MANLY TALES OF COWARDICE #4–by Brian Bastian and myself–pg 16(of 24), also: The Mighty Thor

Issue 4 of MANLY TALES OF COWARDICE was drawn by myself, but written by BRIAN BASTIAN (whose characters from his book TOMMY CHICAGO are guest starring).  Now our thoughts on this page:

BRIAN BASTIAN:  Ah, Banter! 

DANNO KLONOWSKI:  Its some of what you do best!

BASTIAN:  I’m not really sure if not moving would slow the effects of poison or not. That seems like something I would have heard from watching a National Geographic special or something, but still I’d encourage anyone who contracts mustache poisoning to seek immediate medical attention.

KLONOWSKI:  Or if you’ve just played tonsil hockey with someone who has a MR. YUCK tattoo on their face.  Or anyone with a tattoo on their face in general. 

BASTIAN:  I think that last panel is the most enthusiastic Tommy Chicago had ever been about anything up to this point. The panel crackles with the promise of hot detecting action to come. So you just know it’s going to lead to disappointment.

KLONOWSKI:  I don’t I can use the phrase “SPOILER ALERT” enough with this commentary.  I’m actually a pretty big fan of panel 8.  I remember finally feeling like I really “got” TC when I inked that one.  Also, I think panel 6/7 are the first time I ever drew TC in a “side-scrolling”.  Possibly the first time he’s EVER been drawn that way.  This was back when I was trying to figure out new ways to draw TC.  I eventually gave up on that.

   Ah, Banter.  Anyway, onto the Daily Goal Sketch…

  

     First off, this is probably the best Daily Goal Sketch yet.  Yay me. (Anyone up for disputing this?)   Second, I was SO SO SO SO SO SO relieved when my guy asked for Thor that he explained he wanted the “Ultimate” Thor who, as anyone with half a brain will tell you, is the BEST Thor and the only one worthy of being printed on paper.  My guy knew of him from the ULTIMATE video games, and not the filth and violence laden ULTIMATES comic from which the game is based.  The ULTIMATES comic is, while we’re on this tangent, the only Avengers story worthy of being printed on paper.   (Now who is up for disputing?)

WEEKEND PIN-UP: by Natasha

   This Weekend Pin-Up is by NATASHA, one of the two minature humans I have living in my house.  I actually ended up inking it because she didn’t want to (she also thought her drawing was no good to begin with.  Boy was she wrong!).  I did my best not to embellish in any way, and it pretty much looks exactly the way she drew it.   Like last weeks pin-up, this one also originally appeared in MANLY TALES OF COWARDICE #4.  Thanks, Natasha!

MANLY TALES OF COWARDICE #4–by Brian Bastian and myself–pg 15(of 24), also: Norrin Radd

Issue 4 of MANLY TALES OF COWARDICE was drawn by myself, but written by BRIAN BASTIAN (whose characters from his book TOMMY CHICAGO are guest starring).  Now our thoughts on this page:

BRIAN BASTIAN:   This is my single favorite page in the issue. I have two pages from the issue hanging up in my apartment and this is one of them. You just nailed this page. Did I mention that I like it? Because I do.

DANNO KLONOWSKI:  Thanks, man.  I sure know how to draw the same thing over and over, hunh?!  As I recall from the script, in each panel Fleming was supposed to have a different device for finding the eye–an amulet, a goat, the Ghostbusters PKE Meter we see him using, etc.  I think it was ‘a goat’ that really threw me off, and kinda scared me to draw.  So I went with the gag of the PKE Meter having its little detectors wings go up around TC.  That’s something I’ve always wanted to draw.  Ghostbusters technology is so great.

BASTIAN:  I have a rule about Tommy Chicago that you’ll never offically see him without his hat. I have no idea what’s under the hat. It’s probably just hair, but you never know. And you probably never will.

KLONOWSKI:   Yeah, especially if the upcoming TOMMY CHICAGO #4 (due to be released at Microcon 2010) is the last issue.  Hmm…maybe people should go BUY some TOMMY CHICAGO back issues, and keep this dire event from occuring.  Also, they make a great (if not belated) holiday gift.

  The Daily Goal Sketch is back.  Naked Guy.  Suggestion of shiny-ness.  Yep.  It’s the Silver Surfer.

MANLY TALES OF COWARDICE #4–by Brian Bastian and myself–pg 14(of 24), also: ummm…uh….

Issue 4 of MANLY TALES OF COWARDICE was drawn by myself, but written by BRIAN BASTIAN (whose characters from his book TOMMY CHICAGO are guest starring).  Now our thoughts on this page:

BRIAN BASTIAN:  Now we’re into some of my favorite stuff in the issue, the Sidekicks!  I loved having Jimmy try to teach Atlantis Lad how to be a better sidekick.  I hated trying to come up with a clever safety rhyme.  I didn’t love what I settled on, but that and the bacon helped set up a line I loved later on in the book.  I love bacon.

DANNO KLONOWSKI:  This is a fun page.  Looking at it now I’m a bit horrified at the lack of the black/white balance, but I was trying to get issue 3 and 4 done in the space of like 2 months, so they can’t all be winners.  This also reminds me that I was wanting to a ’sidekicks’ one-shot special where they all do to summer camp together.  A few months ago I was going thru some of my old comics and found a TICK special where they did that, so I think that’s off the table now.  This page is probably as close as we’ll ever come.

    Also, my client wasn’t at work yesterday, so no new Daily Goal Sketch.  Also also, there’s a ST PAUL Cell CARTOONIST CONSPIRACY jam tonight where they will be taking on the holidays via the lost myth of KRAMPUS tonight.**  And speaking of the holidays, do yourself a favor and go check out RYAN DOW’s ongoing story about what the holidays REALLY mean!

KRAMPUS!

**  More than likely I won’t be there, so if that’s not reason to go then I don’t know what is.

MANLY TALES OF COWARDICE #4–by Brian Bastian and myself–pg 13(of 24), also: “Bumblebee #1″ comes out today!!! (and Clayface makes a brief cameo)

Issue 4 of MANLY TALES OF COWARDICE was drawn by myself, but written by BRIAN BASTIAN (whose characters from his book TOMMY CHICAGO are guest starring).  Now our thoughts on this page:

BRIAN BASTIAN:  This is probably the 2nd biggest action scene in the comic, woo.

DANNO KLONOWSKI:  I think you meant “action”, Brian.  And I know I intentionally designed Fleming so you’d never see his eyes or mouth(which ARE there), but looking at this page right now I can’t help but wonder “How the hell does he eat, anyway?”

BASTIAN:  I really can’t think of anything else to say for this page.  Maybe it’s a side effect from writing out 5 pages of commentary at a time, or maybe the readers deserve a break from my constant whining.

KLONOWSKI:   My friend Matt recently told me he has no idea whats going on with this blog, what with all the “backwards” page order(as you scroll down) and the commentary and the random superhero drawings.  Not that I’m whining, mind you.  I think it’s funny.  We could post chapters from MOBY DICK at this point and I don’t think anyone would be the wiser.

   Also:  Issue #1 of the ”TRANSFORMERS: BUMBLEBEE” mini-series from IDW comes out today. 

    To be honest, I don’t read Transformers comics and probably wouldn’t normally recommend you buy them…unless you’re really into Transformers.  IDW also seems to be doing a decent job of making licensed comics–if you forget that whole ANGEL debacle they have going on….and believe you me, I have—so if you’re into reading the furthur adventures of your favorite TV shows and movies (“GALAXY QUEST”, anyone?), this might also be a comic of interest to you.  But here’s the 2 shampoo simple reasons why BUMBLEBEE #1 interests ME:

    1)  It is written by my buddy ZANDER CANNON (who is also writing IDW’s “STAR TREK: TNG: GHOSTS” mini-series), and

    2)  One of the main characters is a military man by the name of LT. KLONOWSKI!!!

   That’s right!  Dear, sweet Zander worked me into the TRANSFORMERS universe **(The Generation:1 universe, that is.  The “good” Transformers universe).  This is basically a childhood dream come true.  And the dream just gets better and better–wait until you see issue 4 in March! 

    So, yes…please go out and buy this mini-series.  I know Zander would appreciate it, and I’m really, really hopeful Lt. Klonowski will be such a hit he’ll get his title.  Who wouldn’t want to read that?

   Finally, I did a Daily Goal Sketch yesterday that totally makes up for (in my mind, anyway) the awful one I did Monday.  So here’s Clayface (THE BATMAN version.  Not my choice.  I always dug the BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES look to him):

  ** Technically, “Dan-o Klonowski” makes his debut in “TRANSFORMERS: ALL HAIL MEGATRON” #16.  So if you’re a Klonowski completist (and who isn’t), you should pick that up.  My favorite irony about that issue is that Decepticon leader Megatron doesn’t actual make an appearance anywhere within the pages of a comic called “ALL HAIL MEGATRON”.  WTF?!

MANLY TALES OF COWARDICE #4–by Brian Bastian and myself–pg 12(of 24), also: “Continuity Guy”

Issue 4 of MANLY TALES OF COWARDICE was drawn by myself, but written by BRIAN BASTIAN (whose characters from his book TOMMY CHICAGO are guest starring).  Now our thoughts on this page:

BRIAN BASTIAN:  Fleming may not be a scientist, but he is a liar. So uh..he has that going for him.

DANNO KLONOWSKI:  A real American hero, indeed!   

 

BASTIAN:  You pointed out how Tommy Chicago and Fleming Hazmat are similar characters and I don’t think anyone would disagree. The main difference in how I approach them is that TC is usually thinking ahead. He’s selfish and egotistical, but he realizes that his actions could have consequences. Fleming lives in the moment, he wants what he wants now, and whatever happens next he’ll deal with next. I think you can see that happening subtly in the last two panels. TC wants to give Fleming (whom he thinks is a scientist) motivation to save him. Fleming is just hungry.

KLONOWSKI:  I think I’d agree with that assesment about Fleming.  This series will eventually snowball into a series of events based on how Fleming operates in these early issues, and he’ll have to then clean up his mess.  But don’t worry, he won’t learn any lessons.

  

    Speaking of not learning any lessons, were nearly to the end of the CONTINUITY GUY graphic novella and CG has to start concocting a plan in order to get himself out of the mess he’s in.  BUD BURGY continues to do a fantastic job with the art, so please go check it out!

    Also, there was a Daily Sketch Goal yesterday.  It was of the PUNISHER.  It turned out even worse than that MAN-BAT I did a few weeks ago, so even though the client still liked it, I won’t be posting that….oh, Frank Castle….

MANLY TALES OF COWARDICE #4–by Brian Bastian and myself–pg 11(of 24), also: Da Hulk

Issue 4 of MANLY TALES OF COWARDICE was drawn by myself, but written by BRIAN BASTIAN (whose characters from his book TOMMY CHICAGO are guest starring).  Now our thoughts on this page:

BRIAN BASTIAN:  Ah, the old poison mustache gag. If I ever get to do a Sir Leigh Britishworth comic, every issue is going to involve him doing amazing misdeeds with that incredible crumb catcher.

DANNO KLONOWSKI:  That’s either the best or worst idea for a comic ever.  I don’t know that I’ve ever draw a villain being “ROCKY AND BULLWINKLE” evil before.  That was fun to do.

BASTIAN: I know Jimmy is writing “No guys with mustaches” in his notebook, but the first time I read that I thought it said “No Oats for Breakfast”.  So be on the lookout for ‘Tommy Chicago vs the Quakers’ in 2012.

KLONOWSKI:  Ok, THAT is the best or worst idea for a comic ever.

   Today’s Daily Goal Sketch is one I have been waiting to do.  Thanks for Jeff Purves and Dale Keown for inspiring my teenage imagination to want to draw giant, impossibly-muscley beasts.