New Project: BLACK SKY- What I showed at C2E2

C2E2 was a fantastic convention for me. While there, at the Halo-8 panel, I showed off the first image from a new project I'll be doing with them later this year. An "Illustrated Film" the goal of which, is to meld the cinematic storytelling style of comics with good audio/voice acting & some animation/CGI in places. A fusion of many things, and dedicated to the medium itself, rather than an adaptation, which most things "motion comics" actually are currently. It's going to be an interesting ride and Matt Pizzolo, F.J. DeSanto and gang at Halo-8 are giving me a fantastic chance to explore the new dynamics opening up in storytelling media.

And yes, there will be a comic book form of this also, in print. But that's a secondary production so will basically be an adaptation of what the original project will be. So in many ways the comic will probably have to have different/extra content. I find the whole idea of this process facinating.

No release date yet, just a commitment to start on this thing in the second half of the year, once CHOKER ( with writer Ben McCool ) is fully completed.

So what is BLACK SKY? So far, all I can say is sort of Band Of Brothers...but with SQUID. ( Well, Cthulhu-ish ideas and my love of all things tentactular ) Yes, it's a war comic. Want to get all emotional and down and dirty with it. Not exactly comedy in the vein of Wormwood... It's post apocalyptic. I deals with a small group of soldiers, as the human race is reduced to relatively low tech solutions to claw back their planet, the new religion that drives them on to this goal in the face of hopelessness...and all the stuff that comes from such things. Many horrific and hopefully, some touching "tales from the front" in many ways. And of course, they'll end up being players in a major event that may define the now generations long conflict. Lots of action but with an actual point to it I hope, rather than an excuse to simply draw "cool" things.

Humans are such fragile things.

Squid, not so much.


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And a quick note about C2E2, cheers, HUGELY to all who came out to see me and get sketches/art/things signed/have a chat. Was really taken aback by the number of you guys. Thanks to you all, I sold out of all my books, spreading the gospel of WORMWOOD, art prints, some originals and what not.

Had an utterly fantastic time, was always kept busy. I will be back.

Onwards to new things!

C2E2: CHICAGO and VODKA EDITION WORMWOOD

Hello happy campers! ( Who the hell uses that turn of phrase anymore by the way?...damn, now I used the word "hell", the christo-facists at "websense" will list my site as "tasteless" again no doubt. Such is life! )

Enough chitty chat.



This weekend, well, from Friday really...is C2E2. It promises to be a big convention up Chicago way. I will be there. One of their guests of honour you see. Which is horribly, horribly nice of them. I will be doing many things at C2E2. A list of which, if you want to catch me, should be below.

But first, what I'll have with me, should anyone want to come by my table in Artist Alley, ( Just look for the red banner with the "T" logo ) for a chat, a fist fight or creepy hugs from strangers?

Commissions!

YES, I am indeed doing some at the con. First come first served really. The list starts on friday. I can usually get through 6-8 in a weekend.

All commissions are pen/ink and watercolour painted. Anything you like ( Ok, perhaps not the real dodgy porno stuff, thanks ) and if it's something like a superhero, bring some ref to make life easier?

Letter sized commissions: $150 11x17 are $250 And small card sized ones ( Good for headshots! ) are $40. If you've got a book I did, quick sketches in em are absolutely free. So are signatures, obviously.

Prints!

Yes, will have a bunch with me. Including a limited edition SQUIDGIRLS prelude print. All prints are with archival ink on 310gsm Hahnemuhle fine art paper. All are $30.

Original Art!

I'll have a bunch. From Wormwood, Choker and some of my covers basically.

Books!

Will have a bunch of books with me. All retail price. Including...

WORMWOOD VOLUME 01 HARDCOVERS. A special signed, numbered and painted sketch "VODKA EDITION" to go with the "TEQUILA" edition from SDCC 2009. This one is literally limited to 15 copies. The Tequila edition was me running down my comps. The Vodka edition is literally the last copies I could buy off IDW of their stock left. Pretty much, this book will be extinct after this, short of random copies you can track down perhaps in existing stores.

Thus, Wormwood:VODKA EDITION! 15 copies only. $50 each. An original Wormwood or related painting in each one. First come first served.

So, here's where I'll be throughout the convention. Any time I'm not signing or doing panels for anyone else, I'll be in ARTIST ALLEY, BOOTH R-3, drawing and signing. Yes, all caps because I'm going to get asked this o twitterabout 50 times I bet. Heh. Come say hi, have a chat and see some art!

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THURSDAY

THIRD COAST COMICS, the squidly booze up and pre-con signing rampage

6pm- til wheneva!

6234 N. Broadway
Chicago, IL
60660


FRIDAY


Signing- DIAMOND Booth 365 10am-11am

Signing- IMAGE COMICS- Booth 651 1pm-2pm

Panel- HALO-8 ( announcing the new project thingy ) E350 7:45pm-8:45pm


SATURDAY


Signing at my booth the whole day. I think. Yay!


SUNDAY


Panel- CREATOR OWNED COMICS E353 12:30-1:30pm

Panel- BEYOND THE PAGES: E353 1:45-2:45pm

CHOKER #3 and C2E2

Yes CHOKER issue 3... it IS coming... with all the cons, the tour and extra signings ( not to mention a filming of a certain webisode ) I've barely been able to draw breath... so obviously, it's slight delays and my fault entirely.

But it's coming. Here's a sneak peek.

The LAST convention/travel I need to do this month is for C2E2 in CHICAGO. Really looking forward to this one. It should be big. Plus, I get to announce the new thingy...not ot mention sell a bunch of books, prints and original art should anyone be interested.

So come by for a chat, I'll be in Artists Alley most of the time when not at a few panels! More on all that tomorrow.

Ben Templesmith To Announce Halo-8 Illustrated Film Project At C2E2

Not involving my cat.

Well, I guess people will know what's after Choker...

MTV Splashpage has more details...

Of course, this means I actually have to get my butt MOVING on CHOKER too...

Collapsing in a heap due to exhaustion right now.

Oh yeah, guess what, more WORMWOOD too. Don't worry.

Wormwood Hardcover: Volume 2

Guess who was lucky enough to be given an advance copy?

Yes, it's nearly time for the Wormwood:Gentleman Corpse, Volume 2 Deviant Edition. IT ONLY HURTS WHEN I PEE to hit, from IDW Publishing. Here's a bit of a look inside the guts of the thing. Yes, extra stuff and a little more fancy it is.

Now, if you can't find it, or your delightful comics store didn't get one in for you, first, ask them how come and then ask them if they can still please get it for you, with the fancy order code of: FEB101012 they need to tell the distributor, Diamond for it all to work.

Or... you can no doubt also get it from a place like here.

The book apparently should hit APRIL 28th to all good comic stores and places that do not embrace tentacular bigotry.

SQUIDGIRLS: THE OFFICIAL BIT

Limited edition.
3 cover versions.
100 pages.
Full colour.
Hardcover.
Signed and numbered.
Original painted sketch in every copy.
Available only at conventions or via www.templesmitharts.com
$50 USD
Sometime in May.

Stay tuned.

Scenes From The Road 9: ECCC commissions

Commissions! Had a lot of fun doing these. Cheers to everyone who asked for one!

Scenes From The Road 8: ECCC

Walking the streets before Seattle's, Emerald City Comic-con.

Catholic Seamen's Club

I can only imagine they check to see you're not wearing a condom or something, at the door?

Squidgirls Cover A

Hardcover. 100 Pages. Limited edition. Comes in Colossal, Kraken and Humboldt versions. Sometime in May.