Thoughts on Holmes

I'm reading the Complete Sherlock Holmes Volume I and thus far it's understandable why it was such an instant hit, and subsequently one of the most endearing characters throughout history. Holmes has this unique and appealing arrogance. I never really noticed it, but I think in a way the hero is meant to be you, the reader, and therefore the arrogance is ones own arrogance. In any event, the stories are short and subtly working towards a greater story that seems to be developing throughout the volume, but I've only just began to read it, so I am only speculating.

I think what makes these short stories so appealing to me, a comic artist, is that each short story could easily be a comic book. I think if I were to illustrate the stories I'd want to make them more relevant to today's technological advantages and knowledge of sciences. I could easily see these stories in a future type setting as well. I think it might bring a dynamic feeling to the stories if it was set in a Gotham City type surrounding. Obviously, this is where Batman came from, but with the Shadow added to the mix.

If I were to create a new superhero based on Holmes I'd want him to have few and almost weak powers, but an arrogance that was almost recluse. Maybe make situations more dynamic, with shooting, fighting and lots of action, but still making the deduction his greatest attribute.

I've only read up to page 99, the third chapter one, I think. Each short story has it's own chapters, so page number is really the only way to know where I am in the book. I do think these stories, so far, were ill prepared, as I'm sure he didn't know how popular they would become. It seemed, in the first story, as he approached the ending he decided to tell the story of the perpetrator, to fulfill a sense of satisfaction for the murders that had taken place and Holmes own importance in the story became lessened in a way. I think the story was well done, but could have been organized better to create more mystery on top of the mystery, but then again I'm not that a writer, so these are just my thoughts so far.

I'll be continuing the story of my 24 hour comics challenge as a web comic that I'll publish every Monday, hopefully. I've posted some of the characters in color here and I'll keep you all posted with my progress as it develops.

As far as other projects, I have things in the works and I'm in talks with a few companies and as soon as I have something concrete to report and will.

Josh

Once Upon a Love Story

Here is the comic I did during the 24 hour comic challenge: Once Upon a Love Story

The image on the cover page was drawn after the challenge, but the cover page itself was drawn during the challenge.

Enjoy!

24 hour comic finished, but not scanned yet.

I'll have my full 25 page comic up either tonight or tomorrow after work. I just got home and I haven't slept in almost two days, so I'm quite sleepy. I did one extra page for the title.

24 Hour Comic Book Challenge

I'll be doing my third 24 hour comic book this weekend. I do this every year with Squidworks and whomever else shows up. The other two years had about 30 people attend. The process of staying up for over 24 hours, because I have to drive there from another city, is extremely painful, but very rewarding.

I get a lot out of it, but most of all I can feel good about accomplishing what normally takes more than a month, in 24 hours. You stop worrying about all the little details and focus only on the whole story. You can see the story form right before your eyes. Even a small 9 page story takes awhile and once it's finished you can finally look back and say, "Okay, now I get the full picture." Where as a 24 hour comic you're seeing the full product in one sitting.

Another thing I've noticed is what you learn and how much better I got at laying out pages once I finished one of these. It's not like anything else. You can spend hours drawing and finishing pages, but once you've finished a 24 hour comic you realize what's important and what can be left alone to come back to if you have time.

This year I'm doing something different than the other two years. I'll be taking an hour or more to write a good script...well, better than just making it up as I go. I'll write it much like a do any story, using the three act play format. I'll come up with all the right elements that make up a good story and I'll try to end it on a note that will entice the reader to inquire about more stories. Who knows, it might become a new series.

I don't think about what I'm going to write until I sit down and begin the challenge, which is something I haven't done on the other two challenges. I had the main character thought of before hand, but this time I'm just going to go all out and come up with it right then and there.

Here is the link to Squidworks 24 hour page: http://www.squidworks.com/Events/2008d24hcc.html

Lots of sketches

I'm supposed to be doing some comic pages, but I've been too busy to sit down and get all the references I need and whatnot, so I've been doing sketches when I have a few minutes here and there. Today, I did the pencil sketches and finished the x-man sketch.

I'm starting to work in a new department at work, which is a good thing. I'll be working in the Data Center with all the servers and mainframes. Normally I'm either working on updating documents for IT or on the phones with customers. Now I get to get my hands dirty, which is where I've been wanting to go for the past two years, so I'm quite happy. I'll be working a different shift, so I have only one day off this week.

Well, back to work I go!

Red Day

I call this piece Red Day for obvious reason. I'm told this is a book, but it's also a game called The Witcher. I did this for a contest over at DeviantArt. I have a link to my page in the links section of this blog.

You can order prints here: http://www.deviantart.com/print/4232706/

Witcher Game pinup

Did this for fun and practice drawing monsters. I've finished the Ronin Studios story I was working on and it's off to the letter now. The next story is kind of a horror story, but it's also something of a mystery, like Sherlock Holmes. Anyway, it's just in the beginning of my though process, so I really don't have any idea what it's going to be like.

I'll post sketches of some of the characters when they're done.