And just think of the sentimental value!!

This was a post I found on Boing boing (the beloved darling of browsing the net, killing time and being intellectually stimulated) about the auction of the first Superman comic recently.

http://www.boingboing.net/2009/02/26/first-superman-comic.html

Some comics cross over that economic divide from just being savoured, into being financially viable. Although my collection will probably never reach those economic heights, it's nice to see Superman leap tall recessions in a single bound.

Hopefully some of the profits might be donated back to the creators families...

Hey I read comics, I live in hope.

Did I forget to mention RedBubble?

It's been a frenzy since my last entry. Finishing my course and putting my comic book preview online. Xmas, New Year travel, kids back to school and working as much as I can at the bookstore. In the midst of all this the world has kept turning... Of course near economic collapse and the unforgiving Hell of bushfires have made it a strange time.

My sympathies go out to all affected by the blazes that have swept across Victoria. At the same time the northern state of Queensland has been struck by flooding, which can't be a cruel and ironic joke as it's not funny for anyone involved.

Between all this I joined a site called RedBubble whose chance to give me a creative outlet (with a bonus retail outlet for prints and shirts) is one of the things that has helped keep me sane. Check it out at: http://www.redbubble.com/people/psimonic

What a tangled web we weave...

I've made a blog dedicated to my comic book project, The Judas Khemical.
You'll find it hiding in the net at: http://judas-khemical.blogspot.com/
Come see.

Playing with Text

I've been experimenting with using Comic Life for voice bubbles, headings and sound effects.
It looks like it provides a good tool for the casual user and with a bit more tinkering provides a decent shortcut for those aiming for a more professional look.

Here's a preview of the first page's lettering.

I'm at RedBubble too

RedBubble is a site I heard about by word of mouth (that's one of the other ways of communicating when you're not using a keyboard). They kindly provide folio space, webpage and online shopping facilities for prints and t-shirts.

For a while I've been wishing that something like this would come along.
Now it's here, you can come along too if you want!

Page one artwork complete

My final project is swimming towards it's deadline, so i thought I'd start using my blog to keep tabs on it. So let's start off with a bang. This is the completed artwork for page one. I was aiming for the type of splash page that would make people want more...

So there's this forum about a dark Superman...

Before you wonder, it's about the idea of Superman having the same brooding dark tone as the Dark Knight.
This was posted at the_dark_superman which I stumbled across:

A Dark Superman? The Dark Knight's recent success has convinced WB the next pack of superhero movies should have the same brooding tone. The evil side to characters is now the key to unlocking some of their DC properties. "We're going to try to go dark to the extent that the characters allow it," Group Pres. Robinov says. "That goes for the company's Superman franchise as well."

Are we ready for this?

I think we are, and that we certainly will be after Watchmen carves itself into the general cultural psyche. Especially if he's compared in any way to Dr.Manhattan.

There's definitely more depth to a conflicted hero. More story.

Why wouldn't a near godlike entity with a belief in striving towards good get frustrated with us mortals?

Use BOTH sides. That way you can keep the values he was raised under and add in the frustration that he has sworn not to rule over humanity, yet we treat each other like crap.
How does the Man of Steel deal with the fact that he can hear family abuse, hate crimes and murder? Even from orbit.
Would he share his frustrations or bottle them inside?
How would the Superman be tempted to cure humanity of it's weaknesses?

Superman flailing would be like watching a Greek God fall from Olympus into the muck.
Hell, bring in Brainiac into the movie franchise. But give the guy some subtlety.
Bring him in as the man behind the curtain, who tests Superman's other powers. His legendary optimism and patience. His hope. And don't just give only one villain to take on. He's Superman, he can multi-task!

Superman has never been my favourite hero due to the sheer edge in power he has over most of his opponents. The last Superman film seemed caught and confused on where to go, it had great moments but then seemed restrained or illogical. The last thing you need to ruin that really good suspension of disbelief is a 'hang on a minute' moment.