Childhood Heroes at TR!CKSTER in San Diego

Comic Con isn't the only San Diego event making big announcements this week. TR!CKSTER has just announced their exclusive debut of Childhood Heroes, a graphic novel anthology celebrating the earliest creations of comic- and animation-industry professionals.

We got the proof last week, and the book looks fantastic. Can't wait to show y'all what we've been up to!

Hope to see you in San Diego!

11 days...

Fryd-Day 10: TurboCrop

Part 8 in a weekly series exploring the adaptation of a childhood creation into a new comic for TR!CKSTER's 2013 volume, Childhood Heroes.

Next Week: Ghost Riding the Gettaway Van

34 days...

Fryd-Day 9: Bad Gas

Part 9 in a weekly series exploring the adaptation of a childhood creation into a new comic for TR!CKSTER's 2013 volume, Childhood Heroes.

Next Week: TurboCrop!

7 days...

Fryd-Day 8: The Chase!

Part 8 in a weekly series exploring the adaptation of a childhood creation into a new comic for TR!CKSTER's 2013 volume, Childhood Heroes.

Next Week: "Bad Gas"

14 days...

Fryd-Day 8: Bank Haul-iday

Part 7 in a weekly series exploring the adaptation of a childhood creation into a new comic for TR!CKSTER's 2013 volume, Childhood Heroes. 

Next Week: The Chase!

21 days...

Fryd-Day 7: High Heist

Part 7 in a weekly series exploring the adaptation of a childhood creation into a new comic for TR!CKSTER's 2013 volume, Childhood Heroes.

Next Week: Bank Haul-iday

27 days...

TR!CKST3R 2013

TR!CKSTER 3 is a go! Anyone attending the San Diego Comic Con this Summer can find respite from the nerd hordes, refuel with a cocktail, and slap the ten-pins with us at East Village Tavern & Bowl. We'll be at 930 Market St, San Diego CA July 17-20th.

For those of you unfamiliar with the brand, TR!CKSTER is a retail space specializing in creator-owned properties including fine art prints, toys, clothing, and limited edition books. The most recent of which, I am proud to say, is the brainchild of Everett Downing (365 Supers), Bobby Rubio (Alcatraz High), and myself: CHILDHOOD HEROES.

Childhood Heroes is a graphic novel anthology exploring the earliest creations of professional artists from the comic and animation industries. The volume will include my own childhood hero, Fryd, so be sure to check it out!

TR!CKSTER will be open late into the night, long after the convention hall closes, so swing by and join us for a round! You can also follow TR!CKSTER on twitter at @thetrickstore, or subscribe to their website, trickstertrickster.com!

29 days...

Fryd-Day 6: Crops & Robbers

Part 6 in a weekly series exploring the adaptation of a childhood creation into a new comic for TR!CKSTER's 2013 volume, Childhood Heroes. 

For the next eleven weeks, I'll be posting a new page from the comic every Fryd-Day. Today, you get two (since you've already seen the title page).

35 days...

Fryd-Day 5: Re-Fryd Scenes

Part 5 in a weekly series exploring the adaptation of a childhood creation into a new comic for TR!CKSTER's 2013 volume, Childhood Heroes.

I thought I'd share a bit of my process today.  Here's a look at my title page, from rough tones to final color.

Of course, before I even get to tones, every panel starts as a supper scribbly layout sketch. The main goal here is to nail the composition, and capture some feeling for the gesture and acting.

35 days...

 A few passes later, I have the final sketch. Hopefully, the spirit is still the same!

I always work from color palettes. In these color palettes, everything is graded light-to-dark, and sometimes shaped to help me remember what aspect of the character the colors belong to. I am now realizing how dirty the shape of that flesh palette looks, but I promise, that's just the character's flesh tones and nose.

Stay tuned. Next week, I'll start posting final pages!

35 days...

Fryd-Day 4: Plane Crazy

Part 4 in a weekly series exploring the adaptation of a childhood creation into a new comic for TR!CKSTER's 2013 volume, Childhood Heroes.

One of the challenges in adapting my childhood comic is that I haven't improved much in my ability to draw planes since I was thirteen years old. 

Originally, Fryd's plane ("The Dipper") was a bit of a rip-off of the Rocketeer's plane, the Gee Bee, which is more of a racing plane than a crop-duster.

Since Fryd is supposed to be a mild-mannered crop-dusting pilot by day, I decided to take a look at crop-dusting planes, and found this beaut: the Grumman Ag-Cat!

There was so much clunky character in this rickety dust bird, and I knew I had cast my noble steed at last. All that was left to do was caricature the plane, and push the proportions a little.

 

Suddenly, I could picture the Dipper chasing down getaway vans...

...trading blows with ne'er-do-well bank robbers...

...and destroying public and private property in the process!

I'm still not very good at drawing planes, but at least I have a feeling for the character of THIS plane.

42 days...

Fryd-Day 3: What's in a Name?

Part 3 in a weekly series exploring the adaptation of a childhood creation into a new comic for TR!CKSTER's 2013 volume, Childhood Heroes.

Above is the logo I created in 1997. As you can tell, I was a real font maestro, and even included a registered trademark in case anyone tried to rip off my work of genius. 

Below is the revised logo, which gives a bit more of a flavor for the subject matter:

Maybe I'll actually register the trademark this time.

49 days...

Fryd-Day 2: Adapting a 13 yr-old's Design

Part 2 in a series exploring the adaptation of a childhood creation into a new comic!

Fryd was designed as an homage (read, '"rip off") of two of my favorite characters: The Rocketeer and Earthworm Jim.

In adapting Fryd, I wanted to maintain those qualities while sprinkling a little Milt Kahl goofiness.

One of the best things about growing as an artist is that you gain this library of visual reference in your brain. At the time I created Fryd, I had no idea how to draw a legitimate-looking flightcap, bomber jacket, riding britches, and flare gun (yes, that's a flare gun he's holding).

The clothing/prop aspects that I used to dread drawing as a kid are now some of my favorite things to draw, thanks to years of practice.

The final result is the updated Fryd design!

Of course, 13 yr-old me would be disappointed that I still can't render as well as Doug TenNapel or Dave Stevens.

2 days...

Fryd-Day 1

I'm working with some friends on a graphic novel anthology called Childhood Heroes, wherein we will do modern takes on the characters we created as kids. My first comic creation was Fryd (pronounced "fried"), a crop-dusting vigilante who usually causes more harm than good.

For the next few Fridays, I'll be taking you through the process of adapting this childhood story into a new (and hopefully improved) graphic novel.

Look for Childhood Heroes at the TR!CKSTER event in San Diego this July, and look for more Fryd updates every Fryd-Day.

I promise the drawings will only get better!

9 days...