Remembering our Veterans

Just wanted to post a THANK YOU to all of our U.S. Veterans, for their dedicated service for our country, families and friends! Having both grandfathers serve in WWII and a father and uncles in the Army during Vietnam, I GREATLY appreciate the men and women in our armed forces, bravely dedicated to serving the greatest country on God's green earth.

Thank you!
-MATT

Note Pad series#2

PART II- of the NP series. One panel at a time, remember. Hey, I'm working on an actual comic book mini-series, 11 pages due every week, what do you expect?! Never thought I could do work on a schedule like that. It really made me change mindsets, and I believe this job (on Hunter's Fortune) has really made me into a true professional. Despite having drawn comics professionally for almost 7 years (not straight thru mind you).

Tomorrow, page #3 of NP series!

-MATT

Note Pad series#1

I've decided to upload one page a day from my little note pad comic I've started. I've been carrying a small 4" X 3 1/2" Note Pad in my pocket, to sketch in while waiting in the car, waiting for my food order at a restaurant (ok, ok, fast food joint), or shopping at Best Buy. Anywhere, anytime. I just keep my Dollar Store, Pentel/ EnerGel .05 pen, and wide tip Sharpie handy.

I started creating a little story, one page (panel) at a time, not fully knowing where I'm going with this little yarn. Its sort of like a little adventure for me. Anything can happen. Its also a challenge, to create scene after scene in such a small space. It really stretches the storytelling skills. I picked this little exercise up from the late, great, Alex Toth (my favorite comic book storyteller).

He'd draw these postage stamp size, comic panels, each containing an actual "scene". Like a small house next to the beach, a car parked in front of a house. Rolling green hills, with distant forestry in the background. ALL in this very "confined" space.

I realized what it was he was doing. Forcing himself to create these scenes with the least amount of detail.
He had to... there was no space for it! (He was a consistent practitioner of economy, when it came to drawing comic books) It was pure genius! Well, I'm not quite there.. to handle "postage stamp" size panels. So I'm starting out at 4" X 3 1/2"!

AND SO IT BEGINS.....

HUNTER'S FORTUNE #1

Hunter's Fortune is finally out! My first mini-series with BOOM! STUDIOS! I've been working on Hunter's fortune for a few months now, and just finished with issue #2 a few days ago.
The book is written by Andrew Cosby (co-founder/publisher of BOOM! STUDIOS) and Caleb Monroe!
Covers by Phil Noto, interior art by yours truly, and colors by the talented MIKEY!

I must say, I'm really enjoying the scripts sent to me so far! Just received the script for issue #3, and will be starting the comic pages this weekend.
Be sure to check back for more updates and further details, which I will be making regularly!

And PLEASE, ask your local comic retailer to order HUNTER'S FORTUNE for the store and a copy for yourself (of course)!

Thanks,
-MATT

HUNTER

Comic-Con San Diego Day 1: prep time

The plan was for Matt to get up go to work and for me to print both our portfolios; so we could leave when he returned home. But the printing took more time than either of us had imagined. And by Matt's return ,I had already run out of ink printing just a portion of his portfolio alone. I decided to make a run to Best Buy for ink and Matt decided to stay back and nap for the drive ahead. I wisely purchased two ink cartridges while out (since I quickly went through the first of them), and quickly resumed printing after returning home.
After a few hours rest Matt, woke to see I had still much printing to do and asked "Do you want to leave tomorrow?" "You look tired." he added.

I quickly answered" Yes, please!" to which he in response turned his attention to calling our father and alerting him to our delayed departure and our new schedule.

to be continued...

San Diego Comic Con.

I'm my third day into the San Diego experience; already having set up several interviews and a few project pitches, and documenting it all in comic journal form.
I should definitley have some fun stuff to post, when I get home.

Just got to figure out where home is... I feel a move coming ^_^

"The Ramen Girl"- Brittany Murphy

Been, working none stop the last several months all of which has lead me to some serious bags under my eyes and some sore finger tips (probably from holding the pens and pencils too tightly).

Still once in a while my brother, Matt and I manage to take a break in the form of eating out(take out) and watching a movie.

Today,on this occasion, we enjoyed some orange chicken from Panda Express and rented a flick from Hollywood Video, "The Ramen Girl"- starring Brittany Murphy.

I really enjoyed this flick and after watching the deleted scenes I came to appreciate it even more; for the great editing choices made.

The story was centered around ,Abby. An American abandoned and stranded by love in Tokyo, Japan ; having just made the move to bridge her long distance relationship gap.

Heart Broken she seeks refuge at a ramen shop that can be seen from her apartment balcony, and imposes herself on the shops grumpy cook.

She finds her calling after seeing the spirit of the shop and buggers the old, cook into taking her on as his apprentice. Of course along the way she forms a relationship, with the cook , his wife, and his friends despite the language gap; and they both manage to help each other mend their troubled souls.

I gotta admit Brittany Murphy, really steals my heart here, with her big eyes and comedic sensibilities, she gives a very honest experience to her emotions that I haven't found in many young actresses.

I highly recommend this film and think fans of Nipon cinema, will enjoy this especially.

I think the best way to watch this is to cook yourself up some ramen or if you like order some chinese and sit back and enjoy this sweet hearted, American japanese exchange.

THE INKING

While working on a short story for ZOMBIE TALES the series(#8) (from BOOM! STUDIOS), I did a little filming of my work process.
(BTW- The ZT cover, shown here, is actually a cover I did for issue #6, not #8)
On this project I used a DELETER-MARU pen nib, BLACK CAT india ink, and a Japanese PILOT-2 sided calligraphy pen.
The video image and sound quality didn't format the way I would have liked it to. But I'm still new to the edit program.

best,
-MATT

yeah, this post ,makes me want to kick my own butt!

One of the personality traits you will come to recognize in me , if you get to know me, is cheapness( if that can truly be considered ,a personality trait).

Don't get me wrong I pick up plenty of checks and treat plenty of people; but I am really cheap when it comes to spending a lot of money at once on myself.

Which is why it took moving to Las Vegas, not far from one of the worlds greatest inventions , the outlet mall , ( on Las Vegas blvd. and warmsprings) to turn me into a sneaker freak!

Well, not really, but it is the first time in my life, that I have owned more than 2 pairs of shoes at once!

I think Las Vegas can be blamed for this change for several reasons.

1). My comicbook purchases have been cut in half by a string of awful Hobie shops out here; that either stock nothing of interest and seem incapable of filling specialty orders.

2). Now with an excess of money ( that I a lot myself for wasteful spending) I find the Van store located in the outlet mall.
And this store really knows how to push my buttons often offering by one get one half off or buy one discounted sneaker and get one free!

Looking back at myself in high school; I am now reminded, how I often referred to guys ,who spent more than a few bucks here and there on clothes as , "Someone in need of a butt kicking!" Ridiculous!

But don't worry I really haven't changed that much...I only take 5 minutes to style my hair! Ridiculous!

"You can do what you want, but don't step on my blue suede shoes"
uh-huh,
Mikey

Life , it ain't easy

Well, hope everyone had a great Holiday Season. A lot has happened, just as some close friends were welcoming a new life into the world an old and precious one, departed.
My grandma June, left behind some great kids and some okay grand kids and a lot of memories, for those that loved her.
She was quiet and kind and a bit of a champion worrier; and I often wished I could say or do something to help her overcome her worries. I have always thought with age, worries should lessen.
I know one things for sure just like money, you can't take them with you(worries)when you pass.
Like my Mom, Grandma June, had a lot to do with my interest in art(obsession really).
She encouraged my Uncle Dave and Aunt Sandy to open their first Art Store (Art Store & More); and helped them run the books.
And She was constantly giving Matt and I art supplies for Birthdays and Christmas.
I remember looking forward to birthdays more then ,than I do now as a result (now it's mostly socks).

I Love you Grandma, and I will miss you.
Say hello to the Big Kid(Grandpa), for me.

(Some art for those who don't like to read , the sentimental.)