More New Stuff

So, been pretty busy with making non-pages recently. Most of my output were illustrations for prints, posters and covers, PLUS a dream project of mine, 2 exploitation movie-inspired sleazy pin-ups for a Dark Horse book (!!!!!) written by the amazing Alex De Campi: Grindhouse.

Doing these 2 was particularly brilliant, since I could feel how years of unconditional love for anything B and '70s were finally paying off.

First one is inspired by Italian Giallos, with even the title being a personal injoke about how after the first seven movies by Dario Argento the genre imploded already, followed by a last wave of minor but definitely enjoyable (in youre into that kind of shit) sleazy nudie flicks.

The second is more Cormanesque in its mood, the main idea being a prostitute abused and left for dead by a gang of ex-con in the Lousiana bayou who gets her revenge by meat cleaver and... alligators!

Then here's a small teaser for a BIG project coming soon from the Irish O'Brien Press. Cant say much at the moment BUT a full reveal will take place in a panel at the next DICE Convention in Dublin, on Sept. the 28th. also, prints from which this teaser illo is taken will be available for sale, I believe.

At the same convention Darrin O'Toole -the writer of the GLIMMER MAN book I just drew- and I will also be selling prints of the characters. 2 designs available; the one from the cover of issue 1 (which, BTW, proved SO popular):

And one with a completely original design (with one of the pages from issue 1 as a sort of abstract-looking/pop-artesque background):

That is truly all, I believe, coming back soon with actual pages to show for another pet project of mine..

fingers crossed, except right thumb and index. Need those to draw ;)

Over and out,
L.

New old stuff

Been so taken with finishing Glimmer Man #1 lately (again, the book is out on Atomic Diner Press and you can find it for now at Sub-City Comics in Dublin) that I forgot to post colored pages from my short story (whic I also wrote) published in the 3rd issue of Lightning Strike magazine, of which I also drew the cover.

The book has been out of a while now so I dont think its gonna be a problem to post these.

This is my first double-page spread for the story, pages 3 and 4. Open in new tab for bigger view.

Story/art/colors/lettering by me. if youre interested in the book, drop them a line on Twitter at @LsComics or on their Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/LightningStrikeComics

BONUS: added the cover to the same LS issue, sans logo. Hope ya dig it.

Peace,

LuCa.

Back again...

Sorry for the absence, been working on a secret project for months now, and I can only start showing now the first outcomes, since the cat has been out of the bag on Facebook for a few weeks anyway:

Im doing the art for a miniseries of 3 for Atomic Diner. The book is "Glimmer Man", written by the always great Darrin O'Toole and published by Rob Curley, who also created the character.

Expect: a fresh pulp sensation, action, drama, some ever-so-often-overlooked historical accuracy and the origin of Ireland's first super-hero ;)

This is the first cover, Im also doing variants for all of the 3 issues, Ill show the one for issue 1 as soon as I get the OK from the publisher.

The inspiration here were 70s exploitation movie poster, with a particular eye to the AMAZING ones commissioned by AIP.

Blue lead, Pentel brushpen and a lot of Photoshop post-production.

See ya soon, hopefully it won't be THAT long until next time ;)

L.

Half Past Tribute!

Been a while, I know...

Havent been slacking off, I SWEAR. But more on that later.

For now, heres a piece I did for The Half Past Danger Tribute week organised by the HUGELY talented dudes of the Sketch Paddys blog, to celebrate the week leading to the launch of the VERY promising Half Past Danger by Stephen Mooney, on IDW.

Anyway, here it is!

Right-click and open on separate layer for the bigger deal.

blue lead, Pentel brush pen on Bristol and quite more photoshoppin' that usual ;)

Going back to do layouts now.

Cant wait to read HPD! ORDER IT NOW!!!

L.

Final OHOTMU entry: Scourge!

And heres my final entry for the OHOTMU Redux project. The names Scourge, not really familiar with the guy at all. Only thing I seem to remember, he appeared as a mystery villain towards the end of the original Busiek/Bagley Thunderbolts run quite some time ago, with different costume and powers.

Since I didnt know the character well (I admit I picked him simply for the pulpy "Shadow" feel hes got) there was nothing too smart or creative I could do with the look, so I decided to use it more as a Photoshop exercise/practice than a proper drawing one.

Thats it, basically. Played around with layers and stuff and I have to say, Im quite happier with the overall result than with the drawing itself, I have to say.

Heres the scanned original, just to give you an idea of how much was on the pae and how much was done digitally (not too much, as usual):

THANX again to the wonderful Jon Morris for having me for this project. It was FUN!

L.

OHOTMU - Baron Blood

My fourth (count them!) contribution for the more and more amazing Handbook of the Marvel Universe Redux project. If you never heard of it, first of all go read all my previous entries in which I talk about it, and then check it out but only when youre not under deadline coz, I guarantee you, you WILL spend hours unable to click away.

ANYWAY.

This time is a classic Captain America villain, from the Kirby period -I think: Baron Blood, the nazi vampire!

OF COURSE the first impulse was to indulge in the whole "Indiana-Jones'-nazis-adventure" kind of trope, but then I caught a glimpse of his bio and it said he was a Victorian gentleman and Im a huge fan of Hammer movies, so yeah -bye bye WWII nazi, welcome Phantom of The Opera with a Venice Carnival bat mask guy (also had a cool idea about the same mask for a Batman story, but I have a feeling thats gonna sit in my drawer for a loooong time).

Cheers.

L. 

Who watches the watchmen?

Hey, it's Watchmen week down at Nerd Invasion blog, and my piece -as usual- is here.

Enjoy!

L.

"You are not a warrior, you're a beginner!"

My entry for this week's Nerd Invasion theme is up here.

If you dont immediately recognize the character, you had no childhood and I feel utterly sorry for you.

Now, back to pages.

L.

Im weird like that...

Last night we saw Casablanca in a cinema. Today I did this.

Make sure to open in a separate tab if you wanna have a clear view.

L.

PS: "And what about the pages?" - I hear you asking. I actually DID finish them, but I figured Id rather spend a couple more hours drawing today than scanning all that shit.

No, Im not dead + Finally! PAGES! And a lot of them!

Been criminally absent from these shores for a while now.

In my defense, you have no idea what PAIN and SUFFERING are if you never moved from one flat to another before. Took me more than two weeks to be back 100% operational in my new place. Plus, of course, an almost-penumonia which left me bed-ridden for more than a week. But now Im better.

What have I been up to in the meanwhile? PAGES, finally!

I finally got around a personal project of mine that MIGHT see the light earlier that I thought (at least in this) first incarnation and whaddayaknow, its the same project that gave this very blog its name:

Ladies and gentlemen, without much further ado, I hereby introduce you to... SPECTOR! The trailer! Pencils and inks!

Still not finished (the complete mini-story is 6 pages, so Im not THAT behind) and YES, that is my first two-pages spread, which took more time and pain to physically build and tape than actually draw...

Id like to explain more the concept and inspiration of the whole thing, but if youre familiar with the AMAZING fellow Italian artist Francesco Francavilla and what hes doing with Black Beetle at the moment, well, my project basically comes from the same humid and pulpy backstreet of pop culture ;)

Anyway!

+ BONUS! Two pieces I did to get in the right mood BEFORE the mini story: it started with one simple scene, imagined as a one-page teaser/ad for the story, then I decided to do another as a story-telling exercise in how to tell the same sequence in a different way. Then I decided to color them coz hey, why not. My first proper foray in to coloring. Cant shake the feeling its a bit amatorial but they were fun. And just to keep with the exercise, lettering is on its way!

Take care,

L.

Another Nerd Invasion post

Here's my latest piece, the theme was Power Rangers this week.

Not too happy about the result this time. I guess Im not that good at drawing stuff I didnt grow up adoring..

oh, well.

And I know Ive been saying this forever, but from tomorrow: pages! Pages! PAGES!!

L.

OHOTMU - Ulysses Bloodstone

And heres my latest entry for the amazing Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Redux project.

Due to my love of vintage pulp adventure, I picked Ulysses Bloodstone, monster hunter. In my eyes hes the quintessential Marvel version of the classic Doc Savage adventurer...

It should be up on the website soon, Ill put an up update as soon as I see it.

Again, Blue lead, Pentel brushpen and some Zebra thin pens on Bristol, and Photoshop colorin'.

Tomorrow Ill finish a sketch for the Nerd Invasion blog Im collaborating with, and then Im FINALLY back to doing sequential pages...

L.

"...Altrimenti si arrabbiano!"

REALLY quick piece today, no time to do more. A bit of pure fun, no frills 100% Italian cult stuff.

Inspired by a series of Dvd reissues coming out these days here in Italy..

Wont even bother explaining what is this about, either youre Italian and you just KNOW who these guys are, or youre not and you and you have no clue.

A dream project of mine, these two guys kicking the ass of Lovecraftian deities, one punch on the head at a time...

Again, blue lead, Pentel brushpen and 10 mins of Photoshop.

L.

*insert epic rant in Elvish here*

Second weekly post for Nerd Invasion is up here.

Just noticed that so far I picked the most obvious heavy metal choice of each week's theme. God Im so awfully predictable.

L.