Friday 26 May 2017

The Incredible Hulk Returns... with the Mighty Thor!

I've always loved the Incredible Hulk TV series, ever since it's debut in 1978. For me, the team of Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno will always be the definitive on-screen Banner and Hulk. Roll on to 1988, several years after the series cancellation in 1982... they announced the 1988 TV movie the Incredible Hulk Returns, which would not only reunite Bill Bixby's David Banner with his raging alter-ego (hounded as always by Jack Colvin's Jack McGee) - but the show would feature the Hulk teaming up with none other than the Mighty Thor!!! As a young Marvel fan, it was the coolest thing imaginable seeing TWO Marvel characters battling on the big screen... something which is pretty much normal in today's Marvel Cinematic Universe. Thor was played by actor Eric Allan Kramer, whose portrayal of the Thunder God, while different from the comics, was still one heck of a lot of fun! Plus physically, he LOOKED like Thor! The costume, again different from the classic comic-book version, received a bit of criticism from both fans and comic pros, but looking at it, there were elements there that still made it Thor! 

I thought I would make some amendments to the costume via Photoshop (plus add some of ol' Greenskins trademark purple pants onto Big Lou!). By simply changing the colours, adding chest plates and a cape, I think this would have made a perfect TV costume for the Mighty Thor!

So there you have it. Marvel's first ever live-action team-up. The film may be a far-cry from today's CGI Hulk and Chris Hemsworth's charismatic Thunder God... but back in it's day, the joy of seeing these two Marvel characters was this Marvel fans dream come true! 

Lou Ferrigno as the Hulk, and Eric Allan Kramer as the Mighty Thor. Purple Pants and updated
Thor costume by yours truly, courtesy of Photoshop.

Monday 22 May 2017

Dreams CAN come true, yes?

Ouch, yes? Full page action from the
Soulman Inc Sketchbook (2009).
It's no secret that two of my all-time favourite characters in comics are the Incredible Hulk and Death's Head. By the time Death's Head got his own comic back in the late 80s', he had transitioned from the Transformers Universe (where he made his debut) to the Marvel Universe (via, of all people... the 7th Doctor!). This meant that the Freelance Peacekeeping Agent crossed paths with the likes of the Fantastic Four and Iron Man 2020, and then guest-starred in Walt Simonson's Fantastic Four run, and an issue of She-Hulk (written by Simon Furman, and drawn by Bryan Hitch... both familiar with the character for obvious reasons, yes?). This led to me drawing my own stories featuring Death's Head in what was my dream-battle: fighting the Incredible Hulk. I always hoped that this was something that would happen... but when the original was destroyed, and replaced by Death's Head II, it seemed very unlikely that it would ever take place (note: Death's Head II DID fight the Hulk in an issue of Battle-Tide II... but it wasn't the same, as DH was a completely different character by then).

Who's that in the background? Artist is obsessed,
yes? From Spectacular Spider-Man (UK) no. 115.

Fast forward to the 2010s (the tensies?!). I was now a professional comic artist... living the dream, and drawing my favourite Marvel heroes! I got my start at Panini Comics in 2003, who had taken over the reigns of Marvel UK. This led to a run on their SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN ADVENTURES book, where I got to draw Spidey teaming up with the likes of the Fantastic Four, X-Men, Iron Man, Thor, Doctor Strange and also the Incredible Hulk! At this time, the character of Death's Head was in limbo... and hadn't seen print since the mid 90's. This led to me constantly nagging my editors (apologies to Ed Hammond and Brady Webb!) to let me draw Death's Head into a Spider-Man comic. At the time, the powers that be didn't feel they could make that happen (despite Ed and Brady being HUUUGE fans of Death's Head!), so I had to be content with sneaking the time-travelling Freelance Peacekeeper into a couple of issues in background cameos. However, this did lead to me producing artwork for the 2 Death's Head collections from Panini... which made me an official Death's Head artist. Finally, yes?

I still needed to scratch that Hulk vs DH itch though, so I drew up my own story, which was part of my Soulman Inc Sketchbook back in 2009. This featured Death's Head, as he appeared in his own title versus the classic, savage Incredible Hulk... in a black and white strip which was my love-letter to the old 70's Marvel UK comics. It even featured a cameo of the 4th Doctor and K9! This proved to be popular enough, and got some great feedback from fans and fellow pros alike. Roll on two years, where I had an email that would make everything worthwhile. Ed Hammond had contacted me to draw a strip for Marvel Heroes issue 33. It was to be a Hulk story where ol' Greenskin would be in battle with... the original, one and only, in his debut Green costume/armour/Freelance Peacekeeping gear -- DEATH'S HEAD! This was a dream come true for several reasons... as not only was it a battle I had wanted to see, and of course DRAW, but also it was finally the return of Death's Head, in his original form, to the world of Marvel UK and more importantly, comics! Mission accomplished, yes?

So there you have it. If you are reading this, and you have a dream that you'd someday like to make happen... remember this story. I was told in school that I was wasting my time in regards to wanting to draw comics... and look what I've accomplished since then! 

If I can do it... you can too, yes? 

Drawn back in 1989! Check out that dynamic last panel!
It's official, yes? From Marvel Heroes no. 33
(and reprinted in the 2015 Marvel Heroes Annual).



Thursday 11 May 2017

Monster - Updated

I've recently been experimenting with different rendering styles, to try and add some diversity to my work. Even though this is only a sketch, I may actually draw a story in this style sometime! This image is a possible design for the Horror anthology I have planned, for a story I've written featuring a character given life by a certain Mary Shelley...

UPDATE: Added another character sketch of the design I plan on going for. 


Tuesday 9 May 2017

Creatures of the night...

...what music they make (Bela Lugosi in the 1931 Universal Classic Dracula)! On this night where the Moon is full, and the Wolfbane is blooming...  I thought I would share a teaser of my latest project. 

More news coming very soon...


Monday 8 May 2017

What If... Roddy McDowall had played the Doctor?

Whenever the current Doctor Who lead actor decides to leave the series, speculation always begins as to who will be the next person to pilot the TARDIS through time and space. This got me to thinking who I would have love see playing the greatest of the Time Lords. Even though this can sadly never happen, I like to think that in the multiverse of alternate realities, the great Roddy McDowall was once of the Doctor's incarnations... and that somewhere, somehow, he's still out there in time and space fighting the good fight! Here are some digital manipulations I decided to produce, showing the fearless Dalek Hunter in action!

"I... hunt... DALEKS!"

What if... Roddy McDowall played the Doctor!

Sunday 7 May 2017

Marvel Cinematic Universe Re-Imaginings

Here are some Digital pieces of how I imagine the different versions of the Hulk to look in the Marvel Cinematic Universe... plus one of his bashful, blue-eyed buddy from Yancy Street as well!

The Savage Hulk, the Merged Hulk and the Grey Hulk. Based on the classic
Peter David and Dale Keown storyline.


Friday 5 May 2017

Guardians of the Galaxy vol.3? Let's make it happen, yes?

Here's a recent Death's Head sketch that I decided to throw some colours on in Photoshop (threw gently I must add. Death's Head hates people throwing stuff at him).

"James Gunn? Nice name, hrm? Ready for my close up now, yes?"

On a related note, after watching Marvel Studios newest blockbuster, Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 2 (which I loved every minute of... go see it!), I couldn't help but think how well Death's Head would fit into the Guardians movie franchise. I hope this is something that GotG director James Gunn would consider... as I couldn't think of anyone better to bring ol' DH to the big screen! Hey, you've introduced Sylvester Stallone into Vol.2... maybe this could be a role for his pal Arnie? Just a thought...



Tuesday 2 May 2017

Favourite Artists - The Incredible Hulk (Updated)

Being a life-long fan of the Incredible Hulk, it was ambition from a very young age to draw the character professionally... something I'm proud to say I've been able to accomplish on several occasions. Over the years, many artists have drawn the character through his various incarnations... bringing their own unique style to the green (and sometimes grey) goliath. I thought I'd present a list of my favourite artists to ever draw ol' Jade Jaws (and would that make the Grey Hulk ol' Grey Gums?). So, without further ado is my list of favourite artists to have drawn the Incredible Hulk!

PS: Seeing as it's one of the more popular ones on this site. I've added a few more artists to the list. Read on, True Believer!