There’s No Place Like Holmes (part 2)

We’re back with part two of our annual festival of comic goodness we call HOLMES INCORPORATED.   Today’s cover is brought to you by the letters “Daniel” and “Wong”, who turned in an action packed image that gives our family something to do on a slow Tuesday.  YIKES!

Yesterday we sneak peaked you into the first of TWO all new volumes for this summer, showing off FIVE (5) amazing new tales of the Holmes family in all their generations. Today, we bring you the second (2nd) of TWO (2) issues this year, with yet ANOTHER five fantastic features, and it’s also, officially, a doozy!

If you need to read the other slam-packed issues of Holmes Inc. , they’re all up online for FREE here!

Onwards to the new stuff!  WOO HOO!

Starting off the issue with a bang (literally) we have newcomer Dave Franciosa showing off his splash page skills over a roller coaster ride of a script by Sam Noir.  Blow out the hero’s knee with a gun blast from a mysterious monster at the door, and set the scales at life or death…. THAT’S how  you start a story!  I’ll bet you want to read more, right?

There’s that Franciosa fellow again, doing layouts this time, with Jason Roussel and Matthew Tavares finishing the pencils, and Christopher Yao inking, over top of character and prop designs from Rachael Wells.   This issue features a couple of jam stories by the whole Holmes Inc. Bullpen  (we were over-abundant with eager writers to the tune of two) and had to create art-teams to give life to a couple of our instant classic scripts.

Well, when James Cooper wrote a tale that absolutely everyone in the group wanted to work on, that’s what happened.  And it turns out that there’s some advantage in splitting up the layout/pencils and inks because the pages look better than the sum of their parts.  Who knew?

First time contributor Taran Chadha didn’t work on the jam story because he was busy showing off his multi-level skills on a story he wrote, drew and grey toned all by his own self.  And WOW is the only word we can use.    Only the really good ones make it look so easy.

With an utterly charming script from Holmes Inc. super-veteran Mike Marano (who doubled as assistant editor for this star turn…ye editor is SO proud), we see our next jam story.  This time laid out by the inimitable Rachael Wells and, penciled and inked by the whole gang (including some special guest stars from previous issues!) this story introduces us to another of Mike’s fantastic guest star characters!  Is she a new love interest for Edgar Holmes….or will she DESTROY HIM?!?

Ye editor pitched in with an art job of his own this year, with a story by second time Holmes Inc. author, Oliver Ho, that I had to get my hands on.  It’s spooky meets science-y, wrapped up in a mystery, and I got to draw Chinese Water Dragons, so everybody wins.

If you’re in Toronto, come on down to the FanExpo convention, meet the creators, and pick up your own copy (while supplies last, I suspect we might sell out of these mini-masterpieces).

ALSO:  Come on down to the FanExpo to hear me give out FREE lectures on creating comics for fun and profit.  Today’s lecture (which is, I think going on in the early afternoon 6:45pm Room 705) is called “How to Write a Plot in Under an Hour!”  There’s room for lots of people, so bring a friend!

Ty the Guy OUT!

For your Bonus Moment?  A map of Hall E

24 hour Comic Challenge Tribute Bun Toons YAY!

Behold the work of others!

This one explains itself.  No further ado.

None.

TY THE GUY OUT!

So, this time, you get TONS Of bonus moments:  It’s links to a bunch of the comics created during this 24 hour challenge.  Enjoy them in somewhat alphabetical order.  There`s excellent treasures to be found here…

The delightful adventures of GIMP by Aaron Broverman. Click through to read ’em.

A Sci-Fi themed story (with a bit of a Star Trek flavour) from the marvelous minds of Aaron Feldman (writer) and Rebecca Slack. (art) Click to read…

Don’t click if you have a fear of SPIDERS! For Adam Gorham’s monstrously gorgeous tale of outer space arachnids awaits!

Another Star Trek themed adventure, feature a pair of Ferengi who get into all sorts of trouble when they…well, read it and find out!  By Beautiful BRICE HALL.

This one, by artist Christopher Yao and writer James Cooper, was finished with HOURS to spare! Poor Chris had wrist cramps for days! Behold the wonder of SAD ROBOT!

Jason Roussel created this fascinating stream-of-almost-unconsciousness tale that reads like an acid trip through Metropolis. And I mean that in a GOOD way. Click and read.

This surprisingly touching story called `Legacies`is by Kawai Shen. This story will be enjoyed by anyone with older relatives, or even orphans who wish they had one. And I love that her website is called `cute juice`.

Mark Parasio`s Woman on the Run is an exciting read for MORE than the thriller plot, but for the ambitious and colourful art as well! (This one opens in facebook)

Speaking of colour…you are NOT prepared for what Ricky Lima did for his 24 project….using the scissors more than a pencil, and his imagination more than he had a right to, click through to `Huma…am`

Rodrigo Bravo tells this story almost entirely without words. He doesn`t need them. Comics at their most pure: Read THE LAST DAY, and wipe away a tear.

Tony Smerek gives us an uplifting tale of demon worship and goats in the very charming `MALEK`TH, LORD OF THE BURN`.

For MORE on the whole 24 Hour Comic Book Challenge, head over to the Comic Book Bootcamp website for deets.

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For the Bun Toon that started the year, click here.

For all the Bun Toons for 2012, 2011 and earlier, click the Bunny

Here, There and Everywhere

It’s another busy week for Ty…  He’s  teaching (yesterday Writing for Comics Part One, tonight Drawing the Human Figure from Your Head), drawing for Marvel Comics’ all-ages Spidey book (Ultimate Spider-Man Adventures), and working on some other can’t-yet-be-mentioned projects, (and yeah yeah there’s that parenting/husbanding stuff).

TODAY he will be at The Comic Book Lounge & Gallery for their UNCANNY AVENGERS #1 Launch Party. Sez The Lounge,

“[Uncanny Avengers #1 is] the first of the Marvel Now! titles being released. Uncanny Avengers 1 is written by Rick Remender, with artwork by John Cassaday.

The first customers who purchase the book will receive a limited edition print and other goodies, and there will be other surprises and bonuses for those who try out the new book.”

To celebrate and promote, the store is running a mini Artists Alley. Ty will be there as well as Shane Kirshenblatt, Marco Rudy, Christopher Yao, Rachael Wells, David Cutler,  Selena Goulding, and more!

The artists will be available to do sketches, sign books or do sketches on the large collection of sketchcovers that The Lounge has in stock. Some will have their own prints available for sale as well.

Batman #0 sketch cover by Ty Templeton. There are blank sketch covers available for sale at The Lounge today.

The event is running 12-9pm, so stop by! (If you have any questions about upcoming classes at Comic Book Bootcamp, Ty can answer ’em, and will have fliers available.)

Keiren

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Fan Expo Canada 2012: Friday

Back to the convention today!

I’ll be doing a workshop at 4pm, Creating a Character, with my great friend and sometime collaborator Dan Slott. Been a few years since Dan and I’ve been in a room together; I’m looking forward to spending time with him this weekend and to doing the workshop with him. He wasn’t able to do it last year as he had to cancel out of the con (because of the hurricane) and I ended up doing the workshop on my own and really enjoying it. I can’t imagine how much more fun it will be with Dan.

I will be sitting in Artists Alley at P30A–look for me there. I have original art, sketchbooks, copies of  Bigg Time, Bill the Boy Wonder:  The Secret Co-Creator of Batman, and most of my original teeth. Although I’m not selling or sketching my teeth.

AND!! Don’t forget–copies of HOLMES INCORPORATED #3 are available for sale today. Look for artist Christopher Yao in Booth 614, at Rachael Well’s booth A165, and at the Templeton-Smiths tables in Artists Alley, P30A and P30B. Stop by and pick up your copy!!

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AND!! don’t forget–if you’re interested in taking any of my classes at COMIC BOOK BOOTCAMP, you can ask me or Keiren Smith about them, at P30A/B. Come by and pick up a flyer.

AND!! My 12 page story for Heroes of the North, The Canadian:  The Man I Think I Am, is available ONLINE and FREE as of today! Pencilled/inked by Spent Pencils’ Daniel Wong (or Bootcamper Daniel Wong, or Holmes Inc. #2 alum Daniel Wong!), colours by Aljosa Tomic, lettering by Zen, cover by Donald Caron.

Ty the Guy OUT!!

Holmes? Did someone say HOLMES?

The Proud as a Peacock tour continues as I get to show off more and more work from the folks that move through my Comic Book Bootcamp courses.  Today we get a SNEAK peak at a SPECIAL edition of Holmes Incorporated, featuring the artwork of Holmes Inc. veteran Christopher Yao.

Christopher has contributed to every issue of Holmes Incorporated so far, and promises to help us usher in NEXT year’s annual.  But with a story in every ish,  we’re piling up to the ceiling with Yao artwork around here, and decided to release this ultra-cool ALL-CHRISTOPHER edition for his breathless fans.

I’ll keep you posted when both this regular sized issue and the 80 page giant annual are available for sale…we’ll hopefully have copies for the BIG FANEXPO coming up in just a few weeks.

The 80 page giant, including Christopher’s newest story, so you gets some YAO in your day, either way.

We’ll be returning to Christopher’s work in a few days when we give you a couple of pages from this issue’s sci-fi thriller “MURDER ON THE MOON”, written by Marvelous Mike Marano.

In the meantime, if you’re interested in taking the Comic Book Bootcamp Courses, and participating in a future Holmes Inc. issue, click the lovely logo below.

This is called “branding” when I keep showing you this logo. It’s working…it’s working…

Ty the Guy OUT!

Here now, your BONUS Christopher Yao Holmes Inc. Moment:

A pin-up by Christopher Yao for our sword swinging teenaged version of Sherlock Holmes the Third. You can call her Trey.

Niagara Falls Comic Con 2012

Been too busy for anything but drawing, writing scripts and teaching these days. Sometimes there’s a burger and a coke. But I realised that I had a couple photos from the Saturday I spent at Niagara Falls Comic Con 2012 and thought I’d do a super-quick post.

The con went really really well–we’d heard about it from Christopher Yao and Leonard Kirk who had both been guests the first year. When Dan McKinnon contacted me and asked if I’d like to be a guest for 2012, I jumped at the chance. (I got to do a panel with Dan McKinnon, a former letterer and inker for comics who now runs High Concept Media with his wife Katie. We talked about how to get in the business and be a comics creator.)

Aww.  Hulkie Smash Sumpting.
Thanks to my work on Marvel Ultimate Spider-Man Adventures, I’m used to drawing Spidey’s web mask pattern.  That actually takes a couple of drawings before you can match the “official” pattern.  It’s like Superman’s “S”.  There’s always an “official” version.

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The “official” version of my friend Christopher Yao.  Christopher was moving copies of his wonderful creator owned title Fauntkin, about an adorable little grandson kept alive by evil technology.

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I think this is Wolverine’s daughter now, or a clone, or his clone’s daughter and the women who love them.  But the sketch went away with someone happy with it, and I was not pelted with rocks and garbage.  I think she’s named X-49 and a half or something.

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I was asked to do a drawing of Arcangel and I’d mentioned that I’d done an old X-Men video cover featuring Warren having a good scream while on his knees.  Jason said, “Yeah, draw that.”.  So I tried to recreate the image from memory.  Let me hunt down the original to compare how I did…

8Can’t find the sketch right now…but here’s the printed version of the video box cover.

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I asked Dr. Evil what he would like and he said, “ONE MILLION DOLLARS!” Instead I drew him Guy Gardner being terrorized by a bunny.

A haircut I feel partially responsible for.  I tend to blame Kevin Maguire when I see it on people at conventions, though.

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The last couple conventions I’ve been at, I’ve been eyeing the Batmobile…and the owner of this one invited Keiren and me to sit inside…  Yes–life is good!

We had a wonderful time at the convention–before the end of the day, the organiser announced that it will be two days next year, and he’s booking twice the floorspace for it. Happy to see more comics fans getting a place to gather…

After the convention was over, Dan and Katie McKinnon took Keiren and I out to dinner, and we invited Christopher Yao and his wonderful girlfriend Cate to join us…  We had a great dinner and better conversation–some fun war stories were told that night.

Ty the Guy OUT!

Nepotism Friday! Keiren Smith edition!

I always talk about how busy I am around here, creating fine comic book based entertainment for the masses with all those crazy knucklehead characters I get to write and draw….

Like my wildly hysterical script for Avenging Spider-Man #8, (cover by Shane Davis, interiors by Matt Clark), due in stores in just eleven weeks! Silver Sable and Doc Strange Guest Star! Order yours today!

…but my wife has been doing so much colouring work around the funnybook biz lately that this month, she’s got more to read out there than I do.

So, because you should love her as much as I, I’m showing off some pages from her most recent work, with links to where you can read it online.  Who says my home in Toronto isn’t the House of Ideas?  Oh, this Cease and Desist order from Marvel  does.    Well, OTHER than this legal restraint?  Who?  Who?

First up:  A few teaser pages from a HEROES OF THE NORTH story about their characters Nordik and Eightball, available as an online comic book before the print edition comes out later (from Ardden Entertainment; the first omnibus collection sold out, so grab the second one as soon as you see it!-kts).  Read it while it’s free, fans, it just went online a few days ago.

I LOVE the blues she chose.  The pencil and ink artwork is by my friend David J. Cutler, who did the fun-but-hard-to-find-a-copy-of Johnny Canuck and the Northern Guard comic book with me last year.  I just can’t seem to quit David J., but one look at these pages and you can see why I’m a fan.

The lesson of this tale seems to be:  Ladies, dress warmly for cold weather.  Either that or it’s a thrilling murder mystery with cool action sequences and gunfights and stuff, like a good comic book should be.   All in glorious colour for LESS than a dime!  Beat that!

I dig the first panel on this page!

So click on over and read this story and show our Canadian comic book creators a little love.  It’s even better with the word balloons, though it covers up the pretty drawings and the pretty colours.

Keiren also just finished colouring a project called “Taking Flight” for writer Stephen Sutherland and artist Garry McLaughlin, who hail from Glasgow, a town with even more foreboding weather than Toronto.

If you're getting a "Frank Quitely" vibe, you're not alone.

This is the just the first three pages.  It’s available for pre-order at Laser Age Comics, but it won’t be printed up until April 9, so you’ll have to pace and bite at your nails until then.  I really like the colour work my one-and-only did on these pages.  The sense of quiet and peace as this character learns what it’s like to fly is really brought across by the palette she chose.

Here’s a page from a YMCA comic book project Keiren finished a few weeks ago…

The Adventures of Y Guy, written by another Holmes Inc. alumnus Kathleen Gallagher

Pencil art by Christopher Yao this time around…an alumnus of the Holmes Incorporated comic books I put out every year with the Toronto Cartoonists Workshop.  You can read the story here, and pick up the comics at local YMCAs in the Toronto area.

Just so you don’t think I’m a completely lazy sod, I have an issue or two of Ultimate Spider-Man Adventures coming up that I’ve done script and art chores for a story, as well as an issue of the Simpsons I wrote and drew, due in stores any time.  And my OWN Heroes of the North 12 pager in the pipeline for early summer.  Oh, and don’t forget tasty, tasty BACON!! (more on this as it crisps and develops).

But you guys get enough of me around here.

Check out the work of my own personal comic book colourist (her deviantART site), and let her know she’s pretty good at this gig.

Ty the Guy OUT!

Here now, your Keiren Templeton-Smith Bun Toon Bonus Moment:

One of Keiren's first appearances as a bunny in a Bun Toon from the early 90s!

Comic Book Bootcamp–A look at some of the ‘graduates’

It’s time to register for the next session of classes at TCW!   Writing for Comics Level Two is only available for students who have finished Level One. New and returning students can enroll in Ty’s Comic Book Bootcamp Part One!! Yayyy!

When Ty created Comic Book Bootcamp, it was  such a popular class that the first group of students begged him to continue–and he created Part Two.  After a student finishes Part One and Two, as Ty tells them, they’re able to take all the skills he’s taught them,  go off and create on their own.

Holmes Incorporated by Christopher Yao

Ty is helped in this belief by a lot of evidence…over the years, many local Toronto creators have taken his Bootcamps. They came in with varying abilities and backgrounds but with an enthusiasm for learning, and a drive to practice practice practice until their skills got to where they could look for professional work, or start creating on their own.

Eden Bachelder was one of Ty’s first students. She’s an artist who works in oil and acrylic paints, leather and many other mediums.  After taking Ty’s Bootcamps  she participated in  Bootcamp Comics (writing and pencilling The Three Kinds of Sex), and  Holmes Incorporated #1, (pencilling Nightclubbing with writer Kathleen Gallagher).

Holmes Inc. #1 Nightclubbing pg 7, by Eden Bachelder

Eden does other freelance work (she illustrated a government colouring book I lettered for her!).  Here’s a sample of Eden’s cartooning work (this one is called Citizen Chauvelin Adjusts Himself“).

Eden Bachelder

Christopher Yao is at work on his creator-owned comic Fauntkin. He has participated in both Holmes Incorporated comic books,

Holmes Inc. #1, Welcome to Holmes Incorporated, art by Christopher Yao, story by Greg Dunford, letters by Keiren Smith

and recently, drew The Adventures of Y Guy, a mini-comic that Toronto Cartoonists Workshop produced in-house for the YMCA of Greater Toronto (which is currently being reprinted).

The Adventures of Y Guy, pg 3, art by Christopher Yao, script by Kathleen Gallagher, colours/letters by Keiren Smith

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The Adventures of Y Guy is the first paid comics work of another former Bootcamper—Kathleen Gallagher. Kathleen wrote stories in each of the Holmes Incorporated issues (Night Clubbing with Eden Bachelder on art, for #1, and Eight Seconds to Mayhem for #2 with Danny Setna on art).

Adam Gorham was an artist on Holmes Incorporated #1 after taking classes with Ty (The Fingerless Prince with writer Heather Emme).

Holmes Inc. #1, The Fingerless Prince pg. 3, art by Adam Gorham, script by Heather Emme, letters by Keiren Smith

Adam’s first work was The Vampire Conspiracy and he is currently working on Teuton, an ongoing comic series he co-created with  Fred Kennedy.

Teuton, Vol. 2 Trolls attack, art by Adam Gorham

Daniel Wong took Ty’s Bootcamp a couple years ago and signed up for Fit to Print’s Holmes Incorporated when he was finished. His story, The Family Name was chosen as the first story for the issue. Pages like this were the reason why:

Holmes Inc. #2, The Family Name by Daniel Wong, script by James Cooper

Daniel is busy working as a freelance illustrator, recently finishing a commissioned story written by his Holmes Inc. collaborator, James Cooper (who is continuing to write comics, write and direct short films and writes Bagged and Bored for Tdot Comics). That work isn’t published yet–but I’m sneaking in a page here.

Old Haunts pg 4, art by Daniel Wong, script by James Cooper

One of the hardest working students to ever grace a Bootcamp has to be the one, the only Gibson Quarter! When other students were asking how to find their first work, Gibson was busy networking and finding his own here and abroad. He’s worked with Alan Grant for his Wasted Magazine, pencilling Grant’s War on Drugs. (Grant started Wasted Magazine through his company Bad Press; sadly, it’s now defunct).

Wasted, California pg 5, pencils by Gibson Quarter, script by Alan Grant

Gibson was one of the first students to take a Bootcamp course, and one of the very few who got to take all three versions. Having finished Parts 1 and 2, he was able to join in on the fun with Holmes Incorporated. He pencilled Flight Plan (for writer Robert Pincombe) for Issue 1, and Polarized for Issue 2 (written by Sam Ruano).

Holmes Inc. #2, Polarized, art by Gibson Quarter, script by Kathleen Gallagher

Gibson is a workhorse, so I couldn’t possibly list everything he’s done.  He’s worked for FutureQuake Magazine, producing both a cover and interior work for Issue 15. He pencilled The Gutters with Ryan Sohmer, drawing #244. He’s in the current issue of Undertow #2 from 7th Wave (which is on the stands NOW. Review HERE. You can buy a copy from The Comic Book Lounge & Gallery, the comic store sharing space with…Toronto Cartoonists Workshop!). Gibson’s currently finishing up the pencils and inks on a story for Heroes of the North–to find out what’s next for him make sure you check out his art blog.

Deadpool Breaking Bad, pencils by Gibson Quarter, inks by Guillermo Ortego, colours by Keiren Smith

You’ll notice that all those mentioned have participated in one or both issues of Fit to Print’s:  Holmes Incorporated. The next Fit to Print will be starting up soon (looking at end of April/beginning of May?); in order to participate students have to completed at least Comic Book Bootcamp Part One.

Holmes Inc. art by Gibson Quarter, colours by Keiren Smith

This is just a quick list of some of the creators who’ve taken Ty’s classes–just think, next time I write this list up…YOU could be on it.

Keiren

H-Day has arrived!

If you’re reading this before seven o’clock this evening, then you’ve still got time to get down to the TORONTO CARTOONISTS WORKSHOP,  587A College Street (at Clinton) and join in the fun for our launch party, celebrating the new issue of Holmes Incorporated!  We’ll have issues in hand, performing conjurers, circus acts and a host of comic creators to talk to about working on the new issue, except for the circus acts and conjurers.

Artwork by Dawnson Chen.

But a room packed with the next generation of hot comic book creators should be reason enough to drop by.  WHERE are you going to find a room FULL of comic creators this weekend, all in one place?  I mean outside of San Diego, obviously…

And if you need more reasons to come over and say hello, then I’ll give them to you:  Preview pages from the Holmes Incorporated mega-collection, being published tonight!  I’d like to say I’m saving the best for last, but we always offer up the best here at Art Land, and I believe in honesty.   But here’s more of the best below.

As lovely as these pages are, they become lovelier when you realize that Vince Tourangeau (author and penciler) had never ever drawn a comic story before this one.  And I don’t mean he hadn’t been published before today, I mean he hadn’t EVER written or drawn one.  For his rookie gig, he gives us one of the coolest stories in the book, and I ain’t kidding.  You gotta read “Enabled” to see the twists and turns our new auteur had up his sleeve.  Our returning champion inker, Jeff Longstreet, gave these pages the spit and polish that only Jeff can, and it all adds up to a heck of a rookie card.   Come and meet ’em both tonight, and pat them on the back.

“She died of rage.”  If that ain’t a great line, then I should eat my shoes.  And the story just gets better from there!   But it was that wonderful line by author Sam Ruano that sold me on this script when he first pitched it at me.  And there’s nobody better to sell the story than his artist, Gibson Quarter.  Gibson’s a bit of a ringer in our group, as  he’s already worked with some big name creators  in his career (Judge Dredd creator Alan Grant, Miracle Man artist Gary Leach, to name-drop a few), but he’s kind enough to lend us his hands when we get a script this good.  I’ll bet both Sam and Gibson have a few comic book war stories to share with the gang at the launch party.

Writer/Artist Marshall Geddes is one of those people that really makes me mad.  Like Vince Tourangeau, this is ALSO his first ever story, and it’s remarkably good for his first time out of the gate.  But Marshall was only SEVENTEEN YEARS OLD when he started this tale.  He’s just turned eighteen, so you can’t buy him a beer yet.  But he’s annoyingly good for someone that young.  If I was that good when I was that age, I’d probably own Marvel Comics by now.  Normally I encourage our creators, but Marshall must be stopped before he rules the world.  Jeff Longstreet’s steps in to give us more of his mighty brushwork, and Jeff did it all while on vacation!  The dedication of this guy is frightening.  A pox on both of them for being so good at this without the normal decades of hard work.

If you recall from the first set of preview pages on Tuesday, our issue starts off with the memorable image of Sherlock Holmes’ open grave and his rotting body.  As an editor, I know how to pick a heck of a curtain raising image.  Well, “Safe” ends up with the most shocking moment of the collection, and you don’t get to see it unless you come on down to TCW tonight.  Or, of course, you can see it when the issue is distributed to local comic stores, and is available free online.  Actually, you’ll get to see it in a lot of places, but I promise you’ll remember it once you do.   Aaron Feldman’s dynamic script packs a gutshot punch that’s worth whatever wait you have, and Rachael Wells turned in pencils so lovely and detailed that I couldn’t help it…I grabbed my kit and inked this one myself.  I only hope those two were as happy with my inks as I was with their issue-ending thriller.  Why don’t you come on down tonight and get their opinion?

All right, that’s enough out of me.  If you ain’t excited by all this new talent on display than you ain’t a comic fan.  And if you ain’t a comic fan, than you’re not invited to the launch party tonight.

But everyone else is.

TORONTO CARTOONISTS WORKSHOP,  587A College Street (at Clinton).  I’ll see you there!

Ty the Guy OUT!

Here now, your BONUS Holmes Incorporated COMIC MOMENT:

The teenaged Sherlock Holmes the Third. Art and colours by Christopher Yao.

And don’t forget to download Issue #1, with an equally amazing array of talent and fun, including, Rachael Wells, Gibson Quarter, Christopher Yao, and Jeff Longstreet, showing off THEIR first work with the Holmes Family.   You can find the free download HERE:

I believe we can officially call this the TCW Age of Comics, right?

(and, as always, to check out bios of the creators, and links to sites with more of their work, check out the Holmes Incorporated website–kts)

Holmes #2 is HERE! YAY!

It’s the home stretch, and we’re down to less than a hundred hours before you can have and read your OWN copy of Holmes Incorporated #2!  It’s coming out soon as a digital download, and actual paper and print copies will be arriving at our office to see, touch and hold on Friday, available as a mail order, or off the shelves in select comic stores in the Toronto Area.

Pencils and Inks, the lovely and talented Leonard Kirk, and coloured by the talented and lovely K.T. Smith.

So all this week, we’re handing out free previews of every story appearing in the second issue to whet the appetite of even the most jaded comic fan.  And yes, I know this is San Diego week, and I’m terribly sorry to be taking so much attention away from the goings on down there in California, but if we turn out to be more popular and talked about than some silly old convention, it’s not my fault they couldn’t keep up with us.

Yes, that’s the rotting corpse of the Great Detective.  We like to offend as many as possible on the very first page.  Script by future master, James Cooper, art by future superstar, Daniel Wong.

Next up, a delightful entry from Dino Caruso and Pierce Derochers-O’Sullivan, two towering talents with perhaps the coolest names in comics.

Poor little dead sea monster From Canada – You can find out what  happens in the full story on Friday!  Next, sway to the delicious rhythms of the dance, as we move to steamy South America with too-skilled-to-be-newcomers, Christopher Yao and Darius Fox.  (Okay, those are some kick-ass cool names too.)

Down boys, Sherlock’s great granddaughter is still a teenager.

Uh-oh.  Nefarious hands are reaching for our “Watson”.  That can’t be good, but it CAN be read and enjoyed on Friday.  I don’t believe in the soft sell, do I?

Our last preview pages for today (plenty more coming in the next few days though), comes your way, courtesy of the mind-bogglingly well-named Rain Infinity.  (Yup, his real name!).  Dig that crazy-good artwork, and wait til you read the rest of his story!  Wait, he’s a writer AND an artist, and he’s already great at both?

If you like the look of “Poker-Face”, you’re going to LOVE his bodyguard!

I haven’t even begun to show off the talent that’s contributing this giant sized issue of Holmes Incorporated, but I’ll continue doing so over the next few days.  The digital download will be FREE, just as it is with Holmes Incorporated #1–keep an eye on the Holmes Incorporated website to find out when it becomes available. You’ve got no darned excuse for not checking out the next generation of super-star writers and artists as they crash this party we call the comics industry.

See you tomorrow with more goodies and previews.

Ty the Guy OUT!

Here now, your BONUS Holmes Incorporated Moment, courtesy of the magnificently named Gibson Quarter (who ain’t no slouch when it comes to artwork!  Coloured by my other half of the sky, Keiren  Smith).

Don’t forget, you can digitally download the first issue already at GRAPHICLY, and it’s also free, because we love you guys and want you to read this stuff.

And check out the Holmes Incorporated Blog, where the contributors and their editor give you the DVD extras, with layouts, scripts, and behind the scenes goodies.

And of course, the fount of all this fun, the Toronto Cartoonists Workshop is always looking for new converts to the madness.  If you live in Ontario, drop by and learn yerself how to make funnybooks.

(for bios/contact info/deviantART sites etc of all of our creators, check out the Holmes Incorporated website.)