Original Art Store Updated

It's been some time since I updated my art store over at ComicSpace, but I've finally added not only a bunch of pages from Stephen Colbert's Tek Jansen #1, but also the entire 16 pages from the newly-released Hawaiian Dick #1. So go do some Christmas shopping for the comics fan or art lover in your family!

Tek Jansen Original Art on eBay

I managed to get through convention season without selling all of the original art pages from Stephen Colbert's Tek Jansen #1, so I've decided to put one up on eBay. If this page (the third page of the story, with Tek kicking in the door, stroking the kitty--*not* a euphamism--and getting his finger bitten by the six-inch villain) goes for an appropriate price, I'll try putting the other remaining pages up, too. Go take a look, and if you like the page, throw down a bid!

And don't forget that I also have dozens of pages from Days Like This and Northwest Passage vol.1 for sale at my art store on ComicSpace. I'm trying to clear my office of the unsold artwork that's laying around, so you'll be able to find some good deals there.

TCAF this Weekend!

This weekend is the Toronto Comic Arts Festival, which is, in my humble opinion, the best comics-related show in North America. It's not your standard flea market nerd-fest with William Shatner and people dressed like Sailor Moon. It brings out the entire Toronto arts community, and really celebrates the ART of comics, not the commercial side. It's a bona fide cultural event.

I'll be signing there all weekend in the OWL Kids tent, with plenty of copies of both THE ANNOTATED NORTHWEST PASSAGE and STEPHEN COLBERT'S TEK JANSEN for sale, along with original art, bookmarks, sketches, etc.

Oh, yeah...did I mention that it's FREE? You've got no excuse now but to come and join the fun.

San Diego Signing Schedule

I'll be in sunny San Diego, California on Wednesday through Sunday this week, rubbing elbows with fans, Hollywood folks, and damn near the entire comics industry at Comic-Con International. There will be huge stacks of both The Annotated Northwest Passage and Stephen Colbert's Tek Jansen available at the Oni Press booth, where I'll be signing at the following times:

Thursday
10:30am-11:50am
3:00pm-4:20pm

Friday
1:30pm-2:50pm
6:00pm-6:50pm

Saturday
12:00pm-1:20pm
4:00pm-5:50pm

Sunday
12:00pm-1:20pm

During my signing times, I'll have original art for sale, as well as the snazzy Northwest Passage bookmarks pictured above (pick one up along with your hardcover!) It's also a pretty good bet that I'll be involved in the Oni Press 1oth Anniversary panel that takes place Saturday at 1:30pm. Come out and celebrate with us!

"Tek Jansen" Signing at The Beguiling

Last-minute notice: I'll be signing at The Beguiling on Wednesday, July 11th, from 5pm-7pm, to celebrate the release (finally!) of the first issue of Stephen Colbert's Tek Jansen. Aside from signing hot-off-the-press copies of the new book, I'll have some of the original art from the first issue on display (and for sale!) The store is located at 601 Markham Street in Toronto...so come out, say hello, and join in the merriment and wonder.

...Sometimes Loving then Killing the Aliens!

Following up yesterday's post, it seems Oni has released my cover for the first issue of Tek Jansen. Now you can see what the book will look like:


This was digitally "painted" over my pencils by comic book super-colourist Dave McCaig, who did a great job. My pencils are below, just to show the process for anybody interested. The interiors won't be painted like this (they're coloured in a sort of Photoshop-y Marvel Comics style by Powers colourist Peter Pantazis) but they have a similar old-timey heroic sci-fi feel. I've tried to capture the vibe of bad comics...hopefully without actually being a bad comic.


Oh, and the Oni site now lists the ship date for #1 as June 20 (same week as The Annotated Northwest Passage, I believe...big week for me.) Not sure how firm that is, but keep your fingers crossed, Colbert fans!

Killing the Aliens, Loving the Aliens...

This has appeared several places online and in print, so it might as well be here, too. It was my audition piece for Tek Jansen.

Everyone who saw this piece loved it--except for Stephen Colbert, who couldn't stand it. Which is understandable, as no one likes a caricature of themselves. So, as I've explained in several interviews lately, this isn't actually what the book is going to look like. The Colbert team wanted something more serious, not as cartoonish and design-heavy. Something that plays it straight, like he does on the show.

Still, I quite like this illustration. I post it here for posterity, and for anyone interested in how the book has developed.

(And no, I don't know when the first issue is finally coming out, so please stop asking me.)