Congrads!
This weekend, I read Petrograd... a really killer graphic novel by Phillip Gelatt and BPRD-artist Tyler Crook. It's about the conspiracy to assassinate Rasputin, told from the perspective of a British spy. This book wasn't on my radar at all when it was first released... which is a shame, because it's really good. You should check it out! CBR has an older review with a few sample pages, if you're curious.
In other news, WayForward... the folks who made the incredible Mighty Switch Force games and the DuckTales remake... are kickstarting a new game! Wayforward makes some of my favourite 2D platformers -- especially when they are working with their own original characters and game mechanics -- so I am crossing my fingers for this one.
-Sam Logan
Sam and Fuzzy Q & A: Countdown Edition
Got a question you want answered? Just drop me an email with "Q & A" in the subject line!
"Am I insane or did Fuzzy originally say "Two days! It happens in two days..." in Four-Finger Discount, Pt. 4? (I'm insane, aren't I? I knew it.)" -Jake
You are not crazy, Jake! It did originally say two days. These comics are, as you said, effectively counting down to the day of the job, and when I was lettering that strip, I accidentally miscounted how many strips were left. Whoops!
"So in the current chapter, Four-Finger Discount, every strip has started with a close up of someone's eyes. Is this just coincidence or did you draw it this way on purpose? If that is the case, do you always do similar things in each chapter? " -Ian
It is not a coincidence! (As you've probably guessed yourself, since I kept doing it for several more strips after you asked.) It's a narrative device, to show the days and events leading up to the job from several characters' perspectives, while emphasizing that the clock is ticking.
I've done similar "countdowns" in other chapters, but using narrative captions ("three days ago", "two days ago", etc) to mark the passage of time instead of this repeating intro shot and dialogue device. Doing it this way is maybe a little on the nose, but I kinda like how it turned out anyway.
"I remember reading a year or so back that you came out to Winnipeg for a convention. I was wondering how that went?" -Maegan
That con was Central Canada Comic-Con! It went pretty well, actually, and I had a lot of fun meeting some of my Manitoba fans, but I'm not going to be there this year. Unfortunately, it's very expensive to fly to Winnipeg from Vancouver, and this fall I'm going to be super busy drawing things for our kickstarter backers. I'd like to be able to attend again someday in the future, though!
That's a wrap for this week, team. See you on Monday!
-Sam Logan
Conning Around
Team! I am doing my last two conventions of the year this month.
The first is a new one... Rose City Comic-Con in Portland, on September 21st and 22nd! I've never been able to do a Portland show before -- Stumptown almost always conflicts with Calgary Expo -- so I'm really looking forward to checking this one out. It's run by the same folks responsible for the excellent Emerald City Comic-Con in Seattle, so I expect great things!
My last show of the year is the Edmonton Expo, on September 28th and 29th. I went to the first Edmonton show last year and was really impressed, so I'm really looking forward to going back. (Plus, I always love that beautiful drive through the rocky mountains!)
After that, I'll be taking a few months off from shows. Between Sam and Fuzzy, our upcoming ShiftyLook comic, and all the bookplates I'm making for kickstarter backers who bought artist-edition books... I'll have plenty to draw!
-Sam Logan
