By Bill Walko

Archive for ‘Rough Mondays’

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Rough Monday: ComiCONN Commissions

by Hero Business C.E.O. on August 20th, 2012
Posted In: Blog, Blog, Rough Mondays, Blog, Water Cooler Discussion

Happy Monday, Heroites!

This weekend’s local Comic-Con, the so-called ComiCONN, was a smashing success! Best of all, it’s my my hometown…. so it was populated with friends, old high school chums, and local fans. And, as usual, I’ve got some nifty commissions to share!

[click to enlarge 'em]

The first is a redesign of the unused character named Graphix, from Jem and the Holograms. Here’s what we know: “Gwendolyn “Gwen” Snyder is a graffiti artist/graphic designer Eric Raymond hired to promote the Misfits and the Stingers. Regarded as a spoiled, shallow valley girl, Graphix would’ve been more closely associated with the Stingers.”

I re-imaged her as a Brooklyn street artist. I kinda dig the new look!

From Connecticut’s Comic-Con 2012, taken with my iPhone: a Wonder Woman commission! I’ve sketched out variations of this numerous times.. Wonder Woman in a relaxed flight mode just thankin’ a bird for a tip.

Also, because this happened.

From Connecticut’s Comic-Con 2012, taken with my iPhone: a Dr. Fate commission! I never drew him before, but I was happy with the way this turned out, using the sigil in a design motif.

From Connecticut’s Comic-Con 2012, taken with my iPhone: It’s the Powerpuff Girls a la Walko! I aged them up a bit, and here they are. It’s hard doing such conceptual stuff at a Con… I wish I had more time to really re-imagine them!

It’s an unclaimed piece, a hot-panted 70s-era Supergirl!

It’s an unclaimed piece, a Catwoman inspired by both Julie Newmar and Anne Hathaway! (this one has now been claimed… thanks, internet!)

And thanks to everyone who stopped by and made the show such an awesome one!

I’m still playing a bit of scheduling catch-up, but I already have this week’s page plotted and penciled, so we’re back with new stuff this Friday. Plus, it’s gearing up to a bonus 2-page update in a few weeks….

Bonus Hero Business! Hurray!

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Rough Monday: Honoring Joe Kubert

by Hero Business C.E.O. on August 14th, 2012
Posted In: Blog, Blog, Rough Mondays, Blog, Water Cooler Discussion

Sadly, comic book legend Joe Kubert passed away this weekend. He leaves an indelible mark on the industry, through his stylish art and The Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art. If you’re not familiar with his work, CBR has assembled some of his gorgeous covers and NPR has a tribute.

I’ll close out by sharing a sketch I got from the master himself…

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Rough Monday: The Line Is Drawn #100

by Hero Business C.E.O. on July 30th, 2012
Posted In: Blog, Blog, Rough Mondays, Blog, Water Cooler Discussion

This week’s Rough Monday is pulled from my upcoming entry in The Line Is Drawn. I offer no commentary, except that it’s the HUNDRED anniversary celebration! To be revealed in full on Thursday…

:)

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Rough Mondays: Who Is Deanna Troi?

by Hero Business C.E.O. on July 23rd, 2012
Posted In: Blog, Blog, Rough Mondays, Blog, Water Cooler Discussion

First things first: Last week’s work schedule prevented me from providing a weekly update. Apologies all around, but I’m back on schedule this week and I’m working to get ahead of the game. So thanks for sitting tight, Heroites!

Now, onto this week’s Rough Monday which centered around Star Trek Comic Book mash-ups. As a longtime fan of the Teen Titans, I couldn’t resist the notion of mashing up Star Trek: The Next Generation’s resourceful counselor Deanna Troi with the constantly-in-identity-crisis Donna Troy. So what better than to lampoon the classic “Who Is Donna Troy?” cover by the incomparable George Pérez?

And substitute Robin for Riker (natch). And then trade the various Donna looks for the Troi looks from season 1, season 4, and season 7… it’s amazing how neatly they lined up… (did you know the crew jokingly called her “old Bun Head” during season one?)

And the final result:

In the original, Robin was holding Donna’s childhood doll. In the Star Trek version, Riker is holding an object close to Deanna’s family history. Any Trekkies out there know what that might be? If you do, reward yourself with a cup of Earl Grey. Hot.

[ 7 Comments ]

Rough Monday: Wonder Fashions

by Hero Business C.E.O. on July 2nd, 2012
Posted In: Blog, Blog, Rough Mondays, Blog, Water Cooler Discussion

So, for those of you following my work elsewhere, you may know I’m part of the weekly “The Line Is Drawn” crew at Comic Book Resources’ blog, “Comics Should Be Good.” Here’s how it works: “So every week, I ask a question here. You reply to it on our Twitter page (just write @csbg with your reply) and our blog sketch artists will each pick one of your suggestions and I will post them here every week.”

A couple of weeks ago, the theme was “What if X Artist Designed X character?” And I immediately was drawn to “Dan DeCarlo’s Wonder Woman.” DeCarlo is one of my biggest artistic influences; He was the definitive Archie Comics artist (with his renditions of Betty & Veronica in particular)… If Parker and Morgan look half as cute and sexy, then mission accomplished!

So my “brainstorm” was to create one of this traditional pin-up pages, where readers would send in fashion ideas and Dan would draw them. Here’s some examples:

So my idea was to take Wonder Woman’s different looks over the years, and do the same, as if they were “sent in” by various creators and personalities…

Here’s some roughs (click to enlarge)…

.. taking looks mostly from the 40s-80s (as if Dan DeCarlo would have drawn)…

And that’s the final.

I’d love to do a part two with her 90s biker-shorts costume and her Kingdom Come armor, among others….

[ 5 Comments ]

Rough Monday: Albany Comic Con Spring 2012

by Hero Business C.E.O. on June 11th, 2012
Posted In: Blog, Blog, Rough Mondays, Blog, Water Cooler Discussion

Another great guest artist experience at the Albany Comic-Con on Sunday…. fun to meet with fans both old and new… and with that, a bunch of new commissions…

Dazzler as a School girl – a commission from this weekend’s Albany Comic-Con 2012, taken with my iPhone. This was a fun one, especially since I have my own dreamy pitch for a Dazzler in high school series for Marvel….

Donna Troy Wonder Girl – a commission from this weekend’s Albany Comic-Con 2012, taken with my iPhone. I love this Nick Cardy costume on her… I could draw it all day…

Kid Flash – a commission from this weekend’s Albany Comic-Con 2012, taken with my iPhone. Love live Wally West!

Quick Kid Flash sketch for a fan – from this weekend’s Albany Comic-Con 2012, taken with my iPhone. Go Wally!

Zatanna – a commission from this weekend’s Albany Comic-Con 2012, taken with my iPhone. Quite fun to draw, hoping for more Zatanna requests!

A fan in Mandalorian Battle Armor – a commission from this weekend’s Albany Comic-Con 2012, taken with my iPhone. The cos-play fan requested I draw him in full regalia! Only at Comic-Con! :) I was glad to do it.

Starfire – a commission from this weekend’s Albany Comic-Con 2012, taken with my iPhone. Another fun request to close out the show. The fan wanted the more modern version, and I do like that Mike McKone redesign, so…

And that concluded my second Albany Comic-Con!

[ 4 Comments ]

Rough Monday: The Widow Bites

by Hero Business C.E.O. on May 21st, 2012
Posted In: Blog, Blog, Rough Mondays

I’m obsessed with these new TOMBOW markers! Playing around with blending and such.

Also, I LOVED the Avengers movie… so here’s a Scar-Jo inspired piece for an upcoming art auction at the Albany Comic-Con. The image will also be part of a limited-edition print for VIP ticket holders. Anyone going to the Albany show?

[ 4 Comments ]

Rough Monday: Manga Markers

by Hero Business C.E.O. on May 15th, 2012
Posted In: Blog, Blog, Rough Mondays, Blog, Water Cooler Discussion

So I’ve started experimenting with markers again, and I discovered these “Manga Markers.” For a first try, I thought I’d take a stab at Phoenix …

Not 100% happy with it, but still playing with some techniques…

[ 2 Comments ]

Rough Monday: Birthday Wishes

by Hero Business C.E.O. on May 7th, 2012
Posted In: Blog, Blog, Rough Mondays, Blog, Water Cooler Discussion

So, yesterday was my birthday, and ace cartoonist John Hazard (of the ever awesome Frankenstein Superstar) conjured up this birthday greeting from the Hero Business’ own Demonatrix! I just had to share it in this week’s Rough Monday.

WoW! Thanks, John! She never looked better.

[ 5 Comments ]

Rough Monday: Reality Show Mystery Mash-Up

by Hero Business C.E.O. on April 30th, 2012
Posted In: Blog, Blog, Rough Mondays, Blog, Water Cooler Discussion

First, an update: Due to Boston Comic-Con and a hellish catch-up week, there was no new strip last Friday. As faithful readers know,  I’ve never missed a weekly deadline… but due to a confluence of events, this was unavoidable. My apologies. I assure you, though, this week’s strip is already begun and we’re back on track this week.

Now, onto the fun stuff… it’s time for another mystery mash-up, Heroites!

The theme for the next “The Line Is Drawn” over at CBR’s Comics Should Be Good: “”Comic book characters on reality shows”.

Take a look at this sketch…

Correctly identify both:
1. The reality show being spoofed AND
2. The comic book city that’s the subject of this mash-up.

E-mail your guesses (please do not post below), and for the first person to identify correctly, I’ll do a pencil sketch of any character of your choosing!

Get the guessing begin!

[ 2 Comments ]