Wednesday, October 1, 2008

As Aussie As

Before I get into todays blog, I was recently asked what Vegemite tasted like, its very Savoury, Very Salty and mostly you have to be raised with it from childhood to truly appreciate it. I took some over to the US with me and nobody wanted to touch it. But I was feeding it to Monas Dog who loved it gee does that sound bad?? That dogs especially like it. The common mistake people make is to spread it very thick this is the WRONG way. Very lightly spread it on toast and you'll love it. Little side note is it is now american owned and thats so sad as it was such an aussie icon.

I used to be a comic book freak, absolute. There was nothing like being 12 years old and saving my lunch money to go buy a comic to read from the newsagent. Eventually I discovered comic book stores and well spent alot of money through them. Now though I'm over comic books I hardly read them anymore. The last few I read was Extraordinary League and The Perhapanauts. But since they are either not available here locally or no longer published anymore even they have suffered.

So I used to want to be a comic book artist I had my own superhero league 'The Argonauts' under the pretend Marvel banner. I was gonna make a mint. Leader 'Dynaman' with his sticks of dynamite, cyborg 'Hunter One' and the power of the 'Cosmic Clue' would always kick avengers ass. But it was not to be and my comics sucked. They were the type where I would put my ideas on scrap computer paper my mum would give me from her work and then I would colour it all in with pencils. This was also my Todd McFarlane faze where I learnt to draw from anatomically incorrect people so Classy!

2008 has been the year of the comic art for me as you know I have already done a pin-up this year as well as the soon to be released flip cover for Images The Perhapanauts. I want to begin trying to do comics again, and by that I dont mean aim for image or Marvel or any of those people but I want to make my own stuff. I'm slowly learning about this business from doing those small jobs.

I have to admit to being disappointed with my Aqua Leung Pin-Up that was published back in April of this year it was work I did and then half finished a couple of years ago cause the book was delayed into comic book hell for awhile. I did something new in the meantime and I was told it......and I quote 'Looked Crap and stuck together in 10 minutes'. So of course I was crushed! So they wanted the 2 year old original and I gave it to them. I should have stood my ground and said this new one or nothing but I didn't. I wanted to get published and thats how it ended. Even though I was to get a free book even that never eventuated due to some infighting.

And so I bought the book a month ago to see how it turned out and am still so ashamed I succumbed to the pressure of giving what they wanted. I was still in love with that other 'Crap' design and had actually put it in as part of my portfolio there was something about it that shouted DO IT. So when it was put in front of the Cartoon Network review and it turned out Rob Renzetti wanted to keep it I felt well Vindicated. I even went so far as to say are you sure I was told it was crap. But Rob just smiled and packed it away. So well this Upcoming Cover I am almost 99% happy with compared to all the other ideas I had so I hope you like it too. As soon as I get the okay from Todd Dezago I'll share it with you all. But yeah I guess this is an apology for not giving you my best work. But then I am never happy with my stuff.

Before I left america my friend Mona gave me a penny at Disneylands California Adventure that had been squashed to imprint a small quote. It has Jimminy Cricket on it and underneath "Animation Can Explain Whatever the Mind of Man Can Concieve" Walt Disney. I like to keep it with me and look at it from time to time when I get down about stuff like whats going to happen next in my career path, I tried to take a photo but it came out so blurry.

As you can see still no logopolis I did do one, but it was just not funny. So it will have to wait. Anyway everybody take care and I will speak to you again tomorrow.

4 comments:

  1. Hey Matt, who told you it looked like crap???

    I didn't know you did another one. I'm sorry to hear you weren't happy with what made it in the book. If it's any consolation I think your pinup was pretty rad.

    -Paul M.

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  2. Hahah Oh that was Mark, but its okay I was happy that he published that other piece of crap and I prefer honesty if people aren't happy. And Thanks Paul, yeah live and learn but I'm trying not to overshadow your brilliant work on the book.

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  3. That sucks man. That pinup section was all screwy, Mark and I haven't been on speaking terms since the book came out, so this is all news to me that a few people had gripes.

    For what it's worth, I can tell you I like the claw guy in the original over your second version (Which I just saw), but I think the Aqua character himself looks stronger in the second.

    Either way you'll do many more pinups that you like in the future, and hopefully your own series or graphic novel.

    -Paul M.

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  4. I liked both, to tell th truth. I got to see the other one, which looks better than the one they chose for AL, but I don't think either of them looked like crap.

    Vegemite.
    Sounds yummy.

    I am worried that the dog liked it, though. I mean, I'm open to all sorts of culinary adventures, but when a animal that tends to spend hours licking their own genitalia is happy with vegemite, it doesn't swear me off from it, it just makes me wonder if his opinion is valid or not.

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