Much the Miller's Son book3 page9

I really should make an effort to say something worthwhile when I post these things. I usually kind of draw a blank. I'd like to build up more of a rapport with my readers, but I kind of feel like I don't have anything to add once I've put the page out there. Anyway, here's Marion in her Robin Hood costume again. You may remember it from way back in book1. The mule up on blocks on the lawn serves no real purpose. Much the same as modern cars do under the same circumstances.

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Delgo to Sue Avatar

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/aug/26/avatar-delgo-james-cameron

Atland #247 - Bruce

About six months ago, when the pieces of the Season 1 finale really started to take shape in my head, I started sketching General Bron. And when I sat back and looked at the artwork, I got worried. The story ideas were pushing me down a dark path...

Looking down at the sketches of this big monkey man, I knew he was dangerous. The only one tough enough to take one of our beloved main characters away from us.

I told my wife and my close friends that Bruce probably wouldn't make it through the face-off with Bron. Everyone seemed to go kind of wide-eyed for a second and then ask me if I knew what I was doing. I did -- and I do.

It's not about me. It's about the story. A good story needs humor, and drama..and tragedy. And THIS story has to happen this way.

When I sat down a few weeks ago to draw this splash page, it really hit me. My wife came home, walked into the office to tell me about her day -- and stopped short when she looked over my shoulder at the art. She got a little misty eyed and left the room.

As bad as some of you feel about this, keep in mind that I feel worse. I created Bruce. I spent 4 years writing and drawing him. This is how it's all supposed to play out, like it or not.

And next week, we'll witness the last few moments of the bravest minotaur in all the realm.

Those Pesky Humans PDF Release

The Print-at-Home PDF Version of the 'Those Pesky Humans' boardgame (illustrated by yours truly) is now available for Download here:

http://www.wargamevault.com/product_info.php?products_id=64129

Right now you can get it for the special introductory price of $9.99. What's more the cost will be fully credited back to you if you later purchase the boxed edition from Minion Games - scheduled to be released later this year.

Those Pesky Humans game turns the tables and lets you play the role of the Monsters who are fighting off the annoying Humans who keep invading your dungeon. This game is playable against one or a team of your "friends". It is highly re-playable due to the variable dungeon tile design and the variety of Avatars and abilities you may choose to play with each game. Mechanics are kept very simple to keep the pace of the game moving quickly.

Sword Maiden #99

Those Pesky Humans Character Designs

You'll need to do a bit of sideways scrolling to see all the pesky humans and monsters I've created for the upcoming boardgame from Minion games called "Those Pesky Human".




Here's the cover image too:



The initial PDF release of the game should be happening very soon - just a few last i's to dot and t's to cross (including licensing a lovely font from our brother over at Blambot). We plan to soon follow that up with a full-on printed edition, maybe even in time for the holidays ;)

The PDF uses some amusingly recycled Pewfell art on the cards. The final version will have all original art.

Stay tuned for release details. In the meantime, see more here: http://www.thosepeskyhumans.com/

The 7 Eeriest Parallels Between Avatar and Delgo

First, if you haven't seen it yet, check out the actual trailer for Avatar, which is looking pretty darned awesome in the wizardly Ur categories:




Then enjoy this:

http://www.movieline.com/2009/08/the-7-eeriest-parallels-between-avatar-and-delgo.php

Did anyone actually see Delgo? Is anyone NOT going to see Avatar in all it's eye-popping 3-dy-ness? While we're on the subject, did anyone else see Luc Besson's "Arthur and the Invisibles" - I thought that one was actually rather good.

Atland #246 - Look Out!

The drama! The drama!!! It felt good to snap that dwarf's neck and I think that last panel is one of my favorite close ups of Tad that I've ever done.

You know, I never write farther ahead than one episode. I let each week's script percolate in my mind until it's time to write/draw, but I never write ahead.

I tried it for the first time 2 months ago. I tried to sit down and write all the scripts for the remainder of what we've been calling, "Season 1". I got about 8 episodes ahead...and then I realized, they weren't even half as good as when I just write them week to week. I never realized how important that seven day "percolating" time in my head was to each episode.

So I crumpled them up and threw those episodes in my shredder. I went back and wrote ONLY the current week's script. The world of ATLAND will tell me what is supposed to happen each week. I know where it HAS to go, but I trust it to tell me how to get there.

Looking back now, I'm SO happy that I didn't use those 8 scripts. What you're reading now is MUCH better.

Next week...well, I'm not giving you ANY hint about next week...I'm gonna make you sweat this one out!

More Pirates vs Aliens

This first set is made up only of Daniel's ideas. They were based on his drawings and verbal descriptions. He's a very creative kid.

ZD #45

Berzerker Rage!

No reason for this...I'm just playing.

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Pirates vs Aliens!!

I'm working on a comicbook project with my 5-year-old son, Daniel. I'm hoping to find a concept that will appeal to kids publishers.

Wonders!

Just a quickie piece of fanboy art for giggles.

I think she is very rap/hip-hop video material.

SketchPost Swank

Just sharing some sketches from recent days. 'Cause I'm a sharing kind of guy.

Naola Firsthander of Zyn Dweomer on her balcony. I guess she's shooting at birds.

Some witchy woman with a wand at the ready.

And a totally random, totally stacked fighter chick ready to raid some dungeons.

Bode & Wrightson

This is a great chance to take a look at Vaughn Bode's comic "The Purple Pictography" featuring a few comics illustrated by the masterful Bernie Wrightson. These are not safe for work. I mean, c'mon...it's Bode!

The Wrightson/Bode collaborations are a delightful erotic treat. Great stuff! Check `em out!

Oh...and Play Nice out there!
Tony

I'm an Elf, bitch!

This looked much better in my head. I'll probably recolor it at some point. The title is a phrase which kept going around in my head while I was drawing this.

This is nothing special. I'm just playing around and doodling for fun. I haven't done that in a long time.

Play Nice.
Tony

Atland #245 - An Honorable Opponent

We're reaching the end of the last great battle of Season 1, folks!

There are 2 things that slow down my drawing to a crawl: drawing women, and drawing fight scenes. They're both monumentally important and every line I put down on paper is torture for me. SOOOOO much erasing. Every time you see a fight or a hot female...know that it took me twice as long to get it done.

::end self pity::

I'm guessing we've got about 10 episodes left in Season 1. As soon as I have a definite number, I'll let you know. At this point, I'm just going where the story tells me it should go.

Next week, does tad live...or die?

ZD #44

I wish we had a Devils Dream here in the backwoods. Maybe I could buy some chicklin gizzards.

ZD #43

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ZD #42

Which brings us sort of to the end of a chapter. I'm not sure yet. I won't feel comfortable breaking this thing into chunks until later.

Elf Rider

ZD #41: Master Beater

You know, it took me a long time to decide exactly what kind of contest Hurke was involved in. I mean, I make references to it several times and it is known that he is deep in debt to the bookies. But I didn't want to make it an extremely manly thing, like a pit fight or something. I toyed with making it a cookie bake-off but that wasn't kinetic enough. So I settled on drumming.

Robot 13

This is a pinup I just did for the comic Robot 13 from Blacklist Studios. The comic is written by Thomas Hall with eye candy by Daniel Bradford. I don't usually shell-out my hard earned wages for pamphlets anymore but this was an exception. These guys have an awesome "do it yourself" mentality and they're making some waves.
I was very excited to be given the opportunity to play in their backyard.
Thanks guys!
Check `em out!

Play Nice.
Tony

Atland #244 - Good Riddance

It felt good to draw Barry spitting on the corpse of the Dwarf Pope. I felt like I'd finished another long-waiting plot thread. I've been getting that feeling a lot lately.We've got about 12-15 +/- episodes left in Season 1. I'm sad that things are wrapping up, but happy knowing what I have in store for you in Season 2. Wish I could just blurt it all out!

Inky is finally reunited with the main plot line here. Realistically it made sense for him to recap for Barry. It doubled as a way to reinforce "the plan" to the reading audience. And I'd say the fact that Inky is still alive means that he & Captain Scar came to an agreement...

And in other news, ATLAND has been nominated for "Best Fantasy Webcomic, 2009" on Drunkduck.com. Groovy.

And in yet more news, I just received a HUGE box of new art supplies from DickBlick.com -- all my fresh materials for season 2. As you know, I'll be changing the format to "portrait" instead of "landscape" so that each page will be bigger on screen for you guys. It'll also mean I don't have to letter every episode twice (web & print). Save me some time. For this change, I've bought a ton of pre-lined Strathmore comic pages. First time I've ever used those. I'm also switching to Faber-Castell PITT Artist Pens (Size M) for all my thin linework, and the totally AWESOME new Faber Castell PITT Big Brush for all my heavy blacks. I'm still using COPIC Multiliner SB BS brush pens for close up camera angles. Anyhooo...you probably don't care about this stuff, so I'll wrap up!

Next week, we rejoin Bruce, Tad and General Bron battling it out up on the Bluff...

~N

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What are those wacky denizens of Sherwood Forest up to this week?

ZD #40

This goes up on Monday, thought I'd share it early.

Finally we get to see what this game is that Hurke keeps talking about.