ARES ARISE! Guest Post #7-- Dean Haspiel!

The seventh in a daily celebration by awesome cartoonists of the much-maligned god of war himself, Ares, on the occasion of the publishing of Olympians Volume 7, Ares: Bringer of War.  Today's entry: Dean Haspiel!

 

Dean brings us an awesome, superheroic (or is it supervillainic?) iteration of the God of War. I don't know about you, but the combo of bold colors, super-slick art and a cool logo leave me hankering for a Dean Haspiel helmed Ares comic.

Emmy award winner and Eisner, Harvey & Ignatz Award nominee Dean Haspiel created BILLY DOGMA, illustrated for HBO's "Bored To Death," was a Master Artist at the Atlantic Center for the Arts, is a Yaddo fellow, a playwright, helped pioneer personal webcomics with the invention of ACT-I-VATE.com and TripCity.net, and is the co-founder of Hang Dai Editions in Brooklyn, NY. Dino has written and drawn many comic books, including The Fox, Spider-Man, Batman, X-men, The Fantastic Four, Wonder Woman, Deadpool, Godzilla, Mars Attacks and collaborations with Harvey Pekar, Jonathan Ames, Inverna Lockpez, Jonathan Lethem, Mark Waid, and Stan Lee. Dino steeps in psychotronic movies, cosmic electronica, and Jack Kirby pulp. Check out more of his stuff at http://deanhaspiel.com/

ARES ARISE! Guest Post #6-- Peter Violini!

The sixth in a daily celebration by awesome cartoonists of the much-maligned god of war himself, Ares, on the occasion of the publishing of Olympians Volume 7, Ares: Bringer of War.  Today's entry: Peter Violini!

I first met Peter when he was an intern in Hypothetical Island, the studio in Gowanus I share with several other cartoonists (including Thursday's Reilly Brown). Peter quickly impressed us with his fully realized style, prodigious work ethic, comics biz savvy, and ability to move hulking pieces of furniture with ease. I was especially impressed with his knowledge of cryptids, and encourage anyone who shares that interest to check out Peter's series Sisters, the first issue of which features none other than the Mothman. Peter described his work as Supernatural, Sci-fi, and Samurai extraordinaire, a description which I'll agree with. Check out his tumblr for more of his stuff.

ARES ARISE! Guest Post #5-- Leland Purvis!

The fifth in a daily celebration by awesome cartoonists of the much-maligned god of war himself, Ares, on the occasion of the publishing of Olympians Volume 7, Ares: Bringer of War.  Today's entry: Leland Purvis!

 Leland brings us his own distinct and terrifying depiction of the god of war, an ageless, haunted, almost skeletal figure brandishing the weapons of many eras and bearing the weariness and scars of untold battles. I kinda think, if Ares is still around out there, he just might look like this. At least on a bad day.

Check out more of Leland's stunning work at his website.

ARES ARISE! Guest Post #4-- Reilly Brown!

The fourth in a daily celebration by awesome cartoonists of the much-maligned god of war himself, Ares, on the occasion of the publishing of Olympians Volume 7, Ares: Bringer of War.  Today's entry: Reilly Brown!

 

 Reilly brings the power to this imposing portrait of the god of war. Reilly has worked on a whole slew of Marvel characters, but he's probably best known for his work on the Merc with a Mouth, Deadpool, where he co-created Bob, the Agent of Hydra. In addition to his many Marvel gigs he has his creator-owned digital comic Power Play,  draws the Fred van Lente written St George for Dark Horse, and is the current artist on DC comics relaunch of Lobo. It is also alleged that Reilly sleeps at some point, though, even after sharing a studio space with him for years, I've seen no evidence of that occurring. Check out more of his stuff at his tumblr.

ARES ARISE! Guest Post #3-- Jerzy Drozd!

The third in a daily celebration by awesome cartoonists of the oft-maligned god of war himself, Ares, on the occasion of the publishing of Olympians Volume 7, Ares: Bringer of War.  Today's entry: Jerzy Drozd!

Jerzy transformed Ares into a Masters of the Universe Figure that I Absolutley! Must! Own! One day! Are you listening, Mattel? Mr. Drozd and I have talked extensively about our mutual love of MOTU, as evidenced in this interview here (just look at that backdrop! All MOTU!):

Jerzy Drozd is one of the artists of The Warren Commission Report: A Graphic Investigation into the Kennedy Assassination, published by Abrams ComicArts. He is currently creating a webcomic about a bear, a bird, and metal-gobbling mineral girls at http://boulderandfleet.com

ARES ARISE! Guest post #2-- Tim Hamilton

The second in a daily celebration by awesome cartoonists of the oft-maligned god of war himself, Ares, on the occasion of the publishing of Olympians Volume 7, Ares: Bringer of War.  Today's entry: Tim "T-Money" Hamilton!

Tim Hamilton is a Brooklyn writer / artist with clients such as The New York Times, Cicada Magazine, Marvel, DC Comics, Mad Magazine, Nickelodeon Magazine, ABC Television,
Holiday House and Fast Company Magazine.

In 2010 
he adapted Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 into a graphic novel which was nominated for an Eisner award.
Children's books he has produced include The Big Fib, But! and the upcoming Is That A Cat?

 

ARES ARISE! Guest post #1-- Hazel Newlevant

The first in a daily celebration by awesome cartoonists of the oft-maligned god of war himself, Ares, on the occasion of the publishing of Olympians Volume 7, Ares: Bringer of War.  Today's entry: Hazel Newlevant!

Hazel Newlevant is the cartoonist and publisher of many comics, including the Xeric Award-winning mini-comic Ci Vediamo and If This Be Sin, recipient of the the Prism Comics Queer Press Grant. She is the editor of Chainmail Bikini, the anthology of women gamers, to be released in March 2015. To see more of Hazel’s work and to keep current on upcoming projects, visit her tumblr.

In addition to the above, it's worth mentioning to all you mythophiles out there that Hazel and I will be tabling together at this years MoCCA fest, where she'll be selling this sweeeet map of Greek mythology. I own one and it's pretty much the ginchiest thing ever.

Ares Guest Artists! ARES ARISE!

To commemorate the release of volume seven of Olympians, Ares: Bringer of War, I wanted to host a celebration of the oft-maligned god of war and asked a whole slew of my comics pals to contribute their own interpretations of him. Check back everyday for a brand new artistic vision featuring the murderous Greek god of battle frenzy by a bevy of the greatest cartooning talents in the world. Here's a list of whom to look for:

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 Tuesday, January 27^th: Hazel Newlevant

Wednesday January 28^th:  Tim Hamilton

Thursday, January 29^th: Jerzy Drozd

Friday, January 30^th: Reilly Brown

Saturday, January 31^st: Leland Purvis

Sunday, February 1^st: Peter Violini

Monday, February 2^nd: Dean Haspiel

Tuesday, February 3^rd: Ellen Lindner

Wednesday, February 4^th: Michel Fiffe

Thursday, February 5^th: Danica Novgorodoff

Friday, February 6^th: Nathan Schreiber

Saturday, February 7^th: Simon Fraser

Sunday, February 8^th:  Robin Ha

Monday, February 9^th:  Khary Randolph

Tuesday, February 10^th: Andres Vera Martinez

Wednesday, February 11^th: Greg Benton

Thursday, February 12^th: Nick Bruel

Friday, February 13^th: Jason Chin

Saturday February 14^th: Joan Reilly

Sunday, February 15^th: James Smith

Monday, February 16^th: Nick Abadzis

Tuesday, February 17^th: David Klein

Wednesday, February 18^th: Sara Varon

Thursday, February 19^th: Jason Little

Friday, February 20^th: Christa Cassano

Saturday, February 21^st: Lara Antal

Sunday February 22^nd: Douglas Einar Olsen

Monday February 23^rd: Evan Petersen

Tuesday, February 24^th: Maggie Scarlett Breen

Wednesday, February 25th: Michael Horwitz

Thursday, February 26^th:  Mike Cavallaro

 Friday, February 27th: Nick Bertozzi

Guest Artist Gallery: Kat Roberts

It's that time again, for another installment of the Guest Artist Gallery of the Gods. Up to bat this week: Kat Roberts, and her wonderfully whimsical (yet seriously kick-butt)depiction of the Goddess of the Harvest, Demeter!



Here's what the talented Ms. Roberts has to say about her choice:

"I think this is the second or third time I've drawn Demeter in the past few years, and each time it comes out like some kind of nutritional propaganda. Weirdly, there always seem to be doughnuts involved. Probably because of their deliciousness." And look! She even gave Demeter her golden blade! Awesome.

The divine Kat Roberts divides her time between working in the fashion industry and creating comix. She teaches accessories courses at FIT and 3rd Ward, and has recently launched her own accessories company, Whitehaus. Her partially autobiographic, partially whoa-that-crazy comic "Fever Dream" can be seen at Act-I-Vate.com and her upcoming contribution for "Twisted Savage Dragon Funnies" will be out in December.

In addition to her fashion and comics work, Kat runs the blog "I See Heads People", capturing the hidden faces that surround us in everyday life. Here's a favorite of mine:


Ms. Roberts has seen "Purple Rain" more times than any other two people combined on the whole planet, with the possible exception of her daughter. Kat is also without a doubt the most stylish member of Studio XOXO/ Hypothetical Island, which is faint praise to say the least. Zing!

Can you draw, paint, operate a camera, sculpt, etc.? Have a desire to capture the essence of your favorite figure from Greek myth and see it pictured here on this site? Send me a scan of your work, a few words about yourself and the piece, and I'll put it up!

Guest Artist Gallery: Michel Fiffe

It's been an eternity, but finally, another installment of that beloved feature, Guest Artist Gallery (of the Gods). Up to bat this time-- Michel Fiffe brings his inky blacks and sensuous lines to his depiction of the primordial embodiment of Darkness, Erebus!



Confession time here: Even though Erebus is mentioned in Hesiod's Theogony (the ancient text which I used as the main basis for the story of Zeus: King of the Gods) I did not depict him. D'oh! Son of Kaos, brother to Nyx (the night), I plum just left him out in order to get to the "fun stuff" (Titans, Cycopes, Olympians) that much quicker. Luckily Mr. Fiffe is here to shed some light (ha!) on this (in my little corner of the Grecian universe) sadly neglected mythological personage. Well, not entirely neglected: Erebus features rather prominently in Olympians Book 4, Hades: The Wealthy One (which I am working on right now) but as a non-personified section of the Underworld. Its roots as a god of living darkness get nary a mention, except for here, in Mr. Fiffe's awesome illustration.


Michel Fiffe is a very busy man. One half of the creative duo behind Image Comics Brawl (alongside previous Guest Artist Gallerier Dean Haspiel) he has also brought his wonderfully delirious sensibilities to the magic-realism drama Zegas and the stream-of-consciousness non-continuity strip Fut Miso, both available for free at the web-comic collective Act-i-Vate. Go read them!

In addition to his wonderful comics, Mr. Fiffe is also the editor, contributor and all-around main creative force behind the ongoing Twisted Savage Dragon Funnies, a collection of Indy cartoonists' takes on Erik Larsen's famed creation (even I'll be contributing a page! I'm drawing it now! Honest!).

I would be remiss if I did not mention Mr. Fiffe's other passion, as (in his words) "interviewer of some of the world's raddest cartoonists". There is a term we use in comics, that of an "artist's artist"-- basically the sort of cartoonist who is so good that their fanbase is comprised, in large part, of other professional cartoonists who want to be half as good. Through methods both mysterious and arcane, Mr. Fiffe somehow gets a hold of these modern Titans and gets them to spill their secrets. Any fan of comics should give his interviews a hearty perusing.

Finally, I invite you all to check out this interview of the interviewer himself at the Graphic NYC blog. Aside form the insight into the artist that is Fiffe, there are several way-cool Seth Kushner photos of Fiffe at his other job, making awesome puppets. Where does he find the time!?!


(he really shouldn't have posted this on Facebook where I could find it)


Can you draw, paint, operate a camera, sculpt, etc.? Have a desire to capture the essence of your favorite figure from Greek myth and see it pictured here on this site? Send me a scan of your work, a few words about yourself and the piece, and I'll put it up!

Guest Artist Gallery: Erin Stead

It's been a while since I posted a new Guest Artist Gallery of the Gods (but you all did catch my special addendum of Reilly Brown's Kid Typhon, right?) so I figured we were due a new installment. Today we will leave the hallowed halls of comcs for my other artistic love: Picture books. Please enjoy illustrator Erin Stead's depiction of the Moirae (that's the Fates to you and me, bub).



Here's what Erin has to say about her choice:
"from left to right you have Klotho, Lakhesis, and Atropos. They are my favorite because everyone else (gods, goddesses, whatever) can think that they have some control over who they eat or kill or love– but it's really up to these three nosy old ladies. "

Erin and I first met around 8 years ago, where we both worked at Books of Wonder in NYC. She and her husband, the author and illustrator Philstead (always say it as one word) now reside in Ann Arbor, with their dog Wednesday, but they both secretly wish they were back in the Big Apple. Erin's first picture book, written by that Philstead character is A Sick Day for Amos McGee and is due out May25th from Roaring Brook Press. Reserve a copy now-- it (and the Steads) are destined for greatness with this one. You read it here first!



Check out Erin's blog for more of her beautiful art!

EDIT! Just forwarded to me by her editor is this awesome review of Amos McGee from SLJ, with many other links to many other cool stuff. You're going to be hearing a lot more about this book!

Guest Artist Gallery: Reilly Brown--addendum

A couple of weeks ago, in Guest Artist Gallery of the Gods, I ran a drawing of Typhon by Marvel Comics artist Reilly Brown. Reilly has recently been working on Marvel's Hercules franchise with super-talented writer Fred Van Lente. When Mr. Van Lente saw Reilly's Typhon post, he suggested that Reilly send us this special "almost was" picture from Marvel's Incredible Hercules series.



I'll let the illustrious Mr. Brown explain:

"Hey George, Fred Van Lente suggested I send you the Kid Typhon concept sketch to put on your blog since we're not using it for Hercules. I thought it could be a good idea, if you want it. Use it, don't use it, whatever.
The concept was that in order to defeat Typhon, Hercules made Typhon drink water from the Lethe River in Hades, which erases the memories of dead souls so that they can be reincarnated as new people. Or something like that. Somehow that turned him into a child.
Anyway, it's a funny drawing, and that's really the point :P"

Pretty cool huh? Reilly draws some of the best kids in comics (and believe you me, it's very hard to draw kids well), including a recent run on Hercules where Zeus was transformed into a 5 year old child. I'm loving his Kid Typhon, with his cute little snake legs and all, and I hope that one day we get to see a version of the story he described above. In the meantime, Incredible Hercules's loss is Guest Artist Gallery of the Gods gain, and we can all bask in the wonder of... Kid Typhon.

Guest Artist Gallery: Reilly Brown

Well, it's been awhile since I posted (due to intense deadline crunches on Glory of Hera), but I'm back, with another exciting installment of Guest Artist Gallery of the Gods, this time with Reilly Brown and his terrifying depiction of Typhon, last son of Mother Earth and scourge of the Olympian gods.



Here's what Mr. Brown has to say about his choice for the Gallery:

"I picked Typhon because he's the ultimate monster from mythology. He was bred specifically to fight the Olympians, and he's described as being so tall that his head brushes against the stars in the sky, and his arms reach from one horizon to the other. He has wings, snakes for legs, 100 arms and 100 heads of all different types of animals, who all shoot fire out of their eyes and mouths. When I read a description like that, it sounds so crazy that I want to see what it looks like just to understand what I'm reading about, and the only way to see a creature like Typhon is to draw a picture of him!"


Reilly Brown is the heavenly body around which the rest of the eclectic assortment of artists who make up Studio Outpost 51 revolve- he is their rock, their Alpha and Omega. He first came to fame as the penciler on Marvel Comics Cable and Deadpool series, where he co-created the bizarrely popular Bob, Agent of Hydra. He since has gone on to penciling duties on such books as New warriors and Marvel Apes.

Reilly's first professional brush with things mythological and Grecian was penciling the one-shot "Hulk vs. Hercules: When Titans Collide". That assignment lead to his work as a regular artist on Marvel's exemplary Incredible Hercules book, and more recently, a back up series featuring the Agents of Atlas (the best thing Marvel is publishing, imho). Continuing this trend, he's currently hard at work on Hercules spin-off Prince of Power: Amadeus Cho, about Herc's former kid sidekick who also happens to be the seventh smartest person in the world.

On top of all of his Marvel work, Reilly is hard at work on a mysterious project for the iphone that is so apparently top secret that I couldn't find anything online about it yet so I will leave you with this-- it's great, it's classified and you will want it. Nuff said.

Guest Artist Gallery: Dean Haspiel

Well, I suppose I should start this installment of Guest Artist Gallery with a disclaimer, that the character pictured is copyright the Marvel Comics group. Mr. Dean Haspiel has chosen his depiction of the greatest of Greek heroes, Heracles, to be based on the classic Jack Kirby design of the character Hercules as he appeared in The Mighty Thor, The Avengers, and other classic Marvel Comics titles.




Here's what Dean "The Mean" Haspiel has to say about his mighty drawing above:

"It was Jack Kirby and Stan Lee who taught me everything I knew about Norse and Greek mythology. Sure, I read some Bulfinch and steeped in movies like JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS and CLASH OF THE TITANS, but, little did I know that those awesome Marvel Thor vs. Hercules fisticuffs were fan-fiction of the highest order. Still, what is mythology but a good yarn, anyway? So what if it was made up. And, who better to fudge the legends of gods and monsters than a bunch of cartoonists who have managed to grab the story-making baton and honor our original heroes by extending their stories? A baton I hope to grab -- soon!"

Always gregarious, frequently shirtless, Demi-God Dean Haspiel is a native New Yorker and the creator of the Eisner award nominated, BILLY DOGMA, the semi-autobiographical, STREET CODE [at Zuda, DC comics online comics ubersite], and the webcomics collective, ACT-I-VATE. In his fabled youth he was apprenticed to a veritable who's who of influential comics gods, such as Bill Sienkiewicz, Walt Simonson, and Howard Chaykin, among others. If you work in comics and do not know Dean, then I am sorry-- you are mistaken. You must be doing something else, and are suffering from some sort of psychotic delusion. I recommend rest, and lot's of it.

Dino has drawn comics for The New York Times, Marvel, DC/Vertigo, Scholastic, Dark Horse [where he drew Michael Chabon's THE ESCAPIST], Francoise Mouly and Art Spiegelman's Toon Books, and other publishers. He is best known for his semi-autobio collaborations with Harvey Pekar on THE QUITTER and AMERICAN SPLENDOR, and with Jonathan Ames on THE ALCOHOLIC, as well as HBO’s “Bored to Death.” This Fall, Dino's new graphic novel, CUBA - MY REVOLUTION, an original collaboration with Cuban writer/painter, Inverna Lockpez, will come out from Vertigo.

Dino is also the curator of COMIX BLOCK for Cousin Corinne's REMINDER, and is a founding member of DEEP6 Studios in Gowanus, Brooklyn, where he can be found toiling at his drawing table, beneath the bridge, like a common troll. Dean is plugged in to the internet 24/7, even while sleeping, and has a diet comprised of 75% MSG due to what could only be described as an heroic intake of Chinese take-out(the other 25% is probably roughage in the form of pencil shavings). Check out his website at www.deanhaspiel.com.

Can you draw, paint, operate a camera, sculpt, etc.? Have a desire to capture the essence of your favorite figure from Greek myth and see it pictured here on this site? Send me a scan of your work, a few words about yourself and the piece, and I'll put it up!

Guest Artist Gallery: Tim Hamilton

It's the latest installment of a new feature where some of today's most exciting artists lend us their own vision of a favorite god, monster or hero from Greek mythology. In this edition, Mr. Tim "T-Money" Hamilton shares with us his jaw-dropping depiction of Artemis, Goddess of the Hunt and the Moon.



When the other guest artists saw his entry to the Guest Artist Gallery they gnashed their teeth and cursed Hamilton's name, so beautiful is his piece. A few people redid theirs, to compete on the new playing field Tim had elevated. This is what the man has to say about his amazing mixed-media masterpiece: "I love dogs but have never hunted. Females surely are the stronger sex in every culture. Artemis, I fear her and I love her."

The early life of the man called Tim Hamilton is shrouded in mystery-- he is rumored, like Romulus and Remus, to have been raised by wolves, which may account for both his love of dogs and love/fear of the Goddess of the Moon (Werewolf, perhaps?). What is known for sure is that he has been active in the comics field for over two decades-- first coming to prominence as the penciler of the Gerard Jones-written satire "The Trouble with Girls".

He is a founding member of the web comics collective Act-i-Vate, contributing both the dog-themed gangster story Pet Sitter and the ongoing time travel mystery Adventures of the Floating Elephant. He has recently released the graphic novel adaptation of Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451, which hit the New York Times bestseller list. More recently, and this is absolutely true, Tim appeared as part of a $1,600 question/answer on the the famous television game show Jeopardy's College Tournament. The category was "Graphic Novels." The answer was: "Tim Hamilton illustrated the graphic adaptation of this Ray Bradbury novel."

Having achieved the highest standard of fame attainable by a cartoonist, being a Jeopardy question, Tim Hamilton has unfortunately peaked, and will begin his slow, painful decline at any time now. He is able to grow a full beard in under twelve hours and has no qualms about wearing biking shorts to the studio.

Can you draw, paint, operate a camera, sculpt, etc.? Have a desire to capture the essence of your favorite figure from Greek myth and see it pictured here on this site? Send me a scan of your work, a few words about yourself and the piece, and I'll put it up!

Guest Artist Gallery: Simon Fraser

Introducing the first installment of a new feature where some of today's most exciting artists lend us their own vision of a favorite god, monster or hero from Greek mythology. Leading the way in this inaugural edition is Mr. Simon Fraser, bringing us his beautiful depiction of Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty and love.



Of his colored pencil drawing of Aphrodite above, he has this to say: "I based her on Anna Nicole Smith and a girl I knew at High School, both worked out that love was the way to get what they wanted."

Born in Scotland, Simon Fraser has lived in France, Italy, Africa, and even a strange and foreign land known as "Brooklyn". He's well known for co-creating the swashbuckling Nikolai Dante, a sci-fi anti-hero from a 27th century interstellar Imperial Russia, in the pages of the famous British comics weekly magazine 2000AD. Perhaps the second tallest member of the web comic collective known as Act-i-Vate, he launched the creator-owned sci-fi adventure strip Lilly MacKenzie there. Lilly's first adventure, Lilly MacKenzie and the Mines of Charybdis is currently in the process of being prepared for publication in Judge Dredd Megazine. In addition to his many comics related skills, Mr. Fraser knows the full name name of every dinosaur to ever exist,including ones not yet discovered by science, and knows instinctively where to find a decent bar no matter where in the world you may drop him off. He has an impressive collection of hats.


Can you draw, paint, operate a camera, sculpt, etc.? Have a desire to capture the essence of your favorite figure from Greek myth and see it pictured here on this site? Send me a scan of your work, a few words about yourself and the piece, and I'll put it up!