My first Star War, 1977

Posted on January 13, 2021

It’s hard to believe now, but in the summer of 1977 there was almost nothing to consume beyond the movie itself. Until that Christmas, the only things within reach were a few magazine clippings, the novelization, and the monthly Marvel comics. That wasn’t nearly enough for me. Records and toys and models and other swag arrived in 1978, but that still wasn’t enough. What I learned in 1977 was that if I wanted more Star Wars, I would have to make it myself.

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Posted in: Kids Comics

BROID #1, May 1990

Posted on January 12, 2021

A lone man awakens in a dark future of dust and smoke that make it very difficult to tell friend from foe. Life is hell at the end of the world. Only the best survive. Here is the first issue of the my first original, for-real comic book series from cover to cover, a post-apocalyptic SF action epic inspired by some of my favorite stories. Every finished page is accompanied by its corresponding rough and pencilled version.

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Posted in: Pro Comics

Star Wars: Planets of the Galaxy, 1991

Posted on January 11, 2021

In 1991, I figured out how to turn my Star Wars fandom into freelance income. Planets of the Galaxy, Volume 1 was my first West End Games assignment, and it was a good one to start with. The books in this 3-volume series presented gamers with new planets on which to plot their adventures, none of which had been established in the original trilogy.

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Posted in: Game Days

Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, 2009-2012

Posted on January 10, 2021

This 2-season series wasn’t the first Marvel cartoon I worked on (that was the MTV Spider-Man series) but it certainly was the busiest up to that point. It was made during what we now call Phase One of the MCU, prior to the arrival of the first Avengers movie in 2012. This made it the last Marvel series before Disney bought the company - in fact, the buyout happened while EMH was in production - so it operated under a different set of rules about which characters could be used.

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Posted in: TV Cartoons

So Ya Wanna Draw Comics, 1990-91

Posted on January 9, 2021

After my first year as a professional comic book artist, I decided to gather up my advice and experience into an essay. Of course, it would be quite a different presentation today after thirty years of added experience, but the basics are still sound and it makes for an interesting time capsule from the pre-internet world.

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Posted in: Mystery Grab-bag

Babelcon VIII, 1986

Posted on January 8, 2021

The year 1986 was a huge turning point for me, the root of which was a yearly Science-Fiction convention called Babel Con. Here's what happened the year I was put in charge of it.

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Posted in: Mystery Grab-bag

Series profile: Panzer World Galient, 1984-85

Posted on January 7, 2021

I discovered Galient after first getting hooked on Armored Trooper Votoms, drawn in by the design aesthetic and directorial style. If you've ever wondered what Lord of the Rings might have been like with giant robots instead of Orcs and Nazgul, this is the anime for you! Created by Ryosuke Takahashi for Sunrise, it's a 26-episode action series that combines medieval settings with high-tech mecha in a story that explodes with action! Dig in with a writer interview, animation art, and a deep dive into its many facets!

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Posted in: Anime World