Here’s how that piece turned out.  This is just the physical artwork, to get it “cover ready” I’d probably lay in some textures in Photoshop, along with some lighting tweaks….maybe even color.  When I made this piece, I didn’t really have a clear idea of what to do with the thing…it just wanted out of my head!)

It’s been an interesting week for GZ.  I’ve had some discussions with some folks (both in Moonstone and my friends) about the “production wall” that I have with the comic.  By “production wall”, I mean that I only have 20 hours a week (max!) to work on the comic, which is way to little to get a decent number of pages out a month.  Of course, it probably doesn’t help that I have all the marker-rendering work…but what would the comic be without it?  So, I’ve been brainstorming about any way to make things move along faster without decreasing quality, and I just haven’t been able to come up with much that helps.  I could do less rendering (which would hurt quality, probably), work on a smaller scale (which would probably hurt quality too)….or I could just go on with things as they are. 

Increased production could mean increased exposure, which could mean increased success.  I don’t know.  If I wasn’t the main bread-provider for the family, I’d cut back my hours or just quit altogether to work on the comic more, but I can’t do that until all the debts are paid and something else is in place to handle the slack….which I have planned….but not for a couple of years, at least.  So, for now, I just keep working.

Speaking of work, my art production will be down this week as my wife and I rehearse for our community theatre’s production of “It’s a Wonderful Life” radio play.  I’m a big Jimmy Stewart fan, and I do (apparently) a passable George Bailey.  It’s been well received, so we’ve done it 3 times in the past 4 years….it really makes it feel like Christmas!

I should have a (very) little time to work on the comic this week…but I’ll post when I have anything interesting!

-Dave

Eddie, Charles and I wanted to wish everyone a great Thanksgiving, with hopefully much to be thankful for!  Here’s a look at another cover piece I have in the works that will hopefully be done this week.  Be safe, everyone!

-Dave

Hey gang!  I just finished the artwork for page 1 of “Crossroads” and thought I’d give another sample.  See this guy?  Don’t get too attached to him…..

Also, there’s a forum thread going on at Moonstone where I’m chatting about GZ and the upcoming stories.  Give it a gander when you can: http://www.moonstoneforums.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=36

Have a great weekend, everyone!

-Dave

Finally!  I’m making some headway on the Crossroads story, and have something I can show.  This is the lead page of the story, and it was one I was skittish to draw.  Why?  Well, because there’s no cool ghosties, monsters, or freaks….not even GZ himself!  Doesn’t seem like quite the way to start off a story, does it?  Well….as I’ve been saying before, this is a weird story.  I don’t even know how to explain it…it’s kind of like it’s written itself! 

Something else that is odd.  This story revolves around the murder of an innocent young girl.  I’m modeling the girl after a typical Amish girl….there are lots of Amish around where I grew up, so I thought it would make sense.  So, I start drawing this girl, particularly the panel where the bad guys grab her…..and I get uneasy.  I mean, seriously.  No graphic violence is shown, but…there’s something about the image of this grown man grabbing this girl and covering her mouth that…..unnerved me.  I’ve never had that happen before.

Now, it could be that my mind was flitting back to the tragedy at the Amish schoolhouse not too long ago where a guy captured a bunch of Amish children and killed most (and was planning on doing much worse), but it really got to me.  Not knowing what else to do, I pushed on with the story, but let me tell you, when GZ finally gets in there and starts administering that brutal kind of justice he dishes out…..well…I think I’ll look forward to the villain getting his.

Trust me, though…what I’ve just told you about the plot is the tip of the iceberg!

Stay tuned!

-Dave

Hey, gang!  I wanted to give a bit of an update on how things were going.  The above artwork is concept work for the next GHOST ZERO short story I’m working on for Moonstone called, “The Crossroads of Solomon Strang!”  As the picture above would suggest (yep, that’s GZ, alright!), it’s a pretty strange little tale…which is something considering the list of stuff GZ’s gone up against in the past!  I’ve been struggling with the script…writing and rewriting it…and let me tell you, fashioning a complete story into 4 to 6 pages is a practice in efficiency!  I think I’m getting it nailed down, though, and it will be a better story for all the work done!

I also wanted to thank the folks who have been buying the original GZ art up on the Comic Art Fan website.  Honestly, it’s very touching to know that there are folks out there who enjoy GZ so much that they’re willing to lay down some chunks of their cash to own a piece.  And, for those of you who are lamenting that “you sold my favorite piece!”, then fear not!  I’ve got an idea in my head for another full-page GZ cover piece that should be pretty darned impressive.  I’ll keep you all informed!

All the best to you and yours.

-Dave

Well folks, after some deep soul-searching (and some sage advice from a friend), I’ve decided that the original GHOST ZERO art that I’ve made for such stories as “Sea of the Dead”, Vigilante Crypt, and more!  It’s much better that it finds it’s way into the hands of an appreciative fan than sitting in my study!  I put the page up on Saturday and have already sold a few pieces, so if you’ve got a yen to own your own piece of undead vigilante, head on over and take a look!

-Dave

Howdy, all!  I hope everyone had a great Halloween.  I wasn’t able to get my pumpkin carved, but I did see an awesome, orange, crescent moon that night and watched the remake of Dawn of the Dead, so it was all good.)

I wanted to post some artwork that I did for my good friend and fellow pulp-creator Anthony Schiavino’s SGT. ZERO character.  SGT. ZERO is a government super-soldier from WWII, but he isn’t your typical red-white-and-blue patriot….more of a victim of government dabbling, and painted in much more of a noir setting.  I did the artwork, Anthony did the copy layout (at which he freaking excells!).  It’s still in the development stage, but the artwork that Simone is cranking out for the concept sketches is really great!

…and NO, I didn’t get the name Ghost Zero from Sgt. Zero.  I…don’t THINK I did, anyway.)

On the GZ front, I’m at work hammering out the plot for the next Moonstone/GZ short, which (at this point) involves a King, a crossroad and a corpse.  I’ll keep you posted!  (Here’s another Sgt. Zero image!)

Ok, I don’t know if you’ve been checking Francesco Francavilla’s Pulp Sunday blog, but he’s doing a countdown to Halloween called “Sisterhood of Witches”!  Here’s a sample:

So go see the rest!  Wow!

-Dave

Another tiny tribute from artist Blue Beacon!  Based on this pic:

I’ve got to say, Charles never looked so…..cute!)  Thanks, Blue!