Sunday 7 October 2012

Karloff


Boris Karloff as the Frankenstein Monster… drawn using Procreate on the iPad. I was inspired to draw this after watching the original 1931 Universal Frankenstein on Blu-Ray… Karloff’s performance in that movie makes him one of the all-time greats, and the definitive Frankenstein’s Monster.


Boris Karloff as the Frankenstein Monster. Drawn using ProCreate for iPad.

Sunday 2 September 2012

Crossroads....


Who remembers this Hulk? It’s the mindless version of the Hulk, as featured in Bill Mantlo and Sal Buscema’s classic run on the Incredible Hulk (circa issues 299-313). After having finally gained control of the Hulk, Bruce Banner had finally found happiness and acceptance from the World at large... even getting pardoned from the Hulk's rampages by the President of the United States. However, this was not to last... as the demonic dream demon Nightmare caused the savage Hulk persona to awaken, causing Bruce Banner to lose control of the creature. Rather than sharing his existence with the savage Hulk persona again, Banner decided to commit “psychic suicide”…. leaving this truly, mindless Hulk who debuted in INCREDIBLE HULK #299, and was banished by Dr. Strange to the Crossroads of dimensions in issue 300.


The Mindless Hulk... drawn in Manga Studio.


Tuesday 28 August 2012

For Jack....

To celebrate what would have been Jack Kirby's 95th birthday... here is my own homage to INCREDIBLE HULK #1, published years ago in 1966 (using an update of my Gray Hulk image I posted a few days ago). This is for you, Jack!


Happy birthday Jack Kirby

Today would have been legendary comic creator Jack Kirby's 95th birthday. Jack was the co-creator of many of Marvel Comics' most memorable characters such as the Fantastic Four, The Incredible Hulk, Captain America, The X-Men and the Avengers... and was an artist whose creative talent and imagination was unparalleled. So I'd like to take this opportunity to say happy birthday to the undisputed King of comics... and give my thanks to the many years of joy and inspiration his work gave me. God bless Jack... I'm sure you're working at your big drawing board in the sky while smoking that trademark stogie. :)


Thursday 23 August 2012

Fifty Shades Of HULK!

The REAL Mr. Gray.... aka the Incredible Hulk! Drawn in Manga Studio, from a sketch I drew a couple of days ago.

Original Sketch (check out the Spidey Note Paper!)

New version... drawn using Smith Micro's excellent MANGA
STUDIO.










Wednesday 4 July 2012

Dredd Colours

Here is the Judge Dredd sketch that I posted previously that I had drawn using Manga Studio.... coloured by my good friend Sam Palmer:

Art by Simon Williams. Colours by Sam Palmer.
I'm really pleased with how this looks... Sam has done an awesome job colouring it! You can check out Sam's site and work here at www.sam-palmer.co.uk.

Sunday 1 July 2012

Sal Buscema Hulk... inked by yours truly

Here's my attempt at some digital inking, over some original Sal Buscema pencils in Manga Studio. I'm loving the different comic-style brushes you can use in that program, and am really pleased with how this has come out.

Pencils by Sal Buscema, inks by Simon Williams.
The pencils are from an unused Marvel Universe Handbook image by Sal, which I absolutely love!  Special thanks to Eelco Veldhuizen for allowing me to post this, as he owns the original pencils. Check out Eelco's INCREDIBLE collection of original Sal Buscema art at www.comicartcollection.com.

Friday 22 June 2012

Bananaman!

After my Desperate Dan sketch earlier, I couldn't resist doing another re-imagining. This time of another old favourite of mine.. Bananaman!



Drawn in Manga Studio... dedicated to original Bananaman artist John Geering (with apologies to legendary artist John Byrne for the use of his classic Superman pose!)

UPDATE: And here's a colour version, done using ProCreate for the iPad. Just for fun ;)




Some UK Classics From The Comics...

Here are a couple of recent digital sketches that I have drawn using Smith Micro's excellent Manga Studio. First up, is my own re-imagining of an all-time favourite comic character of mine, the DANDY's very own DESPERATE DAN!

Darn tootin'!
With the greatest respect to Dudley D. Watkins, creator
of Desperate Dan.

Next up is a sketch that was inspired by a certain trailer I watched yesterday (which looks BRILLIANT by the way)..... quite simply, he IS the law.

"What do you mean, I sound like Dirty Harry?"
I'm really enjoying trying out drawing digitally. Hope you like the pictures!

Wednesday 6 June 2012

Little Hulk STRONG!!!!!

Check this out... a wonderful drawing done for me by my dear friend Kat Nicholson:

"One..... erm, three? Grrrrrrr.... Hulk can't COUNT!"
Artwork by Kat Nicholson.
Not only have I been fortunate to have had most of my professional artwork coloured by the extremely talented Kat, along with her partner in crime Jason Cardy, but most importantly I am honoured and blessed to be able to call them both my dearest and closest friends (along with their lovely new pet rabbit, Digby... my little man-man!). Both are currently working on Panini's THUNDERCATS comic... which is available from all UK newsagents now. Check it out.... you won't be disappointed!

You can check out Kat's DeviantArt page here.



Friday 18 May 2012

RIP Tony DeZuniga & Ernie Chan

This month has been a very sad time for the comics industry, as it has lost two of it's greatest artists... Tony DeZuniga and Ernie Chan have passed away. Both of these artists were favourites of mine, and I'm deeply saddened to hear of their passing. Ernie in particular was a favourite of mine... while many will remember him for his beautiful work on Marvel's Conan the Barabarian (where he inked the legendary John Buscema's powerful pencils), it's his work on the Incredible Hulk that made the biggest impression on me. Ernie inked my all-time favourite artist Sal Buscema on issues 210-212, 214-220 (with George Tuska & Keith Pollard filling in for Sal on issue 218), and between them produced the most beautiful artwork ever featured in that title. Ernie also produced several covers for Hulk as well.... many which remain my all-time favourites on the book.





Tony also inked both Buscema's, as well as many others... however, the work that I'll always remember is his beautiful Shanna the She Devil strip, that featured in Rampaging Hulk magazine.


I shall always be grateful to both artists for the enjoyment and influence their work has given me over the years. God bless and my thoughts and best wishes go out to both of their families and loved ones.



Saturday 24 March 2012

Happy birthday to the Undertaker... and meeting Mick Foley!

As some of you may know, I'm just a little bit of a wrestling fan! I started watching it back in 1991, and while I don't watch it so much these days, still remain a big fan of what these guys do. I'd like to wish a very happy birthday to the man who is my all-time favourite wrestler, Mr. Mark Calaway.. better known to WWE wrestling fans as the Phenom,  the one and only Undertaker! Happy birthday 'Taker... here's to 20-0 at Wrestlemania!! And don't worry about HBK ruining your match with Triple H... we creatures of the night have got your back!

My own, artistic interpretation of the WWE's UNDERTAKER.
Now, regarding the above picture... this leads me to a recent event which I can honest say was a highlight for me.  I'm very proud to say that the original of the above piece of artwork is now owned by another all-time favourite wrestler of mine, the Hardcore Legend and all-round nice guy Mr. Mick Foley! I presented it to him at Cardiff Glee Club during his his "Nights In Red Flannel" comedy tour this past February. It was a highlight to meet and chat to one of my all-time heroes, and meant a lot to me to be able to give him this work as a thank you for all the years he has entertained me. A long-time comics fan, Mick told me how he has once visited John Buscema's art studio, when the legendary comic artist presented him with an original peace of Thor artwork! Again, it was awesome to get to chat to Mick... definitely a moment I'll never forget!

Mick Foley after I had presented him with two pieces of my
artwork.
The Hardcore Legend! BIG thanks to Matthew Grant for the
photographs.
Now... after a post featuring the legendary Mick Foley, I'd be remiss if I didn't end it with his classic catchphrase, so here goes:

Have a nice day!!! (Bang Bang!)

Friday 16 March 2012

Austin 3:16....

... says Stone Cold just whooped Mickey's A$$!!

"Leave my damn beer alone, Jackass!!"

... a (literally) five minute sketch I did earlier today which was retweeted to over 590,000 people by none other than 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin himself! Cheers, Stone Cold! Here's to Austin 3:16 day (16th of March).. gimmie a hell yeah!!

Wednesday 14 March 2012

Happy 50th Anniversary to the INCREDIBLE HULK!

I couldn't let the big green guy's big 50th go by without doing SOMETHING......



Thanks to all those creators who have bought us the Hulk's adventures over the years... for the many years of enjoyment and inspiration. Here's to many more SMASHING years!!!

Edit - 15/03/2012: I had none other than the Incredible Hulk himself, big LOU FERRIGNO tweet me earlier.. saying that he liked this tribute piece! As a life long fan of the Hulk and Lou, that truly made my day!! Thanks Lou!

Saturday 3 March 2012

Bad Blood - beware the moon.....

As I may have mentioned once or twice, one of my pet projects has been a vampire story that I've been writing on and off for over a decade (my original foray into the world of vampires was a strip I drew back in 1987!!!). My "Vampire Saga", as it was known, now has the official title of BAD BLOOD: A VAMPIRE PROPHECY. During my near decade-long career in comics, I was fortunate to have been able to achieve my ambitions and draw characters such as the Incredible Hulk, Spider-man, the Transformers and Death's Head... characters I have grown up reading and loving since I was a child. But another ambition of mine has been to someday publish my own stories as well... and my vampire story is one that has been close to my heart for a long time. In the story, vampires won't be the only creatures of the night to beware of.... Here's a character design piece that I thought I would share with you....



Beware the moon indeed.....


BAD BLOOD: A VAMPIRE PROPHECY and all related characters, artwork and story are ™ & © Simon Williams. All rights reserved.

Thursday 2 February 2012

Alan Davis Death's Head and Dragon's Claws...

...coloured by yours truly for Richard Starkings (Marvel UK, Elephantmen, Comicraft). An awesome piece of artwork by a comic-book great... with a wonderful message.

Monday 2 January 2012

The Hulk, Death's Head... and the Doctor?!

Here are a couple of pages from my SOULMAN INC SKETCHBOOK, which featured my original comic strip battle between the Incredible Hulk and Death's Head, as well as a collection of sketches and artwork from yours truly. I had a tremendous amount of fun writing and drawing this strip (which originally started off as a couple of pages posted up onto my deviant art page and took a life of it's own shortly after... even leading to an official strip, featured in last years MARVEL HEROES.)... I wanted the book as a whole to be a tribute to the 1970's Marvel UK comics, hence the black and white halftone shading. Since it's pretty much no secret who the third character of the story is now (since the sketchbook has been reviewed several times online), I thought I'd share these pages for you all to see. This is the first time these pages have been shown online... the first being exclusive to this blog:




I'd love to see this strip coloured up sometime... maybe for a second printing. Meantime, hope you like this piece of retro-comic goodness... and if you're all good, I may post another page up for you to check out sometime soon...

The cover to the above comic strip... cover inks by comics legend Joe Rubinstein.