The Story Behind The Writing: Centuries In Metamorphosis

We're just a few hours away from the official release of The Overman #1, from Image Comics! Mark your calendars for tomorrow, December 5th, as the first issue of this 5-issue mini-series will appear on comic shelves nationwide. To coincide with this publication date, we're releasing an exclusive, online art book entitled Centuries In Metamorphosis. This 19 page digital magazine is densely packed with never-before-seen preliminary art from The Overman, spanning back nearly 20 years of development, as well as preview art from the pages of upcoming issues. Download it here!

Centuries In Metamorphosis will only be available online for only 24 hours, so make sure you download your free copy during this brief window of opportunity. We'll be rolling out additional special online features each month, to help promote The Overman. We wouldn't ask you to support this work without getting something cool in return, so I hope you'll take a moment to download and distribute Centuries In Metamorphosis. It's our way of saying thanks for your continued interest in The Overman, as we count down the final hours until The End Of The Future!

The Overman Deemed Cool by Ain't It Cool

From http://www.aintitcool.com/:

"The year is 2135. It is the final year." Pretty ominous stuff and the first two issues of OVERMAN surely deliver the goods. It's a futuristic tale with things called servol-conns that transmit information and visions into its users, flying cars, futuristic sex fetishes, and half destroyed armored warriors. This book has more imagination in its first few issues than most books have in their entire series. Like the original STAR WARS, this book isn't about the futuristic stuff. The focus is on a story that happens to be functioning in this well thought out futuristic world. The spotlight is not on the tech, it's on developing the story. Told from different perspectives; that of a hired killer, a captive fetish sex addict/master criminal, and reawakened Russian armored warrior who is now a badly burned but super-powerful half man, this story is complex and intriguing from cover to cover. The art by Shane White is top notch as well reminding me of Darrick Robertson or Phil Winslade. This is a truly memorable and impressive debut series worth checking out."

You can find the review at: http://www.aintitcool.com/node/34863

We've got something special in the works, for online release to coincide with The Overman #1, which arrives in comic shops December 5th. Watch for it!

The Story Behind The Writing: 22 Days Until The End Of The Future

With only 22 days left until the release of The Overman #1, I've been hard at work promoting this 5-issue sci-fi extravaganza everywhere I can. Yesterday I was a guest at the Tampa Comic Book and Toy Convention, talking about The Overman and giving away some very cool cards featuring cover art from all 5 issues, along with tee-shirts featuring the mysterious Overman symbol. One of the great things about this project is the fact that Shane began the art nearly 2 years ahead of schedule, and will have the entire book completed sometime shortly after the first issue hits shelves on December 5th. Initial pre-orders for The Overman #1 are strong; a great sign that even though we're a new creative team, delivering an unknown product, many people out there seem to believe in this work as much as we do, and willing to give it a chance. We'll do everything possible to make sure that delivery is above and beyond anything you might have expected. A special thanks to Mark Waid, who offered his time to review the first 2 issues of The Overman. Go to the home page to see what he had to say about it.

The last major marketing push for The Overman will end in Mid-Ohio Con later this month. I'll have a table there talking to anyone willing to listen, about this 20-years in the making project that has finally materialized at Image Comics. It's been a long haul.

We'll have some FREE special items on the site next week, to coincide with the final countdown to The Overman #1, so make sure to check back soon. Among those items will be a sneak peek at the making of this mini-series, along with a few glimpses into future issues.

Notes from the Field: 30 Days of Night

A little over a month away and the veil of darkness will reveal all. If I wasn't so head down in my work, I'd be waiting with great anticipation and hope, but as it is, I'm running the last leg of this journey and surprisingly my pace is good.

In the past 3 days I managed to pencil 15 pages, and I still might be able to knock out two more tonight. It feels like I've been doing this all my life, and it's really become second nature. There's not too much I fear to draw at this point. Though I'm sure if I thought about it, jumping on a book with a lot of animals might raise the hackles on my neck. What's a hackle anyway?

Speaking of animals it reminds me about two years ago, early on in this process I met Bill Willingham, writer of Fables and Jack of Fables, at the Emerald City Comicon. He was coerced by an artist who knew him to take a look at my work. You could tell he was dreading it as he walked up to the table. He was pleasantly surprised and suggested I contact his editor to do a fill-in issue or something. I thanked him and he was gone.

Two things, 1) I really wasn't looking for work, and 2) he likes to write them pesky animals into his scripts. On my first pro book I didn't really want to fall flat on my face anyway. Soooo...I'll probably slowly start writing animals into my scripts. Actually I've got a yak and llama in an upcoming book, but that's another story. Regardless, I never contacted the editor. I figured if they liked my work then, there's a good chance they may like it later.

The reason I bring this up is that I've reached a point where professionals look at me as potentially capable. I never thought I'd get to that point, not like this anyway. I mean, I remember vividly when I started inking my stuff thinking, "I'll never be able to do this good enough." Eight years later...and I could see a semblance of consistency. I loved the learning, but it took dedication. So much in fact that I'm determined to keep doing things my way, and not "take a job" in the field as it were. I really do love this medium and I think with each effort, and added experience I get to grow in unpredictable ways. I just hope there's a publisher who thinks so too. Well here's the cover of the next BOOK. It seems soooo long ago...but really I remember how this starts solidifying the dangers that lurk for every one of our characters. I think out of all the covers this is one of my favorites...but there's on other that I like just as well coming up.

These are two sketches that I gave away...yeah for free! We're holding a contest for this here book each month we pick a winner and I send out the work...real simple. Go here to find out more.

Otherwise, that's it for now, sorry for the absence, Scott's been holding his own it seems. It's freaky seeing all these scripts that I remember reading sooo long ago.

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