If you’re one of those people who haven’t friended me on Facebook (do so NOW!) and have been wondering what I’ve been up to, the answer is somweher around 14,672 (days that is). ha. ha.

Seriously though, I have been sketching here and there, but haven’t really been creating any Blink comics “of consequence” (in my opinion). That’s gonna change VERY quickly. At present, I’m working on a total of THREE new comics that will premiere at this year’s Mid-Ohio-Con.

First is a new “full length” Blink comic (about 16 pages or so) titled “Of Hollers & Hunters.”  Blink visits where she grew up in rural West Virginia.  Lots of beautiful scenery to draw for that– hills and forests and all the outdoorsy stuff I love to draw.  More on that story another time.

I’m also working with two friends creating two different submissions for this year’s OH, COMICS!

Adam Osth is writing a story about a man in dire straits and how he befriends a Mudman in the forest and I’m illustrating that.   The story has yet to be titled and it’s kinda surreal, to say the least. (The story, not working with Adam.)

The other story I’m working on is a first.  In all my years in creating comics (30 years in total!) I have never inked over someone else’s pencils for a comic book story.  (I do recall inking over Ray Tomczak’s pencils for a cover illustration about ten-plus years ago back when Ray was the co-chair of the Small Press Syndicate (along with Michael Carroll).  I can’t find that particular drawing, but here’s the last issue of Rap Sheet (the SPS’s newsletter) that Ray edited–in which I drew the cover.)

Hmm.  Where was I?

Oh, right!  So I’m working on a new Blink story for the new issue of OH, COMICS in which I am not the penciller!   Jonathon Riddle has that honor (or punishment it seems…)   Jonathon’s a great illustrator but I’m a harsh task master when it comes to drawing my girls.  ”The face isn’t right.”  ”Her shoulders should be a tad bit more slouched.”  ”She’s gotta have a more innocent look in her eye (but not too much).”  Aarrgh.  I am VERY precise in how things should look– especially the girls.  (Heh.  I should let Jonathon write up a post about his experience after he’s done.  I wonder what he’d say?)

Anyway, I want to show off the first page (so far– I still have to place some tones over the inks).  Both of us worked on the story (plot), I wrote the script (with Jonathon’s input) and drew the rough layouts, he drew the complete pencils and then I went over those with some of my Max Inking (how could I resist a pun like that?)