I just drew this page like just now. It's a fight scene that takes place about halfway thru the book... I'm far beyond this scene, now, but I'm just now finishing it up...

Shitty scan... my computer is making dying noises. Maybe after this book comes out and I become a comics millionaire, I can buy a new one.

Kind of a spoiler I guess... Sharknife assumes many new forms in DOUBLE Z. And he fights various weird new things.

Freakin' goin crazy! Double Z crazy. Drawing this... Writing developing stuff for that old idea, Skeleton Kings. I wouldn't be drawing it... But one of my favorite unknown artists ever is interested in drawing it... we'll talk later.

Sweet fucking shit my computer is making REALLY scary noises. Shit man. This is shitty. Oh well, whatever. WHATEVRRRRRRR

edit: another one of those awesome nights where i lay around for six hours thinking about everything and nothing, but never actually sleep. rad.

Iron Man Verdict:
A+ 10,000

Best Marvel Super Hero movie ever, easily. Best Comic Book Super Hero movie ever? The only competition is Batman Begins. It depends what kind of playboy you want. Brooding man in black, or hyper-spaz in McDonald's colors. I lean toward Hyper-Spaz McNugget.

This was a nice treat to come home to, as well:


I am holed up in my hometown of Bremerton for a while to attempt to monk-out and draw a crapload of Sharknife pages. It's going well so far... But it is certainly boring here. That's the point though. No distractions.

Well anyway, back to it. See Iron Man. Anyone who insults that movie is my enemy whom I am sworn to destroy. Not kidding. Do not make me destroy you.

Suuuuuup.

No more whining from me. It's time to suck it up and get Double Z finished for real now. Total page count at the moment is 134. About 30 of those need inking still. Then about another 30 pages left to fully draw after that. So, if I can ink 2 a day, and then draw the rest... I should be able to wrap this up in June, and hopefully we can get it all printed and ready for SDCC. (I pencilled 3 and inked 1.5 today, so bully to mee)

This is a comics miracle waiting to happen. Let's fucking do it.

Oh yes, for this miracle to happen, I also need some Gray Scale Toners to help finish the book... I need seriously good toning people to help out. Maybe take 5-page chunks, etc. I only need maybe 2 or 3 volunteers, and you must be AWESOME. No "sure, I'll take a whack at it!" shit, only "FUCK YES, I WILL TEMPER MY GRAYSCALER SOUL IN THE FLAMES OF DOUBLE Z" applicants only. Must have an understanding of my art style, and how to apply gray tones to COMIC ART. No amateurs!!! Sorry to be harsh, but you know.

Oni is scouting out their own toners to help out, and Los Fokos (from Vol.1) will most likely be handling a chunk of the book as well. But to get this 100% ready for SDCC, we need a fucking X-FORCE TEAM of TONERS ready to rip it deep. You will be urged to emulate Los Fokos' style from the first book, but a personal touch on it is no problem. Which is why I would break up toners into SCENES. That way, each scene will just have it's own tone look to it. Dig?

The only bad news about this Double Z madness is... My Commissions will have to wait. I sincerely regret how shitty I am about getting these commissions done and sent to people. I have been a mess for about 2 years now. Which is about how long some people have had to wait for their drawings. I will draw them. People will get them. It will be glorious. (For mental comfort, imagine one of those posters of a kitten hanging from a tree saying "Hang in there!")

I did the Stumptown convention in Oregon last weekend. It was cool. To prove how awesome I can be at drawing sometimes, I whipped up 12 drawings in like 3 hours to sell at the con. But I became so attached to them that I only sold one (making the only money for myself from the con-- a whopping ten dollars! it's cool tho, I scored an awesome Iron Man mug while down there, too, which is worth more than money).

Jfish scanned all of them, but he has no internet right now coz he's moving. But I scanned a couple of them just now.

There Will Be Blood fan art:



Ya, these are about my favorite drawings ever. I think I have to do more There Will Be Blood fanart... Also included in this set is a Terminator 2 fan art, and a new Optimus Chronic drawing... Sometime soon I'll try to get the other 10 drawings up.

Also at Stumptown, I participated in an "art battle" at a party. It was "Web Comics vs Print Comics". Jfish and I represented print comics (although I fancy myself an artist of both print and web). Instead of actually drawing my opponent, which I was supposed to do for the "charicature" draw-off, I drew all four Ninja Turtles and Shredder, to the crowd's enjoyment. It was pretty fucking legendary. People were taking pictures, so if anyone knows where I can see them, let me know!!

Okay, it's on like Donkey Kong. Time to Shadow the Wolf. Double Z to infinity. Excelsior.

New T-Shirt up on Design By Humans!



I whipped this up real fast last night just coz. Go vote for it if you like it!

And...

I just heard news that Zuda (DC's online-comics site) is having a "Summer Invitational" contest, for Zuda comic entries that were in the running but didn't win. I'd like to see Dead in the Now get in the running again. I'm still quite attached to the comic, and I'd like to see it materialize somehow.

To get DitN in the running again, go to the Zuda Comics site, log in (or register) and click the "Feedback" button in the upper right, and send them a note demanding that Dead in the Now return in July.



I'm HOPING that they'll let me draw another chapter of the comic, as well, as the first round on the site gave me a lot of good feedback on how to handle the story. A lot of people had a problem with the main character's seemingly evil attitude. That, along with my recent obsession with "Zeitgeist"-level conspiracy theories, has led me to a new story direction.

A blurb:

In the not distant future, the World Government has implanted a "Z-Chip" in the skulls of the majority of the world's population. This chip turns humans into mindless "Worker Bees". Suddenly, various Worker Bees begin to succumb to assassination, and re-animation, seemingly turning into "Zombies". Somehow, these Zombies seem to be more liberated than the government's Worker Bees. The World Government tries desperately to uncover the source of this revolution, unknown to the fact that the mastermind behind the "Zombie Liberation Plot" is the President's own genius son, Braz.

So you see, in this new structure, Braz would be "liberating" people by turning them into zombies. Of course, it's still a little fucked up. But that's where the fun comes in.

Anyway... Whatever. Another avenue of art to hopefully get some creative juices squoze, and potentially get some monies. Since it seems I am totally NOT getting that regular part-time job I applied for. I could use some Zuda dollaz.

Some people don't like Zuda. Some people also don't like the idea of me getting a regular job. Well, some people don't know everything! *flick nutsack*

My friends Brandon and James were both nominated for Eisners. It's awesome... FOR THEM. But naturally, being their bro, my mind wonders "WHERE'S MY AWARD". Seems like most all my comic making friends are award-winning or nominated... Sure, I haven't put out my own books since '05... But where was everyone in '05?? I guess creating Sharknife is it's own unique achievement, and the publishers and people in the industry assumed that, and all the LADIES I get, was good enough for me. SURE IT IS.

Anyway, they both deserve it. Brandon's book is his master opus (so far), and James was manufactured in the sequential demon machine. In this world of comics, Brandon is the hardened monk, and James is the gifted orc with magical powerz, of course those two characters get their own sacred jewels... I'm the cynical swordman, who doesn't really even care about the world to begin with (only my sword, and what it cuts), so no jewel for me. I'd only cut it in half anyway.

I predict 50/50 that they will totally win, too. Especially now that I am talking about it (I'm superstitious like that). I should finish my book so I could be eligible for that shit. Not because I want an award, just so I can flash it at Brandon whenever he starts to talk about his.

I drew this today for a "contest" one of my favorite Seattle coffee shops is having:



But it turns out I misread the terms of the contest. I was just supposed to re-color their current logo (lame). A detail I failed to notice until finishing this piece. Shit, it said "make a new design", I assumed that meant more than a freaking coloring contest. I think I'll submit it anyway, since I think mine is way better than what they have now. Either way, not a waste of an hour.

And now, a true story!



Sharknifing. Need to send out commissions. Tomorrow I'm interviewing for a part-time job at Pike Place Market (rad open market in Seattle) at an art gallery. It would be nice to get a couple hundred bucks every two weeks (the notion blows my fucking mind). Wish me luck.

for a minute to inform you of my favorite 3 manga right now:

ZETMAN:

It's got the intensity and rage of Berserk, but the pacing and restraint of Vagabond. It also has transformations and monsters and hyper violence on par with Guyver. The fight scenes are way bad assly illustrated.

RAL GRAD:

This comic is pure entertainment. It's all about a young warrior battling with a dragon hiding in his shadow, and all of his decisions in life are based on titties. Takeshi Obata is the former artist of DEATH NOTE, another sensational comic. Though Death Note was mostly casual, Obata throws down hard in this one. He is NO SLOUCH when it comes to action, monsters, angles, everything. I'd say he's one of the most fluid action comic artists operating right now. Jason from Floating World originally showed me this comic, saying it was perfect for me. And it is. You can tell both the writer and artist are having a lot of fun doing this. I wish I could've found a better picture to plug, but it seems Ral Grad is still pretty unknown. That will probably change soon.

O-PARTS HUNTER:

This shit is silly and fun, which is why it's rad. It's totally Dragon Ball mixed with Naruto, exactly. Harmoniously fitting, due to the creator being the younger twin brother of the Naruto creator. I don't think anyone else could pull this off with the sincerity this dude can. If there's any question, just remember that the main character has a boomerang (sweet).

Good inspiring comics help me make comics. Since my last flip out post I've drawn some new pages. Go me.

I also want to honorably mention the documentary Zeitgeist which I only just saw, and was blown away by:

Zeitgeistmovie.com

A lot of the times when I'm depressed about life, it seems that I have no good reason. Art and living each day is really pretty rad. If anything upsets me, it's the bullshit system we humans have created in the last couple hundred years, that we are enslaved by. Social status, religion, money... THAT SHIT ALL DEPRESSES ME. And this movie, although not absolute truth, spoke to me in a way that seemed very organic to me. Give it a try if you feel like I do. Like a round mango in a crab juice world.

Cool. See you guyz.

Sharknife Double Z has LOS FOKOS back on for tones, officially. We only just started toning pages. I still have a shit ass fuck load of pages to draw, to be honest. I don't know how I feel about a San Diego release for the book... Honestly, skipping that con this year wouldn't be a tragedy. I got Mal coming to Seattle this month, and Liz in Portland next month. And I just saw Becky & Vasilis in SF. SD has little beyond that to offer me, if Sharknife isn't done. And about it being done; I am totally letting myself breathe right now. I don't know why art living and life can be so hard, but it happens. Taking on too much work is a factor, and then when that all builds up, it's hard to even find STROKE ONE.

Plus, I just got word that one of my favorite cons, the Vancouver Comics & Stories con (hosted by Leanord Wong) will be in late August... If I end up missing solicits for July, then August would probably be the new Double Z target release. I think having my own personal debut for the book at a low-key convention sounds chill and pleasant.

But, It's my personal artistic kung-fu training to attempt to finish this whole thing in time for the big con. I am not abandoning that flame of hope. Just pointing out the shit variables.

I don't know why I talk about all this. I have been bugged lately about my inability to be completely on top of my shit. Sharing is caring.

Still working on commissions. Aka: Being a good person. I promise I'll send those all out soon, between daily miracles of making two Sharknife pages a day happen.

I'm now discovering what it is I want to display and say in comics. Something I didn't think about before I made two graphic novels and splashed into this industry (See: It was Pure Instinct). That pesky detail has derailed me somewhat these last couple years... And I must admit, the decided 50/50 skepticism of my content, and how much it really matters. How good are good drawings without solid plot? Perhaps after this next round of pure energy fight comics, I'll bend things out to the level my standards are now demanding of me.

Blind-siding comics from out of nowhere and poofing without a trace was the main appeal of making comics for me, initially. Now that people are actually looking to me for exciting new content, I'm like "whoa". I actually have to think about this.

That could be a mistake. Maybe I shouldn't be so thoughtful. That is not how THE REY acts, is it?? I am pure energy. I should just ride my energy forever. Well, I have to tell you, along with my energy, I have a heavy conscience. It tells me to be better, constantly. But whining isn't attractive.

Lately I have an inclination to create new artistic monikers for myself for each project, just so it seems like someone new is emerging with all these stories each time they come out. I enjoy the theatrics. I theorize that sometimes to make truly groundbreaking comics, you have to be a character yourself.

I reckon I'll stop struggling and let this lifestyle take me to wherever it is I'm destined to go.

Just have to draw comics more. It's as simple as the Nike Swoosh.

Here's some shoes for more shirt action coming soon:



This is serious. I want my own version of artistic success, unlike what my good friends enjoy. I want to want it more than just desiring it, or mimic it. It has to be it's own thing. I don't want my life to be something I do when not drawing. I want it all to stream flow together.

Anyway, right now this success is personified in a 2-years overdue action comic sequel of my first published book ever.

Sharknife Double Z preview pages and probably a look at the cover soon, as the team is now back on it.

/seriousrey

Drawing for Australian T-shirt company.



Busy busy busy busy busy.