Ultraist Studios Blog Journal

Been busy, busy, busy working on SPY GUY #2… want to see a panel?

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Here is the first panel for the 2 page SPACE 2010 Anthology that I am working on right now.  I’ve always had a problem with going in with the blacks for contrast, but I’m very pleased with the way this one is coming along.  Thought I’d share.

Now back to the drawing board.

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Getting ready to bust out the inks on Page 3.  As you can see, I’ve got my Frank Miller contrast reference ready, and my Mike Mignola “Kirby Dot” reference ready.  You can also see the Sharpie and Pentel Correction Pen rough for a general idea of what I’m going for.  Note the Post-it note rough dialog, that trick sure comes in handy.

Also, if you look closely in the top left hand corner of the desk, you’ll see my mini-sketchbook… I sketched out a true story from Toronto back in 2005… that true story will be integrated into Page 12 (when I get to it).
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Spent a few hours over this weekend inking sound effects on page 2, and was quite happy with how they turned out.  The uzi “ratatat-tat” has come a long way since SPY GUY: Bootleg.  On the last panel, I took the advice of Sean Robinson over at the TCJ message board and went with an onomatopoeia sound effect as opposed to the more literal “snap” I originally had in there.  I’ll be doing the onomatopoeia sound effects on Page 3 as well.

Speaking of Page 3, I spent some time locking down the roughs for that one this weekend too.  Hope to transfer the pencils onto illustration board this week.  This page will pose some inking challenges.  Should be fun.
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Halloween at Ultraist Studios:

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Here on Page 6 the action ends, and we start getting into intensive dialog and character interaction. Something I always find difficult to write for comics. However on this page I’ve started experimenting with writing the dialog on post-it notes, taking the cue from they way they used to do storyboards in these parts for animation. Doing it this way allows for endless re-organizing of the word bubbles making the editing and visualization of the final page super simple. I think I’m going to work like this more often.

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This morning I (finally) got the second “over-night” FedEx package from Lebonfon.  Too bad they didn’t ACTUALLY get here “over-night” on Saturday in time for the Fan Expo, yet I digress.

But the even bigger surprise is that not more than an hour later a transport truck arrives with the Mother Load!

Yessir!  ALL the comics are now here in the Ultraist Studios Suburban Stronghold, safe and sound in the secure underground storage facility.  Soon it is time to begin mailing them to the world.

And after that… SPY GUY #2.

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Friday came around… no comics.  When I checked online and saw that the expected “over-night” delivery was going to be Monday at 5:00 pm I got more than a little worried.  Erika did some detective work while I was at the con, and managed to find out that the comics could be here between 12:00 noon and 5:00 pm on Saturday; a ray of hope!

So early morning Saturday I tracked the packages from Mirabel to Burlington, and intercepted the transport truck at the sorting station just before noon, grabbed my boxes of comics, and sped to the Fan Expo where Blair was manning the booth.  Talk about deja vu (nearly the same thing happened for the release of Spud & Harry #1).

Never the less, the comics arrived in time for FAN EXPO 2009, and the people couldn’t be happier (except for Christopher Miller who came by early on Friday… sorry Chris).

Both Deadpool and The Comedian agree that SPY GUY #1 is the best SPY GUY comic yet!

Speaking of celebrities, I managed to take these pics:

Linda Hamilton

Lou Ferrigno

Bruce Campbell

Now I REALLY wanted to get a pic of Spock, but unfortunately wasn’t able to… I missed him and Captain Kirk back in 2006 as well…  oh well.  Maybe next time.

And what would a comic con be without FREE SKETCHES!?
Here are some of my favorites:

Black Widow vs. SPY-Derman

Spy Guy vs. Fazeman

Dark Possum vs. Dark Spy Guy
(The un-expected concept of this one is one of my favorites since Spy-Mite! And the idea never would have existed if it wasn’t for doing these sketches.  It’s great exercise in creativity.  I’d really like to colour this one).

Spy Guy vs. The Possum
(These team-up sketches are always fun to do.  Especially trying to mix it up by fitting in a gag that wasn’t expected.)

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On Friday around noon the pages to SPY GUY #1 were sent to Lebonfon for printing.

Here’s a first look at the cover:

Now let’s see if we get it delivered in time for FANEXPO 2009.
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These pages have now been inked and scanned.  What is still left to do?

• Gray Tones
• Cover
• Police Logo
• Backmatter
• Inside Back Cover

Just over a week to go before sending it off to Lebonfon for printing.

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