This past weekend, I started work in earnest on Chapter 3 of HOSTILE TAKEOVER!
It's becoming a labour of love, and is growing longer and larger all the time... I'm having serious fun finding out how the story will turn out. I hope you all do too.
I've struggled with getting the art right for chapter 3, having drawn in Rotring pens and pencil crayons, but this weekend saw me head back to brush and ink with digital colour and lettering. I love the way the style flows, and brings the story to life. So... I'm going back to the start and re-drawing the first two chapters so that everything flows together and keeps consistency. Plus, it stops me messing about with styles, as I love the way brush work looks with digital colour, and digital lettering helps me keep dialogue and pacing clear.
Each chapter will have a seasonal palette in terms of colour, as it keeps things simpler for me, and also helps each chapter have a solid identity. I really like the way the pages are looking now, much more consistent and structured.
Lastly, HOSTILE TAKEOVER! will be published on TAPTASTIC, a wonderful comics website with an amazing array of talents and stories. I'm hooked on the site, and love the way it works. My buddy Jens K is digitally publishing his beautiful comics on there too, and he has been a really great source of support and positive energy whilst I've been rebuilding the series. You should check his work too... It's lovely, lovely stuff.
So, here's the link to HOSTILE TAKEOVER! on Taptastic: http://tapastic.com/series/HOSTILE-TAKEOVER I aim to be updating three times a week, work permitting, so watch out for updates. The cover and first page of Chapter 1 have been done today, and I'm halfway through Chapter 3 at the inking stage. I just need to go back and slot in Chapter 2!
I'm seriously happy about how this has all worked out, and am looking forwards to seeing where the story takes me...
I have a new addiction... Fishing!
Since I caught my first Carp last year, and went on a 24 hour fish with my very good friend Rolf a month back, I am hooked. (Pun intended!) Rolf kindly gave me some of his old fishing kit, namely rods, reels, line and tackle. I was very chuffed.
I got my rod licence a while back, and am fishing on my local canal whenever I can. It's so calm and relaxing, and I'm loving learning how to do everything on my own...
Last night, I came up with an idea to create a fishing book in my own inimitable style. I've tried to find specific info on fishing on-line, but come up short. So, I'm writing a clear guide with lots of illustrations to help folks get into fishing, and understand how it all works, without being too technical.
Here's our guide, Bill the Badger. The book is writing itself, and I'm having a blast!
Chapter 3 snuck up on me and virtually wrote itself over a few evenings last week. Comics can be sneaky like that...
Fingers crossed, it will be up on Issuu by the end of July for your enjoyment, as I'm having a real blast putting this story together! This time, it will be done in pencil crayon with sympathetic digital lettering, which really seems to work, keeping the art closer to my drawn scripts.
Here's the page one artwork as a teaser... Enjoy!
Back in February, I created a 12-page mini-comic called 'Hostile Takeover', a bit of fun and a love-song of sorts to Ashley Wood and 3A Toys. Cranked out in a weekend, fast, cheap and fun! You can read it for free here: http://issuu.com/morgangleave/docs/hostile_takeover
Move forwards to now, and the Mini-Comic Challenge is in full swing. A great bunch of creative folks from all over the planet cranking out fantastic comics of all shapes and sizes. The only rule is that you complete 12 pages of comics during the set month. Easy?
Our business and health has taken the controlling interest in our lives, so my idea of recreating the first issue of my Feline Occult Investigator - 'Patches McGinley' hasn't transpired. A stinkin' cold this week led to being bed-ridden, whereupon I started doodling, and remembered 'Hostile Takeover'. Bingo! Chapter 2 is written, four pages are laid out, one is inked, and I've done a color (sic) panel for kicks! Should have most of the art cracked this weekend, as it's a Bank Holiday here in the UK.
Chapter 2 will be up on Issuu by the end of May for your enjoyment, and I have more big robot and big gun action plotted... It's turning into a real saga! (I'm thinking of a collected edition in print...)
For now, here's the test panel in colour and the first page as a teaser... Enjoy!
I'm open for illustration commissions of your favourite comic book or cartoon characters, TV and movie folks, heck, anything you like (within reason... copyright allowing)!
Here's a quick catch up of some of my latest pieces to get you thinking. Contact me for prices and more details!
