More good new today! Black House comic official page

http://blackhousecomics.com/the-soldier-legacy.html

Baden from Black House comics has uploaded the info related to 'The Soldier Legacy' comic series, including issue synopses as they occur :D

Colour Sneak Peek of the Kirby tribute page from #3

A couple of months ago, I showed the pencil version of this page, and felt considering the TV Ad news, I was compelled to show the coloured version. Composition-wise, it's my tribute to all those wonderful Jack Kirby war comics, and panels that feature the soldier/citizen in the foreground, normally yelling orders to an (off page) army, with the great Kirby Mechanical menace plowing through the background. The horizontal full page spread is a convention I've noticed in some of John Romita Jr's work, and really liked the idea of utilizing the page in this regard to convey part of the story that needs that orientation. The image will be published in next month's 'Soldier Legacy #3', published by Black House comics.

I've been trying to find the right page to show an example, but Google let me down :P I believe a good example was in this issue of Sgt. Fury, plus bits and pieces from 'The Losers' below. Kirby fans know what I'm talking about ;) Anyways, back to the grindstone :D Thanks guys.

The beans are split! Soldier Legacy to be in TV Ad!

My boss Baden Kirgan has split the beans today on Facebook and Twitter courtesy of the Black House Comics Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=216084821781182&set=a.125927350796930.19582.121050057951326&type=1&theater

The quote reads:

Time to spill some beans.

A few weeks ago we were approached by an advertising agency who wanted to use Paul Mason's The Soldier Legacy in a campaign.

Negotiations ensued with the end result being that last Monday a TV spot was filmed for a major national brand using the Soldier (and his eight foot tall standee). I can't tell you the name of the company yet but the spots will air from October 9 around the country and will provide the widest exposure for any Australian comic that I can recall.

It was filmed in Kings Comics in Sydney, closing the store for the day. The entire shop was decked out top to tail with Black House Comics books, posters and merchandise - The Dark Detective, EEEK!
, After the World, Terra, The Twilight Age and of course The Soldier Legacy everywhere Marvel and DC would normally be. If only it was like that every day!

I will post photos from the shoot as they come to hand and once the ad airs a copy will be onwww.blackhousecomics.com - but stay glued to your sets October 9 - it'll be a big day!

And the sneaky photo from the King's comic Facebook page from Monday 5th September. Speculation was rife, I'm just hoping the fans aren't disappointed that the DiCaprio film 'The Great Gatsby' was not the reason the store closed for filming :P (photo from King's comics: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=207370135992464&set=a.135212919874853.25320.135187129877432&type=1&theater

So we all wait with baited breath until October 9th to see the little Aussie-hero-that-could make his debut on national TV.

Ok, it's time to get personal here. It's something I never do but I feel as though it's quite prudent in this case. So confession time:

This time last year, I was very concerned with the future of my work. I felt very stagnate, was very unsure of what the future held for my comic art. Towards the end of last year, I didn't even believe I would have the second issue printed due to some external topsey-turveiness, and I believed that I was invisible- that the style of artwork I was producing was not that appealing or marketable. I let people inadvertently get into my head that I wasn't going to get anywhere by myself and I needed to wait on them to organise things or write things or whatever. Thanks to one of my best friends and mentor Chris Sequeira, and the support from guys like Jan Sherpenhuizen, 'Chewy' Chan, Baden Kirgan, and a hell of a lot of sleepless nights and work at the drawing board/computer, I sit in a much brighter position with the series today. I have a scholarship to study my Doctorate, thanks to The Queensland College of Art (and my supervisors Paul Cleveland and Andi Spark), I have one of the only Australian comic publishers (Black House) printing and distributing my work, I was able to visit the 2011 San Diego Comic con with best mates and met some personal comic heroes and make new friends and contacts, I had work appear in the Supanova 'Tides of Hope' charity comic for the Queensland flood appeal (thank you Tim, Danny and Chris), I have work to appear in the next 'Dark Detective: Sherlock Holmes' and a concept that is very close to my heart both in development and learning for me, to be in a national TV commercial for a major Australian Company. Tell me this at the start of this year and I would have laughed at you. Very hard. So I have to say I am very blessed. I'm generally not a religious man, and sometimes I feel like I've gone 15 rounds, but someone's definitely in my corner. I'm not saying it's been easy- my social life is lacking, and I probably can't kick someone in the head as easily as I use to (:P- I will get back into Taekwon-do eventually), but I figure if I keep my nose to the grindstone, I WILL get there eventually.

And if not, I'll teach it at Uni ;D

Thank you all, particularly my family and friends. Without those who pick up the book or post on the Social sites, I wouldn't have a voice. I hope these books entertain you in some way, I'm here to learn.

'The Soldier" reference shots and quick update

Hi All,

So these are reference images for 'The Soldier' character (1943)- Front, Back and Left side. There is a reason I did these, but I'm unable to divulge the full details of this. Let's just say I'm very excited. In the meantime, I use these to keep the character 'on model' as best as I can, as I always forget little details despite the simplicity of the outfit, and constantly need to double check- particularly if I haven't drawn the guy in a while. Anyway, I seem to be waffling for the sake of waffling, but I can show you that Black House comics may have this quite tall (told 9ft?!) fella appear at an upcoming convention- If not Supanova Brisbane in November, then for sure the next Sydney event in 2012.

Anyway, back to work. This month the third issue of Soldier is due to be printed in time for the next two cons. I'll be in Melbourne for Armageddon on the weekend of the 23rd of October, followed by a larger Black House Comics presence at the Supanova Expo in Brisbane November. At these shows, I will definitely have Soldier 1,2 and the new issue 3, the San Diego portfolio issue and Dark Detective: Sherlock Holmes #7 featuring part 1 of the three part back up story I worked with Chris Sequeira on. Looking forward to a big tail end of the year. Plenty of work to do, I have much to to before this book is ready for print, plus a few things to produce to capitalize on the good feedback and contacts I made on my US trip. Comics wise, I'm feeling good at the moment, but I have to keep the momentum up and not drop the ball. It's all a massive learning curve and I pray I can pull it off.

I also need to update this blog more :P Thesis work needs to start creeping in here, I'll get there eventually.

Thank you all, will be back shortly, I promise :)

Pencil Preview for issue #3: The Young Soldier

For the fans of the modern 'soldier', here's a sneak peek before coloring commences.

And now for something completely different...

http://secondshore.blogspot.com/2011/04/word-balloons-12-april-2011_15.html

The above link is the Blog for Second Shore, who did a series of interviews for their publication 'Word Balloon', featuring prominent Australian publishers talking about the "industry", including excepts from my publisher, Baden Kirgan of Black House comics. This interview was conducted at the beginning of this year, about a month before I was kindly allowed to sit on the Black House table at Sydney Armageddon after doing the Dr. Nikola pinup in the 'Dark Detective: Sherlock Holmes" Xmas issue. In that I can say his quote for backing artists is true, as the guys at the booth had fantastic books in a variety of genres and I count myself lucky to be now one of them with my Aussie action/superhero/war/adventure -ish type series :P

Discovered this interview ironically not through Baden, but through the fantastic 'Comics Down Under' blog, written by Kevin Patrick, who is currently studying a Phd at Monash University, Vic. The original 'tip off' and links to other Australian comic history gems can be found here: http://comicsdownunder.blogspot.com/2011/05/word-balloons-australian-comic.html

Well, it's 2am, I have the 'day job' in the morning, and still have research and colouring to do (the fun never stops ;p).

Colouring commences on Soldier #3

Hey all,

I know I'm suppose to be updating about SDCC trip, but I'm flat out since coming back. The plan is to get Soldier Legacy #3 ready to rock for Melbourne Armageddon expo in October, followed by Brisbane Supanova in November :D So I'm frantically colouring whislt fitting in the day job, plus working on some extra stuff post-SDCC that is very promising :) In the meantime, I'm just going to throw up some pictures to tide you over (is that the expression?)...

Anyways, hope you enjoy. Coloring's still a steep learning curve. Will write something that sounds remotely educational and academic soon, I promise :)

My apologies for the shameless self-promoting here too, just excited, that's all.

Talk later,

Paul

One of my best mates and writer partner Chris Sequeira, fantastic guy and Disney Artist/one of Jack Kirby's original inkers Mike Royer and me doing a Kirby inspired punch!

Me and one of my biggest heroes in comic books, John Romita Jr.

I promised, so here you go :P

Another sneak peek at pencils for Soldier Legacy #3- featuring action aplenty!

Soldier Legacy Comics now available online at Black Boox!

http://www.blackboox.net/

http://www.blackboox.net/products/The-Soldier-Legacy-Issue-1.html

http://www.blackboox.net/products/The-Soldier-Legacy-Issue-2.html

Hi all,

sorry for the extended delay since the last post. I just checked the date and realised that was 2 days before Sydney Supanova. I will recap that shortly for those interested, but in the meantime, Black House comics have now made issues #1 and #2 of 'The Soldier Legacy' now availabe to purchase online at Black Boox!

Had to literally hit the ground running when I got back from Sydney, with a couple of illustration jobs for friend Chris Sequeira, plus I had just finished the pencils for the part 1 back up feature for 'Dark Detective: Sherlock Holmes' #7, so those had to be coloured before the end of the month too. I have just finished a 30 page folio print book to take to San Diego next week to hopefully be able to put in the hands of professionals to get some much needed feedback and suggestions (though I didn't give the printers enough time to put together, so this is still speculative :P)

Anyways, gotta run, still uploading files, check out the great Aussie comics available at Black Boox and I'll post more later :D

Paul

Sneak Peek at penciled page for #3- With respects to Kirby.

I've been saying it for a while, now here's the first penciled page sneak peek at Soldier legacy #3, due to in time for the Oct/Nov Conventions. The Ka-Chi Amphibious tank! With respect for Jack Kirby, whose wonderful battle and machine pages inspire me every time I open one of his books. Enjoy! (And hopefully see you at Sydney Supanova this weekend :D)