My preview copy of Play Ball showed up today!!!

I'm so excited for the release in April!

Mermaids!

I've been drawing a LOT of stuff lately. I've filled several sketchbooks since November, and I realized that I really haven't been posting any of it here. SO! I'm going to try to update once a day with sketches or whatnot.

Have some mermaids:

Interview up at PKD Media Black Box Podcast!!

Shawn Pryor with PKD Media Black Box interviewed me a couple of weeks ago, and the interview is now up on his website! Go listen to us talk about Play Ball, cartoons, and maybe some DnD!

Top Three GN's

I’m usually not really willing to list a “top list” of anything, because there’s so much really amazing work out there, and more coming out every day. I also like different books or movies for different reasons, so there’s no consistent way to rank some of my favorite books. Some I love for the art, and some just grab my heart and won’t let go. For what it’s worth, here are some of my favorite books, as of right now:

1. Bone by Jeff Smith

That being said, this book will always be at the top of any list for me. Jeff Smith’s inking, pacing, characters, storytelling, acting…it’s all just so beautiful and cohesive and full-bodied. I believe everything he delivers in Bone. This book is both heart-warming and heart-breaking, and I readily admit that I cried very, very hard during at the end. It’s a wonderful blend of humor, fantasy, and drama, and you’ll fall in love with every character (especially Bartleby) .

It’s lovely, and I will endorse the hell out of it any chance I get.

2. Blacksad by Juan Diaz Canales (writer) and Juanjo Guarnido (artist)

Blacksad is a French book by a Spanish creative team. Let me tell you, the Europeans do it right. Fully watercolored pages, character designs to die for, and such beautiful acting and anatomy that it will melt your face. The characters are all anthropomorphised animals, which lends itself really well to characterization and storytelling. The English release by Dark Horse collects the first three episodes, which you should definitely pick up. There is a fourth story out there, but it hasn’t been translated into English yet, and I’m chomping at the bit for it to come out.

3. Three Shadows by Cyril Pedrosa

Few books can be as relentlessly heartbreaking as Three Shadows is without making me want to throw the book against a wall and bawl into my pillow. It’s about a father trying to protect his son from his fate. The story itself kind of derails about 2/3 of the way through, but fascinatingly so. Like, I don’t mind that all of a sudden we’re following a minor character because the art is so enchanting, and the tone of the book just sucks you in. This is another book that made me cry.

Also, Pedrosa’s character designs, his lines, the character acting, are all so well done, they’ll leave you weeping.

Interview up on CBR!!

This one's an interview with me, Christina, and Nunzio! Thanks, Shaun!
Go read it!

Play Ball article on CBR!!

This winter break has been pretty exciting. I finished Play Ball (I can finally talk about it!!), it goes to the printers this month, and it'll be released April 25th! I'm really looking forward to this con season. I'm looking forward to going to cities I've never been to before, meeting new artists and writers, and chatting with con attendees.

Seriously, cons are the best. It's like a private party with all your best friends and you're all connected by your love of whatever fandoms or creators inspire you.

So, to the point! I'm really excited about Play Ball coming out. Christina Weir and Nunzio Defilippis were an awesome writing team to work with. Jill Beaton, my editor, worked so hard on this project, and I appreciate her so much for that. Oni Press is a great company, with excellent folks.

To see the Play Ball page on the Oni Press website, click here.

Also, I was pleasantly surprised by a sweet little write up about Play Ball on CBR yesterday. It's a nice overview of the story, and Nunzio, Jill, and Christina give their perspective on the story, characters, and genre. Honestly, it's really thrilling to see my name on CBR, and to have the gorgeous cover (designed and colored by Keith Wood) up on onipress.com.

My experience with this book was so good, and I'm really looking forward to delving into a new project soon!

Top Cow fan art

Witchblade and Angelus, done for my ladybro Jessi, who is a Social Media Marketing intern at Top Cow. Congrats to her!! <3

BBC Sherlock Watercolor

This show, you guys. OMG this show. It usually takes me a while to warm up to a show (Doctor Who for example), but BBC Sherlock is bananas awesome.

Avengers II

The second half of my first Avengers watercolor.

James Potter is getting a bit too chummy

And thus concludes Severus Snape's guide on how to get people off your back.
If you do the tumblr thing, follow my Sincerely, Severus ask blog!