Zulu's Art: Superheroes, etc. [Archive] - Comic Book Resources Forums

zuludelta

07-16-2007, 03:20 AM

I'm a big Image Comics/Wildstorm Studios fan from the 1990s, although these days, I'm primarily interested in their characters more for nostalgia than anything else. In retrospect, a lot of those books were horribly written (whatever happened to Brandon Choi?), and the majority of the art was laughably derivative. Still, they were fun for the first 2 or 3 years of publishing, and the artists' and writers' unabashed enthusiasm just about made up for the sophomoric plotting, general lack of focus, and scattershot quality control.

Anyways, I'm planning on doing my version of perennial fan-favourite, the WildCATs (Ultimate WildCATs? All-Star WildCATs? WildCATs Reloaded?). I'm not sure if I'm doing re-interpretations of all the characters (I'm not too fond of Warblade), but I'm definitely doing Grifter, Zealot, Spartan, Maul, and Ladytron.

With that long-winded intro out of the way, here's a look at Cole Cash, a.k.a. Grifter:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/ult_griftercopy01.jpg

First thing I did was replace the original oh-so-'90s mask and the "Image mullet" with a more practical "bandito" bandanna and crew cut (he was pretty conspicuous, especially considering that he was supposed to be a member of a "Covert Action Team"). Next to go was the green trenchcoat (never liked trenchcoats on superheroes), replaced with the top from a military BDU, as a nod to his days as a Special Forces operative. Finally, I got rid of the odd-looking "plasma" pistols (I remember them being drawn almost like portable steam irons at some point) and gave him a pair of Browning semiautomatics. I'm planning on doing the rest of the characters in a way that I can integrate them all into one huge group shot when they're all done.

zuludelta

07-17-2007, 05:00 PM

Here's a work-in-progress of Maxine Manchester, a.k.a. Ladytron:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/ult_maxine_WIP.jpg

Haven't really done much in redesigning her aside from recolouring her eyes (for that Terminator red pupil look), it's one of my favourite superhero looks of all time, and I don't want to mess too much with the formula, and if I make any wholesale changes, it'll probably be to her wardrobe.

Reed Richards

07-18-2007, 02:04 AM

"daredevil" is fantastic - great work of art!!! :)

howyadoin

07-18-2007, 02:08 AM

I'm diggin' these redesigns. Can't wait to see more.

zuludelta

07-18-2007, 06:46 AM

Thanks for the comments guys, really appreciate them.

Here's the completed Ladytron image:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/ult_maxinecopy.jpg

Now, before you hit that "reply" button and start getting all indignant about the depiction of an inverted American flag let me explain my use of the image and save you the time and trouble. The practice of displaying an inverted flag is used to indicate distress in an emergency... used outside of this context, the image is otherwise considered by some as a deliberate insult directed at the institutions and entities it represents. However, the inverted flag is also used in many instances as a sign of political protest and it is in this context that I am using the image. The character has always been portrayed to be a contrarian and downright nihilist, so the decision to emblazon the inverted flag on her shirt is just my way of getting that point across with the image.

zuludelta

07-18-2007, 07:04 AM

Oh, and just so I don't risk stereotyping myself as a guy who draws spandex types exclusively, here's my Warhol-esque portrait of a friend... scanned pencils, everything else done in Photoshop as per my usual:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/xencopy.jpg

sabongero

07-19-2007, 05:31 AM

Your art is great man. That Storm Shadow is awesome. Do you happen to have a Snake Eyes as well ? Or an original Destro ?

zuludelta

07-19-2007, 06:58 AM

Your art is great man. That Storm Shadow is awesome. Do you happen to have a Snake Eyes as well ? Or an original Destro ?

Thanks! I've got a Snake-Eyes (original "commando" version, not the one with the knight visor) done in a similar style, although I'll probably re-do it before posting it here and I've got a Destro and Cobra Commander in very preliminary sketch stage.

I wasn't too happy with how the final Ladytron image came out so I spent last night re-doing it:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/ult_maxinecopy-2.jpg

I'm a bit more satisfied with how this one turned out but I might make some more changes to it as I round out the rest of the WildCATs team and assemble them into one larger image.

zuludelta

07-21-2007, 04:32 AM

Well, here's my take on Zealot:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/ult_zealotcopy.jpg

I really wanted to get away from the original Zealot design by Jim Lee... it's just so dated, not to mention impractical and ridiculous (even by 1990s comic book standards). Zealot is supposed to be a 5 000 year old warrior who's played a part in every major human conflict, so it doesn't make sense that she would go to battle in a lycra/spandex bikini armed with nothing but shoulderpads, a katana and some throwing blades. With the re-design, I gave her an AK-47, perhaps the most reliable firearm in the history of modern warfare (I figure somebody with her experience would prefer practicality over flashier, newer weapons) and I sort of combined the visual elements of the katana and throwing blades and gave her a kukri (Nepalese curved dagger). Her "costume" is just practical, loosefitting garb but I kept the colour-scheme from the original. I also did an "Ultimate Nick Fury" by giving her African/South Asian features. No real motivation behind it, outside of reasons of aesthetic variety (and because it fits in with the theme established by the kukri and the bindi marking on her forehead).

Here's how the composite image is looking so far (I haven't decided on a background as of yet):
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/ult_wldcts_preview.jpg

Reed Richards

07-21-2007, 10:48 AM

howyadoin

07-21-2007, 12:48 PM

I wasn't too happy with how the final Ladytron image came out so I spent last night re-doing it:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/ult_maxinecopy-2.jpg

I'm a bit more satisfied with how this one turned out but I might make some more changes to it as I round out the rest of the WildCATs team and assemble them into one larger image.Love the gun arm. I like the way you treated the hips, as well.

zuludelta

07-21-2007, 02:09 PM

zuludelta, i hope that jim lee is able to see this "updates" sometime. in my opinion he will be amazed - because i am. :) really good work on those charakters.

would you mind if make a wallpaper out of the "storm shadow"-pic, someday?

Thanks for the praise, man. And go ahead and use the images for wallpapers, avatars, or whatever, I don't really mind (maybe let people know where you got the original image :D ).

Love the gun arm. I like the way you treated the hips, as well.

Glad you liked it... I was worried that she might end up looking too much like a Terminator.

Reed Richards

07-22-2007, 01:00 AM

Thanks for the praise, man. And go ahead and use the images for wallpapers, avatars, or whatever, I don't really mind (maybe let people know where you got the original image :D ).

thank you! i allready made one with the daredevil-image.

http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/6559/daredevil01je2.th.jpg (http://img247.imageshack.us/my.php?image=daredevil01je2.jpg)

howyadoin

07-22-2007, 01:55 AM

thank you! i allready made one with the daredevil-image.

http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/6559/daredevil01je2.th.jpg (http://img247.imageshack.us/my.php?image=daredevil01je2.jpg)Nice. You could turn that upside down and it would still look pretty cool.

zuludelta

07-22-2007, 02:42 AM

Nice job with the wallpaper! I actually made wallpapers of some of my art to fill a request in a different forum that I post on, but I'll put them up if anyone here wants them:

Hulk wallpaper:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/hulk_wp_prev.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/hulk_wp_1024x768.jpg)

Ghost Rider 2099 wallpaper:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/gr2099_wp_prev.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/gr2099_wp_1024x768.jpg)

Daredevil wallpaper:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/dd_wp_prev.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/dd_wp_1024x768.jpg)

Silver Surfer wallpaper:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/ss_wp_prev.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/ss_wp_1024x768.jpg)

zuludelta

07-22-2007, 02:45 AM

Also, some avatars while I'm at it (from left to right: Brother Voodoo, Daredevil, Deathblow, Ghost Rider 2099, Ladytron):

zuludelta

07-22-2007, 02:47 AM

And more avatar goodness (Wolverine, Punisher, Shang-Chi, Snake-Eyes, Storm-Shadow):

zuludelta

07-22-2007, 02:50 AM

last bunch of av pics (Taskmaster-Udon Studios version, Grifter-redesigned, Sasquatch-redesigned, USAgent-redesigned, and Zealot-redesigned):

zuludelta

07-23-2007, 07:25 AM

Well, here's my take on Spartan:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/ult_spartancopy-1.jpg

I never really liked the android Spartan/John Colt/Hadrian until the latter part of the second Wildcats series, when he took over the Jacob Marlowe identity and gave up the costumed superheroics to become the CEO of the HALO corporation. It seems to make so much more sense that a super-intelligent android with access to alien technology would try to bring about real change and world peace by improving the economic situation of the world instead of punching supervillains in pointless battle after pointless battle. My re-design is a nod to that aspect of Spartan, although I added electrodes on his skin to keep the android quality (and the blue turtleneck is supposed to be reminiscent of his old high-collar costume).

And here's Maul:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/ult_maulcopy.jpg

Instead of designing him as a guy who could increase his size and strength (not exactly my favourite power set) with an accompanying decrease in mental capacity, I went another route by giving him the power to de-evolve himself at will into a stronger, but less intelligent ape-like primal state (talk about "gorilla" warfare!). While I was drawing him, it struck me that it was probably Jim Lee's intent to do Maul as an homage to the Incredible Hulk. Like the Hulk, Maul had an intelligent human alter-ego and a superheroic identity with childlike intelligence. Also, the colour scheme is the same, although Lee reversed the colours with Maul (Hulk = green skin and purple pants; Maul= purple skin and green bodysuit).

Here's the temporary group shot, I haven't figured out what background I'll make (maybe an outline of the city highlighting the unique shape of the HALO building?):
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/ult_wldcts_preview-2.jpg

Also, I had so much fun designing and drawing these guys I might go on ahead and do my versions of my least favourite WildCATs, Warblade and Voodoo, just to fill out the roster.

666MasterOfPuppets

07-23-2007, 09:50 AM

WOW. This stuff is amazing! Your skills are great, Zulu. Congrats.

Reed Richards

07-23-2007, 10:06 AM

can´t wait to see the complete team! the "maul"-idea is very interesting! :)

Tre Styles

07-23-2007, 02:13 PM

Awesome stuff Zulu.I like the redesigned WildC.A.T.S. very innovative.(Although I immediately thought about an old Hanna Barbara character with Maul. ;) ) You have a great and cool style. Looking forward to more.

zuludelta

07-23-2007, 04:15 PM

Thanks for all the comments guys, I really appreciate them!

I immediately thought about an old Hanna Barbara character with Maul. ;

You're not the only person who's made a Grape Ape comparison... I wasn't really aware of it until somebody pointed it out to me (I didn't really watch a lot of Hanna-Barbera cartoons when I was a kid). Maybe I'll change his colour to something more reasonable, like reddish-brown (like an orangutan) or something.

zuludelta

07-23-2007, 07:51 PM

I was gonna recolour Maul reddish-brown to get away from the Grape Ape comparison but then I remembered another Hanna-Barbera character... Magilla Gorilla! Damn you Hanna-Barbera and your multi-coloured apes!

Anyway, I just went ahead and coloured him gray... it's better fit with the rest of the team anyway:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/ult_maul02copy.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/ult_wldcts_preview-3.jpg

Hellbaby

07-23-2007, 09:53 PM

High five!

zuludelta

07-24-2007, 04:20 PM

Well, here's the final image:

http://img461.imageshack.us/img461/6382/ultwldctscopyae5.th.jpg (http://img461.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ultwldctscopyae5.jpg)

Photobucket's being a real pain so I went to Imageshack to host it.

EDIT: Photobucket is finally back up, so here's another link to the 1024 x 768-sized image, with none of Imageshack's pesky pop-ups:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/ult_wldctscopybutton.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/ult_wldctscopy.jpg)

and of course, the obligatory wallpaper (you can use the original image as a wallpaper too, I guess, although I personally don't like "busy" wallpapers all that much):

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/wldcts_wp_preview.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/wldcts_wp_1024x768.jpg)

Joe Rice

07-24-2007, 08:59 PM

What's your method? I like the end product.

zuludelta

07-24-2007, 10:15 PM

What's your method? I like the end product.

Here's a quick rundown of how I do my drawings:

Step 1: I used to start with a basic sketch on paper, or a fully realized line drawing (ink or pencil, doesn't really matter) that I scan at a suitable resolution: if I'm making something that will eventually be printed, I scan at 150 dpi at the very least (although 300 dpi is the most commonly accepted resolution by most commercial printers), I can go lower than 150 dpi if I'll just be using the images on typical computer monitors). Lately however, I've been skipping the pencil and paper step and doing very basic roughs directly in Photoshop, as seen below:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/step01.jpg
I created a new file in Photoshop, making sure it was in the appropriate resolution (300 dpi for print, lower than that for internet purposes), started a new layer, and then used the polygonal lasso tool to create the basic shape I had in mind.

Step 2: Using that layer as a guide, I start a new layer and do a cleaner rendition of my desired shape:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/step02.jpg

Step 3: I then delete or hide (as approriate) the original base layer since I don't need it anymore. On a new layer, I lay down the larger details of the image I want to make. I usually group layers by colour, in this case, all the darker skin tones are part of the same layer:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/step03.jpg

(continued in next post... )

zuludelta

07-24-2007, 10:23 PM

(continued from previous post)

Step 4: I continue laying down different coloured layers:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/step04.jpg

Step 5: More of the same, but in this case, I used the stroke filter to "ink" the piercings to make them stand out:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/step05.jpg

Step 6: Finally, I merge all the visible layers to make it just one layer, and then apply the stroke filter one more time to "ink" the outline. I also used the "hue" controls to recolour her lips red:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/step06.jpg

This is basically just like colouring using markers, except you're allowed more leeway when you make mistakes. Also, it just takes a bit of practice learning how to draw with a mouse, but as they say, practice makes perfect (or at least passably adequate).

Summary of software and tools used:

- WIA 42-bit scanner
- Adobe Photoshop 7 (for scanning and actual rendering)
- standard mouse and keyboard

Joe Rice

07-24-2007, 10:23 PM

Thanks. I'm not an artist myself, but that's interesting.

zuludelta

07-25-2007, 03:11 AM

Here's a non-superhero piece:

original pencils:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/sketchpencil.jpg

final image:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/sketchcopy.jpg

The pencil sketch is taken from my old sketchbooks that I used to document my life as a newly arrived immigrant in Canada (the subject of the above 2-minute thumbnail sketch was some random guy at the fees line-up at Simon Fraser University)... I'd had about 3 years worth of random drawings, sketches, and gag strips by the time my sketchbooks were stolen (they were in my knapsack which got jacked at a bus station), but I fortunately managed to scan this one prior to the theft. I totally forgot about it until today, while I was rooting through some old zip files in one of my back-up CDs, so I decided to fire up Photoshop and do a quick paint job over it (while fixing some of the more glaring anatomy issues).

zuludelta

07-26-2007, 07:36 AM

I'm a little burnt out on drawing comic book characters so I figured I'd do a self-portrait:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/selfportrait01.jpg

Reed Richards

07-26-2007, 10:11 AM

this one´s pretty cool - i wish i could do stuff like this myself!!!

zuludelta

07-27-2007, 05:10 AM

I'm glad you like it RR. I've updated the image:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/selfportrait01copy.jpg

Kara Zor El

07-27-2007, 08:04 AM

My God how did I miss this one? You have one hell of a great style. And it's all rendered perfectly. Very refreshing.
It's all great. There is simplicity here and yet you seem to be able to convey a lot of emotion. Take the self portrait above. Simple lines and yet so much feeling coming through.
Thanks again for doing my avatars. I'll keep popping back here.

zuludelta

07-27-2007, 07:31 PM

Thanks again for doing my avatars. I'll keep popping back here.

You're welcome. Glad you like the images in this thread.

zuludelta

07-28-2007, 08:25 AM

Got myself inspired to do more superhero-themed drawings... I'll be doing my take on Marvel's Heroes For Hire, the same way I did a reimagined WildCATs last week. I'll be doing Iron Fist and Luke Cage from the original Heroes for Hire, Colleen Wing, Misty Knight, and Shang-Chi from the current Heroes for Hire book, and maybe one character from the 1994 post-Onslaught Heroes for Hire (haven't decided who, though, might be Hercules, Black Knight, or She-Hulk).

Here's Shang-Chi (in the Game of Death-inspired get-up I debuted here a page or two back), getting ready to open a sixpack of whoop-ass on some hapless soul:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/shangchicopy-1.jpg

And here's Misty Knight, giving you a textbook example of a badonkadonk :lol:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/mistyknightcopy2-1.jpg

I'll probably do Colleen Wing next, I always take more time drawing females (since I can't really refer to myself on the mirror for reference).

Reed Richards

07-28-2007, 09:25 AM

...(haven't decided who, though, might be Hercules, Black Knight, or She-Hulk).

i would vote for she-hulk!!! :D

Kara Zor El

07-28-2007, 03:19 PM

i would vote for she-hulk!!! :D

I'll second that vote.

zuludelta

07-28-2007, 07:47 PM

Thanks for the comments and suggestions guys. Still haven't made-up my mind on She-Hulk, but I'm getting there.

Anyway, here's my take on Colleen Wing:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/colleencopy.jpg

One of my pet peeves in comics is when creators take a character of obvious ethnicity and make careless mistakes regarding their background, which sort of ruins the whole suspension of disbelief thing (even though I'm pretty sure most writers and artists mean well when they create minority characters in comics). Colleen Wing is a perfect example. Her dad's name is Lee Wing (a Chinese name), so you'd expect her last name to be Lee (i.e., Colleen Lee), and not Wing (since Chinese names always have the surname first). With this redesign, I ditched the whole samurai motif (it's a little cliché at this point, and a little too Kill Bill) and went with a wushu/taiji sword style. I also made her hair colour black, I always thought it was odd that she has always been portrayed as a brunette/redhead. It's never been confirmed if her dad was actually ethnic Chinese, since he was always drawn as a Caucasian in his few appearances, but with a Japanese mother, I figured it wouldn't be too much of a departure.

zuludelta

07-30-2007, 04:50 AM

I've hit a bit of a creative roadblock with Iron Fist and Luke Cage... I'm thinking I might let these guys go for a while and move on to a different project. I like how Misty Knight and Colleen Wing look as a single image though:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/dotd.jpg

Jesse Custard

07-30-2007, 09:40 AM

Cool work. I read all those titles back in the day and am appropriately all the more shallow for it! Nice to see some realistic thinking given to the ideas of the characters. Cool style, too.

howyadoin

07-30-2007, 09:40 PM

One of my pet peeves in comics is when creators take a character of obvious ethnicity and make careless mistakes regarding their background, which sort of ruins the whole suspension of disbelief thing (even though I'm pretty sure most writers and artists mean well when they create minority characters in comics). Colleen Wing is a perfect example. Her dad's name is Lee Wing (a Chinese name), so you'd expect her last name to be Lee (i.e., Colleen Lee), and not Wing (since Chinese names always have the surname first). With this redesign, I ditched the whole samurai motif (it's a little cliché at this point, and a little too Kill Bill) and went with a wushu/taiji sword style. I also made her hair colour black, I always thought it was odd that she has always been portrayed as a brunette/redhead. It's never been confirmed if her dad was actually ethnic Chinese, since he was always drawn as a Caucasian in his few appearances, but with a Japanese mother, I figured it wouldn't be too much of a departure.I was reading the book for years before it even occurred to me that she might be Asian.

zuludelta

07-31-2007, 03:02 AM

I was reading the book for years before it even occurred to me that she might be Asian.

I think that might have to do with the way most people of prominent ethnicity were drawn and written back in the day (and to a certain extent, up to present times). A lot of the comic book depictions fell into one of two camps: either characters were stereotypical caricatures (Luke Cage (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Power_and_Iron_Fist_50.jpg), Ebony White (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ebony_White), most any superhero with "Black" in his code-name to identify his racial identity) or they were ciphers who, apart from skin tone, had no really identifiable physical characteristics that would set them apart from how Caucasians were drawn in comics (Storm, Colleen Wing, LOSH's Karate Kid). I'm willing to bet that most of the time, no malice was involved in the portrayals, and the only thing at play was unfamiliarity with the subjects (although there are the obvious offenders, like the World War II-era propaganda comics and some stuff that made it through the Silver Age).

Anyways, couldn't sleep so I decided to do two quick Thundercats-inspired head shots:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/thundercats_conceptcopy.jpg

I'm not even sure why I drew them, I wasn't really a fan of the show when I was a kid.

Kara Zor El

07-31-2007, 03:48 PM

Thundercats are great. As is the new designs above. Your avatar is very clever by the way.

zuludelta

08-01-2007, 02:48 AM

Thanks Kara, but the Simpsons-inspired avatar is just something I made using the Simpson movie site avatar maker. You can get to it by using this link (http://www.simpsonsmovie.com/main.html).

I never really saw myself completing the Lion-O and Tigra images but here we are:

Lion-O as a barbarian type:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/lionocopy.jpg

Tigra as a warrior-monk (swapped out his whip for a length of mystical beads that he can control telekinetically)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/tigracopy.jpg

Kara Zor El

08-01-2007, 02:57 AM

Man, they are so cool. You are very prolific. Thanks for the link.

zuludelta

08-02-2007, 12:13 AM

Just another Daredevil piece:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/dd_02copy.jpg

Reed Richards

08-02-2007, 12:58 AM

Just another Daredevil piece:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/dd_02copy.jpg

and a great one, too!!!

howyadoin

08-02-2007, 01:07 AM

Damn, man. These last few are flawless.

Reed Richards

08-02-2007, 02:28 AM

i couldn´t resist! :D

http://img466.imageshack.us/img466/3940/daredevil08ms5.th.jpg (http://img466.imageshack.us/my.php?image=daredevil08ms5.jpg)

i love your daredevil-pics!!! :)

Reed Richards

08-02-2007, 02:41 AM

...requests...

if i might be so "barefaced" (i hope that i got this translation right) and really ask for a request?

i really love your artwork and i would be very happy to see your interpretation of the FANTASTIC FOUR!!! i´m a big fan of those guys since i´ve been 6 (so 35 years ago) and i would really love to see them the way you would draw them - and then make a wallpaper out of this!!! :D

i hope i don´t ask for too much and this is not an "insult" (is that word right?)!!!

thanks - thomas

zuludelta

08-02-2007, 03:15 AM

I'm very glad you guys are liking the recent stuff. :)

RR, I'll probably get to the Fantastic Four sooner or later (I'm currently enjoying Mike Carey and Pasqual Ferry's work on Ultimate Fantastic Four), just not sure when. I was actually working on a Thing drawing a couple of days ago but deleted it because I wasn't too happy with how his rocky hide was turning out. I'll be sure to post it here when I'm done.

Reed Richards

08-02-2007, 05:45 AM

Kara Zor El

08-02-2007, 11:03 AM

DD, is unbelievably good.

zuludelta

08-02-2007, 05:00 PM

Thanks!

As promised, the first of a four-parter based on the Fantastic Four:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/thingcopy3-1.jpg

I went for his more classic build (and the classic black and blue knickers and the Kirby cigar), where he's slightly short and squat-looking, I'm not really too fond of the modern interpretations (http://www.sumerak.com/images/covers/large/maff000.gif) where he's this hulking orange mass with pseudo-musculature... it turns him into just another muscular strong guy (and I hate it when artists give him the exaggerated jutting lower jaw (http://freakcomics.com/images/ff_544.jpg)... it looks like he's got a freaking soup bowl for a mandible).

Reed Richards

08-03-2007, 01:00 AM

ben looks great, can´t wait to see the other three!!! :)

zuludelta

08-03-2007, 07:54 PM

Here's Invisible Woman, using her powers:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/suestormjoke.jpg

Just kidding :p

Here she is:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/suestorm_fadecopy.jpg

Reed Richards

08-04-2007, 12:57 AM

Here's Invisible Woman, using her powers:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/suestormjoke.jpg

wow, thats really capturing her personality!!!

:D

zuludelta

08-04-2007, 06:42 AM

Here's the Human Torch:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/torchcopy-1.jpg

I considered going the classic route and giving him the vertical black lines but decided against it... that type of rendering detail seems to be diametrically opposed to the overall "flat"/vector art look I'm going for.

Not entirely sure about this one, though... I was trying out a different angle and using exaggerated perspective. I'll give it a few hours and if I'm still satisfied with how it looks, I'll let it stand, otherwise, I might try a different pose.

Reed Richards

08-04-2007, 09:23 AM

johnny looks fine to me. can´t wait to see reed!!! :D

Kara Zor El

08-04-2007, 04:37 PM

All three looking great so far. I agree about the Thing thing.

Maybe try Johnny in some different reds.

zuludelta

08-04-2007, 09:51 PM

Thanks for the responses guys.

updated Invisible Woman (adjusted the outline):
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/suestorm_fadecopy2.jpg

re-done Human Torch (changed the pose so he'll fit better when I make the group shot, changed his hair colour):
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/torch2copy-2.jpg

red-handed

08-04-2007, 10:45 PM

nice
i love your style
when i first saw it i immediately thought vectors
then i read your method thing
great work

zuludelta

08-05-2007, 07:20 AM

Thanks for the comments dude!

A final (I think) update on the Human Torch:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/torch3copy.jpg

I'm way more satisfied with this now... I think it's different enough from the standard Human Torch rendition so that it stands out, but doesn't deviate from the original so much that he's unidentifiable.

666MasterOfPuppets

08-05-2007, 07:28 AM

Excellent stuff, zulu.

What about showing DC some love (after you finish drawing the FF, that is)?

Reed Richards

08-05-2007, 07:32 AM

well, that torch really lits a fire!!! great work!!! :)

zuludelta

08-05-2007, 07:40 AM

Excellent stuff, zulu.

What about showing DC some love (after you finish drawing the FF, that is)?

I might do Batman in the future... I'm also considering doing an image of The Question and maybe Solomon Grundy.

zuludelta

08-06-2007, 12:40 AM

Quickly adjusted the size of Torch's head (it was too wide):
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/torch3copy-1.jpg

I'm a little uninspired to do Mr. Fantastic, so I figured I'd do a non-FF related drawing while I wait for inspiration to strike me, here's a quick take on Deathblow:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/deathblow2copy.jpg

zuludelta

08-08-2007, 02:37 AM

well, here's the final Fantastic Four image (click on the picture to view a larger version):

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/fant_four_prev_small.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/fant_four_prev.jpg)

Reed Richards

08-08-2007, 03:08 AM

that ist extremely good, thank you, zuludelta!!! *thumbsup* :)

one last request: can you post "reed richards" as separately as the other ones, please??? thank you!!!

Albert

08-08-2007, 03:13 AM

Great group shot ZD, and having gone through your thread I must say its very impressive work. I don't really have the art vocabulary to name the style it reminds me of, but much of it reminds me of 1920s/30s stylizations: very clean, very expressive.

While I really like the Torch redesign. The first one is good as well, but my first thought with it was "hey, he's naked and on fire". Which leads me to ask: Have you ever done a Silver Surfer or a Frankie Raye Nova? The latter, rendered by your method, would be incredible to see.

zuludelta

08-08-2007, 03:16 AM

that ist extremely good, thank you, zuludelta!!! *thumbsup* :)

one last request: can you post "reed richards" as separately as the other ones, please??? thank you!!!

Glad you like it :) . Unfortunately, I can't post Mr. Fantastic as an individual image, because I didn't draw his whole body :p I just filled in the areas between the other three figures. Except for his right fist, Reed is actually a part of the background (sorry!).

zuludelta

08-08-2007, 03:18 AM

Which leads me to ask: Have you ever done a Silver Surfer or a Frankie Raye Nova?

I've done a Silver Surfer before, but I wasn't too happy with it (which is why i haven't posted it here... although I might have used the head as an avatar image at some point). I'll definitely do a new version eventually, since he's one of my all-time favourties in terms of character design. And thanks for the kind words!

Reed Richards

08-08-2007, 04:00 AM

Glad you like it :) . Unfortunately, I can't post Mr. Fantastic as an individual image, because I didn't draw his whole body :p I just filled in the areas between the other three figures. Except for his right fist, Reed is actually a part of the background (sorry!).

no problem. thank you again for doing this great picture!!! :)

zuludelta

08-08-2007, 05:27 AM

Thought I should post this update on the Deathblow pic I previewed page back:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/deathblow2copy-1.jpg

Albert

08-08-2007, 05:31 AM

Wow, looks great to me. Dig that background.

Looking forward to the Surfer.

zuludelta

08-08-2007, 09:52 AM

Dig that background.

It's the one thing in the picture I can't take full credit for... I just manipulated a stock photo of an ink splatter for that one :D

Kara Zor El

08-08-2007, 03:58 PM

Move over Human Torch coz zuludelta's on fire!!!

Love the Torch. Like the darker red best but both are great and the yellow hair is inspired.

FF picture is Fab. as is Deathblow.

zuludelta

08-09-2007, 01:36 AM

Glad you enjoyed the FF image, KZE.

Anyways, I'm collaborating with a writer on a comic project of his, at this stage I'm working on character designs and such. I'm not going to blab about what it's about just yet, but i just wanted to run my designs by you folks and gather what your impressions are (that way, I know if I'm maybe doing something wrong or if I'm on the right track with the design). It would be great if you guys could post the things that come to your mind when you see the images. Here's the first couple of sketches (these are by no means final designs, just rough concepts):

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/narratorcopy.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/successorcopy.jpg

zuludelta

08-10-2007, 04:20 AM

Another sneak peek at the comic book project I'm doing designs for (same character as the 2nd image in my previous post, but slightly refined):
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/successor02copy.jpg

Albert

08-10-2007, 05:07 AM

You'll have to keep us posted as the concept and details gel. I like what I see so far... very nice film noir touches on the first image.

zuludelta

08-11-2007, 04:46 AM

Hey all,

Project I'm working on has been keeping me busy, so i haven't been able to draw for myself as much as usual. Anyway, here's a companion piece to the Storm-Shadow (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/stormshadowcopy-1.jpg) image I posted a couple of weeks back. It's Snake-Eyes (based on the awesome 25th Anniversary toy):

EDIT: picture updated, see my later post

zuludelta

08-12-2007, 02:00 AM

Here's something of an accident:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/batmancopy2.jpg

I was working on a design (for the aforementioned collaborative comic project) that I eventually threw out but I put so much work into the now-discarded design I felt like it would be a waste to just delete it so I decided to just go back to it, change up a couple of things, and turn it into an "Ultimate Batman" piece.

666MasterOfPuppets

08-12-2007, 07:09 AM

Oohh... Me likes this one, Zulu. Two thumbs up.

zuludelta

08-12-2007, 09:55 PM

Thanks 666. Can't remember who it was who asked if I had any plans to do Silver Surfer (it might have been Albert... or maybe "Reed Richards"), well, here he is:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/silver_surfer2copyc.jpg

He's actually one of my favourite comic book subjects to draw/paint, so this definitely isn't the last Surfer image I'll be posting here

zuludelta

08-13-2007, 09:19 PM

Modified the Snake-Eyes image I put up a few days ago... somebody pointed out that the right leg was at an awkward angle:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/snakeeyes02copy.jpg

Reed Richards

08-14-2007, 12:36 AM

no, it wasn´t me that asked for it, but i like the surfer. he will fit in the "fantastic four"-image too!!! :)

Toboe

08-15-2007, 07:24 PM

OMG your style is amazing! I'm loving everything, especially the Daredevil ones.

Any chance you might do Moon Knight one day?

zuludelta

08-16-2007, 10:26 AM

OMG your style is amazing! I'm loving everything, especially the Daredevil ones.

Any chance you might do Moon Knight one day?

Thanks for the comments. I might do Moon Knight at some point... although I never really followed the character (I dug Bill Sienkiewicz work on the title during the 1980s though).

Here's the 1990s Ghost Rider:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/ghostridercopy-2.jpg

I've always preferred the bike on the Daniel Ketch incarnation of Ghost Rider, just looks speedier and less "Easy Rider" to me. Also, the chopper/Harley-Davidson is quickly becoming the hallmark of middle-aged men trying to live out their fantasies while they go through mid-life crises and is this close to becoming the anti-thesis of cool and we just can't have an uncool Ghost Rider... the guy's practically a distillation of everything cool in superhero comics.

666MasterOfPuppets

08-16-2007, 11:59 AM

And that pic of yours is a distillation of everything cool in a Ghost Rider pic. Great job.

Kara Zor El

08-16-2007, 02:27 PM

Ultimate Batman is way cool. Good accident.

zuludelta

08-16-2007, 08:44 PM

Thanks for the comments. I had a fun time drawing Ghost Rider... he's one of those designs where he's as much fun to work on as he is to look at. I mean, he combines everything a kid would love: skulls, fire, and a motorcycle. The only way he could be any cooler was if he was also a gorilla, a pirate, a ninja, or a robot (and Ghost Rider 2099 has that covered) or some weird flaming skull cyborg ninja pirate-ape biker hybrid.

zuludelta

08-20-2007, 11:09 PM

Got inspired to continue working on the Heroes for Hire image I started a few weeks ago after reading the first Immortal Iron Fist TPB (I heartily recommend it... excellent writing by Brubaker and Fraction, with capital art by David Aja). Here's an update:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/h4hcopy.jpg

I'm still missing Luke Cage, and a member from the mid-1990s post-Onslaught Heroes Reborn team, who'll most likely be She-Hulk or White Tiger (or maybe both, if I feel up to it).

CJ Lentze

08-21-2007, 03:28 AM

Reed Richards

08-21-2007, 03:41 AM

Looks great, I can't wait to see the finished line-up with Cage and Shulkie.

i second that. great work and nice team-up-line!!! :)

zuludelta

08-24-2007, 03:43 AM

Been in something of a creative funk. Normally, what I usually do is step away from the drawing table (or the mouse, as it were) and do something else, but I still do quick drawings/paintings of things I'm familiar and comfortable with on the side so I don't get too rusty. In my case, the default subject of choice has always been the female form (huuuge fan :D ):

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/woman_runningcopy-1.jpg

666MasterOfPuppets

08-24-2007, 06:53 AM

Excellent, Zulu. Very impressive.

Joe Rice

08-24-2007, 06:57 AM

Excellent stuff, man. The Snake-Eyes gave me a nostalgiaboner.

Fenix

08-25-2007, 08:04 AM

Impressive. I really like your work. Awesome method for coloring your drawings in PS. At first I'd thought that you were using Illustrator or Corel. I was amazed to discover that you did it on PS.
Excellent work dude.

zuludelta

08-27-2007, 08:05 PM

Thanks for the kind words Fenix :)

Real quick, animated-style Nightwing (sans goofy mullet, and with proper-length eskrima staves) that I made for mattbib's "CBR Draws Nightwing" thread:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/nightwingxcopy.jpg

Here's the Red Skull, loosely based on the UK miniature figurine that's cropping up in comic book shops all over town:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/redskullcopy.jpg

666MasterOfPuppets

08-27-2007, 08:24 PM

Impressive job on these last two, Zulu. Congrats.

A Superman drawing is in order, my friend. ;)

Albert

08-28-2007, 12:35 AM

Great work on both. Love that Red Skull... I haven't seen the miniature, but I love the twin lugers he's sporting in the image.

zuludelta

08-28-2007, 06:07 AM

Thanks for the comments!

A Superman drawing is in order, my friend.

I might do a Superman image in future, although I'd prefer to do something different from the usual Supes... maybe the blue Superman from the time he got split into the red and blue entities or even some sort of "Ultimate Superman" deal.

Love that Red Skull... I haven't seen the miniature, but I love the twin lugers he's sporting in the image.

Here's the site (http://www.marvel-figurines.co.uk/) for the miniatures. I hear they're pretty hard to find in some places what with all the "poisonous lead" stories dominating the headlines, since the figures are sculpted in lead, but they're still pretty sweet looking.

zuludelta

08-29-2007, 07:50 PM

My interpretation of Dr. Strange's Sanctum Sanctorum:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/sanctumcopy.jpg

666MasterOfPuppets

08-30-2007, 09:35 AM

I might do a Superman image in future, although I'd prefer to do something different from the usual Supes... maybe the blue Superman from the time he got split into the red and blue entities or even some sort of "Ultimate Superman" deal.

Both (*hint hint*) of them will be mighty welcome, ZD.

howyadoin

08-30-2007, 02:14 PM

My interpretation of Dr. Strange's Sanctum Sanctorum:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/sanctumcopy.jpgThat is outstanding.

Jaye

08-30-2007, 02:41 PM

Wow, great artwork!
Snakeyes is awesome.

-Jaye

zuludelta

08-30-2007, 03:36 PM

Thanks for all the comments guys, I really appreciate them.

I tried redesigning Superman's costume but I just couldn't come up with anything more interesting than the original. Besides, there's also that little 7 year-old in all of us that just enjoys drawing classic Superman (incidentally, I was probably 7 years old the last time I drew him). So here it is (I shamelessly re-used the pose I used for my Human Torch drawing):

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/supescopy.jpg

666MasterOfPuppets

08-30-2007, 03:38 PM

AWEFREAKINSOME!!!!

Great, GREAT job, ZD.

zuludelta

08-31-2007, 01:21 AM

Since we're on a Superman theme, thought I'd post this quick, Superman-inspired parody I did for another forum that I frequent... presenting Joe Blow, the world's first cocaine-powered superhero:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/joeblowcopy.jpg

zuludelta

08-31-2007, 01:23 AM

stupid double post!

zuludelta

08-31-2007, 03:37 PM

More Superman:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/supes2copy.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/supes3copy.jpg

Reed Richards

08-31-2007, 03:44 PM

joe blow - rad idea *lol* :)

the suppermans are very nice and well done, zulu.

well. ähem, have you ever thought of doing DR.FATE??? :D

zuludelta

08-31-2007, 06:54 PM

Glad you like them RR. I don't know about Dr. Fate... I might do a Dr. Strange before I consider Dr. Fate. Actually, I'm planning on doing a few images based on some songs that I like. Besides comics and cartooning, music is my other great passion, so I'm thinking of doing images loosely inspired by a couple of Shonen Knife (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shonen_Knife) songs ("Cobra vs. Mongoose", "Concrete Animals").

666MasterOfPuppets

08-31-2007, 07:55 PM

Joe Blow: ROTFLMAO!!!!!!

Superman Blue and Red: AMAZING!!!!!!

zuludelta

09-01-2007, 09:57 AM

glad you like them 666!

zuludelta

09-03-2007, 10:16 PM

I always thought that Wolverine was supposed to be an ugly little troll of a man, so I'm not a real big fan of how he's been drawn the past few years... it seems he's become handsomer and taller as he's grown in popularity. Anyway, here's my take on him, which is a distinct departure in terms of style from the first Wolverine image I posted (http://forums.comicbookresources.com/showthread.php?t=182392):

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/wolvie2copy.jpg

zuludelta

09-04-2007, 06:06 PM

More Wolverine, although not as stumpy and cartoonish as the previous one, but still closer to the classic "short and ugly" Logan that I grew up reading:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/wolvie3copy.jpg

666MasterOfPuppets

09-05-2007, 09:13 AM

Cool stuff, Zulu.

Question: Do you use the computer through the whole drawing process?

zuludelta

09-05-2007, 12:28 PM

Question: Do you use the computer through the whole drawing process?

Pretty much. I used to scan in pencil drawings and colour/ink over them digitally (such as the examples here (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/sketchcopy.jpg), here (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/xencopy.jpg), and here (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/punisher_02copy-1.jpg)) but I found that I tend to work quicker if I just dispense with doing the pencils altogether and do very basic blocking in Photoshop instead. This is probably because I almost always go for very tight pencils (which can take up a lot of time), even if I know I'll be cleaning it all up digitally anyway. I still occasionally do preliminary pencils, though, especially if it's something I'm having trouble with and I need a more detailed, sort of "big picture" image to get me going in a particular direction.

zuludelta

09-05-2007, 03:55 PM

I held off on the arm hair for the 2nd Wolverine pic because I didn't think adding that level of texture was consonant with the style I employed. In the end, I just added a darker tone to suggest the presence of hair, but I didn't do any actual hair texturing (thanks to MJB of the FreedomReborn forums for the suggestion):

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/wolvie3copy-1.jpg

zuludelta

09-05-2007, 09:14 PM

Did "a Greg Land" and traced over a photo this time:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/nashcopy.jpg

For those of you who aren't NBA fans, that's Steve Nash (point guard for the Phoenix Suns), probably Canada's greatest contribution to basketball since... well, the game of basketball itself (a lot of people forget that James Naismith was Canadian).

zuludelta

09-06-2007, 04:31 AM

Here's Houston's Yao Ming. similar to the Nash pic, I overlaid the colours over a photo (except I freehanded most of the face this time, since I didn't fancy his grimace in the original photo):

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/yaocopy-1.jpg

zuludelta

09-06-2007, 09:25 PM

An image I did as a request from another forum:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/goth_girlcopy-2.jpg

666MasterOfPuppets

09-07-2007, 07:03 AM

Pretty much. I used to scan in pencil drawings and colour/ink over them digitally (such as the examples here (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/sketchcopy.jpg), here (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/xencopy.jpg), and here (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/punisher_02copy-1.jpg)) but I found that I tend to work quicker if I just dispense with doing the pencils altogether and do very basic blocking in Photoshop instead. This is probably because I almost always go for very tight pencils (which can take up a lot of time), even if I know I'll be cleaning it all up digitally anyway. I still occasionally do preliminary pencils, though, especially if it's something I'm having trouble with and I need a more detailed, sort of "big picture" image to get me going in a particular direction.

Cool. You use a wacom tablet, I take?

zuludelta

09-07-2007, 02:42 PM

Cool. You use a wacom tablet, I take?

Nope. Just a mouse. I had a Wacom tablet for a couple of years but I just couldn't get comfortable using it. I dunno, it just felt weird to me drawing with a pen on one surface but looking at the results on another, whereas I was already used to doing fine movements with my mousing hand with my eyes on the screen (I blame all those years playing Rainbow Six and Counterstrike!).

zuludelta

09-08-2007, 05:45 AM

Another requested image:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/michellecopy.jpg

666MasterOfPuppets

09-08-2007, 06:46 AM

Nope. Just a mouse. I had a Wacom tablet for a couple of years but I just couldn't get comfortable using it. I dunno, it just felt weird to me drawing with a pen on one surface but looking at the results on another, whereas I was already used to doing fine movements with my mousing hand with my eyes on the screen (I blame all those years playing Rainbow Six and Counterstrike!).

I see what you mean. I dunno, since I haven't drawn with a mouse I could get easily used to drawing with a wacom.

And nice drawing. Who's she?

zuludelta

09-08-2007, 02:32 PM

I see what you mean. I dunno, since I haven't drawn with a mouse I could get easily used to drawing with a wacom.

And nice drawing. Who's she?

She and the person I based the previous image on are a couple of models who have MySpace sites, apparently (I forget their names). I'm woefully out-of-touch with the whole MySpace/Facebook/etc. thing so i don't know if they're supposed to be popular or anything. Anyways, a mutual friend of theirs asked if I could do some caricatures based on their likenesses so here we are.

666MasterOfPuppets

09-08-2007, 05:13 PM

That's good. I don't pay too much attention to the MySpace thingy either, except for the Metal bands with sites there (thus I can listen to some of their music).

zuludelta

09-11-2007, 04:33 PM

Haven't been drawing a lot lately because I'm busy boning up on cartooning basics and techniques. Anyways, I'm reading a couple of books/trade magazine compilations that I think anybody can benefit from. My current reading list:

Draw and Paint Crazy Cartoon Characters (http://www.amazon.com/Draw-Paint-Crazy-Cartoon-Characters/dp/0764135732) - written by animator Vincent Woodcock, provides a lot of sound, fundamental advice on anatomy, caricaturing, and character design with a slant towards animation, but also applicable in comics and graphics work.

The Best of Draw! Vol.1 (http://www.amazon.com/Best-Draw/dp/1893905411/ref=sr_1_2/103-4615094-7177414?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1189547868&sr=1-2) - Mike Manley compiles some of the best featured articles in Draw! magazine in this hefty paperback. This includes inking tutorials by inking gods Klaus Janson and Ricardo Villagran, a figure drawing demonstration by Bret Blevins, an in-depth article on computer-based illustration by Dave (Watchmen) Gibbons, a Phil Hester retrospective, a discussion with Samurai Jack creator and animator Genndy Tartakovsky, and a webcomics walkthrough by Steve Conley (who's probably more famous for his webdesign work).

Rough Stuff Vol.1 (http://twomorrows.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=67&products_id=378) - A collection of articles showcasing pencil roughs, design sketches, and basic storyboards by guys like John Byrne, Bruce Timm, Art Adams, and others.

Artists on Comic Art (http://www.amazon.com/Artists-Comics-Art-Mark-Salisbury/dp/1840231866) - Mike Salisbury interviews 11 of the more influential comic book artists today (including Jim Lee, Dave Gibbons, J. Scott Campbell, John Romita, Jr., Alex Ross, Frank Miller, Dave McKean, Brian Bolland, and Joe Quesada). It doesn't really provide much in the way of tutorials or step-by-step production but provides a lot of insight into the thought processes that go on behind drawing good comics.

I'm also re-reading author and critically acclaimed comic book writer Steven Grant's series of "Creating Comics" online articles. A lot of good, practical insights on the plotting and writing process (liberally sprinkled with Grant's sharp wit, blunt criticism, and political commentary), although some of it runs contrary to the ideas espoused by Scott McCloud (probably the foremost contemporary authority on comics writing... I'm willing to give Grant the benefit of the doubt on these, though. After all, he's the one who's sold more comics scripts and screenplays).

Creating Comics Step 1 (Introduction) (http://comicbookresources.com/columns/index.cgi?column=pd&article=2111)

Step 2 (The Theme) (http://comicbookresources.com/columns/index.cgi?column=pd&article=2115)

Step 3 (Characters) (http://comicbookresources.com/columns/index.cgi?column=pd&article=2119)

Step 4 (Plot vs. Characterization) (http://comicbookresources.com/columns/index.cgi?column=pd&article=2129)

Step 4B (More on Plot) (http://comicbookresources.com/columns/index.cgi?column=pd&article=2132)

Step 5 (The Setting) (http://comicbookresources.com/columns/index.cgi?column=pd&article=2137)

Step 6 (More on Characterization) (http://comicbookresources.com/columns/index.cgi?column=pd&article=2140)

Step 7 (Dialogue in Theory) (http://comicbookresources.com/columns/index.cgi?column=pd&article=2144)

Step 7B (Dialogue in Practice) (http://comicbookresources.com/columns/index.cgi?column=pd&article=2148)

Step 8 (The Nuts, Bolts, and Mechanical Aspects of Comics Writing) (http://comicbookresources.com/columns/index.cgi?column=pd&article=2160)

Step 9 (The Pitch) (http://comicbookresources.com/columns/index.cgi?column=pd&article=2164)

Step 10 (Comic Book Art Basics, Part 1) (http://comicbookresources.com/columns/index.cgi?column=pd&article=2182)

Step 11 (Comic Book Art Basics, Part 2) (http://comicbookresources.com/columns/index.cgi?column=pd&article=2206)

Step 12 (Penciling) (http://comicbookresources.com/columns/index.cgi?column=pd&article=2239)

Timing in Comics (http://comicbookresources.com/columns/index.cgi?column=pd&article=2611): An article where Grant discusses the concept of timing in comics, and makes reference to McCloud's work in Understanding Comics (BTW, after reading some of Grant's articles you might find that some of his own techniques, philosophies and ideas run counter to that of McCloud's, they both make good points, IMO, but I tend to put slightly more weight on Grant's practical advice and shorthand techniques since he's had more commercial success in his career so far)

Step 13 (Comic Book Covers) (http://comicbookresources.com/columns/index.cgi?column=pd&article=2315)

zuludelta

09-13-2007, 11:38 PM

Quick ninja turtle sketch:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/donatellocopy.jpg

zuludelta

09-18-2007, 02:01 AM

Been really busy working on a collaborative comic book project (if I finish it within this lifetime, I'll be sure to post previews here), but here's a quick Wolverine drawing:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/wolvie_sancopy.jpg

Also, a peek at a font I'm refining based on my own handwriting (still adjusting the kerning, and I haven't done the numerals yet):

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/letter_test_zedhand.jpg

666MasterOfPuppets

09-18-2007, 04:50 AM

Nice Wolvie drawing. That's a whole different take on the character, and that's good.

The other reminds me of Street Fighter's Fei Long.

zuludelta

09-18-2007, 03:29 PM

Nice Wolvie drawing. That's a whole different take on the character, and that's good.

Thanks. Not sure if it's all that different a take on him, though. His time as a kenshi-in-training (and not a very good one, at that) in Japan was something that Frank Miller and Claremont used to expound on in their stories. I don't know if it's still a big part of the Wolverine mythos, though... I haven't read a Wolverine comic book in years.

The other reminds me of Street Fighter's Fei Long.

That image I used to display my font is actually a cropped version of my second attempt at doing an "updated" Shang-Chi. Here's the full version (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/shangchicopy-1.jpg).

666MasterOfPuppets

09-19-2007, 04:48 AM

The goddamn photobucket won't load the page. I'll try again later. I'm sure the drawing's great, though.

Kara Zor El

09-20-2007, 01:26 PM

Hey Zul. I've been away. So had to catch up on a few pages. love it all. Superman is fantastic, in all three picks.

zuludelta

09-20-2007, 06:17 PM

Hey Zul. I've been away. So had to catch up on a few pages. love it all. Superman is fantastic, in all three picks.

Glad to see you back, man. I've been pretty busy myself as you can see by the decrease in my recent output.

Kara Zor El

09-21-2007, 03:23 PM

Glad to see you back, man. I've been pretty busy myself as you can see by the decrease in my recent output.

Yeah but you are still incredibly prolific.

zuludelta

09-23-2007, 11:19 PM

Thanks Kar.

Here's another image to add to my growing Punisher collection:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/punisher_05copy.jpg

I think it's pretty obvious at this point that I've got Team Fortress 2 (http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/resources/2007/02/team_fortress_2_leadin.jpg) on the brain :D

zuludelta

09-25-2007, 02:30 AM

An unfinished Elektra piece (not sure if I still want to do the full figure or leave it as is):

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/elektracopy-1.jpg

666MasterOfPuppets

09-25-2007, 06:16 AM

That Punisher kicks some serious ass. And he Elektra piece looks really good.

Kara Zor El

09-29-2007, 02:31 PM

zuludelta

09-29-2007, 08:44 PM

Here's the full Elektra image (click on the picture for a larger version):

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/elektrafullcopy.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/elektralargefullcopy.jpg)

zuludelta

10-04-2007, 07:01 PM

Here are some preview pics of character designs I'm doing for a comic book being penned by Joel Klein (I'll leave it to Joel to go into detail regarding their backgrounds, I don't want to misrepresent his creations or anything). All these characters are designed to fit into a particular timeframe by the way (Silver Age/early Bronze Age of comics), which is why I've intentionally gone out of my way to make them look a bit dated:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/magnate02copy.jpg
This is Magnate. Your Captain America-type team leader. He's armed with a sceptre/mace weapon that can channel energy.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/adrenalincopy-1.jpg
Adrenaline. Team speedster, never makes public appearances unless she's completely covered (for a particular reason).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/successorcopy-2.jpg
Successor. An ancient Viking/Nordic warrior with a huge honking sword. Ended up spending way too much time reading about ancient Runic symbols because I didn't want to incorporate symbols that would be misconstrued down the road as being offensive (as some of you may know, runic symbology has a history of being used by Nazis, fascists, and white supremacists), but I wanted to use them to give an air of authenticity to the design.

zuludelta

10-04-2007, 07:02 PM

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/drama_queencopy2-1.jpg
Drama Queen. The costume was inspired by mod fashion of the late 1960s. I shamelessly appropriated the likenesses of Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn for her face and hair (although you can't really tell behind the mask). It's pretty apparent in this earlier version of the character, though:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/drama_queencopy.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/spectrumcopy.jpg
Spectrum. Has the power to manipulate light. His insignia was partially inspired by the cover of Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Dsotm.jpg)

I've got a few more conceptuals I'm still re-working. The funny thing about all this: They won't be spending too much time looking like they do in the conceptuals as in the comics themselves (at least not intiially, as far as I know).

zuludelta

10-04-2007, 07:02 PM

I've been working on the sequentials of the first issue as well, although doing the breakdowns is a lot more challenging than I initially that it would be, and so I'm spending more time doing rough layouts and then throwing them out again:

Page 1 thumbnail:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/p01_thmb-2.jpg

Page 2 thumbnail:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/p02_thmb-1.jpg

I'm still reworking the layouts for the rest of the first issue, although I've started rendering the first page as well.

666MasterOfPuppets

10-04-2007, 09:00 PM

ASTOUNDING designs, zulu. I'm keeping an eye on this.

howyadoin

10-05-2007, 12:17 AM

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/adrenalincopy-1.jpg
Adrenaline. Team speedster, never makes public appearances unless she's completely covered (for a particular reason).I'd assume the helmet was so she could still breathe at high speeds.

Nice designs all around, incidentally.

zuludelta

10-05-2007, 01:04 AM

Thanks for the comments 666, howy

I'd assume the helmet was so she could still breathe at high speeds.

Yep. I was playing with the idea of drawing her with a revised astronaut suit that would help cope with friction and breathing at high-speed, but I figured a modified flight suit would look way sleeker.

zuludelta

10-09-2007, 01:43 AM

Here's a work-in-progress:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/calendartemplatecopy2.jpg

It's for a calendar I'm working on with a group of people from another video game/superhero discussion board (one of whom is Brad Bowers, who I just noticed also posts in these forums). Anyways, I'm doing the month of January and we agreed to do an image for each month that would be suited to a chronological theme (January would be "prehistoric," February would have an "Ancient Egypt" theme, March would be "Roman Empire," etc.). I still have to work in the "superhero" angle in the image, though. I'm thinking of making it so the caveman is actually drawing a primitive comic book on the cave walls.

zuludelta

10-11-2007, 08:02 AM

Here's an update of the previous image:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/calendartemplatecopy2small.jpg

666MasterOfPuppets

10-11-2007, 10:06 AM

Looking good, zulu. Really good.

Kyle Taylor

10-13-2007, 11:36 AM

seriously nice. You have a unique style.

zuludelta

10-19-2007, 12:57 AM

Thanks for the comments guys.

A couple of Wolverine costume re-designs:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/wolvie_redesign2copy.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/wolvie_redesign3copy.jpg

and as a bit of an afterthought, the yellow and blue version:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/wolvie_redesign2bcopy.jpg

howyadoin

10-19-2007, 12:42 PM

zuludelta

10-19-2007, 04:11 PM

Thanks howy... good catch with the Wildcat influence, the design was mostly influenced by something I saw in the Naruto cartoon and DC's Wildcat (I wanted to go for a boxer/martial artist look)... not entirely happy with how it turned out, though, so I'm probably re-visiting and revising the image in the future.

chizel man

10-19-2007, 06:43 PM

Zulu,man I really think your art is hot. I used to draw alot on the computer before I got my scanner but it was in MSpaint.

zuludelta

11-01-2007, 07:14 AM

Thanks for the comment chizel man.

Anyway, some teaser pics from my work on Seniority:

Page 2, panels 3 and 4:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/page02_panel03_04.jpg

Page 3 , panel 2 (still working on this one):

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/page03_panel02.jpg

Page 4, panel 1:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/page04_panel01.jpg

666MasterOfPuppets

11-02-2007, 05:18 AM

Zulu, this is looking neat. Keep 'em coming.

armandoB

11-02-2007, 10:26 AM

Zulu, this is looking neat. Keep 'em coming.

ditto

tencharacters

zuludelta

12-13-2007, 07:18 AM

Been waaay too busy the last couple of months to post anything new.

Anyways, some fairly recent stuff, just to keep my thread alive:

An unused design from a non-comic book related project:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/prototype.jpg

A quick self-portrait-y type thing:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/Untitled-1copy.jpg

chizel man

12-13-2007, 05:21 PM

Good stuff Zulu. The warrior guy looks like Kevin Sorbo as Hercules.

666MasterOfPuppets

12-14-2007, 05:05 AM

Seconded. Superb stuff as always, zulu.

zuludelta

12-28-2007, 04:54 AM

A little Daredevil... might eventually add Elektra and/or Black Widow to the piece when I find the time, but for now it's just an excuse to draw a superhero posed in a traditional eskrima/kali stance:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/dd4copy.jpg

Also, a little Seniority coloured sketch:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/magnate_kicking_asscopy.jpg

666MasterOfPuppets

12-28-2007, 05:24 AM

Loving the pose you used for Daredevil, zulu. And hey, you only had showed us a couple of panels from Seniority. Did you finish the comic?

zuludelta

12-28-2007, 01:46 PM

Loving the pose you used for Daredevil, zulu. And hey, you only had showed us a couple of panels from Seniority. Did you finish the comic?

Nope, still working on it... real life sort of got in the way the last couple of months so I had to set it aside for a bit, but I've been trying to work on it as much as I can whenever I'm free.

666MasterOfPuppets

12-29-2007, 05:32 AM

Nope, still working on it... real life sort of got in the way the last couple of months so I had to set it aside for a bit, but I've been trying to work on it as much as I can whenever I'm free.

Quoted for truth. The same happens to me with my Superman fanfic. I'll see if I get back to work on it one of these days.

zuludelta

12-29-2007, 07:01 AM

Added Elektra:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/dd4copy-1.jpg

Maybe I'll add Black Widow, or even Typhoid Mary eventually.

POETICDRINK2U

12-29-2007, 05:54 PM

Wow! you are very talented I like your drawings.

zuludelta

12-30-2007, 06:28 AM

Thanks for the kind words man.

Here's Typhoid Mary:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/typhoid.jpg

666MasterOfPuppets

12-30-2007, 06:35 AM

Lookin good, man. What's the deal with that Typhoid Mary? Hadn't heard of her...

zuludelta

12-30-2007, 06:51 AM

Lookin good, man. What's the deal with that Typhoid Mary? Hadn't heard of her...

Typhoid Mary is actually one of my favourite Daredevil supporting characters, although she hasn't been seen in a while.

The character was created by writer Ann Nocenti during the late 1980s (as you can tell from her big hair and giant shoulder pads) and designed by John Romita, Jr. Her deal is that she's Kingpin's personal bodyguard and sometime-lover... in actuality, "Typhoid Mary" is actually the repressed persona of mild-mannered Mary Walker, whose psyche split into two after she was sexually assaulted as a teen (Typhoid Mary representing her dark, violent tendencies). As Typhoid Mary, she's a weak telekinetic (she can only manipulate small objects) and can spontaneously cause things to burst into flame. Her body is also in a constant febrile state (it's as if she's always running a fever), which confuses Daredevil's senses for some reason... she's got a sort of love-hate relationship with Daredevil, although the last I read, Daredevil, as lawyer Matt Murdock, finally managed to get her committed to an insane asylum (by pretending to fall in love with her and then turning around and giving her up to the authorities when her passive Mary Walker personality emerged)... granted, this was in the mid-1990s, during D.G. Chichester's run as writer, I've no idea what they've done with the character since... although I vaguely remember reading a mini-series in the late 1990s where she had once again taken to the streets and started a career as a prostitute/vigilante, killing her customers-- sort of like a reverse Jack The Ripper-- it was one of Marvel's early attempts at creating a "Mature readers" title.

zuludelta

12-30-2007, 03:55 PM

I liked how Typhoid Mary turned out so much I decided to make a wallpaper out of the image (in 1024 x 768 resolution).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/typhoid_wp_preview.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/typhoid_wp_1024x768.jpg)

chizel man

12-31-2007, 08:49 AM

More great stuff, as usual Zulu. Keep em coming.

zuludelta

01-08-2008, 03:25 AM

Working on "cleaning up" my illustration style, going away from the more exaggerated proportions of my previous work (I started doing so with the previous Daredevil drawings):

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/mag_DQcopy.jpg

zuludelta

01-12-2008, 10:30 PM

Here's a drawing I made of a Filipino Igorot warrior some time ago, but only coloured recently. It was the first of a series I was going to make of ancient warriors/martial artists (besides the Igorot warrior, I was planning on making a samurai, a ninja, a Shao-lin monk, a traditional muay thai fighter, etc.) but I never really followed through with it. Maybe in the future (I get distracted too easily).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/warriorcopy.jpg

I drew this while I was still heavily influenced by guys like Skottie Young, Humberto Ramos, and Adam Pollina, hence the wacky proportions.

Some background on the subject matter: Igorots were some of the most feared fighters in the Philippines, and their territory in the mountainous north of the country was one of the few places that never fell under foreign military subjugation. They resisted over the 300 years of Spanish colonial rule, and thwarted the Japanese encroachment of World War II (in fact, a good number of Japanese soldiers ended up being assimilated into Igorot society during and immediately after the war... I could probably go off on an amateur sociological digression about how the warrior culture of the Igorots probably held some appeal to the samurai mentality of the Japanese, but I won't). The Americans made some headway into the north during their occupation of the Philippines in the first half of the 20th century, but only because they tried a non-military approach... they established churches and schools and waged what could be termed as an assault on the indigenous culture (these days, most Igorots are nominally Christian, although they still practice some traditional rites, and English is generally considered the third most widely-spoken language in the area... also, strangely enough, country music is popular in many Igorot communities).

Much of the Igorot martial art, as it was, was weapons-based, using the sib-at (pike), the bu-neng (otherwise known as the bolo or itak, a heavy long knife for slashing/hacking, much like a machete), and the ax, although wrestling also plays a large part in the indigenous martial arts. The traditional martial arts of the Igorot are all but forgotten (although some of it survives in ritualized dance), but elements of it (along with the martial arts of other Filipino communities) can be found in the modern-day Eskrima and Kali martial arts schools (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eskrima) (popularized in comic books such as Nightwing (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Grayson#Skills_and_abilities))... the eskrima staves are supposed to represent the original bladed weapons (19th century Filipino martial art practitioners had to resort to wooden weapons during the Spanish and American occupation since carrying bladed weapons in public was made illegal).