New Wormwood Work In Progress...

To make up for not posting new things for a bit ( Thanks to the lost but now found cat saga ) Here' s a slew of work in progress shots on a new Wormwood image destined for the upcoming WORMWOOD DEVIANT EDITION HARDCOVER VOLUME 2 coming in March or April I do believe!

Lost Kitty: FOUND

Found the little bugger. Cheers all for such a great response. Greatly appreciated.

A ComicBook Orange give CHOKER some love

Episode 5.3 – Antony Johnston & Choker
If you can't see the video, checkout their main site.

"Choker is a science fiction noir about a retired detective, in a world where biotech crime runs rampant, who is called back by the police to solve one more crime. Shades of Blade Runner? Sure, but that's not a bad thing, not when its done this well.

Ben McCool makes the concept his own, elegantly introducing all the elements without boring exposition. Special attention should be given to McCool's rich dialogue; not since cable TV's Deadwood has such an enjoyable mix of vocabulary and cursing come together.

Templesmith once again knocks it out of the park in the art department. He has long mastered illustrating horrible people enjoying doing horrible things to each other. But he also delivers on the quieter moments that round out even the roughest characters with bittersweet cores. Rich coloring completes the package, adding an extra emotional charge to the scenes.

Choker kicks off to a promising start with issue #1 coming out this week. We give it 4.5 Oranges out of 5."


Cheers guys!

Singularity 7

An old classic Singularity 7 cover I whacked up on ebay the other day. Done when I started adding inks to the work...

CHOKER #1 is THIS WEEK- Or MAYBE NOT

I have just learned that the release date of Ben McCool and Ben Templesmith’s Choker #1 has been brought forward from its original released date of February 24th, 2010, to February 10th, 2010. That’s this coming Wednesday, so don’t forget to keep an eye out for it when you hit the store this week.

Yup, Hypergeek.com has it right.

Due to several reasons, CHOKER issue 1 is actually going to come out THIS WEEK on the 10th Feb, instead of the previously thought 24th.

Yep, for the first time in a long time, a comic book is actually going to ship early.

To celebrate, this here is a dedicated limited run variant cover for Larry's Comics, over in Boston! Don't think it's been seen yet.


*edited to say, CHOKER #1 may not actually be out this week. Or, potentially, at least not on the west coast. Or, who really knows. I can only guess what Diamond are actually doing to the books at this point. I hope when you eventually get a copy there's not too many pages suck together?

GI Joe: Baroness Cover

One of the covers for the GI Joe Origins #12 book I did with Marc Andreyko. Actually, this one wasn't ever meant to be a cover, just a mess around piece. Kinda funny how much rage & bile I can bring out in some traditionalist fans, unused to more stylized art. You'd swear I beat up their grandmothers or something, the way a few have taken it. Reminds me just how much of a lightening rod I can be to the hardcores. Interesting stuff to me. Personally, I've had a lot more feedback than usual and all of it positive on the book myself. Was fun to do something a little different and change things up a little. Never been a fan of standing still. I'm hearing the book is selling out in a bunch of places.

Just been thinking about such things lately. A twitter convo the other night, where apparently an artist gave up their craft because of lots of negative criticisms saddened me greatly. No one should stop doing what they love because of other's negativity. We're not all going to be Da Vinci, but that's life really. I got used to some rather personal attacks at times...about my art style and look, long ago. Since then, those people either dropped off or converted and many more decided to dig my work, meaning I can keep assaulting your eyes with my filthy stuff, for which I'll always be insanely grateful! Cheers to all who picked up the Origins book and dug it.


You know, I have no idea why the gun sight is upside down either. I swear it was that way on the ref I used at the time but it still makes no sense.

The Raven: Before and After

Before and after. And yup, put it up on ebay the other day if anyone really wants it.

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

Found these the other day, looking through my archives for stuff needed for another project...seems a shame for no one to *ever* see them, so here they are.

Awhile ago, I got asked to do up some samples to see if the famous Philip K Dick story, Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep could be adapted into comics form. For various reasons it was not to be, with me, though. In a slightly different form, another publisher put out a book of it instead. My take was always going to be a little different, definitely not wanting to use every single word of prose but getting all the dialogue and descriptions as right as I could. Translations between mediums, I'm sure you'd all agree, should be about playing to the strengths of the new one, not just trying to force a square peg in a round hole, etc.

If I ever had the time ( hah, not likely considering what's going on lately, ) I'd love to do a "If Templesmith drew..." series if insane things where I basically screw up well known properties and shock people with my style over well known classics. Just for kicks.

CHOKER peek

Another bit of a page from the upcoming first issue.

YUMMY YUMMY IN MY TUMMY

The initial drawing/inks to CHOKER #2 . Issue #1 hits Feb 24th! Ask your friendly comics type dealer/retailer to get you in a copy.



A wee dab of paint.



Having some fun with red ink for a change.

A Scammer replies...

So I sent the same email to several of the scammers who spammed me ( see furtherback in my tumblr ). Two have replied. Here’s one of them, and then my reply. Let’s see if I can get any details off *him*. ( Would love to send him a bunch of bricks via his fedex account or something. )

From:Mr. Lucky James David


Dear Ben Templesmith
Director, CEO
Hugarses Inc.

How are you?? thanks for your mail and you are welcome.As I received your email and it’s contents are understood. In This transaction you will stand as the next of kin so that we will claim the inheritance sum 21Million for our personal use instead of our bank to confiscate the huge sum.

Reference to the percentage,you will be entitled to 40% of the total sum as soon as the money is transfered to your account.60%be for me.

if you accept the percentage and to work with me within 5 bank working days the money will be transfered to your account and i will come to your country for the disbursement as agreed with you.


With out delay kind stated clear and send to me on email your information to enable me submit it to the paying bank by monday and i shall send you an application to fill and email to the paying bank .

Your Full Name
Your Address
Telephone
Mobile
A/c
Swift Code

Ones i receive this i shall submit it on monday and get back to you ,however,call me on telephone number for any clarification .Please on the issue of Fedex courier note i dont want any person or my bank officials to know much about because ones the funds transfer i will resign and fly to meet you as agreed.

You should not have any autom of fear in you email me your details via on my email here because i dont want any an eyes saw on our business transaction as its very secret and you should treat this transaction with the utmost secrecy it demands because of my position in this bank. Please be kind to follow my instruction and advice and let us acheive this now.

I am looking forward to hear from you.
Respectfully submitted,
Mr. Lucky James David

And so, I reply:

Dear James David, or please, since we are friends, may I call you Lucky?

I am very good, thank you! My company, Hugarses has just won an award for worlds best practice in anal fissure treatments. We are even now planning to look beyond the rectum in our business dealings.

Now, on to the matter at hand. Your offer sounds amazing. Yes, it would be much better that instead of the bank getting such a sum, that we should. I fully agree to this plan and I believe, for no particular reason at all that we are entitled to this money. So long as we know this, nothing will go wrong!

I will be happy to send you details, however, for security reasons and to make sure the tax man is not informed, I will have a courier physically send you all the details you have requested. I do not believe in leaving paper trails, especially electronic ones, as I’m sure you’d agree. Do you have a FedEx account I may send you the material with? Certainly I will also need an address to send to. Do this now, and I can have the papers to you by Monday ready for you.

Also, I have several accounts in several countries. I will need to know from you, which nation will be best for these? I operate in the USA, Australia, the UK and also the small territory of Anguilla. Anguilla may be best as I keep my own personal fortune there and I assure you they give very good service.

Once you have confirmed which is best, I will send the relevant details.

I look forward to a good and prosperous business relationship with you Lucky!

Your friend,

Ben

Director, CEO
Hugarses INC

Yes, I'm this insane: CHOKER TOUR!

This year, you pretty much won't be able to escape me. ( Sorry. ) In addition to all these dates for CHOKER #1 and #2, I'll also be around Chicago for C2E2 as well as NYCC and Heroes Con down in North Carolina. And of course, the big one, SDCC.

If the alcohol consumption, travel schedule and lack of sleep don't kill me...I'm going to assume it'll all have been worth it! Huge thanks to all the retailers helping out and supporting CHOKER also.

So yup, come over to grab a copy of CHOKER and have a chat/drink/book signed/sketched in if it tickles your fancy. Ben McCool, writer extraodinaire will be on hand at pretty much all the dates above also.

IN SQUID WE TRUST

Future tax dodge and excuse for mass murder here we come!

I will also wear a funny pointy hat.

Ok, due to a few requests, IN SQUID WE TRUST is now on my cafepress store: http://tinyurl.com/y85q9a6 More Squidly stuff to come.

New Wormwood

Another progress shot of a new Wormwood pic.

Black Orchid and Snake Girl

Couple of ebay auctions for some old bits and pieces.

Snake Girl!



Black Orchid! ( As re-imagined by me, heh )