An Invitation To Check Out The Progress Of This  Graphic Novel Online!

  Jon Ascher is a Portland, Oregon based illustrator and graphic designer...  His latest creative work was brought to my attention by Jess Jinkies, who sent me the links to both his web site and his 'Making of the Neil GN' video.  I viewed the pages shown on his web site and viewed the video...  and am sharing both with our blog readers to view! 

The video at the above right of this blog post shows Jon verbally portraying what he is painting in his graphic novel that is in progress.  The video is a little long with some gaps in the filming, but you will get what is he attempting to convey in his artwork by watching it. You will also get part of the theme of the book via the video, but you should read Jon's notes on his web site.

Our blog readers can view the pages he has up at his web site for FREE by going to  www.jonascher.com right now!

I want to thank Jess Jinkies for bringing this project to my attention. The work is not yet completed which is why there is a good looking interior page shown at the top left instead of the cover...

By Thomas Cochrane and Alan Tanner!

  Thomas Cochrane sent me the link to his online serialized graphic novel.  Along with Alan Tanner, the artist for this project, Thomas is weaving a story that has several elements that I enjoy in books and on TV.

First off, Thomas Cochrane is a Scottish artist and writer.  "The Fat Man" is his first graphic novel.  Thematic inspiration for this GN he says comes from "such diverse sources of 'TinTin', 'The Avengers', and a fascination with the concept of time travel".

Alan Tanner is a veteran illustrator and designer. He has worked on covers for 'Time Out' and the infamous 'Oz Magazine'. He has also created many illustrations for the 'Radio Times'. Additionally he has worked for CBS and Island for several record covers.

This graphic novel has a new chapter presented every month. The 9th chapter's splash page is presented at the top of this blog post to get an immediate idea of the artwork. I  believe that it is not the 'final' version of that page.  As of this blog post the online story had not reached that chapter as of yet...

So what is the story about? Well, I'll just print what the writer says about it:

"The story centres on the mysterious 'Tegel Project', responsible for the death of millions, which threatens the very core of civilisation. Betrayed by MI5, the Fat Man finds himself caught between the blazing guns of would-be assassins and the blood-red lips of silent movie star Louise Brooks.

Unable to trust anyone and faced with a series of unpalatable choices, he careers madly along the arch of time on the seemingly impossible mission of keeping himself and his lover alive..."

I am told that "The Fat Man" is a charity project with sponsorship, which is why our blog readers can view it online for Free.  Additionally, "The more eyes on the web site, the more the charity can raise," Thomas explained in his message to me.

The graphic novel is presented in a format that uses the 'My eBook' reader. It is interesting that as you 'turn' the pages, you hear the sound of pages turning.  I did find the page turner mechanism a little hard to use, but that is the software's fault, not of the writer/artist team.

There is a 'promo movie video' for this graphic novel, as well as several 'wallpapers' for your computer's desktop at the web site should this serialized project grab your interest!

The serialized online graphic novel and the wallpapers can be viewed at:

www.the-fat-man.co.uk

After viewing the graphic novel, and you find yourself interested in knowing more about this work, you are welcome to join The Fat Man group if you are a Facebook member at:

www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=21043026251&ref=mf

Along With Michael Golden and Mark Texeira!

  Steve Scott, (pictured at left), will be at this Manhattan based gallery...  Along with Michael Golden and Mark Texeira, courtesy of Eva Ink Artist Group and Illustration House, right before the beginning of the 2009 NYCC that starts February 6th!

Illustration House opens their "Astounding Art" Exhibition and Sale with a bang by having three of the featured creators from "Astounding ARt" on site February 5th, from 5 - 7 PM.

Eva Ink Artists Group is inviting you to join creators Michael Golden, Mark Texeira and Steve Scott by viewing original art, have books signed, and just hang out and mingle at one of the most prestigious galleries in Manhattan!

I have blogged about Mark Texeira being one of the 'Guests of Honor' at the upcoming 2009 NYCC, (click here), and about Michael Golden attending an earlier convention, (click here).

I haven't mentioned Steve Scott before though... Steve is the newest addition to Eva Ink Artist Group, but he certainly is not new to the comics field!

You probably have seen his work for the hit  "Smallville" TV show if you are a fan of that series.  He is also known for his sequential artwork for "New Warriors," "Hourman," "JLA," "She-Hulk," and "Indiana Jones"!

Additionally Steve has the distinction of providing some of the art for the movie tie-ins to "Batman: Dark Knight," featuring Heath Ledger's unforgettable Joker role.  

"Astounding Art" also include works by John Buscema, Jeff Jones, J. Scott Campbell, Gene Colan, Paul Gulacy, Jack Kirby, Roy Krenkel, Alex Nino, Bruce Timm, Boris Vallejo and Basil Wolverton, among others, so you might want to check "Astounding Art" out if you are a fan of any of these creators!

Details for this opening are:

Date: Thursday, February 5, 2009
Time:  5:00pm - 7:00pm
Location: Illustration House, 110 West 25th St., Manhattan
Contact Info - Phone: 212-966-9444

Note: I believe the exhibition runs from February 3rd thru March 2nd. Please check with the gallery for hours and days they are open for this exhibition.

For more information on Golden, Texeira, Scott, their bookings and commissions, contact: evaink@aol.com

A Graphic Novel Online To View For FREE!

  Mark Wheatley, (as pictured at left), has informed me that his graphic novel, created with Robert Tinnell...  Is currently being published online for our blog readers to read for Free! 

The video at the above right of this blog post is just a short introduction to Mark & Robert's  LONE JUSTICE: CRASH!  project. Mark calls the video a "Clutch Cargo style animation for my new graphic novel"!

Mark also calls his new project "a 'sideways' sequel to our Harvey Award nominated EZ STREET".   LONE JUSTICE: CRASH! is a new graphic novel by Robert Tinnell and Mark Wheatley.  Our blog readers can read it for FREE at www.ComicMix.com right now!