The Venger: Deadly Beginnings UPDATE 2

As promised here are the final versions of those two pages from Deadly Beginnings I've been previewing. We've already seen the original penciled pages by Jun Joe Monares. And I recently posted the inked version of those pages by Scott Shriver. So today we get the final version with the great toning also done by Scott.

All the pages for this story are now done and complete. The files have been sent to the letterer and Stephen is in the process of finishing that work. I have really enjoyed working with Jun and Scott on these two stories for the Venger Special. I'm hoping that we will be able to continue the team onto more projects in the future.

The Venger: Deadly Beginnings UPDATE

SDCC is still in full effect. The amount of announcements and news items coming out from the con is crazy. You really can't keep up with everything and I don't see how the publishers in attendance think they will be able to build any traction on their news. As soon as they make an announcement the news cycle is already focused on the next publisher or panel. I think the best shot for the most publicity is to make the announcement at SDCC and then follow up with some more details the week after. Still lots of good clips from Tron: Legacy and Young Justice among others. I have to say I'm most curious so far about the Batman Inc. book from Grant Morrison.

I've continued working on the Venger Special. I just went over some preliminary book designs with Stephen as well as approved the lettering on the 'Crossfire' story. Jun has done the final revisions on the last page for 'Deadly Beginnings'. I've already sent that over to Scott for inks and toning and then when Scott is done that goes to Stephen too for lettering.

I previously posted some of Jun's pencils for 'Deadly Beginnings' and today I have Scott's inked versions.

The Venger vs the Wolfman UPDATE 2

Another quick update for you guys. I've been doing some rewrites on The Venger Vs the Wolfman story that will be appearing in the Venger Special. Barri has done a great job with the plot and anything I do is just some polishing and making sure it matches with established continuity. Also more illustrations for the story keep coming in as well. Here's the latest which is the finished version of one I have previously posted ...

Venger vs Wolfman illustration by Eleonora Korsatz

A Venger Classic

I came across this picture while going through some older Venger folders. This cool pic was created by John West, the colorist for the first issues of The Venger: Dead Man Rising. He wanted to throw together a quick piece that would have Black Mercy and the new Venger in it. I do love what he came up with. As to the Venger series well work is still going on issue 3 and the Venger Special. I've been revising scripts while the art teams are doing their thing. I've also been trying to outline a few more stories featuring other members of the cast. Hopefully I'll finish them and have more info on creative teams soon.

Just a reminder for anyone who hasn't gone and voted in the Eagle Awards. Again as I posted earlier The Venger: Dead Man Rising has been nominated for the 2010 Eagle Award for Favorite American Black and White Comic Book. Please go to the link and vote if you haven't already.

The Venger vs the Wolfman UPDATE

I haven't updated progress on this story in a while so I'll try to catch up. This is an 'illustrated prose' story that will be appearing in the Venger Special along with the Black Mercy and Deadly Beginning stories. I had posted a teaser for the story, which is written by my friend Barri Lang and myself. The story is modeled after the old pulp novels of the past and features the original Venger. The illustrations that will be placed throughout the story are being penciled and inked by Eleonora Kortsarz who is doing some beautiful work on them. Here are some of her original unfinished sketches for the project.

The Venger Special: Black Mercy LETTERED PAGES

Just got the proof pages back from the letterer for 'Black Mercy: No Mercy'. They look great! Fantastic job from the whole team: Jun on pencils, Scott on inks and tones and Scott B on the lettering. The Special is really coming together. We are still in production of the second feature for the book, 'Deadly Beginnings'. Still it is great to see the Black Mercy piece ready for publication. Here's a sample...

The Venger Special: Black Mercy FINISHED PAGES

Hey everyone. Last time I posted the first two penciled pages for the Black Mercy story by Jun Joe Monares. These look great and wait til you see the others! Today I am posting the finished version of those pages, with inks and tones by Scott Shriver. The Venger Special is coming along at a steady pace and hopefully soon I'll be able to give a time for publication. Anyway, here are those finished pages. Enjoy.

The Venger Special: Black Mercy PENCILS

Hey everyone, hope 2010 is going well for you. Well work on the Venger special continues now that the holidays are behind us. Last time I posted some breakdown sketches that Jun had done for the Black Mercy story in the Venger Special. Today I want to post some of some of the penciled pages. Jun has a very dynamic sense of layout and very detailed linework. Those are two things that I personally always want to see in artists I work with. I'm very happy with what he has been showing me in the pages. Next time I'll post some finisged pages- with inks and toning.

The Venger vs the Wolfman

I'm continuing my look at the stories I'll be including in next year's The Venger Special. So far we've seen the cover choices by Marco Rudy and a couple of the finished art pages from Matt Zolman's "Crossfire" story. Also included in the book will be a prose short story of the original Venger. Written by Barri Lang, "Venger vs the Wolfman" is a great period piece and really invokes the old pulp novel feel. Artist Sam Crouch will be contributing several spot illustrations to go with the Barri's story as well. Here is the title piece, built around the style of an old time circus poster. I'll post a couple more later down the line.

The Venger Special- update 3 PREVIEW ART

Well work continues on the stories that will be in the special. I previously posted the cover choices for the issue. Now I'll start posting some preview art. One of the stories will be 'Crossfire' with pencil art by Matt Zolman. I had posted some of Matt's pencils for story a while back. Well the very talented Scott Shriver has come onboard as inker and grayscaler and finished the pages. He'll also be taking those positions on two other stories in the special- 'Venger: Deadly Beginnings' and 'Black Mercy: No Mercy'. Check out some of the 'Crossfire' pages...

The Venger Special- update 2

Last time I posted a cover image done by Marco Rudy for the Venger Special. Here is another version of that cover image. On this one Marco threw some red color to the blank background. The final decision hasn't been made yet on which one that will be used. I'll wait until we are almost done with production to finally decide. There are some more tweaks to it and photoshopping that will need to be done. I have a certain look I'll be going for, something  that will remind the reader of the old pulp novels.