Sketch A Day #24: The Drummer from Planetary

And, finally, The Drummer from the series Planetary. Drums, while in most every issue of the series, and playing a pivotal role in a bunch of issues, remains mostly unchanged by the events around him. Lets face it, Ellis had a whole lot of plot and other fun stuff to do in Planetary, so Drums and Jakita Wagner get less development along the way.

Of course it is the young Drummer's comment, "Worst. Rescue. Ever." as they're blown out of the window 30 stories up that remains a personal favorite.

Sketch A Day #21 - Ambrose Chase from Planetary & writing for the trade

The mysterious Ambrose Chase, who haunts much of the Planetary story, in a pensive moment, using his time stopping powers to simply slow down and appreciate a few droplets of rain.

I've never run into Warren Ellis at a convention, but will someone tell him "thanks" for me? I love this rich series and I'm having a blast doing the characters from it.

So here is the question: are stories like Planetary and Sandman things that we would consider "writing for the trade", a term using with increasing frequency in a derogatory fashion to explain the lack of enjoyment with reading the current pamphlet?

In both of those cases, I say an emphatic "No." Both of those series make sense in a single issue context, and also reveal, onion-like, many different layers upon repeated readings. They are truly the best of both worlds when they're on their game, providing both the good single issue experience and the great re-reading experience.

Now I don't believe that writing for the trade is a bad thing. For one thing, it means a longer shelf life for the work if it does read well when its collected. In many ways, it may also hasten the transition from the single issue malaise that has long affected American comics and get creators to continue to think in long form, and the inherent complexities that can are native to that (when done right).

It does mean that perhaps we can do away with the example of ultra "decompressed" comics. Catagorically, I'll state right here and now that I don't want to constantly read ultra "abbreviated" comics paced like the mid-60's DC Comics, nor do I want everything to read like Bendis' Jinx or Goldfish or Powers. Personally, I'd love to see the pace change through out the work, slowing down and speeding up when necessary. And I want my story to take me somewhere.

Is that too much to ask?

Sketch A Day #20: John Stone from Planetary

John Stone of S.T.O.R.M., a little older, still just as deadly and still rocking those impeccable suits. It reminds me of the old days, when tradecraft was done with style.

Ellis and Cassaday give us adventures that Steranko never quite got around to drawing... well, a glimpse of them at least.

I like this one.

Ink and Copic marker on 2-ply bristol

Sketch A Day #19: Jakita Wagner from Planetary

working my way through the Planetary cast, today with the least developed of the regular cast, Jakita Wagner. Really, she gets the least emotional journey through the epic arc of the Planetary story. Its fine, she exists to hit things, which of course is why she's so frustrated in the story at the end. We'd reached a point where just hitting isn't a solution anymore.

What would superhero comics be without hitting things as a solution? Lost, I tell you, lost.

india ink on bristol

Sketch A Day #18: Elijah Snow from Planetary

Or should i have just labeled this "the fourth man:" and let those in the know get the joke?

Sorry to have been away, technical difficulties and all that. Time to climb back up on that horse and keep on ridin'

Elijah Snow, from my favorite series of the last decade, Planetary. Ink on 2-ply bristol with brush, quill and technical pen. 


You might have noticed that i said bristol. yes, that's right, I've gotten the last piece of the puzzle towards changing my studio, an excellent LED lightbox to combine with my new table. The frustration has been knowing the method that i wanted to use for drawing, but lacking all the bits to put it together. Thanks to my generous father-in-law, I'm finally able to do that.

In the meantime, we'll be back to our sketch a day starting with...NOW!