SHOCK STORIES original art and printed cards

I couldn't resist another post related to the URBAN LEGENDS and SHOCK STORIES cards.  Here are a couple shots of my original black and white line art, compared to the printed colored cards.  The art was done at 5 x 7 inches and reduced for publication.  These are both from the SHOCK set -- so there is a 3D version as well as the standard color card.  The 3D cards are the ones with the simpler "flat" color.  I told you some of these were grisly!  These two are in my "keeper file" and not among the originals I'm offering for sale.

Urban Legends and SHOCK STORIES trading cards

At long last, I have my comp box of the URBAN LEGENDS and SHOCK STORIES trading card sets I drew for Monsterwax!  This project was a long time in the making, and it's a treat to see it finally on the market.  I spent this afternoon sorting through the cards, assembling my sets by opening the packs contained in the box.  Each box contains a complete basic 50 card set of both SHOCK and UL -- as well as 3D subset cards and various extras.  I even got two of my own sketchcards back!  The original B&W line art art was also returned -- and I'll be offering up the majority of the originals for sale -- including the paintings for the wrappers.  Contact me for details on that if you're interested. 

As someone who collected trading cards when I was a kid -- way back in the 1960s, when you could get cards of The Beatles, The Outer Limits or Gomer Pyle, it's a real kick to have created the art for an entire set (two sets, really!), and to see it presented in the traditional "wax pack" manner.  Now if only each pack contained a crumbling stick of dusty pink bubble gum....

SHOCK STORIES & URBAN LEGENDS sketch cards!

Taking a break from the vintage comics and Big Funny posts to get back to the soon to be released Shock Stories and Urban Legends trading cards I drew for Monsterwax.  One of the most fun assignments I've ever had was turning out 250 sketch cards for the sets.  For those who don't know, sketch cards are original art cards randomly inserted in card packs.  These are all ink and marker, and feature different views of the characters from the cards.  

My intern from MCAD, Hannah Blumenreich,  helped out with pencil roughs for some of these.  The "Mexican Pet" images show off her drawing skills especially.  These are a "best of" preview of the cards -- we drew a lot more!  If you happen to get one in your box of cards, please let me know what you got, will you?  

And if your response to some of these is "Eeeuwwww -- gross!" then you got it right!

PS: please leave a comment if you enjoy what you see here -- I know from the counter I just installed that folks are looking at this blog -- but some feedback would be really nice -- thanks!

UPDATE: here's an article on the 3-D subset cards!

URBAN LEGENDS and SHOCK STORIES pencil prelims

With all this fuss over Big Funny, I don't want to ignore the impending release of my Monsterwax Urban Legends and Shock Stories trading card sets.  Here's a  look at part of the creative process behind the cards.  

After getting script and a rough concept sketch from Kurt at Monsterwax central, I'd draw pencil prelims (see examples below) at print size.  Once approved, I'd enlarge them in Photoshop, print them, lightbox them onto bristol board and refine the drawing (still in pencil) -- and then do the final inks.  At that point, the art was shipped off for color and/or 3-D conversion.  Most of these went to final with little change -- some went through several revisions (see "Biological Barrier" below).

If you'd like to see more, leave a comment or send me a message!

Trading card press

Non-Sport Update (a magazine devoted to trading cards of the non-sports variety) has cover featured the Shock Stories and Urban Legends trading cards I drew for Monsterwax.  I haven't seen a copy yet, but here's an advance look at the cover, which uses art from four of the cards.  As  we get closer to seeing these sets issued, I'll post some  preliminary pencil sketches and sketch card art.  

I should be able to announce some exciting comic book news soon -- but in the meantime, I'd better get to finishing the several commissions still on my drawing board!

URBAN LEGENDS and SHOCK STORIES trading cards

Here's a project that has been in the works for years!  At long last, we're done and going to print -- with boxes to be released in August.  There are 50 cards in each of these sets -- with additional 3-D versions of the SHOCK cards!  The cards have stories written by Kurt Kuersteiner --and all are drawn by me (my pals Chris Bailey and Michael Collins helped with pencils on a handful of cards -- thanks, guys!)  I've just finished drawing 250 sketch cards (with the assistance of my talented MCAD intern, Hannah on some of them -- thanks, Hannah!) that will be randomly inserted into card packs.  I'm very excited about this project, and can't wait to have the printed versions in my hands!  If you'd like more info, check out Kurt's site: Monsterwax .

Below are an ad for the cards that will be running in Non Sports Update magazine, (which will be running a feature article on the cards), title cards and previews of several cards from the sets.  These will be limited to 1000 boxes, and pre-orders are being taken -- so, if you'd really like a box, I'd suggest ordering soon, as we expect this to sell out -- especially after the NSU article sees print. I really enjoyed getting to cut loose and draw all the creepy monsters and such featured on these cards. If you like EC horror comics, or vintage monster movies -- or just like an old fashioned scary story (the kind told around a campfire), you'll dig these. 

If you'd like to see them, I'll post some preliminary pencils for the cards -- maybe some inked versions (pre-color) and a preview of a few of the sketchcards.  Want to see them?  Leave a comment and let me know!

SHOCK STORIES & URBAN LEGENDS

Here's a tiny preview of two collectible trading card sets I've been working on for a long time.  They'll be published by Monsterwax this August.  These are undoubtedly the creepiest, goriest, weirdest drawings I've ever done -- very much in the EC Comics tradition -- but pushing the boundaries of taste even further.  These few preview images barely hint at the horrors in these sets -- they are not for the faint of heart!  There are even 3-D cards included! And I may be doing some sketch cards as well. Print run will be low -- limited to 1000 boxes, so if you want 'em, grab a box fast! For more info, check the Monsterwax website.