As always, Free Comic Book Day was a blast. Blue Moon has posted a few pics here.
Along with signing a bunch of our own stuff, Michael Stribling and I were also scribbling on a special print that he produced based on a setting and characters I’ve been kicking around for a while. Currently codenamed “The Dark Divide,” I’m working on bringing the world to life in several arenas: One of our current projects at Fearless Studios is a prototype of core gameplay inspired by the concept; I just wrapped up the rough draft of Chapter 11 of a novel; and Cedrick (my Fearless co-founder) and I are discussing funding for a comic book limited series or graphic novel.
The image below is a teaser with early concepts for two of the (probably way too large) cast. The version we signed had some text on it, but none of the logos are final, so I’ve opted to post the unadulterated version here (mostly so I could type “unadulterated”). Click on the image to enlarge (but be warned; the final image is pretty big…).
Without going into virtually ANY detail on the concept or characters, I will say that I love the semi-transparent tentacles… And, I’ll mention that we’re really working hard to make these characters as iconic as possible – hence the big green goggles on the gunslinger in the foreground. We’re not completely there yet, but it’s coming along. Any feedback is welcome!
I’ll be at Blue Moon Comics Saturday 5/7 from 12-4 celebrating Free Comic Book Day with the talented Michael Stribling. Blue Moon will have some copies of Darth Vader & The Lost Command on hand for signing, and I’m sure Michael will have some of his work on display as well. As a special bonus, Michael can show something he’s working on that’s the first official collaboration between the two of us — an original image based on some characters and a world I’ve been kicking around for a while, and which has evolved into one of the game concepts we’re developing at Fearless Studios. Stop by if you’re in the North Bay!
The series is racing towards the finale… Preview pages posted over at Dark Horse replicated below. Click for full glory. I love the tagline on the cover…
Pick it up tomorrow (4/27) at Blue Moon Comics and other fine retailers, or online at TFAW.
Dark Horse has posted three pages from Darth Vader & The Lost Command #3. Reposting below (click to enlarge). No real setup necessary, except to say that these are pulled from the middle of the issue. I was very inspired by Vader stalking Luke in the bowels of Cloud City for much of this issue — Vader in “stealth mode” is not something we get to see very often, so hopefully fans will enjoy it.
Darth Vader & The Lost Command #3 is on shelves next Wednesday (3/30)!
Several pages from the first issue of Batwoman have been released at DC’s Blog, The Source! Check out the pages below (click to enlarge).
I can’t really reveal anything about the story yet, except to say that given my preoccupation with ghost stories, urban legends, and “modern” mythologies, the character who appears in the first few panels of this issue is one I’ve been haunted by for years. It’s both terrifying and thrilling to finally see her realized (and beautifully rendered, I might add).
Darth Vader & The Lost Command #2 came out yesterday and should be available at fine comic book shops everywhere. Reviews for the first issue have been very positive, and it seems folks are enjoying a glimpse into Vader’s rather damaged psyche… It only gets more complicated for Vader as the series progresses.
Below are the first three pages of Issue #2, which have been released as a preview elsewhere. Click to enlarge.
The first issue of the five-issue Darth Vader & The Lost Command comes out tomorrow. You can find out a bit more about the series in a blog post I did for Dark Horse where I talk about my vision of Vader and address the whole issue of whether or not Vader should be able to “fail,” and in an interview over at Newsarama that gives some details on the story and what it’s been liking writing it while founding Fearless Studios. The comic should be available at Blue Moon Comics and other fine comic shops, or you can order it from Things from Another World. Hope anyone who picks up the first issue enjoys it!
For those of you interested in Batwoman news, check out Jim’s blog, where he addresses the “delay” in the release of the first issue.
Just two quick updates. Earlier this week, StarWars.Com posted a preview for Issue #1 of Darth Vader and the Lost Command, which comes out later this month. You can click on the images below to see the larger versions. Rick Leonardi is doing a fantastic job with the art.
And here’s the cover for Issue #3, which I realized I never posted…
Also this month, the writing in the The Force Unleashed 2 was nominated for a Writers Guild of America award. We won a few years ago for the first Force Unleashed, and I’m humbled to be nominated again.
The last few weeks of 2010 proved extremely busy but productive. Here’s some quick updates:
Darth Vader & The Lost Command: I delivered the script for Darth Vader & The Lost Command #5, the final issue in that limited series, right before Christmas. Not sure if this will be my last Vader story, but I certainly tried to treat it that way and take the character to places he hasn’t been before. A lot of the story deals with Vader being forced to confront his past and the decisions he’s made. The whole process was more than a little cathartic… The first issue hits stands on January 26th.
Batwoman: Jim and I finished our script for Batwoman #5, which wraps up the first arc (“Hydrology”) for the new ongoing series. We worked extremely hard to make sure that the arc packs an emotional punch and shows some growth for Kate, and to set up the next arc as well. I think I’m most excited about seeing reader reaction to the new villain and some of the scenes between Kate and Maggie Sawyer. DC posted an update on the series at the The Source, the official DC blog, which is also accompanied by art from the series (including Amy’s variant cover for Issue #1, which I’m reposting here!).
Fearless Studios: We’re working on several pitches for various folks, and we continue to forge ahead with our original IP development. We’ve also selected one of our original concepts to move into a prototyping phase. The concept is built around some very innovative gameplay and a setting that is a unique fusion of horror, sci-fi, and fantasy. I’m very excited about the progess we’ve made on both the game design and prototyping pipeline. We’re putting together a plan to start revealing some of the material, bit by bit, and hopefully I can share more here eventually.
Scrivener Beta-Testing: All my friends with Macs have been telling me about this program for a few years now, but it’s just become available — in Beta form — on PC. It’s basically a really fancy binder program, but it’s powerful and easy-to-use and generally awesome. I’ve been using it for the past few months now (and in fact, used it to write the rough drafts for Issues #4 and #5 of the Darth Vader series, and organize a novel and a screenplay I’m working on). You can find out more here.
I’m still working on various other projects, and some monster-related blog posts as well. Hope to have something up in the next week or two.
Here is Jim’s cover for Batwoman #2, which continues the “Hydrology” storyline, our first 5-issue Arc. I’ve already seen some of the interior art, and it’s pretty incredible stuff – Jim really captures both the horror of the new villain we’re introducing, and continues to humanize Kate Kate.
As with previous issues, Amy Reeder will be doing a variant cover.
