Another Blueprint Magazine has hit the street–I’m a little late with this update as it came out last week, but alas, here it is! This magazine’s theme was “patriotism”. It’s a little more special to me this time around since it features a front and back cover designed by yours truly.You can read this issue online on the Blueprint Magazine site (along with back issues)–so go go go!

The fifth installment of the “Beholder Series” made it into the tail end of this issue even though I thought for sure I’d have to skip it this month. Now that I’m taking on writing comics more or less full time, you’d think I’d have more time to get around to everything. The reality is that with so much time to devote to thinking about creative endeavors, it’s remarkable how much time just flies by.

Thanks to Emmanuel and his unintentionally effective subtle encouragements (or maybe a “nudge” of this form from him simply means I get to see his awesome art bring a new short piece to life–and that’s all it took to commit to it over one night with a few days to deadline).

The idea for this strip didn’t come quickly, but it also didn’t really have much other competition when it finally sprouted to life in my mind. At first I was going to do something more obvious, like showing an interaction between a fiendish tyrant and his devoted followers who sacrifice themselves in exchange for the security and economic growth he provides his nation. I decided it might be a little too much for this venue and shelved that character. He will likely be brought to life for a much more dense and long form story in the future though–maybe even in future issues of Raven Nevermore if it becomes an ongoing gig.

The next thought pattern became: “What’s beyond national patriotism?”… Like, why not “global patriotism?”… or lets scale beyond that, why not “universal patriotism?”

You get the point. This scenario became obvious after that. I’ve always wanted to find a way to introduce this alien race to the “World of Hellmouth” but figured I’d take much longer to bringing them up. This strip acts as the official premiere for these stranded intergalactic travelers. Details about them, of course, will still be withheld for future stories!

The latest issue of Blueprint Magazine is on stands in the Waterloo Region and online as always as well! The theme of this January issue is “Love”. The Beholder strip for this issue at first seemed difficult to come to–but then I remembered all the mermaid motifs I focused on as an artist during university. My use of the mermaid as a fantastical creature was the opposite of that created in popular media. My mermaid was a seductress, she was evil, purely a creature motivated by her lust to procreate with human men… violently. That resolved the direction and this was the first strip done with much breathing room before the deadline!

I also got to feature a bit of the Iberian culture from the World of Hellmouth. They are a culture of fisherman, explorers, simple folk really. The culture also represents a strong pirate nation that makes a fortune with the slave trade. I imagined a lone young man who dreamed of a more simple life where he could find a dream at sea to take him away from the pressures of his society. Poor bastard.

Strip number three came out in the November issue of Blueprint Magazine.

This one was the longest one to figure out for me. I must have tried to work out thirteen or so different concepts and scripts for this month’s issue which centered around the theme of “food”. Something to do with cannibilism came to mind first but then the more it rolled around trying to find a way to flesh itself out, I determined it just seemd to obvious a direction and that wasn’t challenging enough to me.

What came after words came from me asking the question: “There’s got to be something I can do relating to vegetarians instead…”

–And so the Cannible Tree was born! I just love the last panel, Emmanuel nailed exactly what I had in mind and I awkwardly chuckle each time I imagine the dance of joy coming from minions of the necrafruit tree.

It is featured below (Click for larger view):

The October issue of Blueprint Magazine has hit the public–I’m a few days behind here! I’m hitting the town tonight and will have to find me a copy. You can read (“flip through”) the digital copy in their Archives. This issue’s theme was sex, sexuality and gender (etc). I couldn’t help but immediately think of the short strip tale below (no pun intended… but awesomely accepted).

I actually can’t believe that the submission deadline is already next THURSDAY! Where does the time go! Next issue theme is about “Food” and I haven’t even begun to think about the strip. It’ll involve eating, that can be certain. Here’s to another exciting last-minute production!

[Click to View Larger]

Blueprint Magazine is out! Click on the link to read the online version is a cool flash flip-book viewer!

The first installment of what I hope will be a monthly series guided by the magazine’s theme is printed at the end of the magazine. World of Hellmouth: Beholder Series will be a window into the world of the Hellmouth and it’s people, places, monsters and events. I’m really excited about this opportunity to be able to explore small one-shots with Emmanuel Xerx Javier, the series artist.

Great thanks goes out to editor Erin Epp for this amazing opportunity!