warm up- Strange Tales

Today issue #3 of Marvels "indie" anthology Strange Tales hits comic stands, this time featuring stories by frequent Drawbridger Tim Hamilton and some guy who I sit next to at the studio, Dean Haspiel. Tim's story features Machine Man and Morbius the Living Vampire, showcasing his love for both artificial life and the undead ; Dean's features Woodgod and the Thing, in a testament to his ongoing passion for both brawny shirtless guys and ungulates. I drew all 4 characters going at at it, Brooklyn style. Check it out now, at comic shops everywhere.

What the heck is Ook Sauce?

Damned if I know, but if this is where it comes from, no thanks.

Today's Drawbridge topic was inspired by wonderfully weird scribblings of Tim Hamilton, who earlier this year treated us to the continuing saga of Tribe a-boo and their precious Ook Sauce. After viewing his drawings, I'm sure you will agree that Mr. Hamilton is the undisputed master of all things Ookian.

Bottoms up!

Warm up: Dinosaurs!

I got to choose the topic for today's warm-up sketch, and in honor of Simon Fraser joining us yesterday (not to mention my own love for prehistoric beasties) I chose dinosaurs. Here's Simon Fraser's:



Fellow Hypothetical Islander Joe Infurnari entered the fray today with his frankly adorable Uniceralope.



The mighty Tim Hamilton drew his first with his morning coffee, before he even arrived at the studio...



Natalie Kim, who unless I somehow missed her didn't even come in to the studio today proved herself a champ by warming up remotely with her insecure dino.



And finally mine, with my rare wide-screen Tritelevisitops.


Simon rightly asked me why my Tritelevisitops is so knock-kneed-- I didn't know at the time, but now I realize it's because prehistoric tv's were so damned heavy. The technology just wasn't really there yet, you know?

warm up catch up

As previously mentioned, I was sick for the first part of this week, and as such missed out on the warm up drawings that were done around the studio without me. One of the topics, though, was too good for me not to throw in my hat over (?) so hence this catch up warm up session.

The topic was "tongue". Here's T-Money Hamilton's:



and here's mine.





My girlfriend hated this, I should mention.

Warm up: Scott Pilgrim UPDATED!

Firstly, I missed a few days, as I was sick. Back at the studio now, and it was Nathans' choice today. The assignment-- draw a Scott Pilgrim character. This is kind of tricky, if you ask me, as once you take away Bryan Lee O'Malley's very distinctive drawing style, there would be very little to identify the characters. I mean, Scott is by design a kind of everyman, right? Still, we rose to the occasion.

here's mine:



Nothing too new and original here, just a take off of the cover to Scott Pilgrim #1. Still, it's just a warm up, right?

Here's Tim Hamilton's:



Much nicer, with just a touch of that manic Hamiltonianess we all love and cherish. Up next, the lovely and talented Natalie Kim who has been guesting at the Studios lately. She's already very successful in her other careers as an actress and writer, so lord only knows why she would want to be a cartoonist. Doesn't she realize how low down on the food chain we are? We're like kelp. Nice work, though.



Lastly, mad Scotsman Simon Fraser graced us with this very pretty picture of cinematic Scott Pilgrim, Michael "George Michael Bluth" Cera. I like the hearts. The movie, btw, was the best thing ever, and if you didn't see it, well, you're my enemy.



UPDATE! Scott Pilgrim Idea Progenitor Nathan Schreiber got his sketch to us late. We're not sure why, but it probably has something to do with protecting his vital bodily fluids, if his piece is any indication. Pretty nice one, and worth the wait, I'd say.

Warm up of the day: An anime character you've never heard of.

Tim Hamilton got in first, and he threw down the gauntlet with his previously-unheard-of Anime creation, Ninja Stick Kitty. So twisted, yet I don't know why.



I followed up with my invention, er, discovery, "Anime Ecchi Giant Robo Hentai Squad" which is, to say the least, not one of my finest pieces of work. I decided it was a long-lost work of forgotten anime genius Mai Watanamo, which really says it all, I think.

It should be mentioned that Nathan Schreiber, contributor to yesterday's post, initially agreed to draw an anime character you've never heard of as well, yet wisely disappeared, assignment uncompleted, and was not heard of again for the rest of the day.

An Octopus Lady

Continuing my new practice of warm-ups, I sketched out this lovely lady who happens to have an octopus for a head this morning. It's maybe a little detailed for a warm-up, but I had to break in a new nib as I utterly killed my old one the other day. I was pretty happy with it, even though I could not tell you what possessed me to draw such a thing.



As an added bonus, here is warm-up-idea-progenitor Tim Hamilton's attempt at a similarly afflicted woman.



And Nathan Schreiber's Admiral Akbarian attempt. Looks kind of like Dr. Zoidberg.