Third page from RedDeath of BAD GUY HIGH in the Fusionverse. His comments:
“This page is kind of a fun culmination of my previous two because I get to draw Suki flailing about AND do another B.A. drawing of Energize with energy all around him. But the real notable point of this page is Fusion's dramatic entrance into Crossoverkill! With the exception of the flashforward at the start of the comic this is Fusion's first in-costume debut. ”Essay Bee“ explained to us that when Fusion uses her powers her hair should be lit up along with her eyes, but I cheated a little and kept her hair black just because it's her first proper appearance, and selfishly because it was the first time I git to draw her. As far as you know anyway….
Essay Bee draws in a very clean style based on Bruce Timm's DCAU cartoons, so when drawing Fusion I wanted to honor that. Especially since I'm no stranger to using Bruce Timm's style myself. But instead of just basing it off the model designs of the show, I dusted off my copy of Modern Masters and based it off of Bruce Timm's pin-up girl art. It's amazing how Bruce Timm's private art is both similar, and yet sometimes COMPLETELY different from the uniform style used for his shows. And that's exactly what I wanted for this comic, so that my drawing of Fusion was very similar to Essay Bee's but also different enough that it was something new too.”
Oh, and I don't think I want to comment on who I use as artistic models/references for the current crew---after all, I haven't drawn them all yet---but I will say that for CROSSOVERLORD I used the young Peter O'Toole (Lawrence of Arabia days, for instance) for Lightbringer, Katherine Hepburn when olde and gaunter for Debbie, the girl who played the spoiled rich girl in CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY for ANT/Lisa, and for Dasien I used a blonde Jessica Alba (especially inspired by action shots in DARK ANGEL) after a poster Neil once did for a Dasien movie. Although Neil told me later that another actress is closer, so that's who I used for Dasien in CROSSOVERKILL. Ultra. Ultra. Who did I use for Ultra? It'll come to me....
I used a young Barbara Streisand for Green Avenger---from say, the WHAT'S UP DOC? days---and Tim Curry for the Smiling Man.
By the way, the Doppelganger Gang is still working on its main goal, kidnapping the various Deaths out there in the Multiverse---check out DEATH AND THE FAIRY's special feature, at [url]http://www.drunkduck.com/Death_and_Fairy/index.php?p=793980[/url].
Well, I was specifically mentioning about Al's style there. He obviously uses it, and so I get curious to see who he used. But it's interesting to see each artist's renditions. It's one of the fun things about a project like this. Everybody brings their own interpretation, their own style.
And you guys can actually pull off doing a storywith multiple artists and keep it updating frequently, which the big publishers haven't been able to do consistently (like, say, Image United--though it is a different way of doing it, the whole thing would probably be faster if you guys did something similar).
I don't know about the others but I don't use photo references at all for characters - often do for things like motor cycles, cars and some buildings and animals though... in terms of drawing other cartoonist's characters I use their own artwork as a reference...
I forgot that Majestic Knight was daily. I've gotten quite far behind on my non-Drunk Duck webcomics. I think I last went onto his comic in October. I'll have a lot to get through when I get around to it (as s likely the same with Mindmistress, Lightbringer, Magellan, SuperFogeys, Special School, etc.).
One thing I especially look for in these projects that you're a part of, Al, is what people you use as models for each character. It's quite obvious that Mindmstress is Liv Tyler, but I wonder who the others will be based on. It compounds things not seeing Energize without his mask by you, but he is one I especially wonder about. And I can't even begin to imagine what had happened if you had drawn the Master Assassin...
One thing I DO like about this project, and CROSSOVERLORD before it, is seeing everyone interpreting every one else's characters. From page to page, different interpretations of everyone. As for Ben---he's been doing DAILY updates on MAJESTIC KNIGHT, so he's been pretty busy, but Majestic Knight has a very pivotal role later---as does his base of operations.
I love these pages, but still can't help but feel the absence of Ben's artwork. It may be because the Majestic Knight has been on only two pages so far, but I like seeing how all the artists interpret these characters.
I think I missed the group memo 'cos I I didn't know the update was scheduled for today! (oops!) Another fantastic page - as the guy who designed Syko Suki I have to say I really like the way Red Death draws her, and that last panel shot of Energize is way awesome.
kriss1989--You'll actually get a better explanation of X-Pletive's powers and how they work in the current issue of Fusion (probably still a little over a month away, though). Suffice it to say, in these pages, his swearing is helping him to heal, although he still obviously feels the pain.
And I really like RedDeath's versions of Fusion and X-Pletive. The highlights on the purple of her suit look particularly nice. And nice work on the strong Timm-ish curves.
And I still love the way you handled the 4th panel. Looks much better--and more detailed--than I had pictured it from the script!
Ozmandious at 1:42PM, Feb. 22, 2011
I hope there's no interference between Energizers power field and Fusions' power...
alschroeder at 6:28AM, Feb. 22, 2011
Oh, and I don't think I want to comment on who I use as artistic models/references for the current crew---after all, I haven't drawn them all yet---but I will say that for CROSSOVERLORD I used the young Peter O'Toole (Lawrence of Arabia days, for instance) for Lightbringer, Katherine Hepburn when olde and gaunter for Debbie, the girl who played the spoiled rich girl in CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY for ANT/Lisa, and for Dasien I used a blonde Jessica Alba (especially inspired by action shots in DARK ANGEL) after a poster Neil once did for a Dasien movie. Although Neil told me later that another actress is closer, so that's who I used for Dasien in CROSSOVERKILL. Ultra. Ultra. Who did I use for Ultra? It'll come to me.... I used a young Barbara Streisand for Green Avenger---from say, the WHAT'S UP DOC? days---and Tim Curry for the Smiling Man.
alschroeder at 3:36AM, Feb. 22, 2011
By the way, the Doppelganger Gang is still working on its main goal, kidnapping the various Deaths out there in the Multiverse---check out DEATH AND THE FAIRY's special feature, at [url]http://www.drunkduck.com/Death_and_Fairy/index.php?p=793980[/url].
dwrean at 8:09PM, Feb. 21, 2011
xpletive heals by cursing? if only a whole sentence could be made of one long !~#%$@#^$.
shastab24 at 7:25PM, Feb. 21, 2011
Well, I was specifically mentioning about Al's style there. He obviously uses it, and so I get curious to see who he used. But it's interesting to see each artist's renditions. It's one of the fun things about a project like this. Everybody brings their own interpretation, their own style. And you guys can actually pull off doing a storywith multiple artists and keep it updating frequently, which the big publishers haven't been able to do consistently (like, say, Image United--though it is a different way of doing it, the whole thing would probably be faster if you guys did something similar).
xmung at 6:58PM, Feb. 21, 2011
I don't know about the others but I don't use photo references at all for characters - often do for things like motor cycles, cars and some buildings and animals though... in terms of drawing other cartoonist's characters I use their own artwork as a reference...
shastab24 at 6:44PM, Feb. 21, 2011
I forgot that Majestic Knight was daily. I've gotten quite far behind on my non-Drunk Duck webcomics. I think I last went onto his comic in October. I'll have a lot to get through when I get around to it (as s likely the same with Mindmistress, Lightbringer, Magellan, SuperFogeys, Special School, etc.). One thing I especially look for in these projects that you're a part of, Al, is what people you use as models for each character. It's quite obvious that Mindmstress is Liv Tyler, but I wonder who the others will be based on. It compounds things not seeing Energize without his mask by you, but he is one I especially wonder about. And I can't even begin to imagine what had happened if you had drawn the Master Assassin...
algeya at 5:40PM, Feb. 21, 2011
I saved this strip in my hard drive,
AzuJOD at 5:10PM, Feb. 21, 2011
I don't know what to say, olher than great page!
alschroeder at 5:00PM, Feb. 21, 2011
One thing I DO like about this project, and CROSSOVERLORD before it, is seeing everyone interpreting every one else's characters. From page to page, different interpretations of everyone. As for Ben---he's been doing DAILY updates on MAJESTIC KNIGHT, so he's been pretty busy, but Majestic Knight has a very pivotal role later---as does his base of operations.
shastab24 at 2:57PM, Feb. 21, 2011
I love these pages, but still can't help but feel the absence of Ben's artwork. It may be because the Majestic Knight has been on only two pages so far, but I like seeing how all the artists interpret these characters.
xmung at 2:33PM, Feb. 21, 2011
I think I missed the group memo 'cos I I didn't know the update was scheduled for today! (oops!) Another fantastic page - as the guy who designed Syko Suki I have to say I really like the way Red Death draws her, and that last panel shot of Energize is way awesome.
zodo at 10:50AM, Feb. 21, 2011
I am stunned by how good the artwork is in this update! Why does the rating only let me go up to 5???
TuuronTour at 9:26AM, Feb. 21, 2011
X-pletive has reason to curse that much. ouchies!
Call Me Tom at 7:06AM, Feb. 21, 2011
Awesome!
EssayBee at 6:57AM, Feb. 21, 2011
kriss1989--You'll actually get a better explanation of X-Pletive's powers and how they work in the current issue of Fusion (probably still a little over a month away, though). Suffice it to say, in these pages, his swearing is helping him to heal, although he still obviously feels the pain. And I really like RedDeath's versions of Fusion and X-Pletive. The highlights on the purple of her suit look particularly nice. And nice work on the strong Timm-ish curves. And I still love the way you handled the 4th panel. Looks much better--and more detailed--than I had pictured it from the script!
alschroeder at 6:28AM, Feb. 21, 2011
Two more updates this week, Wednesday and Friday, both by Nepath of ENERGIZE!
kriss1989 at 10:38PM, Feb. 20, 2011
He so needs to have sombody take offense and then need to explain that he gets his powers from swearing.
Neilsama at 10:07PM, Feb. 20, 2011
That guy's a bigger pottymouth than Das. Energize is gonna fly up there and show someone some real lighting.