River Bird Comics

Robot 6 read Hellbound II

2012-05-16T00:11:00-07:00

"On my way down to MoCCA, I read Hellbound #2, a black-and-white anthology of short horror comics by members of the Boston Comics Roundtable. The craftsmanship in this volume is impressive, especially given that none of the creators are full-time cartoonists. John Hilliard’s “Eugene” is the story of a hairy, vampire-like monster stalking innocent victims, but the cheerful storytelling style makes it seem charming–right up until the surprise ending. Joshua D. Hoagland’s “Mt. Auburn Night,” set in the Cambridge cemetery, is a beautiful romp of skeletons and gravestone statuary, drawn with strong blacks and white in a style reminiscent of Aubrey Beardsley. Both are wordless stories (well, “Eugene” has one word balloon) that use strong visuals and creative panel layouts to pull the reader in and tell the story. I have to mention “Robmeblind.com,” written by my MoCCA travel companion J.L. Bell and drawn by Andy Wong, a clever story about burglars who use the web to scout out potential victims."

Brigid Alverson
via Robot 6@CBR

Non Superhero FCBD@ Hub Comics: Hellbound II

2012-05-08T13:41:00-07:00

* This post will be updated with scheduling information up to the signing date.

Hellbound 1: SOLD OUT

2012-05-05T03:19:00-07:00

Cold Wind is a short adventure comic written by Dan Mazur and...

2012-04-28T11:55:05-07:00

Cold Wind is a short adventure comic written by Dan Mazur and drawn byJesse Lonergan, independently published by Mazur’s Ninth Art Press.

I saw this story grow from a script that Dan shared with the Boston Comics Roundtable to its final form. Dan writes in screenplay format, not breaking his story into pages and panels. Often he draws his own art, so that’s obviously not a problem. In this case, he left it up to Jesse—who’s scripted his own Flower and Fade, Joe and Azat, and other tales—to divide the screenplay into images. Yet another approach to collaboration.

Dan’s told me a couple of times how he’s no longer a fan of superhero comics because of their repetitive themes. He reads one Spider-Man story, learns that “With great power comes great responsibility,” reads another story—and learns the same thing.

As former Marvel editor Jim Shooter has commented:

Comic books have become like opera. You go to see a particular performance of an old story, not a new story. How will this performer handle that familiar role…?

That familiarity is part of the appeal of a series, or a genre.

At the last roundtable meeting, Dan wondered aloud if Cold Wind is a superhero comic. I said it qualified, despite his ambivalence about the genre. It’s a pumped-up action story taking place against a fantastic landscape. Its characters are largely symbolic, and they work out the fate of the world through violence.

But Cold Wind reflects Dan Mazur’s take on the superhero genre, with the theme that things don’t change significantly. For all the adventure’s sound effects and fury, its surviving characters achieve only a short pleasure before the world spins on.

Cold Wind is on sale today at the MoCCA Festival, in the better Boston-area comics shops, and over the web.

(via Cold Wind and the Limits of the Superhero Genre)

Hellbound II Creators Signing at Free Comic Book Day

2012-04-28T02:43:00-07:00

When: May 5th, 2012. Million Year Picnic’s Saturday Schedulle is 10 AM to 10 PM
Where: Million Year Picnic:
99 MT Auburn ST
Cambridge, MA 02138
617-492-6763

What:
Limited Free copies of Hellbound #1!
Hellbound 2 premier with creators signing during the whole day.

11:00 AM - Lindsay Moore: writer of “Dolly” ( Hellbound II) and “Faking it” (Hellbound) and Gregery Miller author of “Nostalgia”.

12:00 PM - EJ Barnes: artist of “The Plage” (Hellbound II) and creator of “A House with a Past” (Hellbound).

1:00 PM - Jerel Dye: artist of “Necrocomicon” (Hellbound II) and Story Editior for Hellbound III (you can pitch your stories to him live!).
Nathan Kitler writer of “Necrocomicon” and “The Bloody Curse of Sarah Goode” for Hellbound.

4:00 PM - Patrick Flaherty writer of “The Plague” (Hellbound II) and

Dan Mazur ( Ninth Art Press) creator of “What really happened to Betty and Barney Hill?” and publisher of Hellbound II.

6:00 PM - Jesse Lonergan story editor and cover artist for Hellbound II. Author of “Sweet Dreams” (Hellbound).

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The Report Card: Hellbound 2

2012-04-24T06:48:00-07:00

" I am impressed by the passion of the group to create and compile such a wonderful set of frighteningly fiendish stories. Hellbound 2 is a wonderful homage to things that go bump in the night, and our affection for what terrifies us the most."

by Roz Young ( Sequential Tart )

Free Digital Edition!

2012-04-20T07:36:00-07:00

Now with each copy of OUTBOUND #2 we are including a code for a FREE Digital Copy of the SOLD OUT OUTBOUND #1. Yes you read it right, if you buy a copy of Outbound #2 from our STORE, at a Boston Comics Roundtable convention stand or from Million Year Picnic it comes with a FREE digital copy (PDF Format compatible with all Tablets and E-Readers) of OUTBOUND #1.

Dig This: Hellbound 2

2012-04-20T02:34:00-07:00

This week's Weekly Dig recommends or latest issue on their Dig This section. While we appreciate the inclusion on the issue before tomorrow's Boston Comic Con there is a few bits of information that may not be completely accurate. I think Bill had in mind our Art Edition when he wrote the review, which has been out since last Halloween. We will be releasing our "Regular" Edition this weekend at the convention floor, and next week to local stores. Our Editor was Jesse Lonergan (but I encourage everyone to call him Jess from now on) and the new edition is being published by Ninth Art Press. However all the praise and compliments are 100% accurate and we appreciate them very much.

Emi Gennis: Hellbound 2 Review

2012-04-20T02:18:00-07:00

Great Review by Emi Gennis of Hellbound 2!

Glory

2012-04-18T09:33:00-07:00

Glory (Rob Liefeld's Glory from Image Comics ) for this week's Sketch Challenge (@Ten Ton Studios) he is riding a Leaping Mole... that is a real thing right? I have been using Borden & Riley's #120 Bristol Plate (Smooth) is pretty good for inking and markers. For Ink I used a Rotring Art Pen Extra Fine and a Sanford Extra Fine Point Marker, mostly for the Mole Skin and contour.

Meanwhile, in Boston

2012-04-18T06:17:00-07:00

...

Meanwhile, in Boston, a group of cartoonists meet up weekly to discuss, critique and create comics. The Boston Comics Roundtable has created many an anthology from their Massachusetts (maybe we should say New England) talent base for the Inbound series based on subjects like Boston history and the ever-popular food.

Cover image by Jesse Lonergan

Recently, the Schulz Library received the artist edition of Hellbound 2, a horror anthology, created by Roho and BCR members. The group returns to its zine roots for this collection, complete with beautifully handmade paper, rubber stamps and hand-bound box for the two books. The stories are short and sweet, the filler illustrations make you beg for a full story. Often the failing of a horror anthology is that you read WITH the intention of being scared and thus, thumb through the pages bravely. A well-written comic is not necessarily terrifying until at night, it twists itself in the dark of your room, and you can suddenly recall images.

A particular story that follows that logic is RobMeBlind.com, which is about thieves who utilize location-based smart phone apps to figure out when people are gone from their homes. The clever crafting by J.L. Bell and Andy Wong left me awake blinking at my ceiling (possibly at the easy ability people have of giving away information for temporary celebrity). And the dark woodcut panels of E.J. Barnes in Patrick Flaherty’s story The Plague exemplify a great use of comics to set the mood for the story. Hellbound 2 is perfect for the horror fan or lover of hand-made objects, especially if those objects are a skin suit made from their victims.

-Jen Vaughn
Schulz Librarian
via Zine Scene & the Pony Express

Evil has feelings too

2012-04-17T06:38:00-07:00

Spandexless Review: Hellbound 2: Evil has Feelings too by David Anderson

Hellbound 2

2012-03-28T06:27:00-07:00

Coming Very Soon!
Ninth Art Press, in cooperation with River Bird Comics, and with the participation of the ~~world-famous~~ locally well-regarded Boston Comics Roundtable, and the generous support of the League of Nations Cultural Development Fund, presents Hellbound 2! Details soon…

Cover art by Jesse Lonergan

via Ninth Art Press

Nominated for the 2011 New England Art Awards

2012-03-02T01:02:00-08:00

The Hellbound 2: Art Edition was nominated for the 2011 New England Art Awards. We congratulate Jacob Berendes for his Critic's Pic win for Mother's News. And thank everyone at the New England Art Awards for the nomination and the great Award gala, specially Greg Cook.

More about the New England Art Awards.

WEEK 6

2012-02-12T07:43:00-08:00

This week characters started being 80's teenagers but then changed into something else. Last week I won the Ten Ton Studios Sketch Challenge (it's was Rob's Liefeld's Re:GEX). So I got to choose this week's and do a good entry to defend the title so that took over from Tuesday one. So here is the week: Jeff Spicoli from Fast Times at Ridgemont High, The New Challengers of the Unknown (Re-imagined), Teth-Adam (Redesign), Bizarro (Re-imagined), Proto-Wizard head shot. Next week we will revert back to the normal schedule, it maybe double whammies stay tuned. Also go visit the Boston Comics Roundtable daily sketch Tumblr, where our members show sketches and work in progress of what they are working on.

Week 5

2012-02-07T10:15:00-08:00

This Week's Characters are: Jean Grey, Catwoman, The Thing, Cyclops and Judge Dredd. Next week was going to be 80's Teenagers but after spending half an hour looking at references of Sean Penn I decided against it so keep eye out, there will be some doodles coming out everyday.

Hellbound 3: Now Accepting SUBMISSIONS

2012-02-01T07:50:00-08:00

____________________________

The theme this year is Darkness. What darkness means is different for each of us. We encourage creators to be imaginative and push the envelope as far as it can go in terms of the understanding of Darkness, what it means to us, and what it means in the horror genre. When submitting ideas, scripts, and any artwork let us know your thoughts on the theme and how your project works with it.

Horror Stories adhering to the theme of Darkness
1 – 8 pages
Black and White
8.5” x 11”

The page count this year is shorter than past edition page counts, this was decided upon based on the larger book format. We believe that working in this larger format will allow creators to get more story onto each page.

We are also currently looking into the feasibility of an electronic edition for Hellbound 3. This won't have much impact on the submission process but will hopefully expand our ability to distribute this anthology around the world.

0.25" bleed on all sides
print safe area 0.5" on all sides

Click here for a template.

We encourage creators to submit stories at each stage of the process (Idea/Script/Pencils/Inks) to avoid last minute corrections or troublesome rewrites. You can submit stories or questions via email at hellbound@riverbirdcomics.com or in person at any Boston Comics Roundtable meeting This year we decided to host an art contest for the cover of Hellbound 3. Think you got the illustration skills to grace the cover of the anthology? Please send finished full color artwork to hellboundboston@gmail.com with the words "Cover art contest" in the subject line. Artwork should adhere to the size constraints above and should include a full bleed. Wrap around covers will be considered as well. The Hellbound 3 editors reserve the right to not use any of the submissions if necessary. Deadline for finished stories is June 15th 2012

Deadline for cover art submissions is July 1st 2012

The Hellbound 3 team is:

Story Editor: Jerel Dye

Art Editor: Kyle Anderson

Copy Editor: JL Bell

Blog Editor: Steve Cartisano

Week 4

2012-01-29T04:18:00-08:00

Villains Week! Featuring:
The Joker (DC Comics New 52), Dr. Doom (Future Foundation), Lex Luthor (also New 52 or DC Nü), Mystique (recently resuscitated) and Magneto (Wicked old version).

Week 3

2012-01-23T05:25:00-08:00

Inspired by The Usual Suspects we have:

Martin Luther King Jr. The Punisher, Hellboy, Green Lantern and Dr. Strange.

Keep and Eye on Not Quite a Dancer for Evil Inks this week. Also if you don't like the character selection or want to see this characters dance go check out Jesse Lonergan's Dancer a Day and also join his DaD Facebook Group!

El Lobizón

2012-01-13T16:00:00-08:00

Week 2

2012-01-13T07:03:00-08:00

Week 2 is done, the characters were:

Batman, Tank Girl, Spider-Man, The Spirit and Daredevil.

Nasal Catastrophe

2012-01-12T16:00:00-08:00

Nada

2012-01-11T16:00:00-08:00

The Path of Most Resistance

2012-01-10T16:00:00-08:00

Tiger Tea

2012-01-09T16:00:00-08:00

Vida Interior

2012-01-08T16:00:00-08:00

Week 1

2012-01-06T06:02:00-08:00

First Week of Not Quite Dancers!

Not Quite a Dancer a Day!

2012-01-02T07:37:00-08:00

Not Quite a Dancer a Day!

Project: A.R.C.A.D.E.

2011-12-18T07:19:00-08:00

via This, I drew today

Uncanny X-Force #18 Review by Roho Everyone is saying this is...

2011-12-17T08:36:00-08:00

Uncanny X-Force #18 Review by Roho

Everyone is saying this is the best X-Men book on stands right now, some are going as far as to say best Marvel Book or Super-hero series in general. To me all those are a given but I will go as far as saying this is the best X-Men book of all times and I will tell you why: Consistency! I think it goes beyond the classic runs of past (ei: Claremont) in that it delivers and takes the characters and concepts to the next level. And the art it’s undeniably the best of all books being produced even when it wasn’t Opeña or Ribic it felt like an Uncanny X-Force book I think most of the credit for this goes to Remender and the Colorist Dean White that kept it amazing during the whole run. (I am choosing to keep the Simone Bianchi out as it was not consistent or relevent for the most part). On to this issue specific praise: PAY OFF the hardest to find on X-Men books even on the Morrison run (one of my favorites) most of it got quickly swept away after his run. CHARACTERS were perfect, they felt they acted and they grew as real people, they were not stereotypes or cartoons of themselves even hated ones like Fantomex or Deadpool were important personalities and points of views to make this story work and the best use of telepathy pulling the living our whole lives out together in the last seconds you have to leave device (graciously lifted from that episode of Family Guy) was pretty gut wrenching if you have a soul and a place in it for this characters. TWISTS a-plenty, we were all waiting for the pickle-mutant to be put to some use but being raised by Ma’ and Pa’ Kent I was not expecting, he is a hero…yeah freckin’ Apocalypse (Genesis?) it’s a teenage mutant hero! you gotta love that. In conclusion (and sorry If I went to long) I want more make it double ship make it triple ship, I want movies, cartoons game characters this it’s X-Men and Rick Remender should it’s caretaker this book it’s iron clad evidence of that.

Story: 5 - Excellent
Art: 5 - Excellent

via UNCANNY X-FORCE #18

The Bird Expert

2011-12-02T16:00:00-08:00

Blade Runner

2011-11-30T15:31:00-08:00

This is for this week's Ten Ton Studios Sketch Challenge, no likeness as you can see, but I wanted to do a poster that gave you a hint of what the movie is about. Brush on bristol board ( Joe Kubert School 11x17) with same brushes as the last one and used some generic Pen & Ink (No-Shellac India Black) it was worse than Calli, so the search continues.

Walicxe

2011-11-27T09:50:00-08:00

I'm back to the drawing board! After a few months of not finding the right frame of mind to draw in a satisfying way, just doodles here and there. I have two projects that I want to get done, both short stories. If you follow this blog there has been samples here and there but they remain largely on the planing stages.

First of "13" inspired by a song same as "El Oso" it's a surreal western about anger, violence and a troubled existence. Sharing the first place in importance and focus it's "The Middle Finger" a super-hero parody. Both have the potential to continue or at least to plague my sketchbooks with glimpses of future adventures but the main objective it's to do that first chapter and show what they are all about. Under this two big projects there is a potpourri of equally promising premises both new and old: "Wicker and Thorn" have been dusted off to a very promising first page on Writer's Night. "Outlaw Pizza" yells at me every morning asking for a conclusion to the first chapter, "The Caerulean Dream" slowly slumbers it's way in, while "Black Fuska" floats aimlessly in limbo. I slowly chip away at this "less" important projects (not because their lack of quality, more of a dragging by weight of importance). And buried under all this clutter of creative noise it's "Walixce" and umbrella of sorts not unlike "Moody Toones" in which to explore folk tales and/or (depending on your definition of each) legends from the country I was born in, Uruguay. "Walicxe" it's the word for spell or curse, a word of Charrua origin, the lost natives of the west of river of birds land.

In the picture above drawn on a 11x14 sheet of Bristol Paper (Borden and Riley #120p Bristol Plate to be more precise) drawn on pencil and inked with a pair of Princeton round brushes (#2 and #6) on Calli ink (Jet Black India 010) represents the three stories that I am most excited to render on comic book form: "La Mano Negra", "El Lobizon" and "La Luz Mala", don't worry there will be translations for this titles in one way or another.

My other objective with this piece was to streamline my page process, a warm up of sorts in to getting back in to the groove. While preparing I tried a couple of different ideas on pencil (using a 2B thick graphite stick on a led holder) to loosely work the composition and get a piece interesting enough to keep my interest during the inking process. It did not needed to be perfect but to be a piece worth of the ink I used. After a couple of aborted attempts (a Middle Finger #1 possible cover and a Punisher: River of Blood trade cover idea that is badly needed) I decided that an idea that was fully mature in my head will be the best choice to complete this personal challenge.

Deviating for my usual process and following Jesse's advice I decided to redraw the image on the Bristol board as opposed to tracing it or transferring it. The results I think are very competent, far from perfect it was smooth sailing the redrawing helped me not to transfer initial errors to the final image and work out better options in composition. The paper was great to take a light (4h) pencil with out too much denting and very pleasing to the inking with brush, the brushes behave great, precise but loose, the ink however while flowing correctly lacks the covering I wanted, all fixable in post the lack of solidity made it a thing to figure out next time, hopefully soon.

Oba's Electroplating Company

2011-11-23T13:03:00-08:00

The Boston Slave Riot and Trial of Anthony Burns

2011-11-16T16:00:00-08:00

Benkei in New York: Haggis

2011-11-13T16:00:00-08:00

The Great Michigan Whale

2011-11-13T01:47:00-08:00

Black Fuska: Chapter 1

2011-11-13T00:21:00-08:00

Black Fuska #1

2011-11-11T16:00:00-08:00

Grimorio Del Plata: Argirosis

2011-11-10T16:00:00-08:00

Binding Session

2011-11-09T22:30:00-08:00

The last step (or next to last) on the assembly of our annual horror anthology was the binding. We reserved the familiar grounds of the Rosa Parks room at the Democracy Center on a Tuesday evening and proceeded to put the book together on an assembly line style.

Vacio

2011-11-09T21:12:00-08:00

Shanna: The She Devil

2011-11-09T08:46:00-08:00

For this week's Challenge I decide to go with a more practical approach in lieu of a pin-up. Click to see the original. And go to Ten Ton Studios to see all the other excellent entries and vote!

John L Bell and Andy Wong

2011-11-07T23:00:00-08:00

Rob Me Blind is a collaboration between writer John L. Bell and artist Andy Wong. Today they’re talking with the Hellbound blog about their story and all things horrific.

Lindsay Moore and Alex Cormack

2011-11-06T22:32:00-08:00

Today writer Lindsay Moore and artist Alex Cormack discuss their story Dolly and their thoughts about the fear and horror.

You never get those hours back

2011-11-05T08:08:00-07:00

Buy Hellbound 2: Limited Art Edition!

2011-10-31T02:18:00-07:00

Hellbound 2 Buy Here!		Limited Art Edition


	Hand Made Paper, Screen Printed Box, Stamped Covers, Hand Bound, High Quality Digital Printing, Butcher White Paper.

Cambridge Artists are 'Hellbound' in Sequel

2011-10-29T01:40:00-07:00

Great review and interviews on our own Cambridge Chronicle.

via Wicked Local

Roho, Jesse, and Steve

2011-10-27T23:15:00-07:00

Today we're joined by the creative minds behind Hellbound 2, Roho and Jesse Lonergan and Hellbound blogger Steve Cartisano. Unfortunately screen printer, Joel Gill, wasn't available because he's busy terrorizing the local inhabitants of the New Hampshire Institute of Art. Someone has to do it.

Gregery Miller

2011-10-27T06:02:00-07:00

Today we talk with Gregery Miller, writer and artist of the Hellbound 2 story Nostalgia.

Joshua Hoaglund

2011-10-26T06:00:00-07:00

Joshua Hoaglund is the writer and artist of Mt. Auburn Night. Today we’re going to discuss it and the horror genre.

Gabriel Robinson

2011-10-23T17:30:00-07:00

Gabriel Robinson is the creator behind Red Calf. Today she takes time from her busy schedule to talk with the us.

Logan Faerber

2011-10-22T18:00:00-07:00

Logan Faerber is the writer and artist of Grampire. Today he’s talking with us about horror and his story.

Caitlin Plovnick

2011-10-22T08:00:00-07:00

Caitlin Plovnick is the writer and artist of Eye Contact and today we discuss her story and thoughts about the horror genre.

Ansis Purins

2011-10-21T17:00:00-07:00

Today, writer and artist Ansis Purins is spending a little time at the Hellbound blog to discuss horror and his story, Zombre.

Nathan Kitler and Jerel Dye

2011-10-21T12:00:00-07:00

Today, writer Nathan Kitler and artist Jerel Dye are spending time with the Hellbound blog to discuss horror and their story, Necrocomicon.

Locker Trade Agreement

2011-10-19T17:00:00-07:00

The Caerulean Dream: Episode 1

2011-10-10T12:36:00-07:00

The Caerulean Dream Part 1

2011-10-10T02:09:00-07:00

The Million Year Picnic

2011-10-08T17:00:00-07:00

The Apple Pie

2011-10-07T17:00:00-07:00

Las Andanzas de Vlad Tepes

2011-10-05T17:00:00-07:00

El Cazador de Aventuras #1

2011-10-04T17:00:00-07:00

PITT

2011-10-04T04:55:00-07:00

This Week's Challenge it's Pitt! Head over to Ten Ton Studios and vote for the best.

La Expansion del Exterior

2011-09-29T17:00:00-07:00

Mafalda 1

2011-09-19T17:00:00-07:00

The Deadly Dried Squid Technique

2011-09-18T17:00:00-07:00

El Ángel [ The Angel ]

2011-09-15T17:00:00-07:00

Spider-Man 2.0 Project Rooftop

2011-08-15T05:58:00-07:00

Click picture above to see all Character Sheets.
It's good that Marvel is currently trying to inject some diversity on to their characters. However there is one minority, one group of oppressed and currently forgotten people that has never has been treated with any respect. (Except for Grant Morrison)

Fade to Black and White, cigarette smoke and tight voice...

I present to you this peculiar situation: A young man, high school years known as Peter Parker, falls in the sewers on his way to a science show, maybe about spiders, is not important because he never makes it, was found by the mutant group commonly referred as the Morlocks.

Pause, inhales cigarette smoke:

Long believed to be extinct their numbers were not what the used to be in order to ad to the ranks they will activate the dormant mutant gene of any person they encounter. Unfortunately for Peter with great powers comes great disfigurement.

After coming to terms with his new situation Peter lives a double life as an introverted, and odd looking teenager who is starting to develop a disturbing obsession with a red headed classmate by the name of Mary Jane Watson and a underground dweller mutant in search for a cure for his spider themed condition.

Short story: Spiderman by way of the movie The Fly.

See rules and other entries soon here:
Project: Rooftop

via This, I drew today!

The Black Legion by Mark Brooks (from Uncanny X-Force #12) If...

2011-07-29T09:49:00-07:00

The Black Legion by Mark Brooks (from Uncanny X-Force #12)

If you ever liked the X-Men on any of it’s forms this is the book for you, Rick Remender rocks the X-World with the gorgeous help of Esac Ribic, Jerome Opeña, Billy Tan and Mark Brooks.

(via Uncanny X-Force: Best at what it does and what it does looks nice!)

Hellboy: Re-Covered

2011-07-13T02:05:00-07:00

This week's Ten Ton Studios: Sketch Challenge is a cover recreation of a Hellboy Comic.

The art on right is the digital version of my all hand drawn and colored version (click to see) of this challenge's entry. My inspiration was this cover by Francesco Francavilla (left). He is a great cover and interior artist that has worked both on Detective Comics and Black Panther: Man with out Fear (simultaneously!). Both his line art and coloring where inspiration for this cover, the color part is kind of last post scanner, but I tried to regain it on the digital version. As a bonus I used my "Mexican Hellboy" (El Vato Infernal) that I designed for another Hellboy related challenge as an insert on the bottom.

Tin Cans and Strings by Flaherty and Saariaho

2011-07-08T00:06:00-07:00

The rain keeps coming and coming and there is little Tim and Frank, employees of a local telephone provider, can do to stop the flooding waters. Fortunately for them, writer Patrick J. Flaherty comes to their rescue: “What are flares & floods compared to a shrug? They'd bring the phones back, even if it was just tin cans and string.” I bet you’re wondering what Patrick means. I know I am and that’s why I’m going to read Patrick and artist Jacob Saariaho next installment of “Tin Cans and Strings”. You should too because I’m not going to tell you what happens!

BPRD: Western

2011-05-25T07:20:00-07:00

The latest Ten Ton Studios Sketch Challenge it's B.P.R.D. Western Style. It was a lot of fun to draw Mike Mignola's creations on a western flavor. The one I had the most fun was Hellboy I decided to go Mexican complete with big mustache, sombrero and poncho. If I had to cast the movie Danny Trejo will play the part.

Alkehine’s Gun by Joel Gill

2011-05-19T00:57:00-07:00

In the distant future, a distraught father makes a difficult decision for the wellbeing of his child. When his son is born without most of his brain, he becomes the perfect candidate for the Alkehine’s Gun project. For the ten years following the procedure, the father has attempted to communicate with his son in the only way he can: games of chess. Up until now, it’s been a one-sided conversation. Now his son has finally spoken. Join artist and writer Joel Gill as he delves into the mystery of Alkehine’s Gun and humanity. About the creator: Joel Christian Gill is the founder, CEO, exclusive board member, sole shareholder, administrative assistant, mailroom clerk, director of development, doorman, elevator operator, and janitor of StrangeFruit Comics. He is also the Chair of the Foundations Department at the New Hampshire Institute of Art, in Manchester New Hampshire where he lives (not at the Institute, but in the city) with his wife, three daughters, and one son. He is not currently in a bad mood. More about Joel on his Blog.

Robot 11-Three created by Kevin Kilgore

2011-04-15T02:34:00-07:00

Robot 11-Three features the tale of Robot 11-Three! What? You want more? Okay, he’s an assassin! What do you mean you don’t believe me? I’ve seen his work! I’ve read the first installment. Yes, he assassinated. That’s what assassins do, right? No, I don’t know what happens next but I expect the body count to rise! He isn’t a Disney character, after all. Well, yes, Robot 11-Three does look like a soda can. What’s your point? You’re just saying. You’re just saying! I give up! There’s no pleasing you! Everything everyone says about you behind your back is true! You don’t appreciate quality entertainment! You don’t deserve to read Kevin Kilgore’s Robot 11-Three! Go away. Wait, one more thing, Robot 11-Three reads this blog. I’m sure he didn’t take anything you wrote personal. He’s an assassin and I’m sure he's a very reasonable robot. Faily sure. Actually, I don't have a freaking clue. Sleep tight.
About Kevin Kilgore.

OFFICER DOWNE

2011-04-13T04:59:00-07:00

An indie comics this week: Officer Downe created by fellow Ten Toner Chris Burnham (now on Batman and Robin) and Man of Action writer Joe Casey. Go to Ten Ton Studios to see a gallery of all the other great entries and click on picture to see the inks on this entry.

Frequency by Alluisi & Boles

2011-04-11T23:18:00-07:00

Seth Stevens is a physics officer; entrusted to enforce the laws of physics. Twice decorated for valor in the line of duty, he patrols the streets protecting the general populace from tampering with nature’s laws. After discussing the end of days with a machete-wielding, urban shaman, Seth can’t help notice that being a hero isn’t always enough. And he isn’t even aware of the woman stalking him as she floats hundreds of feet above him. Join creators David Alluisi and Bryan Boles on Frequency: Breaking the Law of Gravity. It’s trippy.

MOCCA & Outlaw Pizza

2011-04-10T04:43:00-07:00

This weekend is the MOCCA festival in New York, unfortunately I could not attend this year but the Boston Comics Roundtable has a couple of tables where you can find, Inbounds, Outbound (Including a preview of the upcoming Outbound #3), Hellbound, Show and Tell (Ninth Art Press' premier anthology featuring a little story about my school years) and the first Outlaw Pizza mini-comic. I also highly recommend my friend Jesse Lonergan's mini about dancing Star Wars character it's hilarious and beautifully rendered and Heeby Jeeby Comix #2 by Bob Flynn and pals, great fun for the whole family. In other news Outlaw Pizza continues to appear every week on Boston's Weekly Dig webpage, stop by and if you like it let the facebooks and twitters of the world know, thanks.

Flek created by Erik Heumiller

2011-04-07T23:14:00-07:00

In the tradition of Joseph Campbell, join space flea Flek and creator Erik Heumiller on a grand adventure. Somewhere in space, within the fur of Gordo, a lost, NASA-trained, squirrel monkey; lies the world of Flek. With his oversized legs and small second arms, Flek is unlike the others and they never let him forget it. He is different for a reason; like his deceased mother and her people; fleas from Earth who are now missing. A quest awaits him. Somewhere within the fur of Gordo are fleas very much like him and acceptance he seeks.

About creator Erik Heumilker.

LOBO vs Wolverine

2011-04-06T08:20:00-07:00

This week's challenge is the main man (Lobo) this challenge was fun to ink, I inked it with a brush on 14x17 bristol paper. Click on the picture to see the inks. Go to Ten Ton Studios to see the rest of the entries and vote tomorrow.

Driftwood created by Morgan Pielli

2011-04-05T01:55:00-07:00

Killer wood. Driftwood written and drawn by Morgan Pielli is about killer logs. No kidding. Don’t believe me? Fine, share the same fate as Clark and Bill, see if I care.

Can’t you walk in the woods anymore without having to worry about machete wielding psycho, banjo wielding hillbillies, ghosts, witches, books of dead, deadites, wolves, werewolves, bears, mutant bears, and now killer wood? What is this story doing in Outbound? It’s Hellbound creepy.

More about Morgan Pielli.com

STINGRAY

2011-03-23T06:40:00-07:00

For this week's Ten Ton Sketch Challenge someone choose Stingray, a very obscure character from the Namor Marvel Comics series. The costume didn't really do it for my so I went with a more literal approach of what a mutant Stingray-Man would look like. Click to see the entry.

Killer Croc

2011-03-16T09:23:00-07:00

Killer Croc based on the idea that he was created in the '40s and he is a mobster guy a little rough around the edges but who wants to have some style. Batman can not have all the ladys. You can see the preliminary sketches too, if you click on the picture you will see the TenTon Studios Challenge entry on a clean scan.

Space and Time created by Mills and Paoloni

2011-03-09T23:10:00-08:00

A hundred years in the future and life is not any easier. For father Robert and his daughter, Emilia, opportunity is found in a new job across the galaxy. For their pilot, Alex, a mysterious cargo may just what she and her ship the Surnia need. For the United Planets of the Milky Way, puppets on strings may appease the special interest groups that will keep them in power. Finally, there is Deovilo and Delores. I’m not sure that I know exactly what they want and I may be better off not knowing but after two installments of Space and Time, creators Josh Mills and Michael Paoloni have me hooked. I have know what Deovilo and Delores want! Come on, now you want to know too?
For more go to Josh Mills Website.

Rogue

2011-03-09T16:00:00-08:00

This week's Ten Ton Sketch Challenge is Rogue. I was tempted to draw her in her Legacy costume (Age of X) but then I started struggling with how to actually draw her and I wanted to show her using several "borrowed" powers, so I threw in a little Cyclops, some Colossus and a pinch of Wolverine.. You can also see my draft attempts in the background or click on the picture to see the clean entry.

A Man Named Charlie

2011-03-09T07:29:00-08:00

This is my Entry for the Original Character Design Contests, it's based on the "Charlie" Song, I think it's a good character to represent Boston and Cambridge. The idea is that this guy get's on the T (at Kendall Station) back in the '40s and is still riding the subway and helping the common folk. The original idea came out a little like The Spirit with The Question's face, so I decided to age him and make him look really poor so no one will suspect that he is really a Super Hero.
You can read about the history of this song, the rest of the lyrics and also listen to it at this MIT site.

The New Kid created by Dan Mazur

2011-03-02T00:56:00-08:00

Illustration by Jerel Dye.

Straight from artist/writer Dan Mazur himself: Having his world turned upside down is nothing new for Jamie, with a widowed, diplomat mom; his life has been one embassy apartment and foreign service school after another. But there next move looks like their strangest one yet. I wonder what Dan means by that? No, I don’t. I’m a regular reader of The New Kid and this is your chance to be one too! Jump aboard Dan’s well crafted, all-ages, adventure now and he’ll include the Council of Worlds, Introduction to Inter-Galactic History, Interplanetary Linguistics, and Quantum Socio-Physics for free. Where are you going to get a better deal?

About the creator: Dan Mazur grew up in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In 1983, he relocated to Los Angeles to work in the motion picture industry, then in its infancy. After 23 years on the west coast — including 17 in Topanga Canyon, California — he moved back to Cambridge, where he turned his attention to the art of comics. He has since become a household name at his house. For more information on Dan, please read this paragraph again. More about Dan Mazur.

SINESTRO

2011-03-01T08:35:00-08:00

This week's Ten Ton Sketch Challenge is SINESTRO from the Green Lantern comic by DC Comics.

There has been several incarnation of the former Green Lantern current Yellow Lantern. I decided to go with a What if we got really hurt version and he had to use the power of fear (that is yellow right?) to keep himself in one piece, literally.

The color scheme was pretty interesting, I inked the whole thing with a 0.3 Rapidograph and colored with ShinHan Touch markers.

One of the main rules of the Ten Ton Weekly challenge is that you have to create a physical piece of art (in other words no computer rendering or coloring) so the original background it's a little plain (you can click on the picture to see the original drawing) so the above version has a yellow multiply layer (Photoshop) and it's cropped for size.

Visite the Ten Ton Studios Forum to see the other entries and vote after Wednesday's midnight.

Black Fuska by Roho

2011-02-24T22:10:00-08:00

Illustration by Jerel Dye.

Life can be challenging but when faced with problems, it’s best to face them head on than to run. The creative team of Roho, Dave Myers, and Steve Willhite, examine a man who thought jumping into his Black Fuska and driving away from his life would be the solution he needed. Instead, one dark night, a lonely stretch of road leads to three days lost, a factory’s destruction, and vengeful and powerful factory owner. You’ll never look at missing time and a black Volkswagon Beatle the same way again.

About the creator:

Roho (Creator, Writer and Art Issue 1):

Roho was born in Montevideo, Uruguay, and immigrated to the United States with his parents in his early adulthood. Roho studied Commercial Art after high school and began drawing inexpertly at age seventeen. Despite his parents' hopes for him to become a well adjusted person, Roho studied sequential art on his own for several years. Shortly after moving to Cambridge in 2008, he joined Boston Comics Roundtable. Roho has contributed to the last three issues of Inbound as well as publishing Outbound: The Science Fiction Comics Anthology and the Hellbound Annual Horror Anthology.

Also featuring art by:
Richard Jenkins (Cover Issue 1), Dave Myers (Pencils Issue 2), Steve Willhite (Inks Issue #2), Paul Marquis (Cover #2).

The Null Device by David Marshall

2011-02-23T00:25:00-08:00

Illustration by Jerel Dye.

Agent K is in trouble. She’s trapped behind enemy lines and is in desperate need of assistance. Reality is being rewritten and Agent K is necessary to set things straight. Somewhere near the end of the world, her superior the Director, weighs his options and selects the one remaining agents with the skills to complete the mission: Agent D. Too bad he's been fired. Join artist/writer David Marshall as he tries to save reality with the Null Device. And don’t forget your thumb drive.

About the creator: David Marshall is a one-man creative services company, building visual design solutions since 1990. He has almost 20 years of experience in graphic design, illustration, web + information design, and overall content beautification. He provides these services for a variety of public, private, and non-profit organizations.

In addition, Marshall has taught for Art Institute of Boston, Massachusetts College of Art and Memphis College of Art. More at his website Marshall Art Studio

The Cerulean Dream by Roho

2011-02-15T02:13:00-08:00

Illustration by Jerel Dye.

Writer Roho and artist Kevin Zimmerman share the story of a young Cerulean couple’s year long journey from the deep void of space to the fourth planet of a yellow sun system, Mars. They leave behind their family and friends to build a new home for themselves and a future for their species. But will preparing for the worst and hoping for the best be enough for them to realize their dreams? As they are not only ones intrigued by the red planet.

About the creators:

Roho:

Kevin Zimmerman:

Kevin Zimmerman was a student at Virginia Commonwealth University. With one class short of fulfilling his requirements, he hopes to graduate someday with a BFA in Scientific Illustration. In the meantime, he pencils and inks The Cerulean Dream.

Randy Valiente:

Randy Valiente is a comicbook writer and artist from Manila, Philippines. He is also doing concept arts for animation and gaming studios. Some of his works can be found on his site: www.randyvaliente.carbonmade.com

Scientists Gone Wild by Eric Boeker

2011-02-14T03:49:00-08:00

Illustration by Jerel Dye.

Torturous experiments. Fantastic space-age techno do-hickeys. Horrific yet justifiable decapitations. And you thought only inebriated coeds were a problem? Lucky for you artist/writer Eric Boeker knows better. What happens when you combine evil scientists, giant robots, growth rays, radioactive lava from a haunted volcanic island ruled by zombies, a mutant octopus, beer, bunny slippers, and a pipe smoking monkey in a lab coat? I could tell you but you wouldn’t believe me. Read Scientists Gone Wild and witness it yourself!

About the creator:

Ever since he can remember, Eric Boeker has wanted to grow up to be a cartoonist, which is why he (like all other aspiring cartoonists) studied German Literature and grew up to be an engineer. Thanks to the recent zombie invasion in corporate America, he has finally found an outlet for his repressed cartoonist tendencies. He documents the trials and tribulations of the ever-growing, Generation-X, coffeehouse-loving, zombie horde in the "Commute of the Living Dead".

Black Fuska: Episode III

2011-02-08T07:13:00-08:00

Scientists Gone Wild: Episode 3

2011-02-07T06:20:00-08:00

For More of Eric Boeker's excellent comics go to [ Web Comics Nation ]

The Fallout Parade by Jesse Lonergan

2011-02-06T22:13:00-08:00

Hey, it’s the end of the world but don’t let nuclear fire ruin all your fun. Join writer/artist Jesse Lonergan on his post apocalyptic parade featuring a guy named Jack and his girl-you-don’t-bring-to-home to mom, Bugsy. They’ll be motorcycles, martinis, Gaga-inspired fashions (she’s like a freakin’ cockroach—can’t anything kill her?), feasts, dancing, full body shaves, hot tubs, and cannibalism? Okay, that last one isn’t cool but is it really any worse than spending forty plus hours a week avoiding your wienie boss and listening to whiney co-workers? By 9:15 most Mondays I’m ready for a martini strong enough to kill my color vision. It doesn’t even need to be ice cold. But I digress. Read the Fallout Parade by Jesse Lonergan!

More of Jesse Lonergan's work on his [ BLOG ]

Illustration by Jerel Dye.

Outbound #3 Cover Preview

2010-12-23T02:20:00-08:00

Another stunning cover by Marcelo Buchelli our ever evolving cover artist. For issue #3 we are showcasing the last episode of David Marshall's The Null Device. Keep checking our blog for more Outbound #3 preview art.

Tin Cans & A String: Part 4

2010-12-11T01:16:00-08:00

by Patrick J. Flaherty and Jacob Saariaho

Midnight Fiction and New York

2010-12-11T01:16:00-08:00

As we start production work on Issue #3 we are very excited have been honored with the Midnight Fiction Favorite Award with a side of a really great and detailed review on the site.

Outbound #2 is now in stock at Jim Hanley's Universe and Forbidden Planet in New York, stop by and ask for you copy!

The Caerulean Dream: Part 3

2010-11-19T03:04:00-08:00

by Roho and Kevin Zimmerman

River Bird Comics

Robot 6 read Hellbound II

Non Superhero FCBD@ Hub Comics: Hellbound II

Hellbound 1: SOLD OUT

Cold Wind is a short adventure comic written by Dan Mazur and...

Hellbound II Creators Signing at Free Comic Book Day

The Report Card: Hellbound 2

Free Digital Edition!

Dig This: Hellbound 2

Emi Gennis: Hellbound 2 Review

Glory

Meanwhile, in Boston

Evil has feelings too

Hellbound 2

Nominated for the 2011 New England Art Awards

WEEK 6

Week 5

Hellbound 3: Now Accepting SUBMISSIONS

Week 4

Week 3

El Lobizón

Week 2

Nasal Catastrophe

Nada

The Path of Most Resistance

Tiger Tea

Vida Interior

Week 1

Not Quite a Dancer a Day!

Project: A.R.C.A.D.E.

Uncanny X-Force #18 Review by Roho Everyone is saying this is...

The Bird Expert

Blade Runner

Walicxe

Oba's Electroplating Company

The Boston Slave Riot and Trial of Anthony Burns

Benkei in New York: Haggis

The Great Michigan Whale

Black Fuska: Chapter 1

Black Fuska #1

Grimorio Del Plata: Argirosis

Binding Session

Vacio

Shanna: The She Devil

John L Bell and Andy Wong

Lindsay Moore and Alex Cormack

You never get those hours back

Buy Hellbound 2: Limited Art Edition!

Cambridge Artists are 'Hellbound' in Sequel

Roho, Jesse, and Steve

Gregery Miller

Joshua Hoaglund

Gabriel Robinson

Logan Faerber

Caitlin Plovnick

Ansis Purins

Nathan Kitler and Jerel Dye

Locker Trade Agreement

The Caerulean Dream: Episode 1

The Caerulean Dream Part 1

The Million Year Picnic

The Apple Pie

Las Andanzas de Vlad Tepes

El Cazador de Aventuras #1

PITT

La Expansion del Exterior

2011-09-23T17:44:00-07:00 We will be showing around a proof preview of the Hellbound 2 books with our handmade box this weekend at MICE it's a free show full of great creators and comics, look for me or Jesse Lonergan to get an exclusive sneak peak of the book and a flyer about our Halloween Party!

Mafalda 1

The Deadly Dried Squid Technique

El Ángel [ The Angel ]

Spider-Man 2.0 Project Rooftop

The Black Legion by Mark Brooks (from Uncanny X-Force #12) If...

Hellboy: Re-Covered

Tin Cans and Strings by Flaherty and Saariaho

BPRD: Western

Alkehine’s Gun by Joel Gill

Robot 11-Three created by Kevin Kilgore

OFFICER DOWNE

Frequency by Alluisi & Boles

MOCCA & Outlaw Pizza