Monday, January 16, 2017

Batman and the Flash: 'The Button' crossover event!

My next project has been announced. Its a mini project as I will be joining writer Tom King on Batman for two issues! Here is the press release from Newsarama:

Almost one year after surprising the comic book world by hinting at the merging of the DC Universe with Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’s Watchmen world in Geoff Johns’ DC Universe: Rebirth #1, DC is getting ready to start offering details into the mysterious connection for the first time.

Publishing in April as a four-part crossover between Batman and The Flashongoing series (#’s 21 & 22 of each), The Button will be written by Batmanscribe Tom King and penciled by Jason Fabok, along with The Flash writer Joshua Williamson and artist Howard Porter, respectively.

“The two greatest detectives in the DC Universe unite to unravel the mystery behind a certain blood stained smiley face button stuck in the Batcave wall,” reads DC’s official description. “However, what begins as a simple investigation soon turns deadly when the secrets of the button prove irresistible to an unwelcome third party – and it’s not who anyone suspects! This is a mystery woven throughout time, and the countdown starts here!”

DC also reports that each issue of The Button will feature a standard cover for the $2.99 edition, along with a $3.99 edition featuring a lenticular cover, all drawn by Fabok.

So here is the cover I came up with, which will be a 3d lenticular cover that changes between Batman and the Flash. Below is my process of creating the image.

Colors by Brad Anderson and a final animated preview of how the cover's lenticular effect will work.

Traditionally inked linework.

My rough digital pencils that I print up and lightbox inked on a new page.

Layout #2

This was layout #1 but it was decided that the two characters should be dead center. The original layout was given to me by Jim Lee.

DC Comics NHL City Teams

I thought it would be fun to design some fictional NHL jersey's based on the teams in the DC Universe. The two major teams are the Gotham Blades and the Metropolis Mammoths. Here is my take.

Gotham Blades

The Gotham Blades would probably have the same color scheme as the other Gotham teams which is Black and yellow. But to make it a bit different, I went with a slate grey for the main color on the home jersey which is unique to the NHL. No team wears grey for their main color.

The logo was something I thought up one night. Naming any team "the Blades" leaves you with very little logo design ideas. Usually teams called the Blades have a hockey skate for a logo. But I thought a sword would be cool. Something simple. The "G" behind the logo (for Gotham) is in the shape of a shield. So you have a sword and shield for the crest. Im not a logo designer, and Im sure someone could make this basic concept a lot cooler.

Metropolis Mammoths

For the Metropolis Mammoths, I went with the first idea that came to my mind, a simple mammoth head holding a hockey stick. There are other sports teams with similar logo's so its nothing to unique but it would work.

As for the color scheme, I have two. One is brown and orange with teal and the other is blue and orange with teal. The brown and orange color scheme would be something very unique to the NHL. This team would probably be very old and maybe they kept their original color scheme for a long time. The blue and orange isnt unique, as the Oilers and Islanders have a blue and orange theme. But the teal would add a little bit of a unique look. Orange is my favorite color so I like both. I'm not sure which one to go with.

Monday, January 09, 2017

Hockey Jersey Design Fun

Windsor Spitfires

I was looking at the current Windsor Spitfires Uniforms (OHL Junior "A" hockey team where I live) and realized how much I disliked their current look, design and feel. (though I like the modern logo)
I'm a sucker for old school, simplistic hockey sweater design, so I worked up a few uniforms that I think would make a very timeless, classy feel for team and give them an identity that would last for years.
I love the idea of a shoulder yoke to hearken back to the 70-90's look without making the jersey look to clunky. It would be square at the end to give a more tough, militaristic look (the spitfire was a military fighter after all).
The striping is classic and horizontal, and I used some different patterns with varying widths. In the end I like what I came up with. I think it looks modern and yet captures a timeless, classic, retro feel.
#1 is my favorite.
as you move down, the design simplifies itself. I like all three. (these are the kind of things I think of when I'm not working)

London Knights