52 pages of Pencils, Inks, and Grayscales are all completed! Plus, we have an awesome Letterer!

I am happy to report that my good friend Marco D. Carrillo has sent me all 52 pages of Battle Team Omega -- pencilled, inked, and grayscaled! He has wrapped up the standard cover for the book (posted above), and is now working on the wraparound variant cover. Looking at the art from start to finish, I can't believe how incredible it looks! Holy smokes! He really went above and beyond to make this a beautiful, beautiful comic. I am completely blown away. Marco really knocked this one out of the park!

Adding his contributions to the project is the talented letterer, Brant W. Fowler. Brant has an exceptional portfolio full of published work, including a couple of comics that he lettered for Image. I've admired his work for awhile, and I was thrilled when he offered to join our creative team. It's great putting a project in Brant's hands, because you know he will bring out the best in the story. Man, what a great addition! It's a total blast working with such unbelievably talented individuals!

Once Brant gets things lettered, we'll post some preview pages on this blog, and we'll send the pages over to the printer. Second published comic, here we come!

Another Nice Review!

Johanna Draper Carlson was kind enough to remember my work months after I sent her a review copy. She wrote up a nice review of Lightning Girl Loves Rocket Boy for her reliably excellent site, Comics Worth Reading. From the review:

"If you like the kind of superhero romance you find in comics like Avengers Academy or Young Allies, you should definitely check out this independent short graphic novel... the dialogue sounds realistic... The art is well-suited to the age group of the characters, with a slightly cartoony style that keeps things light and an interesting, thick-outline, almost layered look that makes the foreground characters pop..."

And maybe most importantly:

"It’s entertaining to read."

To read the whole thing and to check out the rest of the site, surf on over to Comics Worth Reading!

Progress Report: Rogue Agent Zed

A lot of folks have indicated their great anticipation for the release of Rogue Agent Zed. I’m in the same boat! All of Jeremiah's preview art is breathtaking. I just want to reassure everyone that he continues to work hard on the book, and we are closing in on the finish line. I've seen some of his later pages and they look great. I would love to share all of them with you -- but they contain some blatant plot spoilers, and I can't figure out a way to post them without ruining parts of the ending! Hmmm. Here, let me show you a couple of works that don’t seem to compromise the integrity of the story. These are some more recent panels from Jeremiah, showing some unfinished pencils and offering a little insight on his work process.

We have been working on this book for four years now, and believe me when I tell you -- the project has truly been a labor of love for the both of us. Hope you enjoyed the quick snapshot, and let’s hope it will help sustain us all until the final product hits the stands soon!

Design Workshop: Marco D. Carillo works his magic on Battle Team Omega

When Marco signed up to work on Battle Team Omega, he asked whether he could re-design the look and costumes of all the main characters. I immediately gave him full approval without hesitation because I knew from looking at his portfolio that he had a prolific and stylish design sense. Let’s check out a few of the highlights:

Velocity Hawk:

Korrgar Rex:

Silverbolt:Danger Ace:

Devil of Destruction:

I am completely knocked out by the designs. I really love the Danger Ace costume, in particular. (Somehow, it looks both retro and modern at the same time.) And it's great that Marco also happens to be a talented colorist -- because it's nice to see them in color!

In addition to his excellent design sense, Marco is also the fastest artist I have worked with, and that is truly an invaluable skill. The book is speeding towards completion (note to self: remember to find a letterer to put words into comic), and I'll keep everyone posted on the news as it approaches publication. Stay tuned.

Scott Arnold working for Image Comics

Working with Scott Arnold on Lightning Girl Loves Rocket Boy was an excellent experience. Scott was the perfect collaborator -- patient, enthusiastic, and bursting with talent. So it wasn't a surprise to me when I found out that he transitioned from Hypersmash Studios to producing published art for Image Comics! How cool is that? And believe me, it couldn't happen to a nicer guy! You can check out the series here.

The Return of Fabio Nahon!

One of the more disappointing earlier developments in the history of Hypersmash Studios came when artist Fabio Nahon had to step away and discontinue his work on Battle Team Omega after producing several excellent pages of finished art. Recently, Fabio left a message through the Comments Section of this very blog and we were able to establish contact for the first time in years. He generously offered to provide a free pin-up of my choosing, but after a couple of emails, we decided to get more ambitious and collaborate on something a little more substantial. So I am proud to announce that Fabio Nahon will makes his return to Hypersmash Comics as the artist on a new original title, Astro Crusader! He’s already re-designed the costume, put together layouts on a handful of pages, and produced finished pencils and inks for the story’s introduction. All the disappointment I used to have because of our interrupted collaboration has faded away and it is a pleasant surprise to be working with Fabio again years later on this exciting new project! Keep an eye out for Astro Crusader – I have a feeling it's going to be a good one!

Sample Sequentials: Marco D. Carillo

I hope some of our previous posts have helped you develop an appreciation for the work of Hypersmash artists, Scott Arnold and Jeremiah Goldson. Now I wanted to introduce you to the wonderfully talented individual in charge of Battle Team Omega, Marco D. Carillo!

I have been unbelievably lucky in my choice of artists and collaborators. Not only are Scott, Jeremiah, and Marco all tremendously creative, skilled, and enthusiastic but they’re also really good people – very pleasant guys who are easy to work with. (Oh -- and I am also happy to report that Scott Arnold has moved on to big things since we published our book together, contributing to "L'il Depressed Boy" from Image Comics! Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy!)

Battle Team Omega has been a project that has run into multiple developmental setbacks. Jason Hoagland, Fabio Nahon, and Nel Angeiras all produced some excellent art before they each chose to step away from the project for varying reasons. But I feel confident that Marco is the man to help this comic see the light of day! His character designs and layouts look great, and I’m excited at the amount of progress he’s made so far!

Over the next few months, I hope to share some of the work he's been cranking out on Battle Team Omega. But to satisfy everyone’s curiosity and to provide a quick blast of instant gratification, here are a couple of pieces from his portfolio just to give you a taste of his awesome style.

For a full overview of Marco’s work, please check out his sites:

http://mdavidct.com/page1.aspx

http://mdavidct.deviantart.com/

To start things off, here are some character studies (click on the pics to make them bigger):

I'm sure you guys recognize a couple of familiar faces, right?

I think it's great that the characters in these studies aren't stuck in the typical, boring action poses, flexing their muscles. The sketches are very expressive, and the characters carry a lot of personality. Very, very cool.

Okay, let's check out some examples of Marco’s sequentials! First, a two-page story written by Craig McCutcheon called "Date Night?":


Man, I seriously love those pages! A lot of artists enjoy doing pin-ups and sketches, but the ability to tell a story is critical when you are trying to create a comic book. You can see from the sequentials in this post that Marco definitely has the chops to get the job done!

Here is an excerpt from a story called "Kill That!!"



(You know, I feel bad for those cowboys every time I read those pages...)

And finally, here's one of Marco's coolest original creations in action, Niebla Roja!



Niebla Roja is a seriously rockin' character -- I really need to see if I can talk Marco into letting me write a Niebla Roja story for him someday! (And there is plenty more Niebla Roja supplementary material on Marco's sites, so remember to click and check them out!)

One of the things I am always looking for when I recruit an artist to work on my books is their sense of total control. They can draw action scenes, but can they do quiet scenes? Facial expressions? Civilians? Backgrounds? A lot of artists try to work around their limitations in order to hide their weaknesses. But Marco (like Scott and Jeremiah) has a complete set of skills. Impressive.

It's a pleasure working with Marco, and I can't wait to see the pages he puts together for our comic! Make sure to stay tuned!

A Nice Review!

The first review for "Lightning Girl Loves Rocket Boy #1" is in, courtesy of Mike Sterling and his excellent site, progressiveruin.com. Mike did a nice job capturing the spirit of the book, and I appreciate his kind words and support. As a writer, it's always nice to get positive feedback when a reader enjoys your work. Thanks, Mike!

First Issue of Lightning Girl Loves Rocket Boy now on sale!!!

Hey! Exciting news! We've finally published our very first comic! Yowza!

Let's check out the listing, shall we?

Lightning Girl Loves Rocket Boy #1

Writer: Roel Torres

Artist: Scott Arnold

52 page one-shot

Black and white with color covers

$5.95 US

IN THIS ISSUE: It's a good-natured romp as Marcus and Jodie start dating -- while teaming up to fight crime! What happens when they get recruited by the legendary super team known as The Liberty Patrol? And are they ready to face the terrifying menace of Dr. Straitjacket and his Madbots? Find out in this exciting, pulse-pounding first issue!

SERIES SUMMARY: A teenage Romantic Comedy with superheroes (imagine "Say Anything" crossed with DC Comics), Rocket Boy and Lightning Girl are a pair of teenage college students who try to juggle the demands of fighting crime with the difficulty of studying for mid-terms -- all while keeping the romance alive in their relationship!

Making this comic really was a labor of love for me and Scott. We're thrilled with the results and we hope you are, too!

Click HERE to order your copy from IndyPlanet today!

Ten Page Preview of Lightning Girl Loves Rocket Boy #1

Click to enlarge the pages!

Sneak Peek: Cover

Sneak Peek: Page One

Sneak Peek: Page Two

Sneak Peek: Page Three

Sneak Peek: Page Four

Sneak Peek: Page Five

Sneak Peek: Page Six

Sneak Peek: Page Seven

Sneak Peek: Page Eight

Sneak Peek: Page Nine

Sneak Peek: Page Ten

Ten Page Preview of Rogue Agent Zed #1

(Content warning: Contains adult language and themes. Reader discretion advised.)

Click to enlarge the pages!

Sneak Peek, Rogue Agent Zed #1: Page One

Sneak Peek, Rogue Agent Zed #1: Page Two

Sneak Peek, Rogue Agent Zed #1: Page Three

Sneak Peek, Rogue Agent Zed #1: Page Four

Sneak Peek, Rogue Agent Zed #1: Page Five

Sneak Peek, Rogue Agent Zed #1: Page Six

Sneak Peek, Rogue Agent Zed #1: Page Seven

Sneak Peek, Rogue Agent Zed #1: Page Eight

Sneak Peek, Rogue Agent Zed #1: Page Nine

Sneak Peek, Rogue Agent Zed #1: Page Ten

Rogue Agent Zed sequentials

A few posts back, I offered a tantalizingly brief preview of Jeremiah Goldson's interior art for Rogue Agent Zed. If your reactions were similar to mine, I suspect you were blown away by what you saw -- but also a little bit frustrated that there were only two panels to look at. Well, after a recent burst of discussions by the members of the creative team, I'm here to try and correct that imbalance.

And so, without further delay, please enjoy a selection of sequential artwork from the original Hypersmash project, Rogue Agent Zed. (And let me strongly encourage you to click on the images to enlarge them.)


I know I've said it over and over again, but Jeremiah's attention to backgrounds and details is really stunning. I love the grit and the texture in the panels above.

There's also a very deft display of cinematic lighting. The use of high contrast shadows creates a wonderful sense of mood and drama.


Jeremiah is not restricted to drawing slow, contemplative scenes of people standing around. He can also crank up the volume when the story calls for some action! (For example, a futuristic military unit unleashing their full complement of hi-tech weapons.)


Whether it's smoke drifting lazily from a cigarette, a fire blazing unchecked in the background, or raindrops splattering a car window, everything Jeremiah draws looks convincing and pretty damn cool.


The script basically asked for a random crowd scene without much direction on my part, and Jeremiah took the premise and ran with it. He really upped the ante, as every character depicted in the panels above has a distinctive look and is positively brimming with personality.

Looking at a comic drawn by Jeremiah Goldson is a rich visual experience that rewards attentive reading. As the writer and publisher of Rogue Agent Zed, I have to say that everything I've seen looks great so far and I can't wait to see what he's going to come up with next.

Progress Report: Lightning Girl Loves Rocket Boy

THE DRAWING TABLE
As we've seen in the past, Scott Arnold is a crazy bugger who has an unhealthy obsession for taking photographs of his poor, unsuspecting Drawing Table (as demonstrated here and here.) It's been an interesting progression as Scott has shown us the first panel of the very first page, then the pencils for the first ten pages of the book.

And now, in it's full glory, here is Scott Arnold's most recent snapshot of his workspace. (He tells me that there are 24 pages stacked on there. Ah, I don't know. Personally, I would question anything this man tells you. But your mileage may vary.) Let's take a look!



Woo. Pretty nifty.

Twenty-four pages. That is some serious progress.

Oh, hey! Here's a novel idea! Let's take a moment to respond to some comments from the public!

Here's a message we received from young Aaron Trites, who provides useful feedback for the marketing team at Hypersmash Studios:

"Roel,

For maximum enjoyment I would recommend having the pages either stapled in the traditional pamphlet format or bound together as a graphic novel, rather than having them strewn about on a desk. Oh, and add words to the pages too."

Hi, Aaron! Thanks for the input! We'll certainly give your advice all due consideration!

Okay, so Lightning Girl Loves Rocket Boy is clearly humming along. I'll try to keep everyone posted as we approach our impending publication.

Four versions of a single page

As you probably know, I'm sorta knew to comic book self-publishing. Sure, I've been a fan who has read and enjoyed comics for a long time, but I had no involvement in the creation or production of a comic. So it seemed unusual to me when I ended up receiving four different versions of Page 1 of my Battle Team Omega script. I thought I would share the various versions with everyone, as a interesting peek "Behind the Scene." (Click any image to enlarge.)

1) First is Fabio Nahon's lay-out for the page. As you can see, the thugs start out as generic tough guys:

2) Next is a detailed page with full pencils. Here, the mercenaries are now equipped with high-tech gear. Fabio obviously put a lot of time into this page, and it shows...

3)...which is why I was stunned to see that he made an independent decision to re-draw the page! That's a true sign of professionalism and craftsmanship when an artist takes a perfectly functional page and decides to go back to the drawing board (literally.) The improvements Fabio made are obvious, cleaning up the composition and making everything less cluttered. The page certainly reads better in this revision:

4) Unfortunately, I was informed that Fabio would be unable to continue on the book and Nel Angeiras stepped in to take his place. Which led to a fourth interpretation of the book's opening scene. It seems like Nel used Fabio's pages as a guide, while also bringing his unique artistic vision to the page. Check it out:


So there you have it! Four very interesting versions of one page! I think it offers a fascinating insight into the work process of these artists (while also serving as a handy guide for all the different ways Blade Superior can sneak up on a bunch of armed mercenaries.) Hope you enjoyed it.