This posting title is a bit misleading. Yes this is Ian Akin's pencil and ink work but it's colored by me. And also it should be known that what you are seeing is a cropped portion of the original work. Most of you should know by now that Akin & Garvey were the dynamic inking duo that were the perfect compliment to Sal Buscema's pencils. That awesome "trifecta" was the artistic pinnacle of the ROM series. It was among some of the very best comic art of the 80's on par with giants like Michael Golden.You can see this illustration in it's entirety at the link below. And check this out, it will open up in color but when you roll your mouse over the image you see it just penciled and inked! It's a way cool affect plus you can tell me if I did Akin's pencil and ink work any justice with my own coloring job here:
http://ianakin.com/illustration/superheroes/rom.htm
Have you ever seen "Chasing Amy"? If so do you remember how they were joking about inkers just being people who trace? I really hope there isn't anybody around who reads comics today that is that stupid. If you look below the credit headline strip you'll see what un-inked penciling really looks like as seen in this Annihilators #4 splash page. Even if you were doing a black n white comic you wouldn't send it to press like that. Now this uncolored sample clip art here from ROM #45 is what I'm talking about. Look how even in black n white it almost seems to have texture to it as if you could run your fingers over the paper and feel the art like reading in braille.
Ha! I love the Chasing Amy reference. That was one of my favorite jokes from the movie, along with the "What's a Nubian?" line. And I was always on the tracer's, I mean, inker's side. I love your coloring work, too, making the wraith grey, and the whiter tones on ROM. He seems shinier. Good job Dave-o!
ReplyDeleteFast Times at Ridgemont High, Clerks and Chasing Amy should be required viewing for all graduating high school seniors in the U.S. cause those movies tell you what life is really gonna be like in those initial post high school years.
ReplyDeleteHey, if it wasn't for Clerks, I wouldn't know what the heck a snowball is. That's a good thing, right?
ReplyDeleteThanks for the linkage, Dave. It's much appreciated!
ReplyDeleteBack when I was a kid I always thought being an inker would be an awesome job... I mean all you're doing is tracing somebody else's artwork! Needless to say, I was a stupid kid... It's not until you see how much work an inker puts into a comic that you really appreciate how tough it is, and how unique each inker's style is. That, coupled with my total lack of any sort of artistic ability, is why I never became an inker...
That inked panel is awesome - tech vs nature round one - Fight!
ReplyDeleteAs for your colouring mr you should put stuff up on deviantart! There colourists showcase work they did over other arists inks all the time. Show your skills off and who knows where it could lead!
Great work Dave, especially the red reflecting off the weapon and armor. Get a DeviantArt account and start posting this stuff up.
ReplyDeletethank you gentlemen, that's a splendid idea i'll let you know when i get around to that.
ReplyDeleteand by the way Dan that panel is from an issue of ROM in which ROM and Starshine go up against the Soviet Super Soldiers who were being duped by the Dire Wraiths. who you see there in the panel with ROM is Ursa Major, but you probably knew that already.