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PODCAST INTERVIEW 28 MAY 2008

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/throwbacklounge/2008/05/29/Throwback-Lounge-Mid-Week-Edition

The Harlem SPIDER "Vengeance is Mine!"

This is the 2nd installment of The Harlem SPIDER. I decided to cut the first issue in half to improve the story. I hop that you like this sequence of events to come. Take care. Wil Barron

CRUSH 'EM wants to know if you're The Harlem SPIDER

This is a concept that I am working on as a year end review issue, where SPIDER breaks character when I want him to do battle against the hulking "CRUSH 'EM". I plan to have him baulk at the ridiculous notion of having to fight this behemoth. It should be alot of fun.

Looking ahead we have SIZZLER on the horzion

This cover gives you a sneak peek to The Harlem SPIDER's season of being hunted by Federal Authorities in particular "M-CORPS". M-CORPS is sponored by Senator Washington who thirsts for revenge against SPIDER. Senator Washington believes that SPIDER had hand in his son murder. This concept drawing the second in a quick sequence of character development, I was working on while seated at the SCC at the Patent and Trade Office in Alexandria, Virgina in Feb 2008. We have the powerful and dynamic mutant pyrogenetic female, code named SIZZLER that has tracked SPIDER down. She gives him and ultimatum that could cause him to lose his life if he refuses to comply. I was really happy with concept sketch, so much so that I quickly took it to the breakdown to workout structural problems.
Now, comes the hand inked step which I have not perfected using the computer. My tools are antiquated and way too slow for this process, so I rely on the old fashioned tried and true ink on paper. Once finished, the artwork is scanned for the next step in the cover process.

This is the scariest part of my workflow. Color definitely makes or brakes a cover. Balance and intensity is the order of the day. I decided to take your eyes from the white hot sparks and cold blue thermals of Sizzlers pyrotechnic aura as it floods the room along with the shards of broken glass from the window to the dark deep purple and blood red burgundy clad Harlem SPIDER. The faded birdseye view of the cityscape background behind Sizzler definitely needs more work and the interior room can be better detailed, but overall I am pleased with the first draft.

The Harlem SPIDER, Book 5, Vol 1 "FULLSCALE WAR!"

(cover art only!) purchase link:
Can we say off the chain! I'm having so much fun with SPIDER. This title really is a labor of love. This cover is at least 2 years old and I finally got around to painting it. It really looks fantastic! I had other usage ideas for it, but as the final installment of SPIDER's origins and setting the foundation for my comic book universe comes to its climactic end, this was the appropriate cover to use. I am amazed at how things have fallen into place. Again, I am just about finished with the revisions and added breakdowns for this titanic issue. 5 will be a sensational knockout. 2008 will be a banner year for me as I tie up The Harlem SPIDER and prepare to bring online one or two more character storylines.

The Harlem SPIDER, Book 4, Vol 1 "UNLEASHED"

(cover art only!) purchase link: http://www.lulu.com/content/1631102

What can I say except "WOW!" you will love this issue when I get finished with it. SPIDER is in a whole heck of alot of trouble and again he is on his own. I really go to the meat of the storyline in the book and build for the unbelievable finale that is hard-hitting in book 5. Again this issues is not yet finished. I have most of the breakdowns completed and the revisions have been made to make this a +50 pager. You will definitely enjoy the all out action in this one!


Cover Art for The Harlem SPIDER, B4V1 "UNLEASHED!" How I do it!
Stage One the Concept

With each cover I not only want to tell the story in one-shot, but I also want to give the audience an adrenaline rush. For The Harlem SPIDER Book 4, I thought that having members of The GUARDIANS looking down at a mauled VIOLATOR stretch out in the background while SABRE is about to make dessert out of SPIDER, should do the trick. I use a diamond composition to help bring the action from the high background, through the Mid-ground and finally, to group of shocked GUARDIANS in the lower foreground. I am an expressive artist, so my freehand work is a jumbled mess. Thankfully I can make head and tails of it in the next stage. With that thought, I start wildly sketching the rough idea of a cover on plain bond 10x17” paper.




Stage Two Cleaning up the Lines


I trace over the freehand sketch and start using a ruler. I am able to quickly take care of the major players. I ensure that they are properly spaced, sized, completely rendered in. This is a birds-eye view of the action so I have to ensure that the perspective in relatively correct.



Stage Three Details, Details and more Details


At this point, I fill in most of the tiny details. I want realism so I focus on the tiny things in the background, mid-ground and foreground. I make sure there is enough broken glass and a large puddle of VIOLATOR's life fluids oozing out. I really work on SABRE's hair and the slobber around his lower lip. I even add arms to SPIDER to have him seem more in a struggle to get free. I pull out the ruler and tighten up all the major angles on the floor and in the control room. This is my second sheet of tracing paper, so I clean up many of the lines. I add word balloons to ensure that I do have enough room for them when I go to Adobe Illustrator.

Stage Four Tightening the Pencils


Everything is tight and I have a big smile on my face, but there is still work to do. Any last changes are made right here. I even have to slide DEACON more the right to get him from under the ISBN Block and to add to the overall tight grouping of the GUARDIANS.



Stage Five Inks


The inked page goes smoothly thanks to a lot of pre-visualizing of where the darks and lights are supposed to be. SPIDER’s suit is the real focal point even though there is a lot going on in the cover. I fiddle with the placement of the SPIDER LOGO. I do my best to incorporate it into the background. Working it in behind SABRE's hair was a slight challenge. I should've did the same thing with the title, cause it will come back to haunt me at the end.::

Stage Six Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop


I absolutely love Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop! These super-duper time savers extend my talent with their versatility. They allow me complete the project in a snap. If you have to work with words and pictures, these are a must. At this point, the only major thing left to do is color and I will have to go back into Photoshop and move SNIPER in front of the title. Yet overall I think that the cover still packs a shocking punch. I eventually chose to change the wording and title logos somewhat, so let me know what you think.