This took soooo long

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From the Making Comics Division

Missile Mouse flies the Raven into Spartha. ⁣
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Chipping away at this comic drip by drip. This one was on my desk for a while as I worked on it one line at a time.⁣ I love working on it though! I get a big grin on my face every time I flip through these finished pages.

⁣The comic I’m working on now will be kickstarted in April. Details and dates on that next month!

Join the Patreon: Patrons are getting frequent updates on this comic, including more behind the scenes stuff. They've also read the full comic in both roughs and now pencils as I finish them. This week I've been posting inked pages for patrons. As well as the book title reveal. When I finish the comic I'll have an exclusive special edition PDF for patrons.

Join here: LINK

-Jake

C.A.T. Bot

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From the Art Department

Using Cybernetic Action Tech or CAT for short. These security droids could be modified for a variety of purposes.⁣

C.A.T. Bot is another collaboration with my son Calvin who has all the good ideas around here.⁣ This the design evolution of the character from Calvin's initial drawing to the one I just finished this week.

C.A.T.Bot is one of the pins I designed for my first pin set! I'm making a list of people who want to be notified when this set drops at the end of February. If you want to get on that list all you have to do is click here, and my email bots will put you on the list: LINK

-Jake

On Windows

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From the Inspirational Thought Unit

I've been talking to a wide range of artists lately for my podcast. Several of these interviews haven't dropped yet, but I'm seeing an emerging practice in the routine of these highly successful creators: lack of social media usage. And specifically a morning devoted to creating. One artist specifically left social media entirely and subscribed to a handful physical magazines to fill the inspiration hole that social media left.

There's two things at work here: concentration and inspiration. These might be the nucleic ingredients to creating. An artist needs to find a proper balance of input and output. I'm thinking a lot about input and where that should come from, and its delivery method. I think the worst possible way to get inspired is by surfing social media. Yes, you can get inspired, but at what cost?

I like Patricia Lockwood's perspective on this from her 2018 essay on writing. In it she says:

The first necessity is to claim the morning, which is mine. If I look at a phone first thing the phone becomes my brain for the day. If I don’t look out a window right away the day will be windowless.

I like the idea of windows. You can spend your day looking through a tiny glass window in your hand, seeing what thousands of other people are seeing. (Which does have its place, I admit). Or you can look out the full sized window in your house and see a view unique to you. What are other windows you have access to? And how can you replace the tiny handheld one with those?

This is still half-baked, but I'm thinking it through right now and wanted to share where I'm at.

-Jake

Felipe Magaña aka humanmgn

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From the Illustrators Division

Lately, I'm impressed with the work of Felipe Magaña a Netherlands based Chilean 2D digital artist. He's definietly influenced by Japanese artists, but I also see a little French flavor there as well. Love the character designs, rendering style, and subject matter.

Website: LINK​

Instagram: LINK​

Twitter: LINK

-Jake

The Jianqing Huaigu Trail

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From the Photography Desk in cooperation with the Office of Environment Design

"THE MOST BEAUTIFUL 28 PATHS IN THE WORLD."

That is according to photographer Masuki Rina who visited the Taipingshan National Forest Recreation Area in Taiwan. Seeing it through her eyes is a special treat, however I think there's just an inherent beauty here that must be seen in person. Putting this on my list of places to visit someday.

If you're needing reference for an enchanted forest or lush alien planet or a hideout location, you can do worse than this place. I'm content just looking at these and imagining myself getting lost in there and not minding it one bit.

Tons more photos here: LINK​

(Found via Colossal)

-Jake

The Brubaker Box

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From the Office of Wheels

Considered the first minivan, and I do mean mini, it is built on the chassis of a Volkswagon Bug, the Brubaker Box was a futuristic car concept that drips with style.

Unfortunately it wasn't a viable business venture and its creator Curtis Brubaker ended up filing for bankruptcy after only building three of them.

I'm glad he followed his dream though because we at least get to see what an alternate present might look like had these things influenced automotive design.

Wikipedia entry: LINK​

More photos: LINK​

I wish I had an afternoon to learn more about Brubaker. He was a lear jet designer turned concept car creator. And designed a vehicle in 78 that looks like the inspiration for the cyber truck:

The YA-33 Foxrunner

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From the Making Comics Division

The YA-33 Foxrunner makes an appearance in the comic I’m working on.⁣
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It’s a transport ship I designed for the Missile Mouse books I made a while ago. Bringing it back for this new comic!
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Trying to draw all my ships freehand instead of tracing over 3D models to give them a human wonkiness to them.⁣
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Unfortunately, the Missile Mouse book shown is out of print, but I got the rights back for it. Sooooo I might self publish it? Who knows! You can get used copies pretty cheap on eBay and Amazon though: LINK​
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The comic I’m working on now will be kickstarted in April. Details and dates on that next month!

Join the Patreon: Patrons are getting frequent updates on this comic, including more behind the scenes stuff. They've also read the full comic in both roughs and now pencils as I finish them. This week I've been posting inked pages for patrons. As well as the book title reveal. When I finish the comic I'll have an exclusive special edition PDF for patrons.

Join here: LINK​

-Jake

On Your Mark

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From the Film and Animation Division

Studio Ghibli Cyber Punk. Four words you wouldn't think would go together...but oh they do so well. This is an animated music video created by Studio Ghibli for the song "On Your Mark" for a Japanese rock band. Made waaaay back in 1995 at peak animated cyber punk. I assume they did this for a quick cash infusion between films and to stay sharp...maybe even to explore a different style? Anyway, it's cool.

There's an indulgently long Wikipedia entry on it here: LINK

WATCH IT HERE: LINK

-Jake

On Stair Climbing

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From the Inspirational Thought Unit

Sometimes an image just nails a concept so much better than words:

I come back to this theme a lot. Eating an elephant on bite at a time, dripping water eroding a stone, and in this case: climbing stairs.

Show up every day and just do what is in front of you. Don't worry about tomorrow, or yesterday. Just climb the step.

(Image by https://www.lizandmollie.com/)

-Jake

Pascal Hausermann

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From the Architecture Desk

Sitting squarely on the aforementioned crossroads of timelessness and futuristic is the work of architect Pascal Hausermann.

I've seen his work pop up every now and again in places online but I never tracked it back to the source. This stuff is incredible and lightyears ahead of his time. I think his design philosophy is leapfrogging over earth based structures and is inspiring what humans might be living in on the moon or Mars. They say his work is a processor to the blobitecture movement. I think it transcends it.

That last photo is my favorite. Seeing his building succumbing to time and nature makes them it all the more beautiful in my opinion.

A lot more images here: LINK​

Note: I'm pretty sure this guy inspired the architecture seen in the comics of Masimune Shirow. I've been studying Shirow's Appleseed and Dominion lately (his non-naked lady work) getting inspiration and ideas for panel layouts for the comic I'm currently working on.

-Jake

The Hunter

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From the Comics Division

I get a kick out of animated comics. I think their creators walk a fine line between making a comic and making an animated short. Too much animation and it slows down the reading experience. Not enough animation and a little bit of movement looks conspicuous on a static page.

I think Joe Sparrow's "The Hunter" threads the needle nicely. It's a short story about a rich lord obsessed with hunting down and killing one of every animal on earth. Yes, you can expect that his preoccupation with hunting will lead to his demise, but there's a breakthrough the character has at the end which was kind of surprising.

You can read it here: LINK​

You can also get a print (non animated) copy on Amazon: LINK​

Lots of great work on his tumblr too: LINK

-Jake

The Typography of More Tong

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From the Department of Graphic Design

I've seen the work of More Tong pop up on my Pinterest feed from time to time and it always stops me in my tracks. It just looks so cool. I don't know if it's something dug up from the past or if it is design visiting from an unknown future. Timeless, but also futuristic? Definitely.

I'd love it if soda pop cans all looked as beautiful as the one he designed for 7-up. I'd have a hard time recycling it.

Tong doesn't have much of a presence on the internet other than a few designs he's posted on his Behance account. Means he's probably getting some actual work done.

A Beast of a Double Page Spread

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From the Making Comics Division

Made some good progress on the comic this week. Really happy with this double page spread. I designed a new set of characters for the comic called the Scorpios. They're a criminal society with a strong presence on the planet Spartha. They specialize in arms trafficking. Initiation into their family requires one to remove all the hair on their body, have a special communication ring implanted around their jaw/neckline, and get a scorpio tattoo on their chest and forehead.

I'm going to release the first issue of this comic digitally at the end of the month. I'll be Kickstarting a print version in April.

Join the Patreon: Patrons are getting frequent updates on this comic, including more behind the scenes stuff. They've also read the full comic in both roughs and now pencils as I finish them. Tomorrow I'll be posting inked pages for patrons. When I finish the comic I'll have an exclusive special edition PDF for patrons.

Join here: LINK​

-Jake

Denslow's Mother Goose

From the office of Dusty Old Books

Loving these illustrations by W. W. Desnlow from his book "Denslow's Mother Goose." The color palette, the line work, the nutty character designs. Pure gold.

Denslow is probably most famous for illustrating the original Wizard of Oz books.

You can see high res scans of the entire Mother Goose book here: LINK

The book does include negative depictions of people and cultures. These stereotypes were wrong then and are wrong now.

-Jake

Dream Poem by Jake Wyatt

From a big filing cabinet in the back of the office

My buddy Jake Wyatt is probably the most capable storyteller I know. He's a smart as a wip, is well read, and has a keen sense of getting the biggest emotional punch you can get out of a tale. I have learned so much from him. Anyway, apparently he can do this stuff in his sleep because he tweeted out a poem he wrote in a dream. And I'll close today's email with this:

"i wrote this in a dream last night (but i met that coyote in the flesh)" - Jake Wyatt

-Jake (Parker)

On Manifestos

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From the Inspirational Thought Unit

Several years ago I was asking myself the deep questions about art, creativity, life, pursuing happiness, and balancing that against my actions, needs, and beliefs. I decided I needed to make a personal creative manifesto.

I made a video about it way back in 2015: LINK​

Manifestos can come across as pretentious, so I don't think you HAVE to have one for yourself. However, it does make things a lot easier when you are in a position to decide what to do with your work as a creative type. When you're caught up in creative bliss the lines between screwing around and getting actual work done can get really blurry. Having a declared a set of rules, intentions, or motives for yourself can keep you from getting too far out in the weeds.

My creative manifesto is simply these three things, and specifically in this order of priority:

  1. Provide a healthy, safe, and comfortable life for my family

  2. Create work that inspires, edifies, or contributes positively to our culture

  3. Teach others to do be able to do what I do

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Ideally, the three all work in harmony, but I won't let one thing higher in the list suffer by serving something lower in the list.

I bring this up now only because I recently saw a great manifesto posted by a small publisher based in South London that does zines. They are called Colossive Press and this is their manifesto:

I think there's a lot to gain from this, and if I were to expand Number 2 of my manifesto it would include a lot of what's written here.

If you feel a little lost at times, or are ever unclear as to what you should be doing as a creator, take some time to ask yourself these questions and evaluate yourself:

  • What do you want to accomplish in life?

  • What do you like to do?

  • What are you really good at doing?

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Then write something out that nails down your ideals, principles, and motives.

Hope that helps.

-Jake

Deiselpunk Electric Motorcycle

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From the Office of Wheels

I think this motorcycle is pretty rad. It's electric, but instead of following the trend to make an electric vehicle look more cyber-futuristic the designer fo this bike went retro.

Pulling inspiration from the diesel age, Katalis Company designed this bike with analog instruments, exposed bolts, and bare seams.

You can see more of their motorcycles here: LINK​

I like this variant:

(via yanko design)

-Jake

Check out this Spanish Apartment Complex

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From the Architecture Desk in cooperation with the Photography Desk

​La Muralla Roja is a post modern apartment complex in Spain deigned by Spanish architect Ricardo Bofill. I could take or leave most of his work, but La Muralla Roja looks incredible.

Even more so through the eyes of a skilled photographer. Ludwig Favre took these photos and treated them with a little color magic in Photoshop making this place feel otherworldly.

You can see more photos of this place here: LINK​

And the rest of Favre's work is remarkable. Check it out here: LINK​

-Jake