The Digital Dance
April 26, 2012, filed under: News, by LexI’m happy to announce that Kid Beowulf is making it’s way into the digital frontier! To mark this special occasion there is a free, full-color preview of book 1, Kid Beowulf and the Blood-Bound Oath that you can read right now through Graphicly! And beginning May 2nd, the full digital version will be available in iBooks, Kindle, Nook, and eReaders everywhere!
If you prefer to read your comics in a comics reader, you can purchase individual issues of book one in the Comics+ Kids app beginning May 2nd or from The Comics Jukebox (already available). The new digital editions feature some new interior artwork and full issues are presented in duotone/green (as opposed the original BW)–single issues are priced at $1.99 each and will be released every Wednesday through May. If you’d prefer the full-on, 210 page graphic novel, you can purchase it for only $5.99!
Super Snoopy
April 18, 2012, filed under: News,Studio, by LexToday, at your local comic shop you can pick up PEANUTS #4 and read a story that was 30 years in the making!
I’m lucky enough that my day job is working at the Charles M. Schulz Studio in Santa Rosa, CA. I’m one of the editors on the new PEANUTS comic book series from Kaboom (BOOM Studios’ all-ages imprint). For issue four I also contributed a story, “The Masked Marvel.” It was adapted from one of my favorite PEANUTS storylines: Snoopy as the Masked Marvel! (pencils by Bob Scott, click to enlarge).
In 1967 Schulz wrote a storyline in which Snoopy dons a black mask and becomes the Masked Marvel in order to defeat Lucy in a neighborhood wrist-wrestling competition–it turns into a frenetic battle of wills and wrists (an animated version exists in It was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown)! Schulz followed this story up in 1968 when Snoopy headed off to Petaluma for the World Wrist Wrestling Championships (he doesn’t don the mask though). I combined the two storylines for the latest issue and the whole studio pitched in: Vicki Scott did layouts, Bob Scott on pencils, Paige Braddock on inks, and Nina Kester did terrific color work–this story was like our big summer blockbuster and I hope fans have as much fun reading it as we did putting it together!
This story is 30 years in the making because back when I was 6 years old I did my very first comic–and it featured Snoopy! As someone might say “the circle is now complete…” (click to enlarge)
Small Press Month
March 19, 2012, filed under: News, by Lex
Apparently March is Small Press Month! I had no idea, but I’m thankful for the excuse to push some books–many of which just arrived on my doorstep. I’m taking advantage of this exciting new batch of inventory and offering books 1 & 2 at reduced prices.
You can now get Kid Beowulf and the Blood-Bound Oath (normally $16) with a sketch and autograph for just $12.00! A sketched and autographed copy of Kid Beowulf and the Song of Roland (normally $18) is now only $14.00! You can save even more money if you order both for just $22! This offer is only available through the Kid B. website so get ‘em while their hot!
Now is the perfect time to get in on the ground floor of a great series of all-ages, action-adventure books, because book three–Kid Beowulf vs. El Cid–is just around the corner.
Castles in Spain
March 5, 2012, filed under: News, by Lex
I’ve been suspiciously absent from the blog and wanted to drop it a quick life-line. I’ve been moving from my apartment to a house and have had to dismantle one studio and build up another, so all this moving mumbo-jumbo has been messing with my Kid B. output. I hope to be reinstalled soon though and get back to drawing the third and final chapter of Kid Beowulf vs. El Cid. I’ve been writing the script and I really like how things are falling into place–I think it’s going to be good! If you’re not already a fan on facebook give it a try here: facebook page for some reason, I’m able to update that a little more frequently. Talk to you soon!
Pilgrim’s Progress
January 31, 2012, filed under: El Cid, by LexI mentioned in an earlier post how Beowulf and Grendel bump into their old enemies, Emer and Ermlaf in Spain. The boys enter into a dubious partnership when Emer promises them a way back home to Daneland. All they need is a little money, so they set their sights on a group of pilgrims who are making their way through Spain and happen to think Beowulf and Grendel are their Gods incarnate. Huh? Don’t worry, it all makes sense…I think…
The pilgrims are led by Leo, a good (if not fanatical) follower of the ancient Roman mystery called Mithraism (some say it’s a precursor to Christianity–you can read more about it here). The religion is centered around a boy-god called Mithras, who is “born from a rock”, has two followers, and is often depicted by slaying an enormous bull. Below is one of these depictions…
In Kid Beowulf vs. El Cid a scene very similar to the one above takes place after Beowulf and Grendel get trampled during the running of the bulls. They emerge from the rubble before the eyes of Leo, who mistakes the scene for a reincarnation of his god Mithras. Before they know it, Beowulf and Grendel are whisked away by the pilgrims who are on their way to Italy (the home of Mithras) and along the way, they shower the boys good food, devotion and gold. (click to enlarge)
Which, Beowulf and Grendel like for a little while until they realize the pilgrims expect something from them–the slaying of the great bull (Grendel) by Mithras (Beowulf). That’s when things get dicey, and Beowulf and Grendel have to decide just how far they’re willing to carry on the charade. Below is a bit of the scene where this is finally revealed to Beowulf and Grendel… (click to enlarge)
I’ll admit that this sub-plot is a challenging bit of the story and sometimes I wonder if it’s working. I wanted to do it because it works in the greater context of the Kid Beowulf mythos and will play out in future storylines. I only hope it doesn’t bog down book three or confuse readers; Kid Beowulf vs. El Cid is the “bridge” book between the first and second trilogy (where all these monster-slayer themes start to play out), so not only do I have to worry about writing a good story for CID, but I have to make sure I lead the reader smoothly into the new trilogy. Maybe I oughta start praying to Mithras too…
CID Prologue Pages
January 6, 2012, filed under: El Cid, by LexI wanted to share some of the final watercolor work for the prologue to Kid Beowulf vs. El Cid. The prologue is the part of the book where I retell the original epic poem for readers (here’s an earlier post about it). Since it’s a retelling of an epic poem with lots of big moments (as well as blood and clashing swords), I change up my style to reflect that, using a more traditional, representational comic book style. I then hand the pages off to my colorist buddy, Brian Kolm who does these terrific ink washes and really ramps up the drama. Brian did the washes on book 1 and book 2 and he’s done a bang-up job on the pages for El Cid too. You’ll notice that these pages are in color–even though the book is printed in black and white, doing these pages in color helps establish better values (and it saves time if I ever decide to print a color version of the book). Below are just a few of my favorites. (click to enlarge)
Winter Break
December 20, 2011, filed under: News, by LexI wrapped Part II of Kid Beowulf vs. El Cid last week and I think it turned out pretty well. Second acts are always tough and this one was no exception, but I think I’ve got all the pieces in place to make a strong third and final act. I’ll begin the script and thumbnails for Part III in the new year, until then, I’m taking some much needed time off!
