Does this shirt make my butt look big?

francismanapul:

hey folks Flash #3’s release is on the horizon, due out November 23rd. Here is a behind the scenes process work.

-It all starts with a conversation over skype. Brian is in L.A and I’m in Toronto, but through skype we can work together as if we’re in the same room. In fact whenever I see him I feel weird saying goodbye cause I know I’ll see him again either later that day or the next day. hehe.. Anyways, Brian and I usually chat about the plot, and we also take advantage of the screen share option so that we can see what each other is working on. During this conversation, we’ll write down what we talked about and pass it back and forth.

-Once the plot is done I start with the layouts. We use layouts not just as images but almost another step in “writing” except with images. It helps us pace a story out properly so that we fully utilize the rhythmic beats you can accomplish with sequential storytelling. Sometimes it flows out really easily, but sometimes I stare at the screen, trying to think of what that first shot will be and how the sequence will unfold. As for the work itself I do these digitally, it’s just easier to see the whole image that way. I have a template that has 20 pages on it and I start with that.

-Step two is I start penciling the pages in. My pencils are fairly rough, but detailed enough that I know all the information. I do most of the rendering at my inking and water color stage.

-Once done penciling I move on to inking, and water colors. I work in black and white, but I then scan the pages in and tweak the color tones, so that they blend better with Brian’s colors.

-during this time period Brian and I go over the layouts for the entire book and discuss what the dialogue will be. We have a rough idea of what the subject of conversation will be during the plotting stage, but it really comes to life at the layout stage. It helps us keep the images and what’s said in synch and not have to be redundant in the image and textual information. We usually pass dialogue ideas back and forth in a .doc file and tweak and tweak. It’s more of a natural progression, we let it evolve along with the art as I come closer to finishing the pages.

-For page 2-3 in particular, I changed it from the original layout by adding credit panels. I was in the studio working and i didn’t like the idea of doing the credits in the gutters again (we did that already in issue 2) so I actually created panels that would have the credits. But what made it really work was when Marcus To suggested not just leaving the panels black with the credits but to draw close ups of the Flash. From there It clicked in my brain to give it a more “iconic” look rather than traditional drawing, which inspired those teaser ad’s that I created back then. Because I had a very clear vision of how I wanted the credits to look, I ended up just doing the credit text myself in Photoshop. I don’t have a lotta font’s but I wanted them simple anyways and I think it works since the text doesn’t take away from the spread by standing out too much.

And that’s pretty much it. From what you see up there is what I send over to Brian who then does his magic. If you’re interested in checking out the full colored preview along with the lettering check out ComicVine’s post about it. (Thanks for the kind words by the way!)

Also I just wanted to remind you folks to help out and donate on my Movember page

thanks for reading!

francismanapul:

Green Lantern #4 Variant cover process. Pretty standard process that I do as seen in my Flash cover process

I added a few cool paint splatter digitally just in case it didn’t work. I did this by using a scan of a page that just had ink splatter all over it. I then adjusted the colors on it and applied it on top of the finished art.

I also had other options for my editors to choose from, that had more red and blood splatter. We decided that the clean white background worked best.

Oh man… That’s really tough. I don’t have one favorite. After my second time reading it, I really fell for Batman #1. I also really dug Action Comics #1 and Nightwing #1. Favorite so far then would be Batman #1, but I’m more excited for the upcoming issues of Action Comics.

Ask me whatever you feel you need to know about me

Every time I seem to write a Facebook status about my love for comic books, I tend to get silence from all my FB “friends”. Every time I go out with my Superboy or Green Lantern shirts, I definitely get judging looks from strangers and I know some of you do negatively judge me for wearing those shirts in public (I had one person once tell me so).

For some reason, our society has looked down on comic books as a whole in favor of just about everything else. I’ve never really understood why comic books have been looked down on so badly for so long. I personally love reading comics and I think more people need to start reading them. So that’s why I’m here. Fifteen reasons. Let’s go!….

#1 - The passion many of you have for sports and fantasy teams is really no different than the passion that comic book lovers such as myself and others have for reading and cosplaying. Like many follow TV shows, many comic book lovers not only watch the same TV shows (and follow sports) as everyone else, but they also happen to follow comic book news. We are all made of the same skin and flesh. We aren’t any different than you or those who don’t read comics. Many who love comics have played sports, it’s only fair for you to give comic books a chance.

#2 - Comics have an amazing collector’s value. I just started collecting in June or July and I already have comics that are worth a total of about $300 and I’ve only spent about $150 on comics. Imagine how much they will be worth years and years from now. Like baseball cards, they are a great tradition to pass down to your children and for their children and their children’s children. They really are pieces of history too. Check out back issues ranging from the 1930’s to yesterday. Comics have been around for quite some time.

#3 - The thing that hooked me onto comics besides the storytelling (I’ll get to that later) is the beautiful art. Every artist has their own style and some you just can’t help but fall in love with. Lately, I have fallen in love with the art of Francis Manapul, Greg Capullo, and Cliff Chiang. (Google them, seriously) If you like to look at pretty things, (which I know everyone does) then you would love the art in comics today.

#4 - Ladies, it’s not a “guy’s thing” anymore. I know some awesome women who read comic books. We have more and more amazing female creators in the industry than ever before. (Gail Simone and Amanda Conner’s are both fantastic examples of the many great female creators. I would definitely check out their works.) We also have more female characters being created and giving me something to crush on.

#5 - I can’t find anything more captivating than reading a comic book. Yes, you have the story and the beautiful art, but you also have the intimate perspectives and the flavors and attention to detail that you can only find in a comic book. My best way to describe it… Combine the visuals of movies with the captivating stories of novels. Everyone always says that the novel is always better than the movie, well same with comics for movies. The best comics are on par with the best movies and novels out there. Yes, that’s a crazy claim to make, but I dare you to prove me wrong by reading some comics and try to tell me otherwise.

#6 - The comic book companies have made it easy this year for new readers to jump in. When I started out, I had NO CLUE where to begin in the DC universe. Especially with the likes of Batman or Superman. I knew a lot about them, but I didn’t know how much was different between the comics and the cartoons and movies. As of this month, DC Comics has basically rebooted all of their comics (except Batman and Green Lantern) to give some previously outdated and stale characters a modern edge and fresh stories. For example, Superman now isn’t the Superman you knew from Christopher Reeve’s depiction in the movies. Now you can follow him in his earliest adventures in Metropolis just as he is starting out. Marvel has also created somewhat of a jumping point with their Ultimate’s line and their ongoing events Spider-Island and Schism. There is no better time to start than to start this month.

#7 - Comic books aren’t just for young people anymore. Beyond DC and Marvel, there are tons of fantastic stories for adults and people our age. Sure, there are some great lines written for children (Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Young Justice just to name a few), but most of DC and Marvel’s comics are written for people of all ages. Some of the most well known stories were not written for children. For example, Moore’s run on Swamp Thing and his story for Batman known as  “The Killing Joke”. Many of the characters today are also much more complex and interesting than they were back in the 60s or 70s or even the 80s. They aren’t as simplistic as you might have expected.

#8 - A lot of movies coming out lately are from comic books. Some of you have probably never even realized like Cowboys and Aliens was a graphic novel before it was a movie. You would be surprised how many movies you wouldn’t expect are from comic books. Not only that, but having read the comic books makes it easier to follow the movies. Reading the origin of the members of the X-men and following them makes it easier to follow the movie rendition. It also makes you appreciate the movies and comics even more. Many were disappointed with Green Lantern, I can assure you that the Green Lantern comic books today are a billion times better than that thing called a film. (Okay, it wasn’t THAT bad, but it would have been amazing if they had followed their source material and had not chosen Hector Hammond as the villain.)

#9 - I know when I started out, I was intimidated by the guys who worked at the comic book stores and it definitely did not make me feel welcome. I was always afraid of being looked at like an outsider, like I didn’t belong there. I was proven wrong by going to a small comic book shop in Saginaw and getting some great service. They love giving their recommendations and talk about the industry. They are actually really friendly and passionate people. They wouldn’t be working in a job that requires talking with people unless they loved doing it.   

#10 - The one thing that comics gave me that they will give you if you start to follow them is some great friends and awesome strangers you meet along the way. Sure, you will have the occasional friendly Marvel vs. DC rivalry which are no different than the rivalries between MSU and UofM or Macs and PCs. I have friends who have gone to comic book conventions and they tell me how awesome the people they meet are. I know about the stereotypes about comic book readers especially male comic book lovers. They are lazy, don’t like to socialize, and they are creepy and are afraid of women. I won’t lie and say that those guys don’t exist, but they have been greatly outnumbered today by awesomely friendly and social people. Some who love to work out and some who are married and have many friends. That old stereotype doesn’t apply anymore to people who read comics.

#11 - Comics can and have changed the world in ways no different than the effect that movies, novels, and television have. This deserves an entire essay to explain, so I won’t here, but I will say… the feminist movement, the civil rights movement, the space race, among many other things were both shaped and helped, in part, by the comics of that time. 

#12 - You can now read comic books online. You don’t have to go to the store. You can either buy and read them on your computer, or you can read them on your iPhone, Droid, Kindle, Nook, iPad… Just to name a few. They are more accessible to read than ever.

#13 - Following a comic book series is no different than following a TV show. The characters and plots develop before your eyes really no different than in your favorite TV shows. Like episodes (kind of), most comics today come out weekly or once a month. Instead of seasons, comics go by story arcs which are actually A LOT easier to follow than TV seasons.

#14 - If you already love reading historical fiction, historical non-fiction, science-fiction, biographies, fiction, non-fiction, dramas, romances, horrors, thrillers, and so on. You have all the same genres in comics. I personally find comics easier to read than novels. They make it easier for me to read because I don’t have to really imagine because the visuals are already in front of me. It’s still up to me to give each panel flesh, voice, and tone though. It’s great for both intelligent people and people who aren’t as intelligent.

#15 - Some comic books series will live forever as the best of the best. For example, I am told that Sandman by Vertigo is one of the best series out there. The best thing is that after all those years that comics have been around, the best stories are still being written. To name one example, Scott Snyder’s run this year on Detective Comics (the line that Batman came out of) before the reboot and renumbering is considered one of the best Batman stories of the last ten years and one of the best comic book runs in general. The quality is still there after all these years. The art and writing has evolved and it is beautiful. Of course, not every comic will be amazing. That’s an impossibility. But like with everything else in life, the bad comics will only make you appreciate the great comics more.

… And the list goes on from here.

I could come up with more reasons or you could just go to your local comic book store or could you go online and find what interests you and read away. I think once you start to read comics, you will understand and begin to appreciate the people that have been reading them. You will begin to understand the hype and the fandom and what makes comic books so truly beautiful and amazing and join the bandwagon with the rest of us.

It truly is the best time to get into comics… So what the hell are you waiting for?!

Ask me whatever you feel you need to know about me http://formspring.me/aleams

Don’t laugh at me, but I just finished watching Easy A. It’s a chick flick, I know, but I was in the mood to watch that type of movie. It wasn’t bad either. Emma Stone should do a kick-ass job in the new Spiderman movie. She’s also incredibly my type. 

That’s all beside the point. 

I am trying to find a song to compare how I feel right now. It’s weird because I get this way all the time. It mainly depends on the movie. I don’t know.

Maybe it’s because I hate movies with happy endings. If I ever get myself to write the screenplays I want to write, I will tell you now - there will be no happy ending. Life rarely ties up loose ends so beautifully. We are always left to believe that after that kiss into the sunset that everything is wonderful. Reality tells us that the divorce rate is high. Some cannot stay faithful to their partner and others just get bored. 

That’s not to say that it’s not possible for two lovers to live happily. But it’s not always going to be so happy for these lucky few. This builds up a stereotype that, “Oh, if the prince and princess can live happily then I sure as hell can!” It just doesn’t work out that way. I’m a Donny Downer right now, but I just get so annoyed by this. Namely because I once felt that entitlement. 

For some reason, ever since I have been little, I always walked out of the movie theater feeling special. For example, after watching Spiderman when that first came out, I tried to shoot web bullets from my inner wrist like the superhero. I believed I could turn into Godzilla after watching Godzilla 2000. I secretly believed after watching The Truman Show that my life was being filmed and everyone but me was in on it. I have countless examples of how the movie industry always somehow manipulated me into believing in their reality.

Strangely, that does not apply when it comes to television shows. I didn’t think I had any abilities while watching Heroes and I certainly no longer believe myself to be a playboy writer like Hank Moody while watching Californication. The difference is that while the movies make me believe in their reality even briefly, the television series make me want to believe in their reality. I want to be the real-life Hank Moody or Clark Kent, but I know it cannot happen. 

Yes, I am probably coming off as pessimistic. I see it as being realistic. I want that alter-ego who can save me from myself and be the man I have always dreamt of. Funny thing is, I did create an alter-ego. His name is Jacob Kaiser. He was at first my pen name so my second cousin wouldn’t put his bias for or against me. Not that he would, but for both of our sakes.

Jacob is the name my mother was choosing between when she first had me. Jacob or Andrew. Where did Kaiser come from? Well, the whole of me that was once into method acting knows that in order to create a character, sometimes you have to look for those who embody these traits you are developing. When I was in the frat, I got to know a guy who had just about every trait I wanted. He is very open minded, at times abstract, relaxed, kind, artistic, wise, playful, funny, confident and is so comfortable in his own skin that women cling to him. Well, Kaiser is his last name. I thought it would be weird if I asked him, so I just kind of took it hoping he would someday be okay with it.

I developed this mindset for Jacob and created his history and what he likes to wear and what he might say in this situation or that. But for some reason, I have a mental block about being this guy. I remember back in high school I tried pretending I was someone else when the first bell rang and by the third bell I was already back to being myself. It’s funny because I created a character so unlike me that I cannot make myself believe that I could become him. Stanislavski would be angry with me, but I don’t know how to make myself turn into this guy.

A part of me is afraid to lose what I love about me now. Even though, if you asked me, I don’t know what I love about my personality. Jacob is only meant to build upon and improve the foundation of my personality, but it seems like almost I have to give or take him completely.  

Earlier tonight, I stumbled on my own words to a girl I barely know but I like and I look back on myself now and wonder what Jacob would have done. He might have had a witty reply or let it go, but Andrew didn’t and tried to save his ass. In doing so, I proved how low my self-esteem and confidence was to her. I might have ended any chance and it’s hard to meet girls in this town that are my type. 

I’m very picky, but I have every right to be. I know Jacob has taste, but his is probably much more particular. Although, he is easy so it wouldn’t really matter for the most part. 

Anyway, I am beginning to feel better. I realy hope when I go to sleep tonight that I wake up as Jacob and we all shine on.

- Andrew

• Question: When are we going to hangout - wormswillfeed
• Answer:

  I really don’t know. This week my work schedule is weird. 

• Question: WHERE WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO VISIT ON YOUR PLANET? - tumblrbot
• Answer:

  Right now, the toilet.

I will start working on this new blog. I took out the poems because I was ashamed to have you read those old drafts of crappy poems. I keep on checking out other people’s blogs and I like them a lot so I will try this one more time. You bloggers put a lot of work into this shit. Anyway, I have to go shower and sleep so peace out!

Dear men and women of Earth,

This is my declaration of being pissed off at the world regarding relationships. This is my contribution to making the relationship world a better place.

MEN -
I know how you think, I know why you think like you do. I know that many of you are not my problems, but you still have the same problems with women. I am speaking to a select many here… How dare you lie, mislead, cheat, hurt emotionally or physically women. Why cheat? If you don’t like her enough to sleep with her then don’t be with her. It’s that fucking simple! How is it so hard to keep it in your pants! That’s what pornography is for guys!!

I understand that you want to show dominance with your girl so whenever a guy seems interested in her you either get aggressive towards the guy who may or may not know that she is not single. Look, you can have more peaceful ways of showing that the girl is yours that doesn’t make her look like a piece of meat and doesn’t make the guy whose interested feel like shit or have a black eye. For one, don’t be an asshole. Secondly, don’t make out with your girl just to make him know. You keep the kissing to a more private time and not used as spite towards someone else. Thirdly, sometimes the guy isn’t hitting on the girl so don’t be a jealous asshole. A real man can let his girlfriend get hit on and have guy friends and knows when to step in and stop the guy from harming the girl. A real man doesn’t have to show off his girlfriend because he is confident with himself and her that he doesn’t have to flaunt her around.

Look, some guys want to have fun. I know that, we are best to live up life til’ we die. Well why don’t we do that with one girlfriend at a time. Now I am speaking about serious relationships, but if it’s a more casual relationship then as long as the guy is honest with his girl and she knows that he is not settling down then that is fine. But you have to always keep in mind that these are girls with souls. They are like us except they have breasts, vaginas, doesn’t have dicks (depending on the girl of course) and they think first with emotion over instinct.

Men were created first as alpha males who would live by instincts and become dominant mates. I realize that some guys have mommy and daddy issues, but NEVER NEVER emotionally or especially physically abuse the girl. They are human beings who are as beautiful as we were created to be. To touch a girl in anger, you should be set on fire. If you are not happy, then find a doctor who can help you with medication and anger management. To abuse a girl shows you have no conscience and no confidence in yourself. A real man is always polite and never harms his lady. A real man can express anger in other ways without having to take it out on the people around him especially the ones closest to him.

Men I understand getting caught up in pleasure while having sex, sometimes. I also realize how much of a buzzkill this sounds, but stop telling the girls how great they are in bed! You are feeding them lies for them to feed to other guys. I mean don’t tell them how much they suck… in bed, but instead give them pointers while you are in bed. For example instead of, “Oh baby, you know how to suck me so good!” While that also fails grammatically, try this instead, “Work it harder, make it better, do it faster, makes us stronger!” Yes, you would be quoting Daft Punk and Kanye West, but at least you would be more honest with her this way. Only give compliments and that type of encouragement when it is deserved, you know how a woman should please you. If they cannot please you as you want, then you need to step up and show them how you want them to get you off.

Men, break up with those girls that put you on a leash. If you cannot be yourself around her, then she is not worthy of being with you. You should be able to enjoy the company of your friends and have lady friends. To let your girl leash you is stupid, except in the case the leash is literally a leash in bed and you both enjoy that kind of thing. Other then that no exceptions!

There are many more relationship crimes, you men are guilty of, but let these be known here.

WOMEN -
I don’t know you as well as I do men, but oh boy have I heard all your woes. Not all of you are guilty of these crimes, but I know enough to say that women need just as much help as men for different reasons. These are all so easily answered by me for you. I have seen you lead men on, cheat on men, leash your men, and are just stupid about breaking up with them. I will stand for this no longer.

I understand that you want to enjoy life and sometimes are not looking for someone. What I do not understand is that you sometimes lead men on and sometimes you do it full well. You turn men into your emotional tampons and lead them on. Making them think they have a chance. You bitch about your boyfriend or ex boyfriend with no intention of being with this innocent man who thinks the world of you. You might even flirt with him at times and then as soon as they show interest back then you ignore them or immediately reject them. I don’t care if you are naturally a flirty type of girl, do not lead men on. I have heard enough stories about men leading you on, why lead men on? You are just creating a vicious circle for the world. A real woman can enjoy single life without having to slut yourselves around leading some good men on.

I already said this for the men, the same applies to you women, don’t cheat. If you want to cheat then just masturbate or take up a new hobby, but mainly DON’T STAY WITH THEM THEN! A real woman is smart enough to know (since I have known many lovely girls who have been cheated on by shitholes) to not cheat on men either. Some men are truly nice guys, others are shitholes…

Look, I realize that relationships can be a dramatic thing, but what I cannot stand is how some of you amazing women stay with guys you know are not right for you. I have known girls who are only with their shithole of a boyfriend because they have been with them so long they wouldn’t know what to do without them. Believe me, you will live, so many others before you have survived hard breakups. Don’t be stupid. If he has cheated on you once before, don’t give him another chance to cheat on you! If you fight with him often, you should probably reconsider being with him. The longer you stay with him, the harder the break up will be. So don’t be stupid!

I know you like an exciting guy, you want a guy who can be a man and treat you like a woman. Then stay away from assholes! There are plenty more nice guys out there that may not be as exciting, but are so quality. Instead you ignore them for the guys that approach you and use pickup lines or are just plain shitholes. Then you “fall” for them, sometimes you sleep with them right after or eventually, and then they either cheat on you or dump you and you don’t know why. They dumped you or cheated on you because they are assholes, that’s what they are supposed to do. They don’t want relationships, they want great sex and a good time. Sometimes they find girls to catch their attention and they will want a relationship, but never long term like you wish. Some hide under the guise of a nice guy, but as soon as you realize they are shit, leave the bastards. It’s that simple!

I know you want to stay with your man, sometimes they are amazing to be with. What I don’t understand is why do you have to leash your men. Don’t pretend that you want to be with someone when all you do is bitch to them. Men need their freedom and independence, men need to have time with their guy friends and be able to have female friends. If you cannot trust your man, then don’t be with him. Also, go see a doctor because you might be bipolar or might need some counseling. Just because some guys have treated you like shit, that gives you no right to treat good men like shit because of that. A real woman trusts her man and gives him the independence he so rightfully deserves.

Finally, one quick thing that always bothers me. Girls, when a guy tells you he loves you and you are making out. He is saying that because he only wants to fuck you, don’t fall for it unless you want to sleep with him and risk the chance of having a baby. If you get pregnant because of that then you are stupid, but do not take it out on the poor child inside you. Also when a guy tells you in bed that you are doing a great job that doesn’t mean you are the best kisser or give the best head. So stop telling other men how great you are in bed, just for them to find out how truly you actually suck… in bed.

There are many more relationship crimes you women are guilty of, but let these be known here.

Look, no one is perfect, but we need to stop being stupid about these things. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in our own heads that we don’t see what we are doing with that certain someone special. If you mess up once, don’t do it again. Karma does exist and so does herpes so don’t be stupid. Use protection if you aren’t serious with the boy or girl or are ready to have a kid yet. I am done ranting, but keep this all in mind from now on.

DON’T BE STUPID! It’s that simple!

Thank you,
Andrew Leamon

P.S. Recently, I have become acquainted with people who think they can be in a non-serious relationship with someone or they can be fuck buddies with someone and not develop feelings for the person. For the most part guys do not grow feelings, but girls will. Guys are as guilty as the girls because they know how all fuck buddies or “open relationships” or non serious relationships end. They never work, they always end with someone getting hurt. Save yourself the trouble and if you want sex that badly, pay a hooker or gigolo or whoever to sleep with you.