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By Bob Stevenson
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Wednesday - November 17, 2004: Jeff Smith's Bone just came up this afternoon in a round table discussion about the future of webcomics. This would be the perfect place for a link to the discussion, but, alas, you'll have to wait for December's Webcomics Review. It will be worth the wait, if not for the round table, than for my review (if it would hurry up and finish writing itself).
I worked with a brush for nearly a decade before Flash replaced it. I used a Windsor Newton, Series 7, Number 2 Round. Sucker cost me about $30 and a few dozen arm cramps. Flash really has changed my attitude towards inking. it's almost pleasurable. The important part for me, though, is that because it is more tollerable, faster and less messy, I produce tons more inked work. Now I'm sure the purists are screaming, That's not ink, it's pixels. My answer: No, it's vectors which in many ways can act like a fine brush The kind of precision I was always after with the brush was a mathematical one that I could never actually reach. I've thought for a while about a modern art twist here (if anyone uses this, please send me the check for my rightful share).
Picture this: it's opening night at the gallery. Beautifully bright canvases dot the room, only they're not painted canvases. they're high quality prints. When you purchase the print, you also get the mathematics behind it. Better yet, fill the room with the mathematics behind the pictures. Sell the equations because at it's base, you've created the math even if you don't understand why it works.
I came up with that one after a couple of hours with a sort of textbook on aesthetics titled Puzzles About Art. It is a wonderful romp through the absurdities of modern art.
it's still bothering me that I can't find my copy of Naive Interdimmensional Commando Koalas. I want to give the authors credit for a book who's art outpaced its title. A google search turned up three links, one of them right back to this site. Another had a copy for sale and the third mentioned the book in a discussion of obscure 80's books as movie properties. The internet seems to get really small when you're searching for something that predates it. Does anyone out there have a copy? Help! -Bob Stevenson
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Bob Stevenson ( rstevenson) says:
1. Limited N.I.C.K. Info
Written by djnichols485, on 17-11-2004 14:09
Found this link which appears to give vague credit to the trio of "Deming, Green, Forton" for the Koala's creation.
And, this link has a photo of a cover. The work was published by the "Independent Comics Group", apparently an imprint of Epic (which was the "creator-owned" imprint from Marvel)
A little digging turns up "Sean Deming" (Epic Author/Editor most noted for his graphic adaptations of JRR Tolkien) is likely the "Deming" listed above in the first link. This leads to Gerald Forton as a possible illustrator (his personal website can be found here - with no mention of the Koalas)
Not sure who the "Green" above is. Maybe Jonathan Green? Maybe Roland Green? 2. Found it!
Written by Guest, on 17-11-2004 15:52
I took one last dig through some quarter boxes and found it! You are right on both counts, story by Sean Deming and finished art by Gerald Forton. The Green in question was Danny Green who is credited with breakdowns and covers (Back and Front). There's no sign of him on google.
It has been 18 years since I last opened the book and the art has lost much of its charm though the inking is indeed competent. The story is an absolutely absurd ripoff of the TMNT craze. In the end, two things about the book are notable, the cover (Beatles homage cum snide poke at American imperialism - see link above), and the Middle Eastern twist to the story (The Koalas are sent in by the US government to reinstate the dictator of Middle Eastern mini-country, Myopia.).
If anyone's interested in the issue, I'm willing to ship it as a prize in this week's bonus art contest.s 3. Written by Guest, on 17-11-2004 15:55
A fun panel at one of the big con's would be a "Where are they now?" The answers might end up being depressing, but it would be interesting to track some people down. For example, I'd like to know what happened to Megaton Man creator, Dan ___? I've seen reprints of the stuff out recently, but lost track of the book when my store stopped carrying it. 4. Written by djnichols485, on 17-11-2004 21:48
Don Simpson.
Just happend across this interesting tidbit about a month ago: Mr. Simpson did the illustration work in Al Franken's
Lies and the Lying Liars... (though I haven't brought myself to actually read it yet). I think I read that he's currently working for a marketing firm somewhere.
By the way, regular Megaton Man recycles can be found here.
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