Phantom and Rex Morgan work in progress pics

I'd forgotten I'd snapped a few screen shots of recent work in progress -- so, just stumbling upon them now, thought I'd share. I work on three Rex dailies at a time -- though only two will fill the screen at once -- so here's a pic of the first two dailies in early stages -- and the first two from this week, as well. You'll note that, in today's strip, I swapped out the medium shot of June in panel one for a closer view -- and re-inked portions of the close up in panel two before I was done. (See today's previous blog post for the final version of today's comic.)

And so you Phantom fans don't feel left out -- here's a recent Sunday page at an early stage of production. A reminder that all you're seeing here is digital -- done using Manga Studio on my MacBook Pro -- using a Wacom tablet and stylus.

Rex Week Two -- Tuesday

More color/B&W comparison. Not much to add today -- though I will say the vitriol in the comments at Comics Kingdom today has, thankfully, taken a decided downturn (as of 9AM at least). Nobody's said they're thrilled with my art yet -- but they're mostly concerned with discussing the story - which is as it should be. Ideally, I don't want them even thinking about the art -- the function of which is to tell the story. I want them to read the strip and think about the characters and story -- that's the goal. Hmm... I guess I did have something to say....

Rex Morgan week two -- and a few comments

My second week of Rex Morgan strips began today -- and for just one more week, I'll do daily posts comparing the color and B&W versions of the strip. After this week runs its course, I'll just post the full week's worth of the B&W version, as one post, after they've all run in the papers -- on Saturday or Sunday. For those wanting to read the strip regularly, I still recommend the official King Features Comics Kingdom website. Though I suggest skipping over the comments -- they're mostly quite unpleasant, and I, for one, hope they don't reflect the real readership of the strip. 

That said, a few of the complainers found their way here and posted derogatory comments regarding my artwork on the strip. I deleted those complaints. King Features allows negative comments on their website -- but this is my personal blog, and I simply won't have it. My house -- my rules. I don't come to your house and sling mud -- so please don't sling mud in mine.

I take my work on Rex very seriously, and am giving it everything I have -- even while fighting a vicious case of bronchitis, as I have been for over a week now (yes, I've seen a doctor, I'm on meds, etc.) Any new artist coming on to the strip would have an adjustment period in which the character designs will shift -- some more than others. That happened to me on The Phantom as well -- it just took a little while for "my" Phantom to emerge.  The same natural process is happening with Rex -- and just as it took readers a while to accept the change in style from Tony DiPreta's work when Graham Nolan came on board, it's going to take a while for some folks to accept me. I'm okay with that. 

Some have suggested that I should have taken more time to practice drawing the characters before taking over the art. That's a lovely idea, in theory  -- but in reality, I was hired to draw the strip -- and then -- had to start drawing the strip. There was no great block of time beforehand for me to "warm up." It's the nature of newspaper strips that they have to be done and delivered no matter how tight the deadline. And I had to hit the ground running here to keep things on schedule. 

Again, I'm giving Rex all I can give, and am working very hard to make it the best strip it can be. With thirty years of comic book work under my belt and a lifelong dream to draw a daily strip finally a reality-- this is no joke to me. If you simply don't like my drawing style -- I can't help that  -- but I assure you I am sincere about the work.

That said, here is Monday's strip.

For those wondering what's happened to The Phantom -- well, of course I'm still drawing the strip -- I'm just not posting all the Sundays here anymore. Now that the Comics Kingdom site is showing the complete "half page format" strip -- as I draw it -- you may as well go directly there.  The latest strip begins a flashback to a tale of the 5th Phantom -- lots of swashbuckling pirate action in this one!

REX Day Six -- and no Sunday

The last strip from my first week of Rex Morgan, M.D. My apologies for not having this up yesterday. We had internet issues all day -- only fixed this morning. A sparing use of tone in this strip from Saturday. I think June is looking more herself in the final panel, though we still got complaints about this one. I think we're just going to get some griping no matter what. 

Here's one example of why I don't take the complaints to heart, though -- one reader was very upset that I'm drawing Rex with a cleft chin -- as if that was something I'd just brought to the character -- when in fact, Rex has had that chin dimple from the very beginning of the feature -- and all the way through Graham Nolan's run!

One color goof here -- bed colored as if it is June's arm -- June's arm left white. Eh -- mistakes happen.

I have no Sunday strip to post today, as Graham's last strip is running -- so if you want to see what's happening with Rex and June and the ice cream, stop by the Comics Kingdom page to read today's strip.

Next week: more with Rex and June -- and Sarah.

REX Day Five

Continuing the color/B&W comparisons on the daily strips. Again -- not much tone work on this one -- just some background fill. I'm happier with June here, though I'm still not "there" yet. Kelly's looking a little too old, and I'll adjust that next time she shows up in the strip. 

I don't know if anyone has really noticed, but I made sure to use the same lettering font Graham had been using (WildWords from Comicraft) -- and have continued his use of the single pointer line from the balloons, so despite the switch in artists, some things about the "look" of the strip would stay consistent. More tomorrow -- for now, I have to hit the drawing board and make some serious progress on my Jungle Tales of Tarzan story. 

REX Day Four

More color/B&W comparisons. Not a great deal of tone work on the B&W version this time. 

The Anti-Terry Brigade over in the comments section on Comics Kingdom are all wigging out over the close-up of June in the third panel -- hating how she looks, of course, and calling for my head. Well, surprise folks -- I'm not really happy with that one, either. 

It's my first week -- I'm still finding my footing here. The characters don't quite look how I want them to yet. I'm trying to find a balance between Graham's version and something that suits my drawing style -- and June has been the most difficult of the bunch to get a handle on. I'd have loved to have reworked this over and over until it was dead on --but with newspaper strip deadlines being what they are, sometimes you just have to move on to the next one. 

Rex, I'm basing off of Graham's design -- with some of the look from the  Bradley/Edgington days thrown in. Sarah, I'm reworking a bit. With two preschoolers in the home, I'm able to observe kids a lot, and that's coming in very handy when drawing that "amazing little girl."

I know I've gotten a lot of great response on facebook and here on my blog. There have even been a few positive comments on Comics Kingdom.  The trolls who post nasty stuff there aren't really fans of the strip -- just folks who get their jollies posting nasty stuff. Real Rex fans will, I hope, give me a few weeks to iron out the kinks and hit my stride. I honestly do enjoy drawing this feature-- and am sincere about making it the best it can be -- I trust they'll see that eventually. In the meantime, I'll duck when the brickbats are thrown.

REX Day Three

Happy New Year, everyone! Here's hoping 2014 will be wonderful!

More color/B&W strip comparisons -- my third daily strip.