DragonFUZE #8

The Tikki’s Giant page has been updated with a new gallery featuring 12 character designs by story artist Andrew Law; make sure you visit the gallery to check out our MechaMages, phayries, knights and giants! Andrew has wrapped the character designs and is  heading into the page layouts/ thumbnails; soon it’s into the pages themselves.

The first stage in our grand quest is nearing completion. Andrew’s work brings a bold and stylistic look to Tikki’s universe. I am thrilled with the many detailed designs he has sent through to me, but the one that bowled me over was this:

Malinki design by Andrew Law

Wouldn’t you love to pick this up as a limited edition DragonFUZE Comics print or poster?

DragonFUZE #7

Today I wrapped the bios on the five main characters for The Next Scion. Some really interesting quirks came through in writing up the descriptions, so I feel that I have some strong and interesting characters to explore over the course of this story. In coming up with some of the second stringer characters for the book I delved into some notebooks that I filled with ideas back in 2000 – 2001. I have enjoyed seeing how I can fit those old concepts into this new story.

Every writer has their hook or their angle and I like to think that I imbue most everything that I write with palpable emotion. With this book, the super heroics and slam-bam fights come in second to the emotional arcs of the four main characters; the superhero, his son, his wife and his nemesis. The work that I wrapped tonight only touches the surface of what is going on in the lives, minds and hearts of these characters and ultimately these are the things that I intend to explore as the story takes shape.

I find writing to be daunting; the process is about taking something that is internal and intangible and making it into a real product to be shared with the world. The Next Scion is the next step in my evolution as a writer. Not only is this my first superhero book, but the story explores a very potent issue for me; the father/ son relationship.

DragonFUZE #6

While we move towards stepping up production on our Tikki’s Giant project, my mind is already zooming off into superhero territory. This weekend I am heading away with my family for a short holiday. The laptop is joining me as it is well and truly time to start bashing keys on our next project, a superhero book called The Next Scion.

I am strongly committed to doing mostly all-ages, or PG rated comics. However, I am not sure that The Next Scion will fit that description. As a superhero story, the level of violence will be higher than that featured in Tikki’s Giant, plus the story is an emotional roller coaster that may be a bit much for kids to handle. So, I definitely feel as though this book is more of a “T+ SUGGESTED FOR TEEN AND UP” type story to quote the Marvel Comics ratings system.

Although Invincible by Robert Kirkman and Ryan Ottley is a key inspiration for this book, I do not intend for the level of violence in The Next Scion to reflect that which exists in Kirkman’s book.

In any case, most of this post is hypothetical as I am yet to get started on this project! Look out for more updates after the Easter holidays wrap.

DragonFUZE #5

Andrew sent me a number of new concept sketches this morning and I have been seriously struggling to keep my jaw from the floor. I don’t want to spoil you too much, but here is a sneak peek! Behold, Andrew’s design for Kimban The Mecha Mage:

Kimban The MechaMage design by Andrew Law

Things are now in full gear as we wrap up the concept designs for key characters and move onto the pages.

More news on Tikki’s Giant and other DragonFUZE Comics projects soon.

DragonFUZE #4

The creative wheels are turning here at DragonFUZE Comics HQ. Andrew is working on more concept sketches and page thumbnails. I am always excited to see more Tikki’s Giant art appearing in my In Box. We have had a few hiccups over the last few weeks, but momentum is building on our biggest project to date.

Over the last few weeks ideas have been spinning around my head for my first ever creator-owned superhero tale The Next Scion. I have started a creative brainstorm for that project and hope to get on to writing that in the near future. I am looking at using a new creative process to develop and write this project, so that will be an interesting adventure. I’d like to thank Tyler James in advance for inspiring me to take a new creative path.

I am not 100% certain that we will get an issue of Tikki’s Giant out this year, and I may look to getting the whole thing done and printed in 2010. Which leaves the possibility of another option for getting at least one book out this year. That idea is called DragonFUZE Comics: Ignition! and will re-print Tikki’s Phayrie as well as featuring preview pics from Tikki’s Giant and The Next Scion.

The more I think about this, the more I think it’s a great idea; it will let us get at least one book out this year, it will preview/ showcase new stories and will serve as a great platform for showing off some art. Hmm… that might be the plan for 2009. I need to think about this one.

DragonFUZE #3

I wrapped the script for Tikki’s Giant #2 today. I am hugely relieved to have finished this story. I did miss my deadline of having the script finished in February, but I am happy to have spent the extra time on finishing this up; I am very happy with the way the story came together.

Right now, the script is with my editors, but I will pass the script for #2 to Andrew shortly. This is where the real work begins! I still have to pull together a creative team, especially for the colors, so we are a while off from a finished book. None-the-less, I feel as though I have accomplished something big, which is to have finished the largest Tikki story to date. This story is especially important as it introduces many of the key characters from her world and from a larger story that I hope to tell some day.

Next up on the writing slate is my father/ son superhero book The Next Scion. I can’t wait to get to that script and to maintain the creative momentum through the year which will, hopefully, result in some complete, tangible, printed DragonFUZE comics!

I really need to fix up this website, it is our home on the www! I do need some help with that, so I will be asking some friends over the coming days.

DragonFUZE #2

The end of an era! Today I have brought my long running pressence on Blogger to a close. The DragonFUZE Comics blog is winding up and this page is now our online home.

More news on Tikki’s Giant and other projects soon.