Get-thru-the-Holidays-post...

You'll probably recognize this.. 

The big 'tow nail scene' from the original Maxx comics, only this time a painted version.

Got a bit abstract up top..

A lot of this texture never survives the scans.

Here's another pic, a little closer on the two of them. I actually prefer this version to the black and white version in the Maxx comic, but personal prefe's are always subjective...  apples and oranges.

Here's a few other panels... just some odds n' ends.

Some Ghosts from Hallows..

Page from another short story i did years ago... ( don't ask me to post the rest, this was probably the best of it)..

A unusually *horizontal* Hallows panel. Sorta inspired by Dr. Strangelove-esk war room design.

Some cartoony looking boys picking on a little girl, while a baby Martian worries if he's the next victim.  Strange all the strange characters, situations and atmospheres one creates when drawing a comic-book.  I can't think of a more surreal way to earn a living, dreaming up goofy stuff.

- Sam

Another day, another Maxx Cover..

Actually it's not "new", but unless you happened to pick up that month's re-colored Maxximized Maxx comic, then you may not have even noticed.

So just throwing it up again. Julie's a little unfinished here, but that's what i intended.

I also think it's funny that i keep forgetting to use taller paper, so i have to extend it, and work that into the art, but i like the fact it's never a smooth transition. It's kinda raw, clunky, like my art is. I'm proud of my underground roots, and that i'll never qualify as a "normal" or "mainstream" comic artists, whatever that means.

As this simple goofy Mars panel here clearly shows.

Or something as simple as this one of Dana...

Okay, gearing up for Monday.

- Sam

Old studio memories.

Below is a pic of my old studio. 

 Pretty tough time for me, both personally, and work wise. 

Here are Three Panels Arkham Asylum.

One panel of Urp, hanging on by his teeth.

 Three panels from a short story for DC a few years back.

Second pic of my old studio.. reverse angle.  None of this meaningless junk really exist anymore.

Now.... my studio's filled with *new* equally meaningless junk instead.

: )

Sorta caught half-way between a 'panel a day' and skipping some days entirely.  Bottom line: I figure anything that keeps me posting semi-regular, beats unbearable long periods of silence.

Thanks for helping me keep the pulse going.
Sam

Maxx painted Cover # 2.

For some reason... people seem to *really* respond this cover.  I don't mean that in an ego-centered way.  It's not the best drawing of Julie or the Maxx i've done either. I don't get it.

Maybe it's because it's a little flashy and surreal with all the abstract, slightly 'Inuit inspired' filigree.

Any cover with Julie always gets extra attention too.

It's an unusually *large* cover too, as you can see by the space it eats up on my art table.

Compiling a series of "Art of Maxx" books.. lotta unseen stuff...

so my studio's brimming over with all this old/new Maxx crap. Will be good to finally get all this out in a nice published collection.

Twenty years of moldy bristol board is hard on the sinuses. : )

Four Panels of people in Desperate Moments.

Panel of Nola, feeling sorry for herself.

A quieter moment from Mars Attacks.

"Soccer Queen" color proof of Magen, from a later issue of the Maxx.

What's the deal with me and Moms?

Yet another disturbed looking Mom from Mars.

I notice my 'mommy-fixation' really took root in Zero-Girl, and has expended and expanded outward ever sense.

Wow, is it Thur already...?

Here's three pics of the new Maxx covers i did for IDW. I usually don't bother to add a vellum sheet over artwork, but when it's painted best to be careful.

I usually don't like my art, but at least I don't *hate* this cover from Maxx 1,

It feels different enough from the original that it doesn't feel like a boring copy.  I also like the uneven texture above Maxx, no perfectly smooth, feels kinda raw & grungy.

Figured i'd throw up a bunch of the new Maxx covers just for fun, between Panel-a-day post.. in case you missed the Maxxamized versions.

Two Panels today.

Two panels . . . ( each with a slight cropped peek at another panel on the left side. ) 

Rare 2-Panel meeting between Mr. Gone (Maxx-a-verse) . . .  and Nola ( Twout-a-verse)...

... Urp lands in the wrong place.

Threefer

Happy Holidays,
Sam

A few more . . .

Oops, skipped a day. 

sorry 'bout that. 

Here's a few more to make up for it . . . 

above's an old ad from the first Sketchbook. 

Here's a baby girl . . . and baby martian.

Panel from an aborted project that was never published. 

Happy ending from Mars Attacks. 

                                                       and . . Harley . . . obviously. 

Sometimes one Panel a Day, sometimes more . . .

back to business . . .

something old,

something new.


and best of all?

their both free.




Have a stress free Monday.

- Sam

Cover for my pal Edmund.

An old pal of mine Edmund McMillen, asked me to work on a cover for his new video game, the Binding of Isaac.

His Super Meat Boy game shows his quirky world view, but Isaac seems a whole lot darker and complex, in a good way.

Plus he created a whole slew of monsters for the Game, so that helped a lot.  Monsters, creatures, the usual weirdness is safe ground for me.

And he's a Maxx too, so he knew my style and just seemed to click.

It's kinda cool working with someone from another medium.  I gotta confess i'm not a big gamer, but Edmund was totally cool with giving me as much freedom as possible and he totally put me at ease.

We batted around some ideas for the right angle for the cover. Here's the cover rough in the corner.

I did two version of Isaac, to run past him too.

Even tried the logo in a couple different colors..

Even down to Isaac's tears, which are a big part of the story too. By this time, since Edmund's an artists himself, I handed over the files, as each Monster had it's own layer.

This gave him a chance to tweak any colors or textures. I tried to do Isaac slick, like he is in the game, but once again, Edmund encouraged me to play around with a rougher organic texture, like i did the monsters textures.

Below's my latest stab, but it seems like it keeps evolving, luckily Edmund has enough options/layers to adjust in any way he see's fit. Plus he gave me tens times more freedom than i usually have on most cover's i've done before.

The whole thing was very satisfying for me, and i'm honored to help his own Universe come to life in whatever way i can!

Okay - Until i go another larger process post - it's back to your daily dose.

Thanks,
Sam