Expo : Charles Burns

I went to the opening of the Charles Burns expo yesterday evening. Very much worth your time. Check it out in the M museum in Leuven.

The Vault Chapter One: Marvin

Finally ! I made myself a newyears resolution in 2009 that I would draw one comic, whatever lenght, each year. For 2010 my aim was to draw the first chapter of a new project of mine, "The Vault", for which the story arc is finished and some chapters have been written as well.

Since I only can pick up drawing occassionally, I tried a new approach, which was to draw all images seperately and then merge them together afterwards. That gave me a lot of satisfaction while I was drawing, but I couldn't really see the way it was going until I finished all the drawings and photoshop it together. I don't think the approach will stick.

Anyhow, 20 days after my deadline, I present you with The Vault Chapter One: Marvin. Hope you like it - I learned a lot by making it.

(Click on the images to enlarge them.)

What are you readin' #1

Thanks to my sister (thankyouthankyouthankyou) and the nice people at Forbidden Planet, this is what I'm reading these days - a fresh import from London.

MARVIN flyer

My latest project: MARVIN

Bibberkopf comic: That day in the office

It's been a while since I took the time to draw another short comic. 2 weeks ago I decided to sacrifice some sleep and reading time to get this one out of my system by the ninth of September. If you've got trouble reading the small font, click on the image to enlarge it. I'm looking forward to your comments on this post.

Amazing Comics: Hellboy by Mike Mignola

More then 12 years ago there was this guy in my class (animation) who was a great fan of Hellboy. I couldn't understand why - it all seemed too childish to me: skulls and bones, fighting all the time, armory, .. All the same reasons why I don't dig videogames or roleplaying. But when I was on holiday in the US in 2004, I picked up 2 issues to bring them along as a souvenir. I was blown away by the darkness and the cultural references, without even mentioning the astonishing art. In the meanwhile, Hellboy is a popular brand thanks to 2 movies, which in my opinion do not capture the essence of this series. I guess it's about the difference in the experience: the books you savour at your own pace, taking the time you choose. The films they just pass you by and all the glitter and special effects just make the thing more accessible instead of uncapturable.

Anyhow, to the guy in my class - I was wrong, thank you for making me curious.

Amazing Comics: 100% by Paul Pope

I'm far from proud about this drawing (it was the first one I made for the Amazing Comics blogposts, namely in November of last year), so I've been hesitating to publish it. On the other hand, after all these months it turns out to be difficult for me to post on a regular bases, so I think it's better that I get out what I have prepared for you and that I keep my hesitations to myself.

Anyhow, I wanted to talk to you about this comic by Paul Pope. At first sight, Pope's work is hard to dig in - especially when it is in black and white. But then, after a few pages, you know that what you are reading is a much richer experience then what you often read, and you thank him for offering you that kind of stuff for more than an hour of lecture. He captures the NY artscene as only he can portray it. I could have referred to his comic Heavy Liquid as well, since it is as excellent as 100%. Dargaud published a french version of both books for those who prefer their literature in french.

GO - BUY - NOW

Amazing Comics: Breakfast after noon by Andi Watson

Perfect reading material for a rainy day like today. Read more about it here.

Amazing Comics: Civil War by Steve McNiven and Mark Millar

This was the comic that started it all for me. I had some Frank Miller and Mike Mignola, but the superheroes were not my cup of tea. Until this came out. 

Amazing Comics: David Boring by Daniel Clowes

The comic David Lynch would die for. Defenitely Clowes' best.

Amazing comics: Black Hole by Charles Burns

There has already been written so much about this dark and freaky comic, that I can't imagine I can add anything interesting to all that. The atmosephere is so specific, that I unconsciously keep thinking about it when I read other books or watch movies - like Meyer's Twilight or David Fincher's Zodiac for instance. Just google this one up.

Amazing Comics: Ultra by the Luna brothers

Brought to you by the duo of the astonishing "Girls" series, this 8-issue story mixes the best of your superhero comics with your average bold and the beautiful soap. It is actually a one-time-only read (once you know some of the storylines there is no fun in reading the book a second time), but the Luna's keep you strongly involved in their characters emotions once they reveiled the first unexpected turn of events.

Completed with fake magazinecovers (Time, Newsweek, Wired, ..) the tradepaperback version of Ultra is an item worth your collection.

You should buy: Ultra TPB
You should visit: Luna Brothers website
If you like this book, you should also read: Girls

Amazing Comics: Civil War - Wolverine by Humberto Ramos and Marc Guggenheim

Civil War is an amazing cross-over Marvel event - one of the best ever. It focusses on a a main storyline, with a great number of references to these events in almost all running Marvel series. You can find collections of those comics with references, but in many cases you are either dropped in the middle of an ongoing storyline (hard to follow) in which the direct reference to the Civil War doesn't add a lot to the story. In the other case it is just a retelling of part of the story but from the perspective other characters.

Luckely there are some exceptions and "Civil War: Wolverine" is one of them. It brings the initial Civil War events in another shade of light. It's a real pageturner, drawn by top-artist Humberto Ramos. Of all books by this artist, this is the one you really want. He abandons his Frank Miller influences (see also "Wolverine: enemy of the state) to bring you a modern, powerfull and energetic sequence of drawings that are just waiting to be put up on the wall.

Blows you off your socks.

You should buy: Civil War: Wolverine
You should visit: Civil War Comics Hub
If you like this book, you should also read: Civil War, Wolverine: enemy of the state