GlowSponge

SpongeBob Comics are back! Issue #1 was released on February 9th, so head on over to your local comic shop and grab a copy while they're hot! This new series is published by Stephen Hillenburg's United Plankton Pictures, distributed through Matt Groening's Bongo Comics Group, and is edited by none other than Chris Duffy (former Senior Comics Editor of Nickelodeon Magazine).

The cover design for this issue is by one of the best SpongeBob artists in the business—Sherm Cohen. He has process up on his blog, so check that out.

And I snuck a little something in there as well. Below are my pencils for a one-page comic called "GlowSponge." I handled story, pencils, inks, and this time I was invited to do color as well.



I opted for flat colors, as that's what I normally use.
And they let me!



I have to say—flipping through this book makes me feel like a tiny slice of Nick Mag is back. And that's a good feeling. Look for the next issue in April, as these will land every two months. I have a couple more comics that should arrive in print soon.

Congratulations to everyone involved!

SpongeBob Comics #1 features 32 pages of all-ages material, retailing for $2.99.

SpongeBob creator Stephen Hillenburg says: “All the stories will be original and always true to the humor, characters, and universe of the ‘SpongeBob SquarePants’ series.”

It includes work by: James Kochalka (Johnny Boo), Hilary Barta (Fear Agent), Graham Annable (Grickle), Gregg Schigiel (X-Babies) and Jacob Chabot (Mighty Skullboy Army), Bob Flynn (Heeby Jeeby Comix), Bob Sikoryak (Masterpiece Comics), Mark Martin (Tantalizing Stories, Nick Mag), Rick Neilsen (Nick Mag), Andy Rementer (Technology Tuesdays), Corey Barba (YAM), David Lewman (TV shows that you have seen!), Wes Dzioba (Star Wars, Nick Mag), Vince DePorter (Scooby Doo!), Robert Leighton (The New Yorker)

SpongeBob Remainders

I was just backing up my work for Nickelodeon Magazine and figured I'd share some SpongeBob inks that didn't make it into the magazine before the final issue. So, here goes (dialogue not included)...

These inks were for a two-page comic I co-wrote that was tentatively titled "Portrait Pandemonium." I used pen nibs on this one.



Story premise: SpongeBob sets up a stand at the beach where he paints portraits that aren't exactly accurate. To remedy the situation, he rearranges everyone's faces to match his drawings. It needs the dialogue to sell it, but it ends on a gag where Patrick is happy with the drawing SpongeBob made of him (a star).

Next up: a 3-pager I drew for a story written by Sherm Cohen, called "Patty-stacking!" This was the first SpongeBob comic I inked with a brush pen.




In a nutshell: Mr. Krabs keeps taking orders for larger and larger krabby patties (for big $$$), until a treasure chest full of riches pushes him over the edge. I had a lot of fun drawing this one.

Good times, those SpongeBob comics were...

SpongeClops!

The October 2009 issue of Nick Magazine is about to hit newsstands (if you're lucky, it may have already!). When you pick it up, the first thing you'll notice is that this is practically an ALL COMICS ISSUE. I only noticed one ad, that's how full it is. I'm told that in these remaining months the magazine will be jammed full of comics, so that's at least something to look forward to. There is a ton of talent and cartooning on display in this issue, including comics by Corey Barba, Dan Moynihan, Gahan Wilson and Graham Annable. You would be a fool not to snatch it up, so be on the look-out.

Now, if you turn to page 3 you'll see my third published SpongeBob comic, "SpongeClops!"


I wrote this comic almost a year ago, so I've been sitting on it for some time. Of the bunch I've worked on so far, it's probably my favorite. Mainly because it features Plankton and one of his evil schemes to get at the krabby patty formula. Plus it's one of the few I penned myself—it has a good amount of dialogue. I scanned it directly from the magazine because I don't have a digital copy with the speech balloons. It's 4 pages in 3 images (below), as it appears in the magazine.






(note: Blogger has a tendency to overcrunch jpegs, so hop over to my Flickr page if you want to see them sharper.)

I have to admit, when I pitched the idea I wasn't sure if I was even allowed to monkey with the features of the characters. But they went for it! By the time I had finished the comic, they were actually beginning to look normal this way.

Below are my pencils:





And here are my inks
(this is the final stage before I hand it off to Wes Dzioba to color)





I hope kids especially get a kick out of this comic (and of course, you too!)

I'm working on what will undoubtedly be my last comic for Nick Mag right now. So, one more to go!

Interview on Ink Mountain

A little over a week ago I was contacted by illustrator and cartoonist Phil McAndrew to do an interview for his fantastic new group blog, Ink Mountain.

--> Read the interview here

I talk about my work, my infleunces, my job at FableVision, and issues concerning Nick Mag. I'm biased, but I think it came out great. And it features a bunch of my artwork. It's a bit more personal than the more process-focused Q&A recently featured on The Tools Artists Use (also a fun interview if you haven't seen it yet). Phil did a great job presenting me with thoughtful questions, and I did my best to give interesting answers.

Also, I would encourage you to check out the blog itself. The current list of contributors includes Phil, Britt Wilson, Graham Kahler, Kate Beaton, and Vicki Nerino. They're doing a great job digging up inspirational work so far, with a special focus on individual artists.

A Spongy Reflection

I spent the better part of the weekend spongebob-ing. That's right, I did it enough that it deserves to be a verb. When I wasn't inking a SpongeBob comic for Nick Mag (quite possibly my last), I was watching bits of the 50-hour SpongeBob marathon (otherwise known as the "Ultimate SpongeBob SpongeBash Weekend!"), marking the show's 10th anniversary. I also happened upon the latest issue of Nick Mag on a trip to the drug store—the "Ultimate SpongeBob Issue", which includes a SpongeBob poster featuring every single character from the series (there are A LOT of characters). I even caught the VH1 special "Square Roots: The Story of SpongeBob Squarepants" last Tuesday. So, I easily spent the better part of a week soaking it all up...like...well...


Here's a teaser frame from my latest comic. Funny, because this was basically me—drawing and inking away feverishly. I find it hard not to identify with the yellow sponge, and I guess I'm not alone. In an interview with Nick Mag, Vincent Waller (creative director on the show) has a great quote when asked why SpongeBob is so popular:

"Because SpongeBob is a kid at heart—he has all the joy and happiness that you have when you're young. And he also has the freedom of an adult. He has his own house, he goes to work—but he loves his job—and he has a pet. I think kids like that. They think, That's me, but with freedom."

How could you not identify with that? I know...I know...his annoying laugh can be grating. But for me, it's always been about the whole package: great design, great voice, GREAT laugh, and an honest personality. Plus, he's funny!

Here's a drawing I dug up from the papers on my desk that I doodled with a brush pen. It's looser than I normally draw, and not quite on model, but I like to think it captures his simple charm.


I've reflected elsewhere about he who is porous (here), when I was getting ready to pitch my first comics to Nick Mag. And here's a quick link to all my SpongeBob related posts.

Happy 10-year anniversary to everyone who has worked on the show! And keep'em coming!

I'll end on a favorite quote:

"The inner mechanisms of my mind are an enigma." —Patrick Star

UPDATE: For those interested, I just did a related/follow-up post of sorts over at the Creative Juices blog: SpongeBob is Everywhere. It highlights the artwork of Sherm Cohen and Robertryan Cory.

SpongeBob: Belly Button Lint

After reporting somber news about Nickelodeon Magazine a couple weeks ago, I've got something more upbeat to share. I have a SpongeBob comic featured in the July issue of the magazine, which should be available at newsstand near you soon—if not now. I scanned the spread from The Comic Book (pages 34-35) which you can view larger below, because Nick Mag adds the speech balloons after I hand it off to them.


This was an especially fun comic to work on because I was fortunate to collaborate with cartoonist Corey Barba, best known for his kid friendly comic, YAM. Corey came up with the story concept and wrote it, in addition to providing me with a rough layout to work from. Here's a bit of process, including my pencils:


And finally, inks:


I inked it on paper, scanned it, and sent it off to Wes Dzioba for the splash of color that always brings the comic to life.

Knowing that the magazine is soon coming to an end makes the remaining issues extra special. And this is a great one, packed with comics and cartoons by James Kochalka, Emily Flake, Randall Kirby, Martin Cendreda, Alec Longstreth, Jef Czekaj, Travis Nichols, Scott Roberts and a new YAM comic by Corey! Also, plenty of illustrations including the likes of Hal Mayforth, Clayton Hanmer, and John Martz. Not to mention puzzles and gags! Definitely snatch it up when you see it.

Also, be sure to head over to Nicktoons Comics to read tons of comics from previous issues. And if you want more still, Chris Duffy and Dave Roman have a blog all about The Comic Book.

Nickelodeon Magazine (1993-2009)

Word has probably gotten to most of you by now that Nickelodeon Magazine has been canceled after a 16-year run. If not, I'm sorry to bring you the news. The story hit the internet last week via the L.A. Times, and has since been covered well by The Comics Reporter (1, 2). The news came as a shock to me, but apparently it boils down to a shortfall in ad revenue which is hitting everyone hard right now in print media. Viacom simply decided to pull the plug.

The news also hit my personally. I've had the pleasure of contributing illustrations and comics to the magazine for 4 years now. I know only a handful of the dedicated staff who worked so passionately to deliver one of the best magazines that ever existed for kids. I wish I had the chance to get to know more of them, but that group includes Debby Albenda (who first contacted me back in 2005), Chris Duffy, Frank Pittarese, Caitlin Keegan, Catherine Tutrone, and most recently Gordon Whiteside. These folks were the best clients (and are the best friends) a cartoonist could ever have.

My career in cartooning has been relatively short. I considered Nick Mag a home—my work hasn't appeared in too many publications, and I always felt welcome in the pages of the magazine. Few things made me happier than to receive a call or email to draw some goofy, wacky, or gross illustration. And more recently, getting to write and draw SpongeBob comics was nothing short of a dream come true. The illustration and comics communities benefited greatly from the publication. Many a talented cartoonist got their start in the notable comics section of the magazine called "The Comic Book." And it was truly a golden standard of what kid's comics could be.

Which gets to who this will affect the most—the kids. Meg Hunt put it really well in her eulogy of sorts: "They’re going to miss out on a quality magazine that introduced them to great artwork (even if they didn’t know it) and fun content that wasn’t just regurgitating information from their network." Besides Highlights, I can't think of another major magazine that spoke directly to kids.

On a positive note, I would credit those at Nick Mag with being directly responsible for the resurgence and popularity of comics for kids. Talented folks like Corey Barba (creator of YAM) gained a following in the magazine, and now have their comics published in book form. That's great news for kids and creators.

I thought I'd share this comic which appeared in the April 2006 issue of the magazine. It was called "Another Boring day at Nick Mag". I was asked to spice up what was a typical day running the magazine (written by the staff). It features cartoon versions of staffers, but I'm not sure who is who at this point.


I think I can speak for everyone that we'll all miss you, Nickelodeon Magazine. My sympathies and wishes go out to all those involved. And thank you.

How to Clear Out a Movie Theater

(click for full image)

This is a fun illustration I did for Nickelodeon Magazine, currently featured in the June 2009 issue. It's purpose: to give you all sorts of weird ways to creep out the person sitting next to you at the movies. I hadn't done a group shot like this in awhile, and of course it was a great opportunity to come up with some interesting characters. The above image is the file they sent back after they added text to the speech balloons (though it says pages 8 - 9, it now appears on pages 4 - 5). It has great placement in the magazine, too—spanning a full spread!


Here's a close-up of my two favorites of the bunch, only because I love that grin.

In other news, you should hop over to the Creative Juices blog to see what the crew came up with for this week's WTD? (What the Doodle?) The word was "PLOT." Here's my contribution:


What d'ya know?...another deranged kid. I'm sensing a pattern.

SpongeBob: Say Cheese!

You're gonna have to excuse some of the drama apparent in this post. I just went to CVS to pick up a prescription for my wife, and sneaked over to the magazine section to see if the December issue of NickMag was out yet. I saw a cover with Spongebob wrapped in a bow, drawn by the super talented Sherm Cohen. The issue is wrapped in plastic because it comes with a free poster, so I had to wait until I paid for everything until I could open it. And there it was...my first SpongeBob comic, Say Cheese!


I don't have the final version with the speech balloons and logo, but this is the color file the fine people a NickMag sent me back in August:


I wrote, penciled, and inked the comic, after initially pitching the idea to the editors. Wes Dzioba handled the coloring and did a fabulous job! It was so fun to send out my inked version and have it come back SpongeBob-ified with all the right textures, colors, and flowery patterns in the sky. This is indeed a huge first for me. And surreal! I'm working on pencils for another SpongeBob comic now, featuring Plankton and the bunch.

If you see it at a newsstand near you, snatch up a copy. There are all sorts of great comics in this issue. If you haven't already, hop on over to the Nicktoons Comics site where you can view a huge collection of comics from past issues.

SpongeBob News

I have fun news to share with frequent visitors of Jinx the Monkey and Drip! Some of you may remember a couple SpongeBob related posts from the beginning of the summer (1, 2). The primary reason I drew those studies was because the fine folks over at Nickelodeon Magazine had asked me to pitch ideas for SpongeBob comics. They ended up selecting one of my ideas, where SpongeBob goes a little crazy with a Polaroid camera, and gave me the go ahead to draw it up. I finished the inks in July, which they proceeded to color and finalize.

I recently received word that my comic (a two-pager) will appear in the December issue of the magazine! Even better, today I got the green light on another pitch—one where Plankton schemes to steal a Krabby patty. It's all been pretty exciting for me, as I'm a huge fan of the show. In the midst of doing my own comics, I'll be keeping busy drawing the gang from Bikini Bottom as well.

For those of you who aren't familiar with the Comic Book section of the magazine, head on over to NickMag where they've made a ton of Nicktoons comics available online. Better yet, pick up the magazine! They also have a great blog that regularly posts on upcoming comics and features.

I'll post the comic later in December when the magazine hits the newstands. Until then, here's a snapshot.

Travel Bugs

I have a fun set of bug illustrations in the July issue of Nickelodeon Magazine. My assignment was to create a cast of "travel bugs," which you catch while you're on vacation. Just in time for summer! The talented folks at NickMag wrote up the names and descriptions, and I designed the characters. Don't get bit by them!


Travelenza



Navigococcus



Familitis



Stuffing Bug



Souvenirtheria

Comic Droplets

I arrived home from work today to find a small mysterious package at my doorstep. I looked at the label and saw that it was from a close friend of mine, Crissy Cinciripini. She had ever so carefully cut up a comic of mine that appeared in an issue of Nickelodeon Magazine a year or so ago and made miniature glass magnets out of them. It's peculiar but quite pleasurable to see my comic morsels in nugget form. At the proper angle, they appear like droplets. So much fun! I have yet to thank Crissy. I'm curious what spawned this act of generosity, though for my birthday, she once cut up another one of my comics and collaged it onto the surface of a jar that she filled with candy.

Cafeteria Rumor Mill

I'm featured again in the November issue of Nickelodeon Magazine. This is a cartoon about how food rumors start in the cafeteria. I had to strategically leave space at the top and around the characters for various word balloons, which the designers added afterwards. It printed a little too green, but I guess that's okay, because it made the food look more gross. My favorite character is the crazed one.

Gross Anatomy

This is an illustration I did for the October 2007 issue of Nickelodeon Magazine, full of all sorts of fun gross stuff. The image goes along with an activity where you get to choose a word from three columns to create a symptom. In this case: Burning Nostril Slugs. On the same page (13), Aaron Renier has some awesome illustrations of body creatures, which he has up on his website (1, 2, 3). Nice work! When I got the call from NickMag, they literally said, "Wanna do a gross illustration for us?" Definitely a fun issue to be a part of!