I can finally take a breather after a massive animation sprint. Now, I'm going to relax and go read a bunch of British comics I recently ordered on line.
Since I can't show any images of the stuff I'm currently working on, I thought that maybe this would be a good time to showcase some of the stuff that inspires me.
Ron Turner's Space Ace.
I became aware of Turner's work through his covers for science fiction pulp novels from the 1950s. You can see some of his amazing cover work here, on Flickr. A couple of years ago, I encountered some of his comics for the first time through an archival collection published by Prion called, Rick Random - Space Detective. Turner's art and imagination, combined with fun intergalactic pulp science fiction stories, is just the right combination for me.
Ron Turner's Space Ace is published by John Lawrence in the UK. It reprints the strips that originally appeared in 1958/59 in UK's Lone Star magazines and annuals. The original strips were black and white, but for this edition, John has recruited artist, John Ridgway, to color the pages, with nice results.
These pages posted here from Ron Turner's Space Ace Vol. 4 remind me why I'm so glad someone is rescuing this stuff from obscurity before it vanishes from pop culture. The comics themselves are oversized and beautifully made with thick laminated cardstock covers and nice matte paper inside. A class act in terms of presentation. I hope John keeps putting these out. Ron Turner's Space Ace can be ordered by emailing John at spaceace.54@virginmedia.com.
I've been plugging away on Battleborn, which is coming along amazingly well, and creating new types of special effects that I hope will excite gamers. I never knew working on a triple A title could be so much fun!
On a side note, I'll be taking on a sequence for an animated feature film in the coming weeks, before resuming my work with Gearbox in May. I can't talk about the movie, but I believe it's something animation fans will be excited about. Once there's an official announcement, I'll make sure to post it here.
I'm excited to be a part of the very first edition of the Bellingham Comic Art Festival, this coming Saturday. If you're in the neighborhood, please come by and say hi! Click here for official website.
It always cheers me up to see a positive review of ZED. I just read one this morning and thought I'd share.
"Michel Gagné’s Zed: A Cosmic Tale is an artistic wonder that was over a decade in the making. It’s a fast read, but it’s one you’ll want to look through multiple times because the art is unique and stunning: It doesn’t look anything like what you think of when you hear the words “comic book.”" (Read full review)
Here's the video from the PAX South Battleborn panel. Some interesting discussions about design and game procedures. I was sitting in the front row and was unexpectedly asked to stand up and take a bow (around 36:35). This video will give you an idea of what I'm currently working on.
Rex continues through the screenplay stage. I provide notes and guidance, and rely on the writer to interpret my ideas in screenplay form. I'm genuinely excited by the whole process, although at this point, it doesn't require much of my time.
Working with Gearbox in the interim is a perfect match up.
I became aware of Turner's work through his covers for science fiction pulp novels from the 1950s. You can see some of his amazing cover work 
