Buck Tucker - Enemy of Love

Now that Vanguard #2 is on sale, I though I'd show you the complete page, how I put it all together and some photo references I used to help create the page..

You can download for FREE Vanguard #2 here.. If you do, please leave feedback for Dirk Van Dom who have taken his time and effort to put the comic together.

Pencils

 Inked via Manga Studio EX

 Coloured and textured in Photoshop

And then finally lettered

You are Legend - Thank you Ron Smith

Two updates in a week. Aren't I spoiling you.

The 2000ad forum has been put together a one off print for legendary comic-book artist Ron Smith.

Ron's getting on a bit now and has worked in the British comic book industry for over 50 years. He first came to my attention when he took over the art duties for The Day the Law Died back in 1979 and his artwork blow me away! Since then, the majority of his work was illustrating Judge Dredd, The Daily Star Judge Dredd and Rogue Trooper (Friday). He's not shy about doing the odd crown scene either.

Here's the page that I've done, just to say 'Thank You'. It's also the first script I've written too. Cheers Ron, you are a Legend!

Buck Tucker - Enemy of Love in Vanguard #2

Bloody hell, I can't believe it's three months since I updated my blog.

The next instalment of everyone's favourite psychopath - Buck Tucker is featured in Vanguard #2. If you downloaded this years Hallowscream you'll know that in the end Tucker got what was coming to him. So what the f**k is going on now!

Enemy of Love is written as always by Dirk Von Dom and it looks like Mr Tucker has taken a change in direction.

As well as Buck Tucker - Enemy of Love, this issue of Vanguard sees the continuation of the stories that began in issue 1. As before, art duties on International Woman of Mystery tale"Atomic Call" are by David Blankley, while Louis Carter continues to produce some brilliantly bizarre artwork on sci-fi, fantasy epic "Halo and the Gryphon". This issue's violent installment of 1800's "When Good Donkey's Go Bad" tale "Mammoth-Jack" features a change of artist however, as my good friend El Chivo takes over pencilling duties from Owen Watts. 


Here's the Deal (From Dirks Blog - don't you just love copy & paste!):
OPTION 1) READ FOR FREE!!
Yes, that's right, I've decided to put this issue up online to be viewed, in it's entirety, for free. Why? Well, because I would like a lot of people to read it, to be blunt. Although I practically sold my entire print one of issue 1 over the course of five or six months, that still only came to a small number of copies distributed (less than 50). Which means less than 50 people read the comic. I'd certainly like to have more of a readership than that but since it's difficult to persuade people to part with their cash for something they can't see in the flesh before they take a chance on, I thought this might be the way to go. That, and the fact that I will be in Japan for at least the next six months and the postage costs back to the UK would be ridiculous! So, with that in mind, you can, right this very minute, make your way HERE and enjoy the comic. 

The only thing I would ask in return is that you throw a few comments our way upon reading. The beauty of that site is that you can comment on each page as you read, so if something comes to mind, if you like something or hate something, if you have suggestions for how we could improve things, you can very quickly make a note of it before going to the next page. I would love to know what you think of the stories/writing and I'm sure my collaborators would love to know how you find their art so please do take a few seconds to do this.

Note - only issue 2 is available to view. I didn't think it would be fair to those who purchased a copy of issue 1 to then make it available for free, so I haven't done so. However, there is sufficient recaps given in the strips themselves that this shouldn't hinder your enjoyment of the comic. If you haven't read issue 1 and what you see here intrigues you enough that you would like to, I still have a few copies left which I would be more than happy to sell to you - failing that, the issue is also available to view as a myebook for the ridiculously low price of 50p - click HERE to access it.

OPTION 2 - BUY A PRINT COPY AND READ IT IN THE FLESH!
So, now that I've told you how you can read the comic for free, you're probably not going to be all that interested in paying for a print copy, are you. NEVERTHELESS, if you are the type of person (like me) who prefers his comics 'in the flesh' and likes to hold some really, physical paper in his hand whilst reading, let me see if I can entice you. Because for those who DO avail of a print copy of the comic there are a couple of extras. 

Firstly, you will receive - absolutely free - a copy of "Speed Date", a 16 page full-colour A5 comic that collects together both parts of slaser-serial killer story "Speed Date", which originally appeared in Hallowscream's 2010 and 2011 issues. Art on part 1 is by Ghostpockets and on part 2 by Bhuna. The story comes wrapped in a pair of beautiful covers rendered by Bhuna - check out his awesome "after Bill Sienkiewicz" homage: 

As Dirk is buggering off to the Land of the Rise Sun for a bit, I'll have a few copies that I can send out on his behalf. So if you want a copy of Vanguard #2, a FREE copy of Speed Date and some FREE nice little limited edition post cards, then just get in contaft with me.

This weeks entry the the Weekly Theme Art Blog

This week's theme was my choice, So I went for all things Warrior.

For those young 'uns who haven't heard of Warrior, it was possibly the 2nd best (after 2000ad) British anthology going in the 80's. Stories included, Marvelman (then Mircleman, now back to Marvelman!) V for Vendetta and one of my favourites, Alex Pressbutton. Pressbutton was written by Steve Moore and featured legenary artists such as Garry Leach, Alan Davis and Steve Dillon.

(From Wikipedia) Pressbutton originally a mild-mannered and plant-loving florist, he took delivery of plant matter which included a sentient, telepathic, anesthetic, carnivorous fungus which attacked his body from the feet upwards All the time it was consuming him, it was empathising with him, apologising for eating him and preventing him from feeling the pain. (Bhuna....I shit you not!) 


By the time he was rescued, the only remaining parts of his body were his head, right arm and part of his chest. As a result of this damage, he became extremely embittered, especially against vegetation. When rebuilt as Pressbutton, he was fitted with a cleaver as a left arm and, because of his lack of genital equipment, an orgasm-inducing button on his chest clearly marked "Press". Unfortunately, this was sometimes used by later adversaries to disable him (in rapture) while he was attacking them.

Buck Tucker.... Enemy of luuuv!!

I'm currently half way through colouring a 1 papers for the next issue of Vanguard (#2)

For those of you who read the second part of Speed Date featured in this years Hallowscream, you may be thinking 'wah??!.. But he's?!.... Wasn't he??!...' You'll just have to buy Vanguard #2 when it's out to find out what the hell going on.

Happy Hallowscream!! Speed Date 2 - Cruz Control

OK OK!! I know its a few days late!
If you want to finally read what I have been waffling on about for the last couple of months, then keep reading!

Speed Date 2 is featured in a FREE, yes.. FREE 112 pages comic of Halloween blood and snot. You can download this years’ Hallowscream from here - Hallowscream 2011. It features over 25 illustrated tales of horror and other scary shit! It comes in at 53meg so it may take time to download, but it is well worth the wait. Speed Date 2 has even made the cover!

Speed Date2 written by Dirk Van Dom with artwork by yours truly is featured on page 80-86, so what are you waiting for? Click the link above and enjoy!

Now, if you want to see the whole Speed Date story in gory glorious full colour print,  it has been collated for issue 2 of Vanguard #2 written by Dirk Van Dom  and will be given away as a FREE GIFT. Issue 2 will be out at the end of the year and will also be featuring your favourite psycho 'Tucker' again written by DvD with m’self drawing some pretty weird shit (again)!!

 

Speed Date 2... Coming Soon

I know it's a complete rip off or homage (take your pick) of the fantastic Bill Sienkiewicz's cover of Elektra Assassin #4. But here is a little promo piece I've done for Speed Date 2 - Cruz Control' is going to be featured in this years Hallowscream.

Dirk Van Dom who wrote this sick little tale has quoted on his blog...

'I revisit the character and present a 'what happened next' type epilogue to the tale...a full colour (and what colour!) tale of love and romance that is now in the can, courtesy of the wonderful Bhuna (that's me, that is!), and being lettered as we speak. Speed Date 2:Cruz Control is, like all good sequels, everything the first part had but MORE. MORE violence, MORE blood, MORE death, MORE twists. It is, honestly, the bloodiest 6 pages of comic I have ever witnessed. They don't come much more blood-soaked than this people, so keep an eye out for this year's Hallowscream at the end of the month to find out if Tucker gets his come-uppance or not.'

I think he liked my work!!


Hallowscream 2011 will be available for download on 31st October!

Tucker's next tale is going to be featured in issue 2 of Vanguard which again will be written by Dirk with art my m'very good self.

Anyway, the first part of the story which appeared in last years edition (with art by Ghostpockets) has been made into a short film called SPEED KILLS as Speed Date already exists.

The big news though is that the movie has been picked to appear as part of the short film showcase at this year's Horrorthon festival in the IFI in Dublin. It's being shown on October the 31st at 11am.


Here's a still for the film!

One of Tuckers victims