Changes

I had drawn about 100 pages of "Funny Misshapen Body" when I decided things didn't feel right, in terms of chronology, narrative, drawing style...after some internal debate I decided to completely start over, changing the arrangement of stories from strictly chronological (the finished section covered high school) and instead arranging stories by subject matter. Some of those stories from the 100 pages got dropped entirely, while others were re-drawn to varying degrees. Here's an example of a page as it was first drawn on the left, and how it ended up looking in the book on the right.
If you're in Michigan, there's a new exhibition of comics artwork - all Michigan creators - at Eastern Michigan University's Ford Gallery . Four of the unused pages are up in the show, and there's an opening and discussion tonight.

Coming Soon

Here's the cover to "Funny Misshapen Body", which should be in stores this week or next. It's stories from high school, college, and art school, basically about how I ended up becoming an artist, or more specifically, a cartoonist.

Earth Hour

Saturday is Earth Hour, so turn off your lights at 830PM.

New Comic Book Magazine Day

As long as I'm posting about interviews lately, today is a perfect day to mention the new issue of Wizard magazine hitting the stands, with a full page interview with me written by Kiel Phegley, and previewing "Funny Misshapen Body." It also mentions some up and coming artists, like my friend and fellow cartoonist Jeff Lemire. And then I think there's a bunch of stuff about Witchblade, Superman, and SpiderWoman. I'm not sure, I haven't looked through the whole thing closely yet.

All For Swinging You Around Comics

A couple weeks ago, I sat in with the guys of the Around Comics podcast, to talk mostly about 'Funny Misshapen Body', which should be out next weekish. They're a pretty funny group of guys, so check out their extensive list of back issues. I mean episodes.

Walking

Here's an early screen test from the animated video for 'Your Heart Is An Empty Room' from the Directions DVD from Death Cab For Cutie.

DOOM

I was always a bigger fan of X-Men, but Fantastic Four was another favorite comic growing up. I just did an interview over at Doomkopf, and you can see the full version of this drawing (based on the Secret Wars cover) on the Covered blog.

Swedish

Lately I've been working on writing the text for the Swedish translation of 'Clusmy'. This is what a page of the text looks like... it's kind of weird to do, especially with a book I haven't actually picked up and looked at in a few years. I mean, I knew these things happened, in my life, but the farther from the past you get the less clear it becomes maybe, and also, you realize how different a person you can be from who you were a few years ago. I guess almost ten years ago. Anyway, I think this'll be the first and last time I draw the text for one of my own books...

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Physics

I guess I have an armchair interest in science and physics. It's hard to put a finger on why science is important, but I think it is. Especially in America today, where pseudoscience like 'intelligent design' (and literally falsifiable claims like those of Jenny McCarthy and other anti-vaccination proponents) threatens to undermine what we really know and understand about the world.

Sketchbook

Animator Elliot Blake had an idea of doing an animated show called 'Sketchbook', based on my comics and fusing together a 'Be A Man' style parody of myself with random shorts taken from my non-book project sketchbooks. I drew up a little mini-comic for the pitch.
No word back yet from the various network executives we passed it along to...

Bighead Vs Chocolate Hands

Here's Bighead facing off against Chocolate Hands, a villain created by young Sam Bell of Ireland. Early on I loosely based many of the villains in Bighead on friends and people I knew, so it's fitting that Sam reportedly based Chocolate Hands on his brother...

Earwax

A while back Nick, the owner of Earwax, had an idea for this ad, which I drew in exchange for coffee and food. The original Earwax logo at the top was designed by Dan Clowes.

Not yet

No, I haven't seen Watchmen yet, but I did read the book.

Bighead Vs Batman

I was always a Marvel guy growing up, but who doesn't like Batman?

STAPLE!

Later today I'll be flying to Austin for Staple!, the independent media expo. Up until a couple years ago, I would try to have a new minicomic to bring to conventions, but it's been a while since I've made one. I keep making plans to make one, but that's as close as I've gotten.

Little Things

Animated by Ginny Robertson and Garth Jones, with music by Mewgatz.

Yo Joe

My brothers and I grew up with G.I.Joe, and I did this drawing with SnakeEyes for my brother Doug. Someday I'd like to do more with the G.I.Joe idea, but it'll be hard to match the brilliance of this.

We Are Beautiful

We Are Doomed is the latest album from Los Campesinos! This is the full drawing used for the poster included with the CD.

Eggers

This was a portrait of Dave Eggers I drew for the UK magazine Dazed&Confused to go with an article about the history of McSweeney's. It was the first real magazine illustration I've done. Actually, that's the only magazine illustration I've done so far...

All Them Witches

Here's my artwork for the 7" single "All Them Witches" by UK band Plugs.
Due out later this year sometime.