LeeLeslieComics.com

Redesigning Robin

2012-01-26T10:56:00.001-06:00

I am not the biggest fan of Robin: The Boy Wonder. It's fun in a Dick Sprang, Burt Ward kinda way, but in any half-serious take on Batman, the idea of bringing a kid (no matter how expertly trained) is pretty reckless.

That said, I think you can do a fairly interesting version of the character if he's a kid inspired by Batman, but operating without his expressed consent. That's the thought here, with obvious nods to Frank Quitely's Damien Wayne design.

UPDATE: People on Twitter seemed to like the Robin design with Batman colors, so I thought I'd post it here as well. Which do you prefer?

A Real Canadian Hero

2012-01-25T08:52:00.002-06:00

I don't know about you, but I've always preferred flannel shirt and leather jacket Logan over yellow-tights Wolverine. He never seemed like the kind of guy who would go in for all that BS. Superman is actively attempting to become a symbol of hope, Batman is trying to scare the bejeezus out of criminals, but Logan is just a dude trying to put his head in the right place. It is, however, entirely possible that this is a flawed reading as I've only read two Wolverine comics since the 90's.

"Thor's Man"

2012-01-23T11:15:00.000-06:00

Old World Mythology fascinated me -- and continues to do so -- mainly because the gods are always fallible. As a kid raised in a Baptist church the idea was so dangerously alien that I couldn't help but be attracted. Even now I think it's really compelling that certain cultures created deities like themselves, with all the good and bad that entails.
I have a special place in my heart for Thor, because my wife's last name (and our children's middle names) originated with Pagans who were attempting to hold off the inevitable wave of Christianity by wearing Mjolnir's around their neck.

Now, about the actual art. I think Thor's gotta have a beard, and yes, I know Kirby is The King and he never drew Thor with a beard, but Thor's a damned Viking and he just has to have a beard.
Also, bet you didn't know Thor was such a Johnny Unitas fan.

Superman Redesign

2012-01-17T09:26:00.000-06:00

The crucial part of a good Superman design is color selection. You have to have the bright red, you just have to. I'm partial to the darker blue used in The Animated Series, but I also understand why some people like the lighter, Curt Swan/Chris Reeves blue. I also like the gold detail Jack Kirby put at the top of Superman's boots, and the red cuffs Jim Lee put into his redesign. All that is mainly just little extra touches, because you absolutely don't need to redesign Superman.

Batman Redesign

2012-01-13T10:05:00.000-06:00

It always seemed logical to me that a guy who spends a large percentage of his time crashing through windows would probably wear safety goggles. That's the most drastic change in this slight Batman redesign. Obviously influenced by Paul Pope's Batman and Darwyn Cooke's Catwoman. I've also included the original black-and-white sketch as well as a version with blue accents

RiGBY Deleted Scene

2012-01-10T09:28:00.001-06:00

Work has resumed in full on RiGBY, and the first chapter will be back online at the end of the month after we make a couple of tweaks to the website. Chapter Two (starting with Rigby's arrival in Sauria) will be online the following month with some slight dialogue changes and a brand new ending. The goal is that new chapters (each approximately 20 pages) will be posted at the beginning of each month in the entirety.

The above picture is a deleted scene from around the time after Screamland ended when I was considering restarting RiGBY from the beginning after talking with some publishers. Nothing came of it, but it was nice to reevaluate the comic as a whole before pressing on.

Now In Stores

2012-01-05T16:42:00.003-06:00

It took four or five different release dates, but the Screamland: Death of the Party collection is finally out in stores. I snapped a picture of this one at Friendly Frank's in Prairie Village because my comp copies have not yet arrived. If you haven't gotten a copy yet either, you can pick one up at your local comic book shop or on Amazon (where you'll still have to wait another week or two). The book is also now available as a single digital volume on comiXology complete with all the extras.
Chris shared some thoughts about what the book means to those of us who slaved away on it, "[...]this will have to stand as a road map of the last year of my life. I certainly can think of way worse things to mark one's time[...]".
When I think about this past year, I'll mostly associate it with the birth of my second child, hiking in the Smokey Mountains and taking Eleanor camping for the first time, but throughout all these other parts of my life, Screamland was the thick mortar that filled in all the cracks. Estimating that I spent a conservative three-and-a-half hours on each page, that's still almost 400 hours of Screamland crammed into my lunch breaks and in the late hours after everyone in my house had gone to sleep.
The amazing thing is that those 400 hours (or however much it actually was, 4,000?) was just one part of the entire process. I'd shutter to think how many hours Chris spent writing, flatting, lettering and laying out the damn thing. He really was the wheel who turned all the other cogs
And I'd be an idiot not to mention all the work Buster put in. Early in the process I had lunch with a guy I respect to get his opinion on my pages and he said, "Buster's really saving your ass." Truer words have never been spoken. Buster made everything I drew look way better than it had any right to. In another decade or so, Buster Moody fans will read Screamland as one of the deep cuts the way Beatles fans listen to those Tony Sheridan records from Hamburg.
And now that I've started, I can't help but thank Mellon, Kyle, Stephen and Dennis for their work on the back-ups even if it made me look bad. And of course Kevin Gritzke for being the anchor leg on our deadline marathon.

But mainly thanks to those of you who read it and liked it. This was my first widely read book, and that's all any artist really wants, someone to listen to their stories. Thank you for giving me that, and I hope to see you in Screamland again some day.

Favorite Thing I Drew in 2011

2011-12-07T09:01:00.001-06:00

This year I did a lot of creating. The most important (but from my perspective the easiest to actually create) was Arthur. We had a son in April, but all I really did was supply half the building materials while Bethany did most of the work. I did paint him a picture, which I guess makes us even.

I also pumped out some comic books, easily the most productive year of my life. I designed or illustrated over 600 greeting cards for my day job, drew 103 finished comic book pages, 4 covers and saw 6 books published. It was a great year, and I can't thank those of you who supported RiGBY and Screamland enough.

To finish out the year, here is my favorite sequence of the year, from Screamland #3. The Mass ended up being one of my favorite characters to draw thanks to his malleable frame, and I really like the acting in this scene. I'm man enough to admit that not everything in Screamland came out as well as I would have liked, but this scene (as well as the aquarium scene in issue 4) stand out as high-water marks for me.

Rigby Twitpics

2011-12-07T08:56:00.001-06:00

Some recent in progress RiGBY pics from twitter.

Where's Rigby?

2011-12-01T09:07:00.001-06:00

I've had a few inquiries about the ETA on new RiGBY comics, and my stock answer has always been simply that "I'm working on them." Which, honestly, is just a cheeky way of not answering. In truth, I had the opportunity to rethink RiGBY thanks to my work on SCREAMLAND. And even though RiGBY will be staying a primarily digital comic, I still want to implement some of the new ideas into the existing comic.
To do this we'll be starting over at the beginning. After reading SCREAMLAND on comiXology it became clear to me that the way we read comics on digital devices is purely anachronistic. I'm not planning to completely reboot RiGBY, but I do want to reformat the original pages into what I think will provide a much better digital reading experience.

I'm also completely changing the way I work on the strip. Originally I wrote each strip one-at-a-time as I was drawing it, mainly making up plot points and twists as I went along. It was a necessary evil that allowed me to post comics on a (mostly) continuous basis, but prevented the comic from being about anything more than drawing dinosaurs and making Star Wars jokes. So now I'm writing the entire first book, and will be posting not a page-at-a-time, but a chapter-at-a-time. I know this will make for less frequent updates, but each update should be more substantial. The first book currently weighs in around 200 pages, with about 10 chapters. There are tentative plans for two books after that, but lets focus on getting this first one done.
Bottom line: look for new RiGBY starting in February.

The Demon Etrigan Commission

2011-11-22T08:54:00.001-06:00

I don't think I've made any secret about my love for Jack Kirby's Demon, Etrigan. He's probably my favorite of The King's DC creations, and only got better when Alan Moore turned him into Swamp Thing's rhyming Virgil.

This was drawn over the course of a couple days as warm-up. I've also included a couple process shots from twitter for you process junkies.

It's available for sale on my Etsy store.

Pen and Ink w/ Prismacolor markers
on 11x17 bristol board
$50

Contest Winner

2011-11-15T08:48:00.001-06:00

A big thanks to Patrick A. Reed for per-ordering the book from Forbidden Planet in NYC, and congrats on winning a piece of original art. Patrick - send your address to me [rigbythebarbarian(at)gmail(dot)com], and I'll send your prize out. Thanks again!

Win Screamland Art

2011-11-14T08:22:00.001-06:00

As you've probably heard me say, the newest Screamland collection is now available for pre-order. To either thank you for ordering, or encourage you to order at the last minute I'm giving away this piece of original Screamland art. It's page 3 from issue 4 and features Carl, Travis and Tempest navigating the inner most bowels of an aquarium. If you've already read the books, you know the ridiculous reason they're there. If you still haven't read the books, there's a good chance issue 4 will end up being your favorite.
To win, all you have to do is leave a comment with the name of the comic book store or online retailer you per-ordered Screamland: Death of the Party from. If you haven't ordered it yet, go do that right now, then come back and leave a comment here.
I'll use a random number generator to pick a comment at midnight (central standard time). US residents only, unless you're willing to pay to have it shipped to Ubeki-beki-stan.

2011-11-11T14:49:00.001-06:00

"There is perhaps no moment more exemplary of Screamland's style than the book's opening scene, perfectly depicted by Leslie and Moody, where Devil Fish emerges stoically and speedo-clad from his Hollywood Hills swimming pool, surrounded by a fallen entourage of sickbros and starlets, and commits monster-suicide with the depraved detachment you'd expect from someone in a Bret Easton Ellis novel". - Andy Khouri at ComicsAlliance.com

From a nice long interview with Chris Sebela and myself along with 22 pages from Issues Zero and One up at my favorite comics news site, Comics Alliance.

Thank You

2011-11-08T21:48:00.000-06:00

Thanks to everyone who came by the KC Fancon this past weekend to see Hector Casanova and Terry Beatty but also saw me! I also appreciate no one saying how much better drawn the first volume of Screamland was than the second. I could see it in your eyes, but appreciated your restraint.

A Novel List

2011-11-04T08:41:00.001-05:00

There are three things I feel inexorably compelled to tell you, and they are as follows:

1. I'm going to be selling copies of Screamland and Rigby (as well as doing sketches and selling original art) at KC Fancon this Sunday along with Hector Casanova and Terry Beatty. If you come by and tell me you bought all five Screamland issues, I'll give you a poster (and I won't be able to tell who's lying).

2. Chris Sebela has a great post about what pre-ordering the SCREAMLAND collection can do for the future of the book. Check it out, and please pre-order the book.

3. Evidently I'm about four days and 3,500 words into Nation Novel Writing Month. I don't expect to have a publishable novel by the end of the month, but it does seem like a really great way to bang out a first draft (and I have a tendency to get precious when I'm writing prose). If you're participating you can hook up with me at NaNoWriMo.

Screamland #5 in Stores Today!

2011-10-26T14:55:00.001-05:00

Image is dropping the last issue of Screamland on All Hallow's Eve-Eve-Eve-Eve-Eve-Eve, which makes sense in every imaginable way possible. Finally, all your "Colonel Mustard at the comic book convention with The Sword of Omens," type questions will be answered.

Comic Book Resources has a nice preview up (which obviously contains spoilers from the previous four issues). Check it out.

Amazon Warrior

2011-10-18T09:11:00.002-05:00

Amazon Warrior, drawn on 9x12 bristol board with brush pen and pencil. Available for sale at the price of $25.

KC Fan Con

2011-10-17T10:45:00.003-05:00

Heads up, Me and Hector will be representing SCREAMLAND good and proper at the next KC Fan Con in Overland Park. We'll have all 5 issues of the second series, and I'm sure Hector will have copies of the first series. There will also be original art, sketch commissions and posters.
If you've never been to one of the KC FanCon shows, I can't recommend it enough as one of the last bastions of the way comic shows used to be before Hollywood got involved.

Character Design

2011-10-14T11:19:00.003-05:00

Character design sheet for a new, unannounced project. On the left is the character in his civilian clothes, and the right is his military uniform.

Original Screamland Art

2011-10-10T10:56:00.004-05:00

Heads up, original art pages from issues 3 and 4 of Screamland are now for sale on Etsy. There's still some pages from the first two issues for sale as well, and if there's any pages you don't see for sale just ask and I might still have them available.
Also, and this is a secret, so don't tell anyone, you can get 40% off your purchase with the "FORTYOFF" code.

Arthur

2011-10-06T22:03:00.002-05:00

Just realized that I'd never posted pictures of the painting I did for our son shortly(ish) after he was born. In case you weren't sure, his name is Arthur and if he isn't crowned King of England by the time he's a teenager I'm going to be one disappointed father.

Peek-A-Boo!

2011-10-06T10:35:00.001-05:00

Here's another peak at Screamland #5, which will be in stores the Wednesday before Halloween, October 26th! You can still pre-order it online if you won't be able to make it to your local comic book shop. I'll be posting more sneak peaks throughout the month, and I'm sure there will be an official preview at some point.

The Scremland: Death of the Party collection is also up for pre-order. Midtown comics has it for only $11 (that's $6 off)!

And remember, our ability to tell more stories in the Screamland Universe is solely dependent on how well these last issues and the trade collection sell!

Screamland #5 First Look

2011-10-05T09:32:00.004-05:00

Here's your first look at Screamland #5, which will be in stores the Wednesday before Halloween, October 26th! You can still pre-order it online if you won't be able to make it to your local comic book shop. I'll be posting more sneak peaks throughout the month, and I'm sure there will be an official preview at some point.

The Scremland: Death of the Party collection is also up for pre-order. Midtown comics has it for only $11 (that's $6 off)!

And remember, our ability to tell more stories in the Screamland Universe is soley dependent on how well these last issues and the trade collection sell!

Screamland #4 Came Out a Month Ago!

2011-10-04T16:07:00.003-05:00

A family vacation followed by the mad dash to get Issue 5 of Screamland finished (yes, I know those two are connected) has kept me away from my blogging hat, but I should have plenty of time moving forward to keep things fresh around these parts.
But to catch up, Issue 4 of Screamland came out while I was on vacation. You can see an insanely long 9 page preview at this link, or download the whole thing from comiXology.

DC Fifty-Too

2011-09-14T08:42:00.003-05:00

"WONDER GIRL #1
Story and Art by LEE LESLIE
24 pg (FC) ONGOING

ALL AGES

It's just another day at the Royal Palace of Themyscira for Princess Diana until a fire-breathing dragon interrupts her afternoon study session! Can she save her friends, teacher, and (most importantly) her homework? And how is she going to explain this mess to her overprotective mother? And who ever said being a Princess was easy?!"

I was recently asked to contribute to the art blog DC Fifty-Too, which asked independent comic creators what they would do at the helm of a particular DC Comics' relaunched book. My choice was pretty clear thanks to Eleanor's recent obsession with Wonder Woman. So I set out to make the Wonder Woman book she would most like to read. Sadly, there is very little media out there for the young Wonder Woman fan, there's a couple of books (which Eleanor really likes) but no cartoons, comics, or movies. Sure, there's a PG - 13 direct to DVD movie that features a pretty graphic scene where Wonder Woman is faced to fight an army of her recently deceased (and now decaying) sisters, but to find a kid appropriate Wonder Woman show you have to go back to the cancelled Justice League cartoon show, or even further back to Super Friends and Linda Carter.
That's just the long way of saying that Wonder Woman is a really easy sell to those young girls obsessed with the Disney Princesses. She's an actual Princess (she's got a tiara and everything!) but she kicks way more ass than Ariel ever could. DC Comics and Warner Brothers could make so much money off Dads like me it's not even funny.

So here's my Wonder Woman. Set before she leaves Paradise Island, where she's just a rambunctious teen with an over-protective mom. Her Island home might be Paradise, but that doesn't mean it's not also home to all sorts of mythological creatures and villains. Most of the costume changes are pretty minor. I changed the red on her costume to pink at the suggestion of my daughter, and I think it's a nice way of differentiating between young Princess Diana and Wonder Woman. I also extended her famously low cut top to her shoulders while still maintaining the classic Wonder Woman neck-line.

***You can see the original black and white line art for the cover at my Etsy store, where it can also be purchased.***

Support the Things You Love

2011-08-25T08:04:00.007-05:00

(The wall above my drawing desk featuring some of my all-time favorite comics. Clockwise, starting from bottom left: DC Comics Presents #47, Casanova #1, Amazing Screw-On Head, Batman Adventures Annual #2, Camelot 3000 #1, Action Comics #1, Batman #614, Hellboy: The Storm #1, Jack Kirby's The Demon #1)

I'd like to start with a confession: I'm the reason Roger Landridge and Chris Samne's Thor: The Mighty Avenger was cancelled. No, I didn't march into the Marvel offices with a bomb strapped to my chest demanding they immediately cease publication of their best book, but I wasn't buying it on a monthly basis. I bought the first two issues as they came out, immediately fell in love and knew I'd want the collected edition so stopped picking up the floppies. I wrongfully assumed that since it was a Marvel book, and of such obvious quality, there was no possible way it would be cancelled. I was wrong. Marvel cancelled the book somewhere around issue #6, and the team finished up at issue #8, four shy of their intended arc. Don't get me wrong, when I heard the book was being cancelled I pre-ordered the newly announced trade collection as soon as I could, and started picking up the monthly issues from my local comic shop. All this was too little too late, and we lost the finest super-hero book to be published within the last several years. To Chris Samne, who's art I love, and Roger Landridge, a cartoonist who inspires me, I am deeply sorry. And to all those other fans out there who didn't get to see the end of their amazing story because of losers like me, I'm so terribly sorry.

All of this is a round about way of reminding people to support the things they love. I try to present the illusion around here that I'm some big-time comic book guy, but in reality I (like most other independent comic book creators) have a day job. I draw Screamland in my incredibly misnamed "spare time" after the kids go to sleep or during my lunch break at work. I cannot emphasis enough just how much the people making independent comics LOVE MAKING COMICS, because they sure as hell aren't doing it for the money. The number 1 search term leading people to this blog over the past 3 months has been "Screamland 2011 download." Now we can squabble about the validity of the modern comic delivery methods or the merits of piracy as a way of spreading word of mouth, but comics need to make money in order for them to continue being made. It's a business after all; so buy the books you love and want to see made! If you like SCREAMLAND and want to continuing seeing it every month, buy issue #4 when it comes out, pre-order issue #5 and buy the first three issues online through comiXology.

I've learned from my mistake with Thor: The Mighty Avenger: you can't count on the general marketplace to have good taste. If you like something, support it.

Flash Gordon

2011-08-22T14:58:00.002-05:00

Finally finished this Flash Gordon commission I've had on my "To Do" list for way too long. This also means that my commission schedule is totally wide open. If you're interested in a commission or original art you find all the pertinent information yonder.

Wizard World Chicago - Sketches

2011-08-18T23:23:00.003-05:00

Here are those promised sketches from last weekend's convention in Chicago. I did a couple more, but didn't always remember to take pictures. Devil Fish seemed to be the consensus favorite SCREAMLAND character for sketches. I think I did four of that pathetic bastard.

I've got a little window of time here for anyone interested in getting your own commissioned sketch. You can find all ordering information at this page.

Dragon Lady Commission

2011-08-18T10:02:00.003-05:00

Wizard World Chicago

2011-08-15T21:23:00.006-05:00

There was a point in Buster Moody and I's 2 mile hike back to the hotel in the pouring rain where we considered that it might have been better to just pay the $13 for Wi-Fi at the hotel. But it was the principle of the thing, dammit! Other than that, it was a pretty great time. We shared an elevator with Bishop, talked about how amazing Eduardo Risso is with Brian Azzerello, snuck vodka into a theater with Nathan Fox and played an extended game of "Hipster or Cosplayer?" But the main thing we did was sell copies of SCREAMLAND. Wow, do you guys like this book! It was a bit of a revelation to hear from so many people who were currently reading the series, or others who were immediately attracted to the premise. Thank you to everyone who came by the booth, I will remember your kind words the next time I'm at the drawing board at 2 in the morning wondering why the hell I don't just go to bed.

And now, what you all came for: pictures.

I'll post all my sketches from the show tomorrow.

Thank You Chicago!

2011-08-15T12:27:00.002-05:00

Thank you to everyone who stopped by the SCREAMLAND table this weekend in Chicago. I was really blown away by the amount of people who came by to say they liked the book, or who were immediately charmed by the book's very premise. I'll have a full report with photos and sketches coming soon, but until then, "THANK YOU!"

Wizard World Chicago

2011-08-10T09:04:00.003-05:00

If you want to pre-order a commission for Wizard World Chicago this wekend, like the one above, you need to let me know today. After today you'll just have to get there early and put your name on the list, and it'll cost you $5 more. Send me an email to rigbythebarbarian (at) gmail (dot) com with your request.

Cheers!

Wizard World Chicago

2011-08-08T15:48:00.002-05:00

Heads up denizens of Screamland and subjects of Sauria, I will be appearing at Wizard World Chicago this weekend along with Screamland colorist Buster Moody. We'll be at booths 3037 & 3039. I'll have copies of the Screamland # 1, 2, & 3, and RiGBY #1. So far the first two issues of Screamland have sold out, so I imagine they're getting harder to find.

I'll also have original pages for sale and some you can see original pages for upcoming issues filled with spoilerific goodies.

If you want a sketch at the show they'll be $25 for black and white on 9x12 bristol board. BUT if you send me an email [rigbythebarbarian (at) gmail (dot) com] and pre-order a sketch, I'll only charge you $20. I've already got a couple sketches lined up, so there's not a whole lot of space. If you want one, send an email now.

TODAY!

2011-08-03T15:34:00.000-05:00

TODAY!!! Issue 3 of SCREAMLAND hits the stands, and it has some of my best work in it. Please go and buy it. You can read a ridiculous nine page preview over at iFanboy. I've selected a few of my favorite pages below.

SCREAMLAND #3 Tomorrow

2011-08-02T10:04:00.002-05:00

I'm gonna be straight with you. Tomorrow, Issue 3 of SCREAMLAND hits the stands, and I think it has some of my best work in it. Please go and buy it. You can read a ridiculous nine page preview over at iFanboy. I've selected a few of my favorite pages below.

Hope to see you in the shops tomorrow.

Original Art Sale

2011-07-15T08:38:00.002-05:00

Pages from the first issue of SCREAMLAND are now for sale in my Etsy store. Take a look at the selection, and if there's any pages you might be interested in but don't see listed, send an email to rigbythebarbarian(at)gmail(dot)com to inquire about availability.
Pages from issue two will go on sale the week after issue 3 is released (and so on for all future issues).

Cheers,
Lee

SCREAMLAND #2 Is Out Today

2011-07-06T09:47:00.004-05:00

This is the largest preview I've seen online (and has one of my favorite pages), and you can see several more pages here, as well.
And if you can't get to your local comic shop, you can always order the book online from sites like these.

SCREAMLAND #2 Preview

2011-07-01T10:17:00.004-05:00

MTV has the first 5 pages of SCREAMLAND #2 up in preparation of it's arrival on store shelves next week. The pages are fully colored and lettered. So much more fun to look at than the inks I've posted here.

Have a good Fourth of July, try not to blow off your arm or think about the fact that the Revolution was started over a tax of 3 cents per pound (and was the only tax being asked of the colonials by Parliament).

SCREAMLAND #2 Next Week

2011-06-29T15:25:00.002-05:00

Only one week until SCREAMLAND #2 hits stands! If you can't make it to your local comic book shop, you can always order the book online at any reputable retailer.

SCREAMLAND on ComiXology

2011-06-28T11:23:00.002-05:00

SCREAMLAND #1 is now available on comiXology. I've read it on the iPad and it really looks fantastic. To be honest, I've never seen the appeal in reading long-form comics online. The constant scrolling and zooming is just more trouble than it's worth (that's why I've always made sure RiGBY is completely readable in one window without any scrolling). BUT I've read SCREAMLAND on both the iPad and a smart phone and it was an incredibly fun experience. So much so that I've been giving some other books on the iPad a go. I won't say that the iPad was created JUST to read comics on, but sometimes it seems like it.

Laughing Mass

2011-06-22T11:10:00.004-05:00

"How can you laugh/ when you know I'm down?"

Weekend at Party Pier

2011-06-21T11:00:00.003-05:00

SCREAMLAND Contest Update

2011-06-20T11:21:00.004-05:00

There's still plenty of time to submit your entry into the SCREAMLAND PHOTO CONTEST. Right now, Blaire Butler is the entry to beat.

Official rules and prizes are as follows:

Now that SCREAMLAND #1 is out and in the wild of comic book stores everywhere, we're having a contest. Because that is what you do with exciting, monumental events such as these.
Between now and the end of the month, we want you to send us your best monstrous photo of SCREAMLAND #1 out in the wild. Photos can include yourself, friends and/or family, pets or even action figures you feel particularly close to, just take your best shot of your copy and send it to us! Screamland!
The grand prize winner will be drawn into an upcoming issue of Screamland. Amaze yourself and others with a cartoon simulacrum of yourself rubbing elbows with the silver screen's finest monster washouts. Not only that, but we'll send you the original page of SCREAMLAND art featuring yourself from series artist Lee Leslie. Guaranteed to increase in value* and sure to impress confidants and strangers alike as a symbol of your exceptional taste, it is the ultimate reward for fans of monsters, comics or comics about monsters.
Runners-up, don't worry, we've got you covered too. Those who don't make it to Grand Prize status will win themselves an original SCREAMLAND character sketch of their choosing. Which character you select surely speaks volumes about your dreams, hopes and aspirations, so chose wisely.
To qualify, send your best photos to welcometoscreamland@gmail.com or post it to the Screamland Facebook page. Finalists will be chosen by creators Harold Sipe, Christopher Sebela and Lee Leslie based on creativity, composition and content of their photos. Winners will be notified by July 1st and announced to the world at large. So what are you waiting for? Get to your local comic book store TODAY and get your copy of SCREAMLAND #1 before it sells out and send us your photos of your new favorite comic before it gets all worn out from you reading it so often.
*Not actually guaranteed to increase in value.

Coinage

2011-06-17T13:32:00.003-05:00

Buster Moody Has Mass Appeal

2011-06-16T09:35:00.002-05:00

Best thing about SCREAMLAND is getting freshly color pages in from Buster Moody. No contest.

Carl Looks Pissed.

2011-06-15T12:46:00.001-05:00

from an upcoming, in-progress, issue of SCREAMLAND.

SCREAMLAND #2 Preview

2011-06-14T13:12:00.004-05:00

Our friends' at Comics Alliance offers up your first look at Issue 2 of SCREAMLAND. I've attached the inked pages below, but Comics Alliance has them in beautiful, Buster Moody, color. Look at these inks compared to the final colors, and you can start to get a feel for just how much Buster's work makes SCREAMLAND.

The Creeper

2011-06-10T16:46:00.005-05:00

I found this commission that dates all the way back to the late Planet Comicon epoch. Don't know why I never posted it before, as it was probably my favorite sketch of the show.

Remember, there's still a couple days left to pre-order SCREAMLAND#2 either at your local comic book store or online.

And don't forget to enter our SCREAMLAND PHOTO CONTEST by emailing your monstrous photos of issue #1 to welcometoscreamland@gmail.com

Thank You!

2011-06-09T09:54:00.003-05:00

I can't say enough "thank you's" to everyone who came out to Elite Comics yesterday and bought SCREAMLAND, got a drawing or just said 'howdy.' It was amazing, and unbelievable to hear how much people were enjoying the book.

We also announced the SCREAMLAND PHOTO CONTEST on Facebook yesterday, the details are as follows:

Now that SCREAMLAND #1 is out and in the wild of comic book stores everywhere, we're having a contest. Because that is what you do with exciting, monumental events such as these.

Between now and the end of the month, we want you to send us your best monstrous photo of SCREAMLAND #1 out in the wild. Photos can include yourself, friends and/or family, pets or even action figures you feel particularly close to, just take your best shot of your copy and send it to us! Screamland!

The grand prize winner will be drawn into an upcoming issue of Screamland. Amaze yourself and others with a cartoon simulacrum of yourself rubbing elbows with the silver screen's finest monster washouts. Not only that, but we'll send you the original page of SCREAMLAND art featuring yourself from series artist Lee Leslie. Guaranteed to increase in value* and sure to impress confidants and strangers alike as a symbol of your exceptional taste, it is the ultimate reward for fans of monsters, comics or comics about monsters.

Runners-up, don't worry, we've got you covered too. Those who don't make it to Grand Prize status will win themselves an original SCREAMLAND character sketch of their choosing. Which character you select surely speaks volumes about your dreams, hopes and aspirations, so chose wisely.

To qualify, send your best photos to welcometoscreamland@gmail.com or post it to the Screamland Facebook page. Finalists will be chosen by creators Harold Sipe, Christopher Sebela and Lee Leslie based on creativity, composition and content of their photos. Winners will be notified by July 1st and announced to the world at large. So what are you waiting for? Get to your local comic book store TODAY and get your copy of SCREAMLAND #1 before it sells out and send us your photos of your new favorite comic before it gets all worn out from you reading it so often.

*Not actually guaranteed to increase in value.

So send us photos that makes us laugh, and then I'll draw you rubbing shoulders or bumping elbows with washed up monsters.

SCREAMLAND!

2011-06-08T08:49:00.002-05:00

Today is The Day. If you're in the area, please come by Elite Comics and say hello. I'll sign your comics, draw you a picture or just tell you "thanks" for purchasing the book. If you're not in the area you can find your nearest comic book store with this handy service or order the book online here. I'll be posting sketches and pictures from the release party throughout the day on twitter. Surely they will offer you few moments of distraction while you collate TPS reports.

SCREAMLAND Comes Out Tomorrow!!!

2011-06-07T15:53:00.003-05:00

Tomorrow is The Day. If you're in the area, please come by Elite Comics and say hello. I'll sign your comics, draw you a picture or just tell you "thanks" for purchasing the book. If you're not in the area you can find your nearest comic book store with this handy service or order the book online here.

Comic Book Resources has an insane 9 page preview up now you can read if you need further swaying on the book.

Two Days till SCREAMLAND

2011-06-06T09:57:00.003-05:00

Only two more days until the official release of SCREAMLAND #1! Remember that Elite Comics will be hosting a release party in Overland Park, KS and I'll be there all day signing and sketching.

SCREAMLAND Release Party

2011-06-01T09:20:00.005-05:00

Holy shit, you guys, I have a comic book coming out from Image Comics next Wednesday (maybe you've heard me mention it a couple of times)! To celebrate Elite Comics in Overland Park will be holding a release party on June 8th featuring me (and maybe a couple other surprise guests). I'll be signing copies of SCREAMLAND and doing sketches for ANYONE who buys the book. I'll also be giving away a page of original SCREAMLAND art, selling some prints and copies of RiGBY #1. I'll be at the store starting at 11 a.m until whenever SCREAMLAND fans stop coming coming in. Please come by to say hello!

KC FANCON

2011-05-26T11:16:00.001-05:00

More info at http://kcfancon.com.

SCREAMLAND Press Roundup

2011-05-25T09:49:00.002-05:00

There's been a bunch of press for SCREAMLAND since the last time I checked in (as well as several new pages and covers revealed). You can find our talk with Comic Book Resources here, and Bloody Disgusting there.

Harold and Chis also did a fairly in depth interview with the Image Addiction Podcast here. The audio is a little rough at the beginning, but clears up nicely before too long.

Below are the 3 pages that ran with the Comic Book Resources piece.

Free Comic Book Day Sketches

2011-05-09T09:21:00.004-05:00

Here's a small sampling of sketches from Free Comic Book Day at B-Bop Comics (you'll have to excuse the camera phone quality of the pics). Thanks to everyone who came out, but special thanks to the 6 year old boy who asked for the Red Skull, and the guy who let me pick whatever and got Red Sonja.

Twitpics

2011-05-06T13:11:00.002-05:00

These aren't new to those of you who follow me on twitter (twitter.com/leeleslie), but I wanted to post them here for posterity anyways. Mostly just random doodles snapped with my low res camera phone, these represent a pretty wide swath of sketchb00k doodles and in progress panels. Maybe I should aggregate all my twitpics from a given week into a post like this more often. Twitpic tuesdays maybe?

Free Comic Book Day

2011-05-06T08:56:00.003-05:00

Consider this your final warning that tomorrow is Free Comic Book Day, and I will be doing sketches at B-Bop Comics in Prairie Village, KS from 11 to 3 (?). Come by to pick up a free comic or two, and get a sketch from me. I'll also have some copies of RiGBY #1 for sale and maybe some original art or a print or two.

Cheers!

"May the 4th Be With You"

2011-05-04T10:56:00.005-05:00

There's this movie from, like, forever ago in the Seventies called "Space Battles" or "Star Wars" or something, but there's this line they say in the movie all the time "May the Force be with you." which sounds almost like today's date- May the 4th. Funny, huh?

This is one of the cool looking characters from the sequel. I think his name's Bob or something.

Is that enough feigned hipster detachment that it's now okay to drawing Star Wars characters in my spare time? Just a reminder that I will be at B-Bop Comics in Prairie Village for Free Comic Book Day this Saturday. Stop by and I'll draw you a character from "Space Battles."

SCREAMLAND Inks

2011-05-03T08:49:00.003-05:00

As promised, here is the line art from the MTV preview pages for SCREAMLAND #1 (available at your local comic shop June 8th!).

Speaking of local comic shops, I'll be at B-Bop Comics in Prairie Village for Free Comic Book Day this Saturday. Come by to get a couple free comics, a free sketch or just to hang out.

More SCREAMLAND Preview Pages

2011-05-02T16:26:00.003-05:00

Harold and Chris did a pretty great interview at the MTV Geek blog, showing off several unreleased pages from myself and an upcoming cover from Hector. Here are those pages. I'll post the line art tomorrow for those interested in such things.

Long Time, No Blog

2011-04-28T10:28:00.004-05:00

Just wanted to check in with the three people who visit this website (hi honey!), and let everyone know that we're all alive and doing well. Arthur Liam was born April 18, and seems to be as happy and healthy a baby as anyone could ever hope to have.

I'm now back to work making greeting cards at the day job, and SCREAMLAND at my night job. I've also taken on a second night job where I change lots of diapers.

I'll be back to posting process pieces from SCREAMLAND and sketches of warrior women, but in the meantime check out this great interview Harold and Chris did with MTV (and also see some unreleased art).

SCREAMLAND #0 Panels Continued

2011-04-13T08:31:00.001-05:00

Okay, I couldn't resist posting just a couple more.

SCREAMLAND #0 Panels

2011-04-12T13:47:00.004-05:00

Now that the SCREAMLAND ZERO ISSUE is available both far and wide, I wanted to share some of my favorite panels. The whole issue is just so damn crazy I couldn't help but have a good time. Thanks to Harold and Chris for giving me such insane things to draw, and Buster for making it look better than it deserves.

SCREAMLAND #0

2011-04-07T08:38:00.002-05:00

SCREAMLAND #0 is now available to read at ComiXology for FREE. You can read it online or download it onto your preferred mobile device.

Red Sonja

2011-04-06T17:02:00.001-05:00

Realized it had been awhile since I posted anything, so you get this Red Sonja sketch as a consolation.

Panelist: SCREAMLAND

2011-03-30T12:33:00.002-05:00

I feel bad for people who don't have Carl "Wolf-Man" London to draw in their books.

SCREAMLAND Sketches

2011-03-29T15:57:00.003-05:00

More SCREAMLAND development sketches from the sketchbook. I ended up going more abstract for all the folds on RoBrain's brain, but all the more realistic references helped in the end, I'm sure.

Digital Comics Panel

2011-03-28T15:46:00.002-05:00

Here's the promised video of our Planet Comicon panel. Thanks again to Chris Grine, Daniel Spottswood and Buster Moody for being thoughtful and intelligent. And thanks to Planet Comicon and Kirk Chritton for organizing the event.

Planet Comicon Digital Comics Panel from Lee Leslie on Vimeo.

Planet Comicon Recap

2011-03-28T09:44:00.002-05:00

Thank you to everyone who came out to Planet Comicon this weekend (especially everyone who attended our digital comics panel). It was the busiest I've ever seen the show, and easily the best line-up of creators. Below are some of the sketches I did during the show. I forgot to take pictures of all of them, but these were some of my favorites.

I'll also have full video of our panel up later today or tomorrow.

Planet Comicon

2011-03-25T09:10:00.000-05:00

Planet Comicon is this weekend, and I don't think I'm exaggerating when I say this is the best line-up of creators at a midwest show you'll find outside of Chicago. I plan to behead (and thus steal the powers from) at least 5 different creators. I'll have a table with copies of RiGBY #1, posters and some original art. I'll also be doing sketch commissions at the show, and selling this new RiGBY poster below. Thanks to Kevin Grtizke for helping out on the color. And if you have any interest in the various digital permuatations of comics, come by our panel Sunday at 11 to hear Chris Grine, Buster Moody, Daniel Spottswood and myself expound on the past present and future of digital comics.

RiGBY Promo Inks

2011-03-24T10:33:00.001-05:00

The talk around these parts has been squarely focused on SCREAMLAND this past week, so I wanted to give you guys some RiGBY goodness to remind you all that I still love you and Rigby very, very much. This illustration will be running as an ad in a certain periodically published magazine that shall remain nameless for the time being. I'm also making a poster of it for conventions.

In other RiGBY news, I have gotten all my copies of RiGBY #1 from the printer, and will be mailing them out early next week. Thank you for all the orders, it's been a thrill producing the book.

You can still read the free SCREAMLAND Zero Issue, and pre-order the book at your local comic shop with order code APR11 0407, or find it online here. There's even a SCREAMLAND facebook page to join as well.

Screamland Inks

2011-03-23T11:04:00.002-05:00

Everyone checked out the free SCREAMLAND Zero Issue on Comics Alliance yesterday, right? If not, please do so. The book hits shelves on June 8th, and you can reserve your copy (or ten) at your local comic shop with order code APR11 0407.

If you don't have easy access to a comic shop you can pre-order the book online.

Below are the inks from the first four pages of Issue 1 (which also comprise the last four pages of the Zero Issue).

SCREAMLAND #0

2011-03-22T15:44:00.002-05:00

The free preview issue of SCREAMLAND (or Screamland #0 if you like) is up at Comics Alliance, give it a read and reserve your copy today!

The Many Faces of Carl London

2011-03-22T10:24:00.002-05:00

Those of you who have read the first SCREAMLAND miniseries know that Wolf-Man Carol London has a special kind of charisma. So I was really excited to find out the first arc of the new ongoing series would feature him prominently. My first reaction was to go back through Hector Casanova's work on the original series and fill up about 5 pages of my sketchbook strait up copying. I was literally mining for gold, and Hector's fantastic work certainly made my job a helluva lot easier going forward.

SCREAMLAND: June 8th!

2011-03-21T08:46:00.004-05:00

Below is everything you need to know about the ongoing SCREAMLAND series I'm working on. The book will be on stands June 8, but now is the time to order your copy (or ten) from Previews. The order code you're gonna need is APR11 0407, but you can also ask for it by name at your local comic shop.

Welcome to SCREAMLAND

2011-03-17T09:22:00.002-05:00

Keep your eyes peeled in the April edition of Previews for the return of SCREAMLAND from Image Comics. Can't talk about it more, but the series is being written by Harold Sipe and Christopher Sebela, with colors by Buster Moody. Each issue will also feature back-up stories by the likes of Kevin Mellon, Dennis Culver and Kyle Strahm.

More information as we're allowed to release it...

The Unusual Suspects

2011-03-09T08:31:00.003-06:00

Sometime next week I'll be able to talk about this with impunity, and then you won't be able to get me to shut up about it.

Thor Sketch

2011-03-08T08:54:00.002-06:00

Here's a sketch to remind everyone to contact me via email if you want a commission for Planet Comicon. I'm only charging $5 for a black and white sketch on 9x12 bristol, and $25 for 11x17 bristol.

Email me at rigbythebarbarian@gmail.com and we can talk about your piece.

Planet Comicon

2011-03-07T16:48:00.003-06:00

Planet Comicon is just a few short weeks away and I'll have a table with copies of RiGBY #1 as well as a few prints and pieces of original art for sale. You can also get a drawing if you're so inclined. $5 for a black and white sketch on 9x12 bristol board, $25 for 11x17 (that's all per character, obviously).

If you know you're going to be at Planet Comicon, AND you know you're going to want a sketch, please send me an email so I can get started ahead of time. I guarantee if you talk to me ahead of time you'll get a better sketch than at the show. (Sorry, that's just the nature of things. I always draw better sitting at my drawing table in my basement listening to music than at a noisy convention center).

Drop me a line at rigbythebarbarian@gmail.com to order your sketch.

Cheers,

Lee

THWIP!

2011-02-25T09:18:00.003-06:00

Following in the spirit of this Superman sketch, is another character I love, but have almost zero experience drawing. I think the intricate web pattern always discouraged me from drawing him as a kid.

Full disclosure, this was partially inspired by Skottie Young's recent Doctor Octopus sketch. I really loved the way he reversed out the tentacles on that one.

Panel Detail

2011-02-24T08:56:00.002-06:00

Buster Moody sure colors things real purdy like.

Look, Up on the Blog!

2011-02-23T09:01:00.002-06:00

A quick warm-up before I started working on a RiGBY page last night. I enjoy how lose this one is, and feel like the middle third of the page is strong work for me.

As always, click the pic to *wink* Super-size the image.

Ink on 8x11 bristol.

Masters of the Universe Process

2011-02-21T10:49:00.005-06:00

If there's one thing kids love, it's art tutorials. Art tutorials and Justin Bieber, that's all I hear. With that in mind, I present my process for the recent Masters of the Universe print I made for last week's Hurley Con. If you really like this piece you can even buy the original art at the RiGBY store. As always, click the pics for a closer look.

Hurley Con Epilogue

2011-02-20T14:04:00.004-06:00

Some photos and sketches from Hurley Con 2011 are up at the RiGBY site. Check them out, won't you?

Hurley Con

2011-02-18T12:52:00.003-06:00

Y'know what I call this? A good use of my lunch break. I put some colors on last night's illustration, and will hope to have a limited number of these prints available for Hurley Con in Joplin. I'll also have a batch of Swamp Monster prints as well. This, of course, is all in addition to a very small number of RiGBY #1 (available for the first time, anywhere!).

Old Habits...

2011-02-18T09:57:00.004-06:00

I drew this last night as a reward for finishing another issue of [REDACTED], and with an eye towards making some prints for Hurley Con this Saturday (where I will be a guest). You can find all kinds of Hurley Con info here, and you can click the picture below for a closer look.

28/108

2011-02-17T21:15:00.004-06:00

Finished inks on another issue of [REDACTED], though this was just a smaller promo issue. There really is no better practice than actually doing, which makes me anxious to start Issue #2.

2011-02-01T08:17:00.001-06:00

More spectacular color work from Buster Moody.

"Consider Yourself... Sketched"

2011-01-31T15:12:00.005-06:00

Sketched this page while watching 'Commando' with the wife the other night. As with all kids who grew up in the 80's, I love Arnold, but 'Terminator 2' was completely ruined for me by my little brother, who watched it every day for an entire summer.
Hasta la vista.

RiGBY #1

2011-01-28T13:52:00.002-06:00

The convention season is nearly upon us, and I wanted to have a little bit of RiGBY merch with which to proselytize to the masses. So I'm printing up a very limited number of RiGBY #1, which will print the first 20 pages of RiGBY in all it's full color glory. If you want one, and won't be at Planet Comiccon in Kansas City I cannot guarantee you'll be able to get one of these. I'd like to do some more conventions this summer, but we're having a baby and I can't guarantee any further appearances.
If you want one, you can pre-order it HERE. You'll also get a free hi-res digital copy and a sketch from me as a thank you.
If you're one of those people who worry about paper-cuts, you can purchase just the digital version HERE as well.

Finished Inks on Issue #1

2011-01-12T13:50:00.004-06:00

And this is probably my favorite panel.
(Colors by the shadowy specter known only as Buster Moody)

Panel Detail

2011-01-06T13:04:00.001-06:00

Panel Detail

2010-12-29T10:28:00.002-06:00

Panel Detail

2010-12-28T11:18:00.002-06:00

Happy Christmas from Rigby Claus and her Red-Nosed Allosaurus

2010-12-23T16:01:00.000-06:00

(I've also attached a full page version below that is suitable for printing. Simply print it out, and fold down the middle twice.)

Panel Detail

2010-12-15T08:46:00.002-06:00

I thought the make-up girl in this inset panel looked like an emo little muppet.

2010-12-02T15:02:00.000-06:00

Panel Detail

2010-11-30T16:46:00.001-06:00

"Man, I'd sell my soul for a decent cup of coffee..."