Illustrators of the Future 2006

8.30.2006

Old school...


...literally. Thought it'd be fun to show you guys a drawing I did back in high school. Note the flaming blue nunchuks, and my one-man company "Steel Toe Productions." This is issue zero, which was a popular thing to do in comics back in the early nineties. This would be his first and only appearance. :( If I ever get my website off the ground, I want to show more of these drawings from back in the day just for the heck of it. Currently working on a commission for a guy I used to work with--it's of his house. Strange, I know, but of course I had to put my spin on it. Should be up by next week. Oh, and inspiration hit me at 6 am this morning for an idea for my next children's story. It involves one of my favorite holidays--Halloween!! Can't wait to get started.

posted by Ozzie at Wednesday, August 30, 2006

9 Comments:

  • This is gold! Man, I made so many issue zeroes in junior high/high school. I never finished more than one issue of anything! My "company" was Chaos Comics--real original, I know. You're brave to post this...I find my old comics incredibly embarassing.

    So, are you going to add any pages to Pangaea, or is that going on a back burner for now...?

    By Blogger LetterGhost, at 30 August, 2006  

  • Thanks. We should all put stuff up like this to show how far we've come. :)

    As far as Pangaea, I've already got the ball rolling. I picked up a book that Val recommended--Children's Writer's and Illustrator's Market 2007--but have yet to thumb through the 800 publishers listed that only publish children's stories. I also got the best hook up ever from a friend at work. He called a print shop that owed him a favor and they're going to print a bunch of copies of my book for free so I can send them out! Hoping to get it out asap. Will keep you all posted.

    By Blogger Ozzie, at 30 August, 2006  

  • Dude, that is awesome that you're getting some copies printed for free! I don't know what kind of favor that print shop owed him, but I can say from experience that book printing ain't cheap. You'd better buy your friend a couple cold ones for that.

    I love that comic book cover, by the way. I remember the glory days of #0 issues, though I never did any myself. I was too busy coming up with new names for "X" teams. "X-Squad" "X-Treme" "X-TraSpecial" "X-Girlfriends." Good times.

    By Blogger Major Sheep, at 30 August, 2006  

  • Ah, the team books. I'm sure you guys must've collaborated with friends too to create a book. Never seem to work out though, at least for me anyway.

    Question: has anyone received their press box yet? Or contacted their local paper? I've been thinking about emailing my newspaper but now that it's been almost two weeks, I'm not sure if they'd be interested.

    By Blogger Ozzie, at 30 August, 2006  

  • I haven't got anything yet, either, though I think they said they're waiting to see how many more books I'm going to order and then send it out all together. But I don't WANNA order any more books...
    (yes, I check this blog at least 4 times a day. I'm home almost full-time, and if I'm not reading or drawing, I'm on the computer. Just thought I would 'fess up.)

    By the way, I also wanted to say how much I love those bubbly muscles on Guerilla. Heh.

    By Blogger LetterGhost, at 30 August, 2006  

  • Oh man, I love love love seeing people's old artwork. It's so cool to see how people evolve. And it makes me happily think about how dumb I was when I was young and drawing too. Except I was hardcore into anime as opposed to comics.

    Also: Books printed! Sweetness! Those would be excellent to send to publishers. I suggest, as I think Val or Ron told me once, to go out into a bookstore in the children's section and find books that interest you and seem to reflect the same ideas as your Pangaea and then look at the publisher.

    I haven't gotten my press kit either or my books. I still think I will go in to sign the books when they come out though. (They come in stores out early October, apparently)

    Anyway - Ozzie, tell us more about your story idea please! I wanna hear about it!

    I am soooo~ happy people are using this blog too :D

    By Blogger Katya, at 30 August, 2006  

  • I check this blog all the time, too. I'm sooo bad. Old artwork is so cool; they're like picture diaries. I have a whole bunch of notebooks back at home that are all archived form when I waa like 7 or something. I'll have to see if there's anythign I can dig up to post.
    I've used the Writer's Market, Oz. The only tips I can really give you (as a person who has 30 some odd rejection letters) is to spell the name of the editor or submissions perosn correctly, and try not to do a form letter if you can help it. And put stuff in there that makes you stand out! And send those free copies as much as possible; a lot of places ask for those.
    I have not gotten a press kit yet, but I have 2 radio stations that i'm waiting to call as soon as I get my kit, and Tech has its own newspaper, so I'm hoping to do that, too.
    I too am interested in this Halloween kid's book idea.

    By Blogger Droemar, at 30 August, 2006  

  • Mel, I think you recommended Blankets, right? I have it on order with my shop right now. Trying to read more indy stuff, so any more recommendations from you or anyone would be great.

    By Blogger Ozzie, at 31 August, 2006  

  • that was me recommending Blankets! I'm the indy comics nut! I also love, love David B.'s book Epileptic. Gilbert and Jaime Hernandez are amazing artists and storytellers as well. Some others: Clowes, obviously, Chris Ware, Joe Sacco, Robert Crumb, Farel Dalrymple, Adrian Tomine, Derek Kirk Kim, Peter Kuper, Charles Burns... I can recommend specific books if you're interested. I read a lot of that stuff.

    By Blogger LetterGhost, at 31 August, 2006  

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