Baseball

As the Baseball World Series is under way, I thought I would continue the baseball theme with this beautiful sketch. Another eBay purchase, I have no information about the artist except the back of the envelope has the letters HRAS, and the signature on the front appears to be VTLC 89....

Looks like the Dodgers-Astros matchup is a good one, expect a fun series.

Baseball - Playoffs!!!

Baseball season is winding own for the year as the last round of the playoffs take place. The LA Dodgers are going to the series and the Yankees and Astros are playing tonight to find out who gets to play the Dodgers.

Since I am originally from Brooklyn, I would love to see a Yankee-Dodger World Series. The last time these two team meet was in 1981, with the Dodgers taking the title. These two have met in 11 World Series. Enjoying the season...

I picked up the above cover from an e-bay purchase, so I have no information on the artist. It is a hand drawn sketch of Andre Dawson, with the National Sports Collectors pictorial postmark from 1983. the cover is signed by Dawson, who played for the Montreal Expos, Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox and Florida Marlins...

Kristen Gudsnuk - Henchgirl

2017.08.19 TerrifiCon, Mohegan Sun, Uncasville, Ct

"Made it Ma! Top of the World!"

Kristen Gudsnuk is the creator of Henchgirl. The story of Mary Posa who is a member of the butterfly gang. The comic was originally published by Scout Comics (2015-2016) and ended the story line with issue #11. A trade was released by Dark Horse Comics in 2017.

I had several opportunities at previous shows to meet Kristen, but I was never able to fully connect with her. At TerrifiCon, I wanted to make sure I got the chance to request a sketch. James Cagney is an actor I grew up watching, because of my parents. Whenever one of his movies was on TV, we were watching it. An all around performer, Cagney was known for his many gangster roles, and I figured Henchgirl was the perfect fit.  It turns out that Kristen is a big fan of Cagney and portrayed Henchgirl in the Cagney role of Cody Jarrett in White Heat.  At the end of the movie, Jarrett is trapped by the police and decides to fight rather than surrender. The police fire tear gas into the building and gunfight ensues. Jarrett climbs to the top of the building where he is shot. He takes one last stand and yells "Made it Ma, Top of the World".

In her sketch Gudnsuk as Mary re-enacting the scene with her mother, the superhero Flame Girl looking on.

Kristen claims in an interview on Bleeding Cool, that her inspirations are Bruce Tim's animated DC universe, sitcom humor, Sailor Moon, Scott Pilgrim and her own life. She told me that was also was a fan of James Cagney, having written a school paper about his movies.

Ron Lim - Silver Surfer

2017.08.19 TerrifiCon, Mohegan Sun, Uncasville, Ct

Ron Lim's interest in comics began as a child, reading Batman and the Fantastic Four.

His first published work was on the in dependent title Ex-Mutants, from 1986-1988. He would follow this with work for Marvel Comics, given the job of penciling Silver Surfer, from 1988-1994. Lim also penciled most of the Infinity trilogy (Infinity Gauntlet, Infinity War, Infinity Crusade).

Lim would pencil Thanos, Captain America, Dragon Lines, X-Men 2099, spider-Man Unlimited, Sovereign Seven J2, Badger, Flash, Green Lantern, Stormwatch....

Lim has also penciled Sonic the Hedgehog for Archie Comics and Metallix for Future Comics.

Currently he is working with the comic adaptation of Laurell K. Hamilton's Guilty Pleasures..

Ron Lim Art

Marc McKenzie - Macross Robot

2017.04.29 East Coast Comic Con, Secaucus, NJ

Marc McKenzie is a freelance artist with experience in character design, illustration and writing. He has worked for the New York Times, the Animation Collective and Curious Pictures.

Mckenzie is heavily influenced by Manga, Science Fiction and Fantasy.

Marc was sitting at the National Cartoonist Society table during the convention. When I first approached the table, one of the other gentlemen said come back when Marc is here, he is excellent.

I took the advice and came back to request a sketch.

Marc provided a cute macross robot, well worth the effort to return as suggested..

Mckenzie's Harsh Lines sketchbook

DeviantArt

Matt Buttich - Darth Vader

2017.03.26 Manahawkin, NJ

Matt Buttich is a freelance artist, who specializes in sketch cards and comic book covers. He is currently providing art for Topps Star Wars Galactic Files series 5...

Facebook

DeviantArt

Buzz - Mad Hatter

2017.08.19 TerrifiCon, Mohegan Sun, Uncasville, Ct

I had seen Buzz' booth at several conventions, but never stopped by. Tons of great art being displayed, but I never took the time to stop by.  At the Garden State Comic Fest, someone asked if I had gotten a sketch from Buzz. They went on to say he was a great person and a great artist.

While at TerrifiCon I decided to stop by Buzz' booth. We discussed the sketch I would like, Mad Hatter on a Batman FDC. He knocked it our of the park, what a great sketch. Note the full and cross bones coming from the cup of tea.

Buzz was born and raised in Rangoon, Burma. He grew up reading his father's comic books. Moving to the States at age 13, Buzz would enter the comic industry with Blackthorne Publications at age 15. Buzz would would with Neal Adams' Continuity Studios by age 17. Moving onto the DC Comics, Buzz picked up work on Justice League Quarterly and Justice League International.

Buzz has worked on Vampirella, Shi, X-Factor, Dragonlace, Impulse, Forgotten Realms, Atomika...

Buzz has received Emmy Awards for commercial work with CBS, FOX, Los Angeles Lakers, US Marine Corps....

Just Buzz

Eric Klaus - Mad Hatter

2017.07.09 Garden State Comic Fest, Morristown, NJ

Erik Klaus is a graduate of the Kubert School and is currently working on a graphic novel titles Ninjas and Robots

I had picked up a set of Disney Celebration first day covers, one of which was the Alice in Wonderland Stamp. Coincidently the Johnny Depp movie had been playing all weekend, so I was inspired to obtain a Mad Hatter sketch. Looking over the guests at the GSCF, I choose to request a sketch from Erik because of his style, I knew I would get a great sketch.  Thanks and the best of luck..

Twitter

Barry Kitson - Doctor Mid-Nite

2017.08.19 TerrifiCon, Mohegan Sun, Uncasville, Ct

The USPS issued a special stamp to commemorate the upcoming Solar Eclipse. The moon seen as a black circle is actually printed with thermochromic ink, which uses the heat from your finger to reveal the surface of the moon. When cooled the image reverts back to the full eclipsed Sun.

With the solar eclipse coming up, I thought it would be great to obtain a sketch of Doctor Mid-Nite on an Eclipse FDC. While speaking with Joe St Pierre, after picking up his Gambit sketch, I mentioned I was looking for someone to draw a Doctor Mid-Nite. He looked down the line of artists to his left and said Barry Kitson would be perfect.

I had attempted to meet with Kitson at the Garden State Comic Fest, but did not have any luck, so the second opportunity presented itself, an Kitson obliged with a great sketch.
Barry Kitson has pencilled many titles for both DC and Marvel Comics, which started with his first professional work in Spider-Man for the Marvel UK imprint.

Doctor Mid-Nite was created by writer Charles Reizenstein and artist Stanley Josephs Aschmeiert in 1941, appearing in All-American Comics #25

Charles McNider, was a surgeon who was blinded after and explosion, learns that he can see in perfect darkness. Developing a special which allowed him to see in light and creating blackout bombs which block out all light, he became the crime fighter Doctor Mid-Nite. He would join the Justice Society of America and the All-Star Squadron...

Joe St Pierre - Gambit

2017.08.19 TerrifiCon, Mohegan Sun, Uncasville, Ct

Joe St Pierre started drawing early in his life, using loose leaf paper and a dual red and blue colored pencil. He would eventually attend the School of Visual Arts, NYC. As a professional illustrator, wrier and designer he has had the opportunity to illustrate some o the most recognizable super-heroes, including Spider-Man, Fantastic Four, Wolverine, X-Men, Batman, Superman, Green Lantern and Transformers.

Joe St Pierre has started work on his creator owned comics, The Zodiax, Megahurtz, Bold Blood..

Pop Art Properties

The King of Hearts stamp was issued along with a Queen of Hearts as the 2009 Love issue...

The character of Gambit first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #266, was created by Chris Claremont and Jim Lee...

Mark Dos Santos - Rocketeer

2017.08.09

I was volunteering at the Garden State Comic Fest, so I knew I would have limited time meeting some of the artists. I contacted Mark prior to the show and arranged to obtain a sketch. Mark kindly agreed and when I met him at the show, him told me it would take a while for him to return it since he was heading to San Diego. Waiting is not a problem for me, especially when I know something special is coming in the mail...

I had difficulty picking a subject for him to draw, since everything he does is fantastic. I finally settle on the Rocketeer, a character I wished I could be. I do not want super powers like Superman or Spider-Man. I do not want crime fighting abilities and detective skills like Captain America or Batman.... I want a rocket pack... I know I've said this before...

Mark Dos Santos is a Kubert School graduate, whose Gotham Evening Post illustrations, which pay homage to Norman Rockwell have been featured on Buzzed and io9. His credits include work on Grimm Fairy Tales from Zenoscope; Fall of Cthulhu: Godwar and Eureka: Dormant Gene from Boom Studios, The Book of Five Rings from Smarter Comics and a Hack/Slash cover for Image Comics.  Mar has also provided sketch cards for Marvel, DC Comics, Star Wars, Hellboy Animated and Mars Attacks..

MDS

Chris Puglise - Wonder Woman

2017.06.10 Dewey's Comic City, Madison, NJ

Dewey's Comic City in Madison started off the summer with an emerging creator's sketch party. One June 10 Chris Puglise was at Dewey's greeting comic book fans and providing sketches. A graduate of the Kubert School, Chris is currently a freelance artist...

Instagram - check out the Young Frankenstein print Chris prepared for the Garden State Comic Fest...

Robert Atkins - GI Joe

2017.07.09 Garden State Comic Fest, Morristown, NJ

Robert Atkins is known for his work on titles such as GI Joe, amazing Spider-Man, Venom and Heroes for Hire.

Atkins earned his MFA at the Savannah College of Art and Design. He has built a clientele in commercial art and product, which include package art for Hasbro and other toy lines. Atkins also shares his knowledge and skill by teaching for Comics Experience

I like the way Atkins incorporated the first day postmark into the actual sketch.

Twitter

Facebook