being part of a team as it is a great opportunity to grow and sharpen my craft. I did learn though- that my main focus quickly was shifting more towards the Origins and taking over my schedule. And for a few months I was illustrating two Origins while I was trying to find shortcuts and/or quicker solutions in rendering the spreads.

It really came down to what each script had to offer. Some panels were jam packed with origin elements, while others were straightforward and less involved. Needless to say, I never really found a quicker way to illustrate any of them but tried to devote the same amount of time for each one (sometimes more if time was available). There are favorites among the 12 that have been finished to date but more important to me was the fact that I was able to study and really familiarize myself to some truly great heroes from the golden age of comics. One that caught my interest as much as The Black Terror and the Death Defying 'Devil is Mr. Face. I would love to do another piece on him and definitely fits in with my pulp character interests.

The Origin of Mr. Face is published in issue #7 of Project Superpowers Chapter 2. The process shown is the pencil stage for approvals and then the finished piece with any adjustments that were added to the art. When printed in the book, the black and grey panels are converted to green tones with all dialogue in place. I would also like to say "thank you" to my good friend Mike Beazly for helping me scan the originals as well as help me prepare the digital files for print. He's great friend for moral support while I raced up against the deadlines. Mike is also a part of the General Jack Cosmo Productions team and is currently preparing the next issue of his awesome comic, "The Grimm".

The Death Defying 'Devil: Origin

The next Project: Superpowers Origin is 'Devil, soon to be published in issue #1. (The #0 issue with The Black Terror is out now and is available at your local comic shop). The process shown is the pencil stage for approvals and then the finished piece with any adjustments that were added to the art. When printed in the book, the black and grey panels will be converted to red tones with all dialogue in place.



Currently working on: Origin of Boy King and Giant

Exhibition: June 16 - September 6, 2009

The Elmhurst Historical Museum in Illinois currently has an exhibit on the history of comic books as well as a summer long list of events planned inside their beautiful downtown mansion! The museum curator and designer, Lance Tawzer has become the super hero there as he's really poured his passion into the design and concept. The Museum has been transformed into two floors of comic book history displays, collectibles, and multi-media presentations most originating from the Indianapolis Children's Museum. Lance also contacted the American Academy of Art for their support and scheduled Jill Thompson, Bill Reinhold and myself to exhibit and include us into their programming. There is a time lapse video of me painting a portrait of the Phantom, and a focus on the process of creating a Phantom cover (in this case The Phantom: Generations #1).

The Exhibition runs: June 16 until September 6, 2009.

Check out their website for more information:
http://www.elmhurst.org/index.aspx?NID=73

The Black Terror: Origin

The New Year started off with a "bang" for me and I've been steam rolling through the last few months with deadlines. I apologize for putting my blog on hold, but there just wasn't enough hours in the days. It also didn't help that I caught a virus back in late February/early March that knocked me out for four weeks. It then caused a domino effect of me trying to play catch up with the work load. Throw in family, tax season and holidays and I'm sure you get the picture around here.

I'm going to start back into the blogging with something Dynamite! (yeah - I really said it...)

This is the first of the Project: Superpowers Origin spreads that I'm painting for the series from Dynamite Entertainment. Scripts are by Jim Krueger and Alex Ross and I am amazed at how they can squeeze all the important elements of the golden age origin stories into a two page spread. Alex actually roughs out the layouts and emails them to me. So what isn't in the script, it is in the layout. There's an interview on Comic Book Resources explaining a bit more:
http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=20944


I first started out by doing a full figure pencil study of The Black Terror. Once it was approved, I penciled it onto the board with the sequential panels. After the spread was completed Alex and I discussed the finished artwork. The only major revision was to change the head position on the main figure. Another revision was the chemists' vial that Bob Benton was holding in the center panel. After reworking the pencil study to reposition the head, I got the go ahead.

Here's a work in progress and then the revised and approved art to be published in Project: Superpowers Chapter 2 #0.

Changes were made right on the board, gessoing over the areas and redrawing and then painting. I also decided to darken areas to make the overall piece more dramatic and richer in tones.

Project: Superpowers

SUPERPOWERS #0 from Dynamite Entertainment
by Alex Ross, Jim Krueger, Stephen Sadowski & Doug Klauba

From the dawn of the 20th Century came a new chapter in mankind's history, unleashed during a time of great war and destruction. It was the beginning of the Age of the Superpowers, yet with the closing of the Second World War, this new spark seemingly flickered and died. Until now! This explosive 0 issue features a story crafted by Justice collaborators Alex Ross and Jim Krueger, joined by artists Stephen Sadowksi and Doug Klauba, and featuring a final page painted by Ross himself! The story of Superpowers begins here, in the present day with the Fighting Yank, coming to terms with the ghosts of his past and present! Journey to the heights and depths of the Second World War as the story unfolds and come face-to-face with the great forgotten heroes of the ages, and solve the mystery of these legends disappearance after the great war!

32pgs, FC..........$1.00

That is how Dynamite describes the new series to arrive in stores early 2008. Originally titled, Superpowers it seems it is now titled, Project: Superpowers.
And I've seen some color proofs and this first issue looks very cool. I'm excited (really excited) to have worked on the inaugural issue. And truly just plain excited that I was hired to do more sequential work - which is what I love to do. Tell stories with my art.

Alex asked if I'd be interested in doing more sequential stuff and then Superpowers came about. I had seen the Newsarama article announcing the series and knew that this was a series that I'd be interested in buying. I've always been interested in the golden age characters and pulp heroes, so I knew that this was for me especially with the team of Alex and Jim Krueger on it. I was very surprised to be offered part of the story. I don't think I hesitated when Alex asked if I'd be interested in doing the "present day" pages of the story, seven and one half pages of art. Obviously, from the description above, my pages are the "present day with the Fighting Yank, coming to terms with the ghosts of his past and present" while the talented Stephen Sadowski handled the larger part of the story. More of my pages can be seen at my Project: Superpowers Gallery at www.comicspace.com/dklauba

Dynamite was great to work with and their heart is in deep with Superpowers. It's been in developement for some time and I'm thrilled to have been a part of it. More info on Project: Superpowers can be found at the Dynamite site:
www. DynamiteEntertainment.com