May in Paris, 2009

Cover art for Channel Evil #2

Part way into pencilling the third issue, and so far it's a gas, what with dinosaurs, Jez spiralling into madness, blasphemous visions and a panoramic spread of the tortured damned writhing in the pits of hell.

And i get paid for this.

#2 is on hold. Some major re-thinking going on in the war room. I'll keep you posted.
Meantime...




Click back in time for an ogle of the vicious variant by industry great, and good pal, Mark Buckingham.

RIP Frank Frazetta 1928 - 2010

None could touch him.

Happy Birthday Suzanne!

xxxxxShane

Shain Erin's Morbid Art Dolls

'These are not comforting toys; they can be challenging and defiant, disturbing and enchanting, irrational and frightening, beautiful and sad. They have stories they yearn to tell, and they hold secrets they will never give up. I like to think of dolls as spirit vessels and the making of a doll a kind of offering or invitation. It’s always a collaboration between me and whatever spirit comes forward.'

And they are just beautiful...

How?

If you're a process junkie, or an aspiring artist who's keen to learn more about your craft, then may i recommend a visit to The Art Center.

Creepy J-Horror Style Ghost Girl Redux

Commissioned piece from last year.

Lilliput - Vol.18. No.4 1946

Warm-up Sketches from Jan, Feb and March 2010

Split Lip

By day, mild-mannered Sam Costello works in marketing, but at night he lurks in shadow, tap-rapping-tapping out tales of terror for his web comic Split Lip.

It's an ongoing series of self-contained stories. A mix of supernatural twist-in-the-tail and unsettling psychological drama.

Clearly a fan of classic shows like Twilight Zone and Night Gallery, along with the more bizarre contemporary horror manga and movies, Sam seamlessly blends this mix of influences with his own skewed view of the world.

His output is quite flabbergasting(especially considering his day job), and, in my eyes, he never writes anything below par.

I struggle to think of any other comic book writer working in the horror genre who can deliver so many consistently satisfying stories.

The stories are drawn by a diverse group of established artists and newcomers - some talented enough to be drawing the latest Hellboy spin off or Vertigo book.

Along with 100's of pages of FREE online comics , Sam puts out trade collections. Volume 2 is due later this month, but on offer RIGHT NOW is a special limited edition(only 35 copies available), signed and numbered by Sam, with a previously unpublished story, research notes, script excerpts, sketches, and a cover by me - all exclusive material that you won't get with the regular version.

Comes highly recommended.

Gris Grimly's Frankenstein

'It was already one in the morning; the rain pattered dismally against the panes, and my candle was nearly burnt out, when, by the glimmer of the half-extinguished light, I saw the dull yellow eye of the creature open; it breathed hard, and a convulsive motion agitated its limbs.'

CLICK.

Dead Men and Snake Woman

Three illustrations done for Little Shoppe of Horrors #23, spotlighting John Gilling's Plague of the Zombies and The Reptile, two of Hammer's finest.

The issue includes the usual intensive research, in-depth interviews, movie posters, rare stills/photographs, and plenty of artwork from, among others; top bloke and top talent Neil Vokes, Ade Salmon, and the Mighty Bruce Timm.

From From The Tomb For Free

Back in April 2009 i tried to convince the unconverted to spend some of their hard-earned cash on Peter Normanton's ' glorious, gaudy, gory, blood-stained love letter to the lurid delights of horror comics'.

Didn't seem to make much difference, since orders are still low and Peter is still struggling.

I won't rant, i won't preach(haven't the time or energy), just go and have a look at a FREE preview of #28 and visit the official Blog run by that dastardly Dweller of the Dark, one Decapitated Dan Royer.

Love horror comics ? - show Pete some of that love.

The Finished Line

The best line in my studio, is the one made from string, pinned from wobbly bookshelf-to-bookshelf.

Rather than have the completed pages of art on my rubbish tip floor or in overstuffed folders, i like to peg them up. It's a quick and easy way to scan and grab, and stops me bending my poor back so much.

But most of all, it's a massive morale booster walking into the room and seeing 22 pages of FINISHED art looking back at ya.

Channel Evil #2 is done and gone and in the hands of letterer Jamie Grant.

Praise the lord! And pass me the whisky...

The Nightmare World of Joshua Hoffine

Creepy, haunting, beautifully staged and lit, Joshua Hoffine visualizes childhood fears and the darker side of fairy tales.

He also loves his horror movies.

...this guy started out as a wedding photographer.

More Strays from 2009

Crematoria - Screaming from the Grave!

About a 1000 years ago i was chinwagging and brainstorming with that Wizard of Words, affable Alan Moore. Things were still sweet at DC/Wildstorm, and his ABC line of comics were winning rave reviews and adoring accolades.

Alan was planning a second wave of characters for the anthology, Tomorrow Stories. One of these to be written for little awe-draped me, it was/is called Limbo, best described as a supernatural beatnik superhero comedy, like Dr. Strange done by Charles Addams, or the Spectre via Shiver and Shake. A strip that dwelled in all the best corners of my skull.

... shrouded in fluorescent fog, bats flapping around cemeteries, werewolves on Harleys, mad doctors, witches, spooks, zombies, and a love interest in the form of pneumatic horror hostess Crematoria, more or less Lily Munster and Vampira, with an eye patch.

We didn't get further than half-a-pitch(but never say never), since i found myself drawing Albion. The idea was, well, filed away in limbo.

Until...connoisewer of dark dames and raven-haired succubi, one Mr. Brad 'Indio' Tuttle, cast his yellowed beady eyes on the curves of Crematoria.

And she's sweet as a De Sade fever dream. Go look, i dare you.

And remember, kids. Limbo is copyrighted by Alan
Moore and Shane Oakley. No cribbing.