Whatsup everyone!  Earlier this week I was excited to find out that Moonstone Books has reprinted the short comic I illustrated for The Phantom: Double Shot - KGB Noir.  Not only has it  been reprinted but it's now currently collected in a mighty 432 page mammoth of a tome consisting of every story featuring it's main character, Captain Action.

In case you may not know, like Transformers, Capt. Action was a toy icon (though in this case from back in the swinging 60's) that went on to become a cult comic book character.

The omnibus, titled Captain Action: Total Action "The Complete Adventures" can be checked out by visiting Moonstone's official website at www.moonstonebooks.com.

It can also be found in, or ordered by, anywhere that sells comics including your local Books-a-Million, Barnes & Noble and so on.  But of course one always wants to support their local comic shop so I'd head over there first & foremost.  They'll be happy to hook you up.

If you'd like to see a few pages from the comic you can click right HERE or if you prefer you can do a little spelunking through the 'Sequential Art' section of my site.  Lastly, a big high five to my pal Brennan for the headsup and the very cool pic.  Much thanks bud!

Have a great weekend everyone and I'll talk with you on Monday,

- D

Recently I've been working on a painting for the Securityplus Federal Credit Union, an organization that's been a part of Baltimore, MD since 1938.

It's been an amazing experience not only because of the medium I enjoy working with, acrylic, but as you'll see in future posts the 5 x 1.5 foot composition was something of a new & interesting challenge.

For now though I'll leave you with this detail of a couple content members of times gone by.  Hope you enjoy and I'll talk with you soon!

- D

Whatsup everybody, 

I thought it may be enjoyable to bring you along on something that's relatively new territory for me, at least as far as what you may be aware that I do.  And that's the logo design.

This one in particular is for Delmarva Bag Limits, a website devoted  to "Helping you make the most of your hunting and fishing adventures".  It's actually run by my uncle, Michael Draper, who you may know as the fellow responsible for writing the shorts stories "The Country" which I've been illustrating over the last couple months (BTW, I just may have another one on the way so keep your eyes peeled).

Logo designs I've noticed are an entirely different animal with entirely different needs so the direction one must take is a bit different than that of say, a short story illustration.  Though at the same time it's extremely enjoyable, especially if you're able to have a close detailed discussion with your client like I had with my uncle.  There's a tremendous amount of subtlety in a good design that can open up new parts of one's perspective and skills.  This is one of the many reasons I feel fortunate to do what it is that I do - this seemingly unlimited way art can be applied.  Look forward to sharing more with you all.

In the meantime I hope you enjoy and I'll talk with you on Friday!

- D

A little while back I taught an Introduction to Illustrating Comics workshop over at Salisbury University.  This was the first class I'd ever instructed and as one could guess it was quite interesting.

The experience overall was extremely cool.  Having the chance to talk about a topic like comics, which I'm rather passionate about, and to explain the process of actually illustrating a comics' page was nothing short of great.

Since graduating high school I've kept in decent contact with one of the great positive influences in my artistic life - that being my high school art teacher, Michael Morris.

Mr. Morris was one of the 3 teachers who taught the VPA (Visual & Performing Arts) program I was apart of in high school, which eventually lead to me going to college at MICA.  Like I said, a VERY positive influence.

I told Mr. Morris about the Intro. to Comics class and it turns out he mentioned it to his current VPA students, so a number of them made an appearance.  It was tremendously gratifying being able to give back in some way to a future generation of artists who are coming up & beginning from one of the very places I consider to be a milestone in my life.

It also turns out that Mr. Morris himself showed up for the class AND considering I was the "authority" this time around I decided he was required to participate.  So I "made" him do the assignment.  Good stuff, right?

In VPA we focused mostly on the Fine Arts so having the opportunity to bring comics to not only VPA students but my former teacher was, as you could expect, quite the treat.

I gotta say too for his first ever comics page it's pretty impressive (show off lol).

- Doug

Whatsup peoples!

Just wanted to pass along a tidbit of tasty information... LAST CARESS, the newest comic from horror author Sam Costello and yours-truly, is available right NOW... RIGHT HERE!

Yes, you heard correctly, it's right HERE for the viewing - that is, the first 16 pages.  Split Lip Comics has been publishing one page online every Tuesday & Thursday and they're now 2/3 of the way there with yet another page coming, you guessed it, tomorrow!  I wanted to wait until there were a sizable number of pages to be read before announcing - that way you can sink you're teeth in just before being teased to wait until another Tuesday or Thursday. Yeah, I'm that kinda guy.

Whatsup everyone,

Just wanted to post the cover I did for the comic entitled DEADLESS.  A tale told by the talented and up & coming writer Mr. Matt O'Keefe.  Demons, gritty streets and Las Vegas.  What's not to love?

This piece is in fact for the cover of issue #0, which consists of four short tales revolving around the origins of the characters that make up DEADLESS - each story illustrated by a separate skillful artist.  The good part? The complete issue #0 can be read online for FREE.  The second good part?  You can check out the masterful job my good pal and supreme colorist Jesse Turnbull did on not only coloring the cover (see stage left) but also on all 4 short stories.

Just click and enjoy right HERE.  And for a brief description...

In the early 1700s Joseph Montgomery made a deal with the demon Azil that allowed him to live forever while still causing him to age.  Centuries later, regretting his decision, he finds Azil and begs him for a way out.  Azil offers one.  In exchange for a year of servitude, he will lift the contract. 

What happens in Vegas, well, doesn't always stay in Vegas.  Hope you enjoy and have a great weekend!

- D

Here's my illustration for the second installment of The Country series - an ongoing series of short stories written by and based on the real-life experiences of my uncle, Michael Draper, as he, my dad and my uncle Neil hunted, fished and everything in between in the place near and dear to all their hearts.  A place nicknamed "The Country".

If you'd like to read this story, entitled "The Country: Black Cherry" you can find it HERE and if you missed the 1st installment you can simply click HERE.  

Hope you enjoy and I'll talk with you soon,

- D

Happy Friday everyone!

Just wanted to post a couple photos of this joyful undead gentleman. This is actually my very FIRST zombie drawing.. Ever!.. that my memory recalls of at least.

I started this just for fun at the previous month's 3rd Friday event after a friend of mine brought up The Walking Dead.  Then it struck me that I'd never tried my hand at a zombie.  So here's a quick progress shot of this fellow in the early stages.  I actually did this with straight pens, makers & paint markers.  No pencils in sight.

This gives it a sketchy loose appearance that I enjoy and have been doing much of lately.  It makes the process very intuitive and reactive with the white paint markers allowing it to feel almost like painting, which I'm a big fan of.

I actually finished this drawing up at the Eastern Shore FAN CON the following week where my extremely friendly convention neighbor, and Zombie Prom coordinator, Sherry Billings bought it.  Thanks again Sherry, hope you dig it!

And if you're curious about the Harford County Zombie Prom you can visit them online right HERE.

Thanks too to Michael Perry for the great photos.  Much appreciated man.  If you'd like to see more of Mike's work check out his excellent website at www.lensface.com.

Hope you enjoy and I'll talk with you soon!

- Doug