Now, you didn't think I was going to show you the entire image here...did you?!
This is the first (partial) image conventioneers in Pittsburgh will be treated to this weekend. The book has gone to print and while I won't show you the entire picture, I will tell you the story of how it came to be.
First of all let's begin with the artist responsible for the image you will eventually see. As you know, my covers for WHA? have traditionally been parodies of either album covers or rock albums. Pink Floyd's WISH YOU WERE HERE, The Exorcist and for this one I decided to bring back an image that I drew on every book cover I ever had in high school, The Cramps' BAD MUSIC FOR BAD PEOPLE. Then I got to thinking, why not have the original artist do the parody himself?! Enter Stephen Blickenstaff. All I can say about working with Steve is that it was a dream come true. Never in a million years did I think the artist that I immulated all those years ago would not only apply his hand to one of my characters, but to parody that character in one of his most recognizable works. And to do it with the care and respect ans well as his sense of adventure and daring. A perfect example of what this comic has come to represent...coming full circle.
I don't want any of this to over shadow or diminish in any way Jaimie Filer's contribution to this book. In fact, it may not have even been with out his maniacal view of Lucius. There was a side of Lucius that I could not tell. I was to close to the character and could not be objective. J.C. blew that out of the water and brought a bit of Seuss in for good measure. Infact, one of the the things that brought the three of us together as artists was our individual love for that which is Seuss. It was Jaimie's vision that I sketched roughly for Steve. It was in that moment that I knew this book had to have as many artists as would contribute. I threw a party and people showed up.
One of the most welcome guests was William Messner-Loebs. His sense of humor alone, his gratitude and humility lifted the party to a level of sardonic sophistication. When I got back into comics, his were the first I grabbed. His stint on Wonder Woman is some of the best writing you'll read from the past 15 years. Wild Bill puts the "pen" in independent. As writer and artist he compares to none. I lettered the image he provided for the book. Call me a big geeky fanboy, but the thrill lettering one of your idols is beyond description!
Then there's Layne. Layne Toth...the hardest workin' kid in comics. Since her pinup of Walter appeared in S.O.S. I new I had to have her back. This time she illustrated and lettered a four page story and layouts by yours truly. We gave a big hat tip to her dad, Tornado with a parody of ROCKY. Her attention to detail and her sense of movement pushed me to create the same effect throughout the book. Even though this book began in August of 2005...the actual pencils, inks and letters were done in three weeks. I wanted all of the artists contribution to help tell the story. Not only directly, but the images I created were greatly inspired by those that believed enough to help keep the spirit of independent comics alive.
I must mention also the contributions of artist such as Doug Klauba and Bryna Smith. Artist that brought there style directly into the world of WHA? and allowed their work to be altered by it. Their work certainly transformed LUCIUS HEARS A WHA? into a book that I am most proud. I guarantee you will enjoy it as much as we enjoyed making it.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE PIE.
B!
posted by The Inkslinger at 8:57 PM
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