Nick Davis's Blog, page 27

Writing Without Fear – How I Would Have Written The Ending Of Man Of Steel

This Writing Without Fear was spurred by a discussion on the ComicBookMovie.com Facebook page. Recently David S Goyer, DC Movie Universe (DCMU) Lead Writer, had justified (again) that scene in Man Of Steel (MoS) where Superman snaps Zods neck, killing him.

Now if you regularly read my blog you know that I think Hollywood has a huge problem getting Superman, and also why this ‘edgy’ moment written by David S Goyer is so out of character. I made the suggestion that Superman actually had other options other than killing Zod, and boy… after reading the responses on their Facebook page you think I had shot a Puppy or a drowned a Kitten or something…

Here Is How I Would Have Written It

Zod turns with the devils strength blasting away with his eye beams determined to force Clark to kill him or watch another innocent family get killed. In desperation Clark strains to hold Zod’s head still… Realizing he isn’t strong enough to stop Zod, he reaches around covering the insane villains eyes with his hands. Superman screams from the pain of the intense heat, knowing if he let’s go Zod will kill again. Suddenly there is a flare of light, the eye beams blowback and Zod drops to the floor, eyes blackened, with drool coming out of his mouth. At this point we either establish that Superman has either accidentally lobotomized or killed Zod.

What Do You Think?

Both areas have potential, although the accidental death would morally weigh more on Superman, over the act of deliberately killing Zod. This is just one change in a movie that has a lot of problems with it, but maybe a change that will highlight the hope Superman is supposed to embody. Do you think this alternative ending is a better direction, or are you happy with the ‘edgy’ darker David S Goyer one?

Keep writing my friends…

New Covers Debuts For The Once Upon A Time Adventure The Wonder Tales

Did you know I wrote a series of Once Upon a Time adventures called The Wonder Tales? Don’t worry if you said no, I have been talking a lot about the Teddy Bear Tales and it’s spin-off Hero Ted. Recently though I’ve been giving my Fairy Tales a bit of a face lift and trying to draw attention to the stories I really just wrote for my kids, and long neglected. Anyhow… I decided to redesign the covers for the Wonder Tales collective volumes (see above), please let me know what you think of them

Drawing Outside Your Comfort Zone – Drawing The Teddy Bear Superhero Hero Ted

Have you met Hero Ted? He is the Superhero Teddy Bear out to save the world just before bedtime. I had chance a couple of days ago to do a quick character study illustration just to play with some elements of this new hero.

What I tried to do was bring out Hero Ted’s inner power, while trying to keep that cuddly toy look, after all he isn’t supposed to be mean, or angry, just a Teddy Bear who gains superpowers from wearing his child’s blanket.

I choose to have him walking out of a flash of light to emphasis his power, and bulked him out and squashed him down. This helped him look more cuddly and softened his all look – while keeping that feeling of his power.

Stage To Stage

Here is the stage by stage of my Hero Ted, started from pencil, inked in Faber-Castell pitt pens and finishing in blended inktense Derwent Pencils.

Who is Hero Ted?

Learn more about Hero Ted and checkout his Origin story here.

The After Con Report – Out On The Peninsula With Southern Maryland Comic Con

Welcome to my After Con Report for the Southern Maryland Comic con, tremble in fear con organizers as three people may read this! I was at the Southern Maryland Comic Con (SoMDCon) on Sunday and it was a very good one day show. 

The SoMDCon was held in the Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department Hall (South Maryland), a great spacious venue that allowed for free flow traffic and no one was stacked on top of each other. We (which I mean Charmingly Geeky and myself) were positioned right by the windows at the back of the hall, which was a nice place to be, good view and the sun on my back. All you can ever ask from the Organizer of these conventions is good foot traffic and that is what SoMDCon Crew supplied, this show was successfully enough for me to return next year. (which is great considering I am transitioning to a focus on my books over art). Here are some highlights.

Returning Customer picking up the next Wonder Tales Collection
A Teddy Bear Customer (brought Tristan two years ago) buying the Out Of The Attic Comic
One Ink Commission for Tristan the Teddy Bear to complete an eleven (11) year sketchbook (this illustration will be keeping some great company!)

This was pleasant way to spend a Sunday… Thank you all that came out and supported Indie Comics at the SoMDCon.

 

Inktober 2015 – The First Fifteen Sketchcards Of October

There is an annual event for artists of all talents that runs throughout the month of October called Inktober. The idea is you draw one illustration a day with ink, black, brown, blue, red whatever… It just has to be inked; me I use Faber-Castell Pitt Pens for that duty.

I took part is the first Inktober in 2014 and successfully finished the event with 31 individual and unique inked illustration. You don’t get no prize in this event, just the satisfaction of crossing the line and daily drawing practice – which only helps to strengthen your skills.

I am fifteen in with sixteen days left and you can follow my progress, and that of other artists as they take part in inktober by following the hashtag #inktober on twitter, instagram or facebook.

Fifteen Day In Inktober

 

 

you are free to enter and there isn’t a prize

Join Tristan The Teddy Bear And Me At Southern Maryland Comic Con

Hello Teddy Bear Fans… Comic convention season officially ends for 2015 for Tristan and Me at the Southern Maryland Comic Con this Sunday at 10am. Looks to be a great little comic convention with a plethora of Guests, Indie Artists, a Cool Kids Zone and a Cosplay contest, if you are a Comic book fan living in Southern Maryland this is an awesome way to spend your Sunday.

What You Need To Know

Southern Maryland Comic Con – Sunday, October 18 – 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Hollywood Volunteer Fire Dept, Hollywood MD. You can get directions here.

Tickets available direct from the website or at the door, look for the Teddy Bear Tales Banner once your inside!

What I Am Bringing…

Tristan and the Cuddly Defenders: Out Of The Attic Issue One
Tristan and the Cuddly Defenders Graphic Novel – Friends
The Teddy Bear Tales Illustrated Adventures One and Two
Once Upon A Time Adventure with The Wonder Tales Volume One and Two
Fabula Zero Exposition the most unique Superhero comic you will ever read
The Cuddly Sketch Card Prints – Heroes and Villains with a Cuddly Make-over.
Full Size Prints – including Groot, Rocket Raccoon and more…
Original Art and more…

Who Else Is Coming?

I will be joined by Charmingly Geeky, the one woman creator of original geek culture items from handmade pop culture themed Jewelry, custom Vinyl Art Figures and the Adobz Sketchcards.

See You There!

Come out and support your local comic convention, I look forward to seeing you all there!

An Englishman Watching Baseball The Baltimore Orioles Vs The Toronto Blue Jays

I was very lucky two weeks ago to win six tickets to the Baltimore Orioles Vs The Toronto Blue Jays series of Baseball Games from my workplace. Of course the irony did not escape the Marketing Department that the one person working for Alban CAT who knows nothing about the game, or really cares that much about it won home plate tickets to a game. After all I am English and Baseball… Well… I will be fair, it isn’t my cup of tea.

Now don’t take that wrong. I am not disrespecting the game. It is just I am from another culture, another country and don’t have the emotional connection to Baseball that seem’s to be ingrained into the blood here in the USA. I don’t expect anyone here to go out of their way to watch Football (soccer), Cricket or Rugby, and I don’t go out of my way to return the favor. I have found the sports you have here in the USA, that are popular, seem to be perfectly molded for TV viewing… American Football is five seconds of play, with five minutes of commercials, analysis and setup, the same with Ice Hockey, Baseball is so slow it also fits this same model and NASCAR is just Billboards disguised as Racing Cars going around, and around. This isn’t a bad thing… Just I grew with mostly continuous play sports and motor racing that has more than just a left turn in it.

The tickets we had were for the Wednesday Orioles vs Blue Jays game, that turned into a double-header because of all the rain during the week, and despite my lack of enthusiasm for the sport I had promised myself I would at least take in one game if the opportunity ever presented itself. The weather was a nice barmy Fall evening, I picked up some Orioles shirts for the family (from the local thrift store) and we went to the game.

Now the game of Baseball is pretty easy to pick up on and while there are parts I don’t understand everything, I had watched enough Baseball movies to have a good basic knowledge of the game. Okay, I know Major League is perhaps not the best Baseball primer ever… But, at least I went in with some idea of what was going on. Three chances to hit the ball forward, run the bases, three outs you change sides and two switches per innings are the most basic rules you need to know.

What followed was a very pleasant way to spend three hours of your time. Campden Yards is a very nice stadium to be in, lots of food vendors, pleasant atmosphere and a lot of spectator participation with the between inning camera events, and stretches. Yes, we all danced to Macho Man and had a very pleasant time of it, it was most of a social thing –  than the more come to watch the game that I had experienced at other Stadia around the world. I think it helped that the Orioles in their second game against the Blue Jays won (pretty spectacularly as well), with near perfect weather for an evening of Baseball.

Sadly from my understanding even though the Orioles won the next two games in their series against the Blue Jays it was not enough to advance them in to the play offs for the World Series.

I had a very pleasant, if not slightly baffled time of it… Has it made me fan of the game? No… Not really… But I would go again if given the opportunity and I can see the attraction of the sport, but I am not a convert, it was a good time in Birdland.

Tristan And The Cuddly Defenders Comic Now Available On Comixology

Hey Teddy Bear Fans, here is a cool announcement to share – Tristan and the Cuddly Defenders Comic: Out Of The Attic #1 is now available on Comixology. You can check out the full listing here.

Or look for the comic book in Just Added

Frank Miller’s Dark Knight Universe Presents : The Atom Cover Preview… Worthy? Or Exploitation?

Frank Miller’s Dark Knight Universe Presents : The Atom cover of which you can see part of above is drawn by Frank Miller, a legendary comic book artist and if you know of any of Mr Miller’s previous work you were probably expecting something… else… The cover is to the companion comic to upcoming Dark Knight III: The Master Race and is cooperation piece between Mr Miller, Brian Azzarello (who is co-writing) with Andy Kubert and Klaus Janson taking up the art duties.

This cover has had all sorts of reaction from the internet fan community, mostly it is horrible, it is a bad joke and is this really Frank Miller? You see Frank is a bit of a legend in the comic book industry and frankly to be honest you do expect better from him. It is not wrong to think this.

I’ve seen Rob Liefield come out in his defense talking about all Mr Miller’s contributions to the comic book industry over the years, and how we all would be lucky to produce one tenth the influential work that he has; and I have to agree. Mr Miller’s work has greatly influenced the direction of comics with pacing, panel layout and general dynamic of comic book story telling…

But his work has also degraded through the years, with the Dark Knight Strikes again, and the horrible Holy Terror story showing Mr Miller at his worse. So I have this thought about this cover.

It is exploitation… It is obvious this isn’t Mr Miller’s best work, but perhaps with the rumors of Mr Miller fighting a deliberating illness it is his best effort? And DC is so desperate for the Dark Knight Returns money that they will publish anything associated with Frank Miller because they know it will get them cheap publicity and sales. Sadly, this does a disservice to Mr Miller and DC… If this cover was submitted as a test by an unknown artist they would be roundly rejected by DC Editorial (and laughed at)…

Imagine Frank Miller as an over the hill wrestler who keeps getting trotted out because he sells tickets and the crowd pops for him, but every time he gets in the ring it is kind of sad to watch him stumble around and the crowd knows it too. This is going to be Mr Miller’s legacy, this cover should not have been given this light of day… It does the legend of Frank Miller no favors.

I don’t find the cover an object of ridicule, but rather something that is kind of sad to see… Here is the full cover below…

Looks Like Hurricane Joaquin Might Be Joining Us This Weekend – Safety Tips [UPDATED]

Given current predicts it looks likes Hurricane Joaquin may be joining us over the weekend, although I suspect by the time it gets to us it will be a tropical storm, or just a soggy depression. However, there remains a possibility we will get blasted by a lot of rain and see some wild woolly storms aiming to rip through Baltimore in the next few days. I am re-posting my public awareness blog, packed full of recommend safety tips to take you through the upcoming extreme natural event.

[UPDATE 10/02/2015 – Hurricane Joaquin has turned North and will not be making landfall, there will be a tidal surge and heavy rains, but we will be spared the brunt of the winds. With the accumulative rainfall with the Northeaster we will see flooding in the usual area. If you live in those areas, especially coastal areas please make the usual preparations, and everyone stay alert for flash floods. We got lucky and wont be experiencing anything other than a glancing blow, but this will still be a stormy weekend. Be careful out there.]
[UPDATE 10/01/2015 – Current tracking has Joaquin curving away into the Atlantic, while it now looks like Hurricane will not make landfall we will still be subject to high winds and rain, and will be a category one Hurricane when it passes out state sometime on Saturday/Sunday. Maryland will also be subject to a Northeaster throughout Friday, which will dump a significant rain fall in our area and will cause flooding. Be safe, be prepared, this is a storm filled weekend.]

Monitor your local weather channel this weekend, get a battery radio to do this you will lose cellphone reception before you lose on old-fashioned battery radio signal. Cellphone towers do have their own generators, but run times will be limited.
If you are being evacuated it is for a very good reason… So go!
Pack up valuables and move them to higher ground (ie upstairs).
Secure any loose items outside like BBQ, flower pots, garbage cans etc…
Fill up containers with water in case you lose this utility. One gallon per person per a day, store them in the bathtub. If you can get some ice place in the same area.
Pick up non-perishable food ie canned goods or hydrated food (rama noodles) enough to last 2-3 days.
Keep at least a half tank of gas in your vehicle.
Pack an evacuation bag (one for each person in your house) make sure everyone in your household knows what to do.
Buy a lot of old leather so you can fashion cool post-flood apocalypse clothing to reenact your own much better version of Waterworld.
Unclog drains and gutters, it will help the water drain faster and make your home less prone to flooding.
Click this link for full list of what you should do to prepare for this Hurricane .
If you are in Maryland here is the link to Maryland Emergency Management Agency website .
A good interactive map showing you up to date predictions of where Hurricane Joaquin is going to hit can be found here .
The Weather Channel Severe Weather Alerts broke down by county/city can be found here – Bookmark as it is constantly updated

Why so serious? Well… The last time I posted a disaster prep list for a Hurricane it was during the Isabel event, and I saw a huge spike in web traffic before the event (And I wrote that list more in jest than to be informative). While I think Joaquin will blow itself into a Tropical storm, and most likely end up being a very soggy depression it pays to be prepared, informed and safe.