TMNT Make up post

Here is my 80's black and white explosion make up submission. I wasn't around for enough of the 80's to have any real knowledge about the black and white explosion, but I do love the Ninja Turtles.

80s B&W Explosion: BACCHUS (aka Deadface)

My rendition of Eddie Campbell's Bacchus - one of my all-time favorites. Tried to channel my inner-Eddie here (which wasn't that much of a stretch - I love getting all scribbly with my pens).

The Tentacled Brains of Space Station 613

"That IS a moon! AND a space station!"

When the theme of 80's black & white comics explosion was brought up I knew immediately that I wanted to do a piece of art paying tribute to Mike Baron & Steve Rude's "Nexus". For me, Nexus was the coolest indie comic at the time. I still love it!

I didn't expect to get quite as a tied up in the piece as I did. Hopefully you can see that I spent a little time on it and had a great time doing it.

This piece was done with ink, ink wash and liquid watercolor on 11"x17" Strathmore 500 bristol (part of their "sequential" series of papers). This was my first time using that particular paper and I have to say I really like it. There was just enough tooth to get the dry brushing effects that I like and not so much that I couldn't lay down a smooth line too. Hope you enjoy the piece!

Go read some old Nexus comics!
Robert

Grendel

I was waffling between Grendel and Tank Girl (and Cerebus which I am surprised hasn't popped up yet lol) son when Mr. Austin dropped his Tank Girl on us my choice was clear.

I have to admit I am more of a casual observer of the Grendel series. I love Matt Wagner's work but funny enough I have never read Grendel. The closest I came was the Grendel: War Child series from Dark Horse when I was a kid but it had a mature warning on it so my parents wouldn't let me buy it.

I am familiar with the story, the lineage of the different hunters (this one being Grendel Rose/Hunter Rose) so maybe one day I will actually read it but for now I have always wanted to draw him and this topic seemed a perfect fit.

Tank girl?

I was racking my brain with this weeks challenge, trying to figure out what I wanted to do. I certainly am not very knowledgeable about topic unfortunately. I didn’t want to do a ninja turtle so I talked to Kevin Gentilcore and he gave me some ideas, but he mentioned Tank Girl and I got fixated on her. I don’t think she was a part of the b & w 80’s explosion, but when I have my mind made up there is no stopping me. I’ve never even read a Tank Girl comic so I’m sure this drawing is all wrong too, I just always liked the concept and the art that I saw. I got the line work done yesterday but I wanted to see it with the zip tones on it and did those today. I’m sure it’s not a correct choice, but the good news is that you can all blame Kevin! Still after seeing Scotts post I really want to look up some of these comics!

~Don

Those Annoying Post Brothers

I had a hard time settling on which characters to choose. I had a lot of favorites from the 80's: The Tick, Red Fox, Stig's Inferno, Eagle, Shuriken... but Those Annoying Post Brothers still stands above them. I actually discovered them by accident. I was in the hospital after having some surgery and my mother picked up my comics from New England Comics and Amazing Heroes was in there, and this particular issue had The Worlds of Matt Howarth as the cover story. I'd never heard of him, or any of his work, but reading his interview I was quickly sucked in. I mean, c'mon... Ron & Russ Post, two psychopaths with the ability to travel to any reality by simply thinking about it? And wait.. they hang out with C'Thulu (who wears a tie and smokes cigars). Ad C'thulu is part of an electronica band? Say what now?

Anyhoo... I've long said that my main artistic influences are George Perez, Akira Toriyama... and Matt Howarth. Honestly? I think my work actually favors Howarth more than anyone else.

USAGI YOJIMBO!

I had the pleasure of meeting Stan Sakai at SDCC a few years back. He was a really great guy. Did a couple sketches for me, and I bought 3 different trades from him. Been hooked on Usagi Yojimbo ever since.

Stuck with the B&W on this one, since our theme is the "Black & White Explosion". Hope you enjoy my take. If you haven't read any Usagi Yojimbo...go fix that immediately. Thank me later.

Cheers
Patrick