Like most aspiring comic book artists I look to books for instruction, inspirations and resources. Almost as soon as I started reading comics I wanted to create comics too. My introduction to comic creating was Marvel Comics Try-Out Book. This book taught me so much in the process in creating comic books.  As I got older I would regularly visit my local book store and buy any new how to draw comic book they had. Every book was a treasure of knowledge and encouragement.

I decided to create a special page on this blog to help other aspiring comic artist find the knowledge and encouragement I received when I was first starting in my drawing education. These books will help set you on the right track. So take a look have fun and enjoy. – Shazam!

This last week Marvel Comics has been promoting their new event called The Heroic Age. It was hinted last year with a teaser showing Thor, Captain America and Iron Man in shadow. the last few years in the Marvel Universe have been very dark. There was Avengers Disassemble, Civil War, Secret Invasion and the Dark Reign. But in May Marvel will bring in the Heroic Age, There’s going to be a new spirit of hope, courage, and the selflessness at the heart of heroism will rise up. Marvel’s most elite characters will be at the center of The Heroic Age, including Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, the Fantastic Four, the Avengers and more.

I’m personally excited about the new direction Marvel plans on taking. I grew up reading Marvel Comics and think this new story line will be awesome and full of great adventures. I’ve decided to use my blogging skills and create a fan blog site dedicated to The Heroic Age. I’ll be putting any and all new info up on the site including news, promo art and future Solicitations.

So if you want the latest info about Marvel Comics The Heroic Age check out my Fan site: www.TheHeroicAge.com

-Shazam!

Disney/Marvel will be casting for principal roles and extras to appear in new Thor feature film when it begins filming in Santa Fe, New Mexico this March.

Open Casting Call Details:
Ages 18 and over may attend. You are welcome to bring non-returnable photos of kids interested in being extras in the film. Please bring a pen. Photos will be taken at no charge.

Where:
224 E. Palace Avenue
Marion Hall 1st Floor
Santa Fe, NM 87501

When:
Friday, February 19 2010
2:00pm – 7:00pm

Saturday, February 20, 2010
9:00 – 4:00pm

You may be able to submit your information to:
Thor Casting
1698 Galisteo Street
Santa Fe, NM 87505

For more information click here:

The Daily Comic Sketch Challenge – 2010 Week 1. Last year I did a set of  quick drawing of only 30 minutes each. These drawing were of random comic book characters suggested by friends from Twitter.  I had a major blast drawing them. I really think it helped my drawing ability. I’m now planning on making this a daily self exercise in 2010. The original sketches were done on 8.5″ x 11″ card stock paper for 30 minutes each. I’ve decided to upgrade this to an hour. I”ll be drawing on 11″ x 17″ comic board paper too. So I’m very excited to get started on this daily exercise. I’ll be drawing 5 days a week, this way I can rest on two days.

Here is the list of the characters I’ll be drawing this week!

1. ROM Spaceknight (Marvel)

2. Mary Jane Watson (Marvel)

3. Man of Miracles (Image)

4. Jaina Solo (Dark Horse / Star Wars)

5. Johnny Sorrow (DC)

I’ll be posting the new Drawing every day. If you have any suggestion on who I should draw next, please let me know. – SHAZAM!

Check out my other: Daily Comic Sketches

The Daily Comic Sketch Challenge! Here’s the 4th quick 30 minute daily sketch. This drawing was done on Friday October 9th of Modok (Mobile Organism Designed Only for Killing) from Marvel Comics. I took one day off the challenge, but came back with a really fun sketch!

The last sketch I did of the Enchantress didn’t come out as well as I’d hoped, she came out a little to stiff. So for this one I decided not to get to stressed and just had fun with it. This was actually the sketch I’d been looking forward to drawing the most. I worked with a H2 drafting pencil and a simple eraser. Started off with very lose lines and adding details alone the way. To be honest this drawing took a little longer then 30 minutes, it too me about 45. But I think that’s ok. My goal with this exercise is to help in speeding my drawing but also to loosen up.

When I started reading comics it was Marvel comics. So I totally knew and have read comics with Modok. Modok’s just a super giant head on a hover chair, that’s fun and cool. I didn’t realized there was such a fanbase for the character. I found numerous websites dedicated to him and Marvel Comics even has an official Modok blog. When Marvel created a new Super-Villain Team-Up limited series, Modok was thee main character. I had lots of fun with this drawing and I think it shows. – Shazam

Check out my other: 30 Minute Daily Comic Sketches

The Daily Comic Sketch Challenge! Here’s the 3rd quick 30 minute daily sketch. This drawing was done on Wednesday October 7th of Amora The Enchantress from Marvel Comics.

This sketch was very challenging for me. It took me a little long then my allowed 30 minutes, about 45. I started with a a real rough sketch using a H2 drafting pencil. I was trying to give her a soft look, but I think she actually looks a little stiff. This is why I’m doing this daily exercise. To help me get a lose and softer drawing style. I find that there is stiffness in my illustrations sometimes when I work on them to much.

The enchantress was one of the first female characters I read in comics. The second comic I ever read was Marvel Super Heroes: Secret Wars, but it was the 1st series I actively read. I remember hitting all the gas station looking for the latest issue. So it was fun drawing a character I’ve been familiar with most of my comic reading and drawing life.

Check out my other: 30 Minute Daily Comic Sketches

I’ve decided to give myself a daily exercise to help in my drawing skills. I call it The Daily Comic Sketch Challenge. This next week I will be doing a quick drawing for only 30 minutes. These drawing will be of random comic book characters. Not only will I get to draw some different characters, but it will help in sharpening my drawing skills.

Last week I asked for suggestion through my Twitter and DevaintArt accounts on who I should draw. I received a lot of great ideas. Here is a list of which characters I will be drawing this 1st week.

1. Monday: Manhunter IV (Marc Shaw)

2. Tuesday: The Maxx

3. Wednesday: Enchantress (Marvel)

4. Thursday: Modok

5. Friday: Dee-Dee twins (Batman Beyond)

I’ll be posting the new Drawing every day. If you have any suggestion on who I should draw next, please let me know. – SHAZAM!

Check out my other: 30 Minute Daily Comic Sketches

I’ve wanted to be a comic book artist as long as I’ve been reading comics. To be able to play with the heroes I read about. Like most aspiring artists I looked to books to show me the right way to draw comics. How the comic figure is drawn and how to create those awesome fight scenes. I’ve bought and read so many “How to Draw Comic” books I’ve completely lost count. The very first “How to Draw Comics” book I every bought was How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way.

How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way is a great introduction book to the world of comic book drawing.  Written by Stan Lee and comic artist John Buscema.  This book teaches you the tools and terms used when creating a comic book. From drafting table, pencils, erasers, inking to the definition of a worms eye view.

It covers basic perspective drawing techniques for object, characters, and composition. Probably one of the best books that teaches how to draw characters with 8 half heads. This book has great explanations of the importance of figure exaggeration when drawing action and normal conversation between figures.

The most important lesson I learning from this book was how to draw sequential art, that is how to tell a story through pictures.  It shows the wrong way and the right way, what’s great about these examples is it shows you different ways to tell the same story though panel drawings.

If you are interested in learning how to create a comic book, the basics of comic book drawing or know some one who does I would totally recommend How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way.

I give this book a 5 out of 5 pencils rating:

A few months ago I was vising my moms house where I found a box of old drawings I did when I was a kid. There were drawings I did of Veritech fighters from Robotech to comic book and super heroes. Last night I was looking though theses treasures from my childhood. I had a blast remembering how I’d stay up late, looking at my comics and wanting to create and recreate these awesome art works. One of the drawing that jumped out to me last night was this one of Iron Man. I drew this 20 years ago in 1989 when I was 14 years old.

In the late 80’s I was reading all the Marvel Comic I could get my hands on, but Iron Man was on the top of my favorites list. I’m a huge science fiction fan and Iron Man was a perfect meld of Sci-Fi and Comics. This drawing was a recreation of the cover of Iron Man 244, it was originally drawn by Bob Layton. I remember being blown away by the split screen showing Iron Man’s then current suit and his original grey one. I had to redraw it. So this is not a tracing, but a recreation of a cool comic cover. This is how I learned to draw. I’d look at a comic and try to recreate it. I didn’t take any art class when I was young, but I loved to draw.

Looking at this drawing I did as a bright eyed kid so many years ago really reminded me of the passion I had for comic book art back then. I feel very lucky that as an adult I haven’t lost that passion. I plan on posting more of my childhood drawing up, so keep an eye out. -PoW, Zap, Zooom!