The Periscope Studio Kickstarter is down to the final hours. Last call to board the Maiden Voyage!
Here’s a link to a Newsarama Interview, and here’s a link to the latest Kickstarter Update.
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Gettysburg Address: AGA Review on Slate’s Political Gabfest!
The Gabfest! This week: The why and wherefore of the end of the shutdown. Plus, what Facebook’s new policy means… http://t.co/2vGPzJ6nkw
— Slate Gabfest (@SlateGabfest) October 18, 2013
The Gettysburg Address: A Graphic Adaptation is recommended near the end of the podcast, approximately the 51 minute mark.
50 Years Ago
Commemorating the March on Washington 50 years ago today, here’s a panel from The Gettysburg Address: A Graphic Adaption. Below is a round-up of some of the internet buzz that the book has created since its release. If you want to cut to the chase, these articles suggest that the book is worth your time. It is interesting to read the different parts of the narrative that resonate with each reviewer, though. If you only have time to read one of the following, I suggest the CBR article since it includes commentary from Jonathan Hennessey (and a little from me) about the process of creating the book and the ideas therein.
Interview
“Gettysburg Address Gets Graphic with Lincoln, Bias and The Civil War” at Comic Book Resources
Reviews
13th Age Core Book Preview
The 13th Age Core Book is finally available from Pelgrane Press! Buy It Here! The book has been long anticipated by some patient folks (it was originally slated for release in December 2012), but all new to others. The game has been available as a PDF for months, but the official book release was at Gen Con this past weekend. It has been rewarding to see numerous snapshots of the cover pop up on the web posted by people who pre-ordered and received the book by mail. I’ve seen very few pictures of the book’s interior, though, so I thought I’d make use of my blog and post a few shots of what you see inside when you crack that cover. Much of the polish and beauty of the interior can be attributed to Lee Moyer who meticulously art directed the overall design, created the icon symbols and various tiles, and painted many of my illustrations. In addition, Chris Huth is responsible for the stunning page layouts. It’s a $45 dollar book, but at 320 pages and over 60 illustrations, this is a book that even the Archmage would add to his library of mystical tomes.
Here’s a Preview…
Those pictures with my hand may just seem like an opportunity to fulfill my dream to be a hand model, but I’m trying to showcase the Icon Ring that came with my comp. An outer piece rotates and allows the bearer of the ring to randomly select an icon during key moments of game play. A few of the illustrations showcase characters who in some way are representing a relationship that they have with one of the Icons. Buy the book and try to find all the connections…then it’s time to start making up your own! Game On!
The Addams Family in Portland
The Keller Auditorium has a fun show this weekend. This past Wednesday I joined my family on opening night of The Addams Family Musical. My 4 year old son loved it and so did my 13 year old. I enjoyed it, too, and the Uncle Fester sketch below is from my favorite number, “The Moon and Me.” It captures the dark strangeness of the Addams’ vibe while offering up a unique spectacle that would make Jim Henson proud. That’s all I’ll give away.
When the daylight ends and the moon ascends,
I would rather be just the moon and me.
When I feel her pull, then my heart is full.
And the night is softly, sweetly calling:
“Fester, look and see.”
La la la la la la
La la la la la
La la la la la
It’s a dream that’s coming true
when the moon says “I love you”.
Though I’m told it’s wrong
when I sing my song
she accepts, she attends
she believes, she befriends.
La la la la la la
(ohh la la la)
La la la la la
(ooh la la la)
La la la la la
(ooh la la la)
It’s a dream that’s coming true
when the moon says “I love you”.
How it can feel when love is real.
-Lyrics to The Moon And Me by Kevin Chamberlin
Review at Multiversity Comics
…And at a more basic level, it’s just good comics, deftly constructed and maintaining an engaging balance between textual and visual information.
Quoted from an honest, thoughtfully considered review of The Gettysburg Address: A Graphic Adaptation at MultiversityComics.com. That quote is profoundly meaningful to me because it articulates my highest priority in illustrating non-fiction comics. To hear that it’s working as intended is absolutely satisfying.
Marvel Comics and Me
Some of my blog readers may know that my dad, Dan McConnell, inked Marvel Comics in the 90s, including X-Men #1 (thepizzahutedition). I worked on a few Marvel issues a couple years ago as an assistant (either assisting with background pencils or background inks), but never credited. However, this time assisting Karl Kesel on background inks for Fearless Defenders #4AU I will receive my first credit in a Marvel comic for some of my inking, further establishing me as a “chip off the old block.” I was hoping to get a glimpse of what the colorist did with the inks and today I was rewarded with this Preview on CBR. I had a hand in only two of the preview pages there, the rest of the credit goes to the extraordinary talents of Karl Kesel and the colorist, who appears to be unlisted in the preview. Phil Jimenez, the penciler, had something to do with it, too, and of course the writer Cullen Bunn. Anyway, check out that preview and I’ll proceed to curb my enthusiasm for being a small part of the corporate machine.
Curious Concepts
I’m going to test the limits of my blog this week (but hopefully not the patience of my blog readers:p) in preparation for the upcoming Stumptown Comics Fest April 27-28, Sat-Sunday. I spent a good part of yesterday rifling through old drawings to put together a little collaborative sketch comic with my son. Layout is taking longer than I expected and I’m pruning out some stuff, but leftovers may as well end up here. This is a random page from a 2012 sketchbook. I think the pen was doing the thinking…
I got a blog…
…and I nearly forgot. I’ve been wrapped up in a lot of scribbling lately, and eventually the results will show up here (and in print!), but for now I offer a random sketchbook page. Head studies. Some of these were drawn from photos (can you spot a celebrity or two?) and others were drawn from comic panels by Hugo Pratt, and still others appeared from the mind’s eye. My studio practice compressed in a page.
“But where’s the life drawing?!” you ask. Alright, it’s embarrassing, but here’s a self portrait drawn on the Odopod sketch site:
Now I feel naked.
Aaron McConnell 