What's New at Manic Repressive

Khozos #1 !

2012-01-19T11:04:00.003-05:00

Well for the two or three of you who look at this blog, guess what...? We finally put a book out! Khozos: The Adventure of buck Halisson #1 is out now. So far there are three retailers Drive thru Comics, Amazon, and Lulu.
The best $2 you'll spend all day. You can also get a 12 page preview on Scribd.
Thanks for feeding the animals.

Is 2010 really almost over?!

2010-12-02T10:46:00.001-05:00

We are still alive and doing things but having to make a living is slowing us down. If you are reading this, bless your heart. Something will be posted soon. We are currently getting ready for RoundCon in February 2011. Rob Richardson is drawing a book written by Davis, Race War, that will be printed in January. Joe is working on an art collection book...as well as commissioned work. Davis is picking at Seven at a crazy slow rate and reviewing new material to be written for next year's projects. Next year will almost certainly be another slow one as the company works on getting rid of built up debt. We will make more of an effort to keep you all updated...and to try to market ourselves and let people know we exist.

Census 2010!

2010-06-02T22:41:00.001-04:00

Did you fill out your census form?
No?
Well, thank you! It’s because of you I now have a full time job and have very little time for drawing. Envy was not completed. In fact, Envy was barely ever started. I got some layouts drawn and that’s about it. I have the burning desire to find an artist to draw the chapter for me, but I honestly don’t know where to look and I don’t have much spending cash. If anyone has any ideas please send note.
Thanks. DK

Sick and Drawing

2010-03-26T10:38:00.003-04:00

If ever you have a choice, I would advise you not combine the two.
For one would deplete your patience and the other your energy. There are times in our lives, however, that we must rise above ourselves if we are to get anything accomplished. I’d rather be drained of energy and patience than sitting completely idle for an extended amount of time.
I drew the first chapter of Seven while feeling low physically. It was a challenge to say the least; I had to combat not only waning energy but also morning sickness, both due to pregnancy. And life doesn’t stop does it? At least one and a half year olds (namely Zoe) don’t. The only real suggestion I have for continuing to write or draw while you are felling ill is to not fully concentrate on that you are sick. Your patience doesn’t have to run out, not really. Not if you put off being impatient just a little while longer to get that one figure right. Or figure out the layout for that scene.

When I got sick my first inclination was to lounge and rest until I felt better. In bygone years this worked wonderfully. I would recuperate pretty quickly. But pregnant women don’t always recuperate with rest. Sometimes what you really need to get back to feeling yourself is birth.

So what do you do for all those months that you can barely see straight because too much movement, and not moving, eating and not eating, drinking and not drinking…when everything and its opposite seem to make you feel sick?
At best all I could do was ignore my body. For the first few, and worse, months I did lay about as much as I could (Which is difficult when you have a toddler, but then her ripping leaves off of the houseplant really doesn’t seem that important when you’re ill. What is important is disallowing her for hurting herself…or you…)and I watched a great deal of TV. TV has its uses. Mostly it’s a device to promote the mindset of the era and to get you to buy stuff from the show sponsors. As an escape device from reality it is great but should be used to escape problems as little as possible since it is stronger than crack. In those early months I found a guilty comfort in just laying prone in front of the TV while doing my best not to heave. The imaginary lives of the characters portrayed helped me to get over myself a little bit at a time.
But thanks be to God my morning sickness eased and I felt the need to curl in the fetal position and groan less—but I still felt ill more often than not.

Keep the mind active. For this writing and drawing can be a blessing. If I could just pause the perfectionistic tendencies I have, the two can be more comforting than TV and help me bear the on land sea sickness. Well, I’ve babbled and I’ve rambled but let me see if I can sum up some points to drawing while you are ill.

1) It is possible because you normally have a little quiet time on our hand when you’re sick. And drawing really requires quiet time.

2) The quiet concentration can help bring you out of yourself physically and be quite comforting. Any artist knows what I’m talking about when I mention the zone. The zone transcends the physical environment, including your body. To get out of feeling really ill get into the zone. (For beginners or art lovers who do not practice the craft, the zone is the point in creating when concentration is at its highest. I think it is when the right side of the braid has taken over completely and disallows ‘logical' though. You may find it difficult to have long, decent conversations if you are in the zone.)

3) Make sure your responsibilities are taken care of. The added worry that something is going to go wrong is only going to increase your sickness and distract you from drawing. It is great to have support or help from someone else when you are sick but it is not always possible. If you can’t take care of all of your responsibilities suspend them or limit them greatly. I have a toddler and when I was at my sickest—and there was no one there to take her—I would shut us up in a small room with a TV and toys and a few objects she could not destroy or use to hurt herself. Nap times were imperative, whether or not she was sleepy. If I was really tired out of my mind it makes it rather dangerous to be watching a child, and drawing was out of the question. She is much safer in her crib, irritated or playing (more often than not she went to sleep too), while I took a power nap. Because we have consistently spent quiet times together I can sit and draw or write while she plays by herself (note: this is not for an extended time and I don’t do any heavy duty drawing around her. I can however, plan scenes, design characters, and draw some sketchy layouts for pages.)

4) Don’t pressure yourself with perfection. Drawing is hardly going to take you out of yourself and be soothing if everything you create must be perfect. Under perfectionism drawing becomes a nightmare. Instead of offering aid when you need it, it creates another reason to be miserable. “I feel sick and my drawing sucks.” Enjoy the whimsy of drawing. Enjoy the flexing of your imagination on paper. It may not look exactly as you always dreamed but that does not mean you cannot create an enjoyable piece.

5) If you need an added pick me up—show someone your work. People are often more complimentary than critical. If you know a lot of critical people—avoid them. Never mind how critical they are about your artwork they are probably toxic to your health as well. If you find you are one of those critical people, well, cut that crap out: it’s annoying!

6) Take your time. It’s okay to go slow. In our fast–paced accomplished driven world that is a hard statement to swallow. I have had to tell myself multiple times that when I’m overly tired or not feeling well things are going to take longer to do. Impatience and the desire to not wait has been bred into my bones and patience goes against every fiber of my being. But I have found—slowly because I rarely learn a lesson quickly—that taking my time to do things slower when I’m not feeling well, and attempting to take that invisible time harness off, I flourish. When I flourish so does whatever I’m trying to do—including my artwork.

That’s all I can really think of and it is plenty to consider. As I write this I am in no mood for anything, but if I keep my mind on higher things I can find some measure of relief. I wish you well in all you do.

Murdering my darlings...

2010-03-10T09:47:00.004-05:00

Sigh.
Yes, for those of you in the "writing know" have probably guessed, I am rubbing out something that I'm overly fond of. Namely: Khozos. I've been building up the story for... 4-5 years, maybe? Regardless, its been a project that I(and recently my wife, Rissa) have been pruning and cultivating with some seriousness. I took samples to the International Licensing Show in 2009, I have the first 32 page issue drawn, inked and partly colored. Five more issues after that have been written, and I have a plot line that stretches out over three graphic novels and two generations of characters. Plus two stand alone stories for after the big climax of the third book.

I'm saying all of this just to hammer home that I'm putting aside something near and dear to me. This was going to be my magnum opus, my path to riches and comic book fame, and a semi-legacy to leave for my kids to pick up and continue. I know, right? I think big sometimes.

Why would I put aside all of this after so much work? Because it's ungodly.

Lemme clarify. The "point" of Khozos, beside being a cool space/fantasy story, was to have a mainstream book with Christian morality at its core, in a genre not usually known for having moral substance. I was getting there. The basis for the first six issues was to show the main character changing his behavior from one of greedy self-indulgence to paying attention to how God wanted him to live his life. However, because God is real and the setting of this series was decidedly UN-real, I couldn't just have them paying attention to God because fictionalizing a real person who is currently alive distorts reality. I don't think it should be done. Now, after a person is dead, and you play around with them some, OK. I will read a book about Abe Lincoln as a vampire hunter, or Jimmy Stewart and U.S. Grant as time travelers fighting robots controlled by Fu Manchu(not to self: write that story). Anyway, God is real and I won't fictionalize him.
So, I had to put in a god-like character called the All Father in Khozos. But the reverence and importance that character plays in the story can give rise to false worship.

I'm not saying that Khozos would be so huge and popular that everybody would be driven to apostasy, but I'm not going to put anything out that leaves that open to chance.

I'm trying to use the creativity and skills God has blessed me with to make stories that honor Him, and entertain people without filling their minds with trash. Its too easy for people to get into a story with a sort-of-religion in it and take it on for themselves.

So, no more Khozos. I may try to resurrect it in some kind of fashion, but I don't know how, currently. Not as big of a problem as one might think. I'm rather back-logged with story ideas.

Next on the list will be redoing(fully drawing) "Blow Up the Outside World". Its a sci-fi story about a maintenance worker who can't dream getting addicted to a virtual realty device. I have a series of "Carson Cole" stories, about a Christian underwater scientist/adventurer. The first one is an underwater ghost story called "Not Quite Atlantis". Then there's a cyberpunk tale called "Artificial Soul". And the list goes on.

But, from here on out, everything that Manic Repressive produces will be unmistakably Christian.

Thanks for reading. Back to work.
-Joe

Ode to a deadline...

2010-02-12T08:57:00.003-05:00

Ah the deadline...both my friend and my mortal foe. Friend, because it lets me know the rate at which I must work, foe because it taunts me with how little time I have left.
I am blessed to keep getting work because I meet deadlines. I meet them in a dark alley and break their knees with a baseball bat. That's right, I used to live in New Jersey.
Every so often one will sneek out from behind a big green dumpster and get the drop on me, but usually me and my trusty Louisville slugger rule the night.
Deadlines are important because when they get ignored or just aren't met the whole process of comic book (or anything else for that matter) creation gets backed up. I saw that a lot back in the offices at DC. But, the real pros know the game and get the work in on time. Now I get to be a pro too.
Its a little more tricky when you're working on your own stuff. I could easily take the attitude of: "I'll get it done when I do." But, then it never gets done. And you end up sounding like you don't speak the English so well.
It requires discipline to get the work done on time. Even though I love making comic books, my own or somebody else's, there always comes a point during the project when I'd rather just watch hulu all day. Can't do that though, because the deadline looms behind you with an axe to grind - making you feel as crazy as Robert E. Howard. Maybe not that crazy...
If you can't meet deadlines, you'll never get anything accomplished and you won't be able to rake in the relative big bucks working for somebody else.

That all being said, man am I behind. I gotta go!

-Joe

Thoughts of a 20 year old...

2010-02-05T15:22:00.002-05:00

Below is the first of many posts from our new Production Artist, Mack McKinney. Enjoy.

As of late there have been a lot of things on my mind. Such as, when will things start going my way and when will I get my chance to show the world I’m worth something? I can only speak for myself but I feel like a lot of people feel the same way. It seems like the people that actually have the means to do something great with their lives don’t utilize the materials they have at their disposal and the people that don’t have the means or the materials suffer and wish they had what the other people had. As a child growing up debt became the norm to me. I don’t know about you or anyone else but I feel like that’s a horrible way to live. I guess what I’m trying to say is don’t take anything for granted. Appreciate the things you do have and whatever you want out of life ask yourself what are you willing to sacrifice to obtain it. I’m done. God Bless…. Mack

Something Old, Something New...

2009-08-09T14:48:00.002-04:00

Two movie reviews, no waiting...

If Optimus Prime was my surrogate father, than Snake Eyes was my cooler older brother, and Cobra Commander was my quirky Uncle who always looked like an ass until you paid him serious attention and realized how crazy brilliant he was.
With this in mind, I was extremely excited to see G.I. Joe last Friday. Ever since I saw the first shots of Sanke Eyes's costume with Ray Park in it, I was ready to slap down my $10. Lots of mixed press out there and Larry Hama getting heat from "fans"...
Well, screw them, it was a good movie. No deep transcendental thought, but there never was with G.I. Joe, its a war story – military action/adventure tale, and that's exactly what they give you with the movie.
Was it verbatim and canonical to the old stuff? Of course not, you can't have something translate exactly between one media to another, its a different style of story telling. But they worked a lot of things in there, the names were all right (I will always prefer Roadblock to Heavy Duty though). I liked that Cobra Commander was an evil genius and puppet string puller, and the samll stuff, like The Baroness's husband being De Cobray, small stuff like that made me smile all while watching it.
That being said, why does Snake Eyes have a mouth in his costume? Thank the All Mighty they didn't have him talk! I was waiting. He also makes too short of work with Storm Shadow at the end (oh, uh...spoiler alert). I would have ather seen the two of them wail on each other in equal measure and Snake beat him just barely at the end...but whatever. I didn't mind the history they gave to Duke and the Baroness, I am thrilled that Destro's metal face wasn't just a silly-assed helmet. And Heavy Duty's British accent was jarring to me, don't know why, just was.
Over all, I liked it. I would buy it, or certainly accept it as a gift. I give it 4/5 stars.

Now the oldy but not so goldy. Watchmen. I know, I know everyone else saw this like 6 months ago or so. I was kicking myself for not making more of an effort to get to the theater and see it. I loved the look of it, I thought Zack Snyder would do the best job anybody could. And, maybe he did.
the main problem is that there is WAY too much to this story than you can fit into a 3 hour long movie. Even 4-5 hours is probably not quite enough. The way to do it properly would have been to make it like 4 2hr movies on TV. Not as glamourous as the theaters though, which is why that didn't happen. But, I think you could've told the story better in that format.
Another thing stuck in my craw – why was it deemed necessary to amp up the f-bombs and gore factor? The story already has sex, nudity, violence, what-have-you and it all fits well into the context of the comic, why push the fight scenes with extra splatter? I can only imagine that that is Zack Snyder's thing and all of his movies will have it. It was appropriate in 300, out of place and obviously forced in Watchmen.
On another note, the look and costumes were awesome. Nite Owl's suit was how they should have been doing Batman's csotume from the get go. Way freakin' cool. The casting was good too.
Overall...3/5, mostly for the look and atempt at trying to stay true to the book.

Not to worry too much, I doubt I will do too many Movie reviews on the blog. But who knows. BTW, saw Quantum of Solace this weekend too. Makes me appreciate the Sean Connery Bond films all the more. I liked Casino Royale, but this one sucked. I had on You Only Live Twice a few weeks ago, seen it all the way through like, 3 or 4 times. Love it every time.
Won't bother with Quantum again though. Oddly...the Dragonball movie was laughale terrible too. Some of my in-laws got it and Larissa and I watched it in macabe fascination. Oof.

-Joe Out.

4 Things I Learned From All of the Comic Con Coverage

2009-07-28T07:17:00.003-04:00

Firstly: Comic Con is really not about comics anymore. Granted, most of us have known that for a few years now, but every time it comes around again you see all the Hollywood crap that has nothing to do with comics taking center stage. How does the biggest comic convention in the world shrink how much comic book related events it holds? I think it'll make the New York con more and more attractive to the industry.

Secondly: Megan Fox is ANNOYING. Attractive she is, but she opens that mouth of hers and ugh, what a turn-off. Yes, this is me in my judgment chair, sitting from afar and passing judgment on somebody I have never met. But, c'mon, I listened to three diferent interviews while I was trying to draw & ink, it was irritating. She dared one reporter that she'd go walk the floor, like it was some kind of fight or something. I'm going to see Jonah Hex, because I love the character and like the whole Horror/Western sub-genre, but I'll be seeing it in spite of her being in it, not because she's in it. She might be my new John Travolta.

Thirdly: People are throwing money at comics books and memorabilia, even in our recession/depression. Now I, like a lot of people on the business side of comics, have not been too worried about the faltering economy and its effects on the comic book market. One, people always want entertainment - especially when the world around them is crappy. Second, comic books are a low price item. Its not a big deal for a fan of comic books to spend $3-4 on a book, or $20 on a trade. People seemed to be throwing money hand over fist there. Which is good...for us.

Lastly: I don't know... Iron Man 2 is going to kick ass? Yes, we should most all be of that mind. Uh... How 'bout this: Comic Con is continuing to grow, get more expensive to exhibit at, but be worth the exorbinate cost due to the ridiculous volume of people there with money burning a whole in their collective pockets. Yes.

I hope we all learned something at least from Comic Con this year.

-Joe Out.

Help pick the Cover for Khozos #1

2009-07-17T12:19:00.004-04:00

The art for Khozos #1 will be wrapping up at the end of this month.
Help us pick the layout for the cover.
Click the thumbnail here to see the art, then enter your choice on the poll to the left.

The first installment of our series Seven is also coming along nicely. We're also picking away at modifying the Manic Repressive site, so keep checking back through out the month to see all the minute tweeking we do.

I have the subject matter for the con art for RoundCon '09. Once I get the layout decided, I may give everybody here a sneak peek at that as well.

-Joe

MR Site Updates - Store Front is Go!

2009-07-10T11:49:00.004-04:00

Hello to all the halves of dozens of my blog readers!
The Manic Repressive site has got some serious make overs this month, and its not even the 15th yet. fists in the air!
Most important is the new store that is online now. Now you can get your hands on our first three publications without waiting for us to come to a show near you. Sweet!
You can even get to it from here, just click on the "store" link to the left.

We've also brought all of the old news updates over here to the new blog and tweaked the navigation buttons a tad. Those of you who already swing all over the site won't know any difference though.
New additions to Joe's main gallery page

We've also been tapped to create the artwork for RoundCon '09. A great gaming con in Columbia, SC.

More fun and excitement to follow!

5 things noticed from drawing comics all day:

2009-07-06T08:11:00.002-04:00

1: After working out perspective points on multiple panels I start looking at the rooms in my house different. Am i seeing two point, three point...crazy stuff like that. Outside is even worse sometimes.

2: High-tech space ships and vehicles are way cooler to look at than design and draw. Ugh!

3: Making characters that look very different from each other can cover small amounts of inconsistency in your work. If all my characters wore the same outfits and only had facial and build differences, the art would be much weaker.

4: I need to practice drawing animals more. Way harder to draw than people, only because I'm not USED to drawing them.

5: This is way better work than anything else, even when it isn't paying.

Money of course is the goal and a necessity, but I am way more content spending my days drawing comics.

New Software: what a byte in the @$$!

2009-07-03T08:48:00.003-04:00

All puns aside, I feel like an old man. Granted, I'm in my thirties, which is ancient by some standards, (miserable young punks!) but sometimes it feels like I've got the mentality of a 60 year old.
I can't be the only one who doesn't want to learn a bunch of new software, right?
Fortunately, this distaste for expanding my horizons is fairly limited to technology. Books are still fascinating, as well as "educational" TV shows.
As the so-called head of Manic Repressive I am responsible for keeping up with the website, all the marketing, licensing, and production stuff, which all leads to learning more and keeping myself closed up in my little world of doing-nothing-but-drawing, less.
Which, sigh, is good for me. Just like vegetables. But I still feel the need to fuss.

Wah, wah, I don't wanna learn anymore web based software.

There you have it.

Hello Cyber Peeps!

2009-07-01T18:52:00.004-04:00

I've just been introduced to the blog and now have a much easier time slapping down anything I think of, if I like.

I'd like to update you all since we don't seem to be putting alot on our website nowadays.

We are, in fact, crazy busy with artwork. I've decided to give Seven a narrative art try. That is, I am drawing up some comic pages for the first chapter in the story: Gluttony. Then I want to move into drawing up a short story, Opus 3, dealing with a fantasy type world. Joe is drawing up Khozos: Chapter 1 and will move quickly onto Chapter 2. We want to get the artwork completed before October 2009. Then we'll be digitizing, coloring, and preparing for production. The beginning of 2010 will be the roll out of these comics, stories, and a webcomic that we'll be hiring someone else to draw (based on the world of Khozos). So, though the website may be a bit barren for a few months we hope to have a great deal to show for our quietude come January. Currently we are both 1/2 way through our respective stories.

The NEW news

2009-07-01T08:52:00.003-04:00

Hello, you who probably aren't seeing this. I'm putting down this post, just to have something here.
Over the next few days I'm going to try and bring the old Manic Repressive news posts over to the new format. Not sure how, but boy do I love learning new things...man.

From now on, this will be where we share all things Manic Repressive with you the world-wide web. Expect more frequent postings now that we have an easier template to update.

When not trying to totally redesign the MR website, I'm drawing the first installment of Khozos, our new space fantasy comic book. Should be finished drawing & inking in July sometime. Then on to drawing the next while coloring & lettering the first. I'm a regular one-man gang, without all the old wrestling moves.

-Joe

June News

2009-06-15T00:13:00.000-04:00

Back from the Licensing Show. Some select photos can be seen here. Can't show everything for legal reasons. Secret projects from different studios are all on display and we don't feel like getting nasty emails for unveiling movies slated for release in 2011 and later.

June Updates

2009-06-15T00:11:00.000-04:00

No wild changes to the site this month. Now that we're back from the Licensing show we're in full-on production mode.

You can check out new art from both of us in the Licensing section from the galleries home page.

Issue #1 of Khozos is slated to be finished by September as well as most of issue #2. Not to mention a separate Khozos web comic with totally different content.

A fully illustrated version of Seven is being worked on too. Those of you who liked the first chapter posted here in May '08 will be in for a treat!

May News

2009-05-15T00:10:00.001-04:00

Licensing show in TWO WEEKS! Oof. Expect to be watching the Khozos cartoon while wearing your Seven T-shirts, drinking soda from your Opus 3 mugs soon.

We know you're wondering where the "expletive" is the store front so oft hyped. Joe is a slacking slacker, that's where. But next month it'll be up. We know you're tired of not being able to throw your money at us, its something we all have in common :)

May Updates

2009-05-15T00:09:00.000-04:00

Big changes to the site this month if you haven't noticed yet.

The button for Con Carne is now off the home page. Sigh. We'll miss our short lived convention.

Those of you from the Licensing industry can go to the licensing specific pages here.

The Licensing show has really lit a fire under our collective behinds. Thanks, I guess.

April News

2009-04-15T00:05:00.001-04:00

Alright! Month four in a row of regular updates. I know, this isn't even news anymore. I'll stop with next month.

News, news, news... oh! Davis Ketterer has finished writing the first part of Khozos: The Adventures of Buck Halisson. Joe is stoked to start drawing it in the next few weeks. He's been blessed with too much work to get it started sooner.

If you want to follow Joe's exploits in more grisly detail, check him out on Facebook if you already haven't.

April Updates

2009-04-15T00:04:00.001-04:00

Its been a grueling month here at Manic Repressive headquarters. We're still chugging along with our Licensing show portfolios. Here is an example of something new Joe has done for the show. We gotta stop showing everything off. Ah well.

In the early parts of next year Manic Repressive will be in full swing of producing "Khozos: The Adventures of Buck Halisson" It'll be six issues long, roughly 32 pages each issue. When issue 2 comes out we'll be starting a simultaneous web comic based on the history of Khozos, giving you a weekly look at the back story that leads up to the events in the first Khozos story. Here is a sample of what Joe did for the opening shot back when he was foolish enough to think he could draw a weekly strip and monthly book.

March News

2009-03-15T00:02:00.000-04:00

Alright! Month three in a row of regular updates. On time even!

The licensing show looms ever closer on the horizon. We just about finished with the new portfolios, and now we have our sweet new sign for the booth there. If you like it, go check out the company PostUpStand.com and see their other projects. They were great to work with. Given enough of a budget, we'll probably get more stuff done with them.

The Downloads page is radically different this month. Unfortunately with work and other things Joe hasn't gotten the store front finished quite yet. But once its done, you'll be able to get our Coloring book, Splash! a children's book, as well as a hard copy of Flight of the Magpies, then all the new stuff we're putting out at the end of the year. Namely; Khozos: The Adventures of Buck Halisson Pt.1, and Opus 3. We can't wait to explode all over the place with these.

March Updates

2009-03-15T00:00:00.000-04:00

Well, the South Carolina Bookfest was slow. But, we met some good people, moved a little bit of merchandise, hopefully made a few new fans.

You can see a picture of our booth here (That's our nephew Andree manaing the table).

We unveiled a new sign we had made and it was a big hit. Enough so that we've had a request to make a wallpaper of it. Check them out on the Downloads Page at the left.

February News

2009-02-15T23:59:00.000-05:00

Alright! Month two in a row of regular updates. Granted this one is a might late, sorry. We moved again, hooray! Now we're in the Atlanta area. Stockbridge to be specific.

The two of us are about half-way through our new portfolios for the licensing show. And while working on that, we're gearing up for the SC Bookfest.

In March (fingers crossed, still) we'll be switching the Downloads Page over to a store front. So enjoy those sweet, sweet downloads while they're still free!

February Updates

2009-02-15T23:57:00.001-05:00

Joe went to the NY Comic Con. You can see pics of the trip here.

This is the promissed preview of what Joe is working on for the Licensing show in June. We're going to Vegas with a mess load of new artwork under our arms...

Joe also updated his gallery page. He's done some new comic book coloring samples and has them up now.

January News

2009-01-15T23:50:00.001-05:00

Well, its only been...6 months since the last update. We've been horribly, but gratefully busy coloring for DC and raising our little bundle of joy, Zoe. However the two of us seem to have a better schedule under control, so we'll be back to updating each month now. Honest.

Joe will be at the NY Comic Con in February. No table, just walking around, talking to folks and trying not to buy much of anything. Also be stopping by the DC offices and Joe Kubert School to talk to old friends and current colleagues.

In February (fingers crossed) we'll be switching the Downloads Page over to a store front. So enjoy those sweet, sweet downloads while they're still free!

January Updates

2009-01-15T23:49:00.001-05:00

We're busy working on new portfolios for the International Licensing Show, coming up in June. We'll post some images when it becomes a little less top-secret...

July News

2008-07-15T23:48:00.001-04:00

We're starting a Comic Book Convention, here in the Charleston, SC area. Check out all the info on the ConCarne webpage!

July Updates

2008-07-15T23:47:00.001-04:00

We've created a coloring book. Currently it's at the printers, to be unveiled at the Summerville Artwalk, July 17th. Here is the cover image.

June News

2008-06-15T23:45:00.002-04:00

We've moved! Is it just us, or is South Carolina way freakin' hotter than Florida? The Weather Channel disagrees, but who the heck are they, anyway?

I (Joe) had a great time at ConCarolinas. Did some sketching, met some cool people, and watched Darth Vader & a giant furry dog play Guitar Hero. Vader then choked the dog when he lost. Sounds like a horrible euphamisim...

We were at RoundCon.

June Updates

2008-06-15T23:44:00.001-04:00

Do you live in the Summerville/Charleston area? We'd like to meet you! Contact us at mail@manicrepressive.com. We've successfully moved to Summerville and will post more updates next month.

Here are a couple of pics that Joe drew while at ConCarolinas. Sitting around, talking to people in home-made costumes all day puts odd images in your head...

May News

2008-05-15T23:42:00.001-04:00

We're moving! Ah, the sweet sweetness of change and stress and stuff. When next we update, it'll be from Charleston, SC. If you live in the Summerville area, the weirdos with the moving van will be us...

Joe recently did a guest strip for the web comic Jump Leads. To bask in his intellectual jocularity, go here.

Up next is ConCarolinas!

May Updates

2008-05-15T23:41:00.001-04:00

Seven Gluttony: Refill that overflowing cup, please! Part I

Another image from the "Not Quite Atlantis" story. This is probably going to be the inside front cover image. Enjoy & start drooling for the actual book...

April News

2008-04-15T23:38:00.001-04:00

We were at RoundCon on April 4-6, a gaming con in Columbia, SC. Dice were rolled, geeks were out, and there were a suspicious amount of Dr. Who fans there. Is there some sort of secret Dr. Who enclave in Columbia? Show up next year to find out with us. Great time had by all!

Up next is ConCarolinas on May 30-June 1. Another sci-fi & gaming con, this time in Charlotte, NC. Come geek out with Joe & get a sketch.

April Updates

2008-04-15T23:33:00.001-04:00

Take a sneak peek at "Seven", a new project from Davis Ketterer.

Some interior art from "Not Quite Atlantis" Joe's next story with spot illustrations. Currently in its 3rd revision. Hooray for rewrites!

The inaugural cover for the relaunch of Science Fiction Quarterly. Keep your eye on their site, the first issue should be coming out anytime now.