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

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.

Holmes for the Holidays! Well, Labour Day, anyway!

It’s that time of year again!  When the stunningly skilled graduating class of my Comic Book Bootcamp courses show off their scriptin’ and drawin’ Bona Fides  in another ALL NEW 80 page GIANT issue of mystery-solving Holmsian magnificence.

Ya gotta love that cover by Mississauga neighbour, and bouncing Bootcamp Alumni Adam Gorham (artist for Big Sexy Comics’ TEUTON series, when not knocking a Holmes cover out of the park for the team!).

Like Game of Thrones, only better.

But back to these characters:

art by Daniel Wong, colour by K.T. Smith

Issue three is heading to the printers as we speak, and I’ll be showing off some pages from the delightful contributors in the next few days.  Check back often and be the first on your interweb to see these new creators before anyone else finds ’em and hires them away to run Marvel Comics.

And if you’re interested in joining the all-scriptin’, all-drawin’ elite team of artists and writers,  classes continue in September.  All ages, genders, orientations and and sizes are welcome, but we allow only one attitude past the door:  You must be willing to participate.

Click on the magic logo, and find about the next courses being taught at the school! We’d love to have you join.

Who knows, maybe next ish, you’ll have a story in the fourth book of the series?  We’ve already helped launch a career or two around here.   Stay tuned for the next batch of stars.

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

Ty the Guy OUT!

Here now, your BONUS Holmes Incorporated Moment:

Last Year’s striking cover by Marvel X-Factor artist Leonard Kirk!

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

3

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

Sherlock Bun Toons! And a FREE 52 page COMIC!

I've eliminated the impossible, and what remains, however improbable, is meant to be funny.

It just happens sometimes.  You get into a certain head-space and there’s no stopping them when they come.  Please forgive me for this, I mean no harm.

There, you’ve survived.  Remain calm and seated, and you can read about my free comic book offer.

You’ve seen me promote this project a few times on this website, the HOLMES INCORPORATED collection that my school (The Toronto Cartoonists Workshop) puts out once a year, featuring the work of our former students, ready to show off their wares and impress the world of comics with their skills.  Well, we’re so excited by the whole thing, and we want everyone to see these comics, that we’ve decided to give them away FREE, as digital comics that ANYONE can download for nothing.  Yup, I said nothing.

You can get the FIRST issue this week at Drive Thru Comics right now!

Click on the image to be taken to our FREE offer.

 And we’ll be giving the SECOND issue, also for free, in two weeks time.  That’s over 120 pages of comics for zip.  Nada.  All we ask is that you enjoy ’em and give us a little feedback!

Click the magnifying glass to get a free digital version of issue #1 from DRIVE THRU COMICS right now!

Our TRIPLE sized issue #2 will be available digitally for FREE in two weeks! Dig that Leonard Kirk cover!

Who says this isn’t the Art-Land Age of mind-bogglingly good deals?

Ty the Guy OUT!

Here now, your Sherlock Holmes Bonus Comic moment:  (This is real, I didn’t make it up).

The game is a foot, and it's flying at your head, ninja style!

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For last week's patriotic Bun Toons, click the father of your country.

For every Bun Toon I've ever done, click the Rabbit's nose.

Toronto Cartoonists Workshop. Holmes Inc. Issue #2

Hey.

As some of you might recall, last year, the school I teach at (Toronto Cartoonists Workshop) put out their first issue of an all new adventure comic series “Holmes Inc.”  It was a wonderful experience for all concerned. lovely to read, well reviewed, and enjoyed by all who got a copy.  (I think there are still a few available…we’ll get to how to order one in a minute…)  Impossible as it was to believe, most of the work in the issue was from heretofore unpublished,  first time comic book artists and writers, ready to burst onto the scene and kick Joe Quesada and Jim Lee around the block a few times with their upstart-y enthusiasm and skills.

Anything with exploding aircraft and wheelchairs on the cover can’t be all bad, right?  And I THINK it had something to do with Sherlock Holmes and his descendants fighting world crime in the 21st Century.

Well, it’s starting up again…for issue #2.  In just a few short weeks, the gears start gearing and the submissions start submitting.  If you have graduated from any of the TCW classes (especially comic book bootcamp, storytelling or writing) and want to join in the fun for round #2 then head on over to the TCW homepage and let the king of TCW, Sean Menard, know that you want to play too.

TCW’s phone number is 647-328-1656 and the email is: info@cartoonistsworkshop.com

I hope to see some of the newer students head out this year, as well as welcoming back some of the creative studs and studdettes that helped make our first issue so good.

Oh, and if you can’t live another moment without your personal copy of issue #1, called “The Best Sherlock Holmes Comic Book Ever” (by my mother and some of my neighbours), then let Sean know your troubles when you contact him, and he’ll get one out to you.  A measly six bucks for 52 solid pages of tomorrow’s superstars is a pittance to pay.

Ty the Guy OUT

Here now, your Sherlock Holmes Comic Book Moment:

It’s…it’s…NOT Melvin!

FAN EXPO CANADA 2010–Saturday August 28

So, Ty’s still tired, and I have more photos!

Saturday–

Saturday is often my favourite day of a con–I get to go (unless it’s a boring-ass con, then I stay home.  Luckily, this wasn’t one of the boring-ass ones). My sister took my kids and Ty and I headed in (very slowly thanks to Toronto traffic) to the con. The drive took two hours instead of the usual thirty minutes, so I dropped Ty off while I went to park. By the time I got in, and found him over in Artists’ Alley, he had to go off to the Toronto Cartoonists Workshop booth to do a signing with Gibson Quarter.

Gibson Quarter and Ty Templeton at the TCW booth

I got to hang out with Gibson’s daughter, and David Cutler. David and I have been known to get caught up in an argument or two on Facebook, so it was fun to

David Cutler sketching

hang out in person (more than a few people pointed out that they’d never actually been in a room with me before, or for mere minutes years ago. Facebook is amazing for someone like me who gets stuck at home all the time–an actual social network!). I got to buy one of his Bucky O’Hare prints (allegedly for my eldest son), and when he would wander off on breaks, I managed to sell a few more for him ( he was doing pretty well for himself between his prints and commissions).

Artists’ Alley was pretty busy, so long in-depth conversations weren’t possible.  Sometimes, it wasn’t possible to manage much more than a wave–I’m not sure that I said more than two words to Dave Ross or Dan Parent who were just down from Ty. I snuck away for a couple of minutes to get some quick photos of Ty and Gibson (Ty hates having photos taken. I explained, “The blog is visual! Get over it!” ).

Things picked up when Ty returned…he’s pretty easy to spot and he has regulars who come to get a sketch from him at all the Toronto cons.  There were some who would look hesitantly at the name signs trying to figure out which one of the guys would be Ty–which is why he puts out big piles of his work to aid in the identification program.

Ty's space in Artists' Alley--note the big pile of books

When I’d been all on my lonesome minding his work, parents had come by with their three small boys, all dressed in Marvel costumes. The boys had flipped through Ty’s art work ooh-ing and ahh-ing and identifying–correctly–every single character I pointed at. Even in this piece,

and then this,

So I explained to the boys that if they came back after 4pm, that Ty would be able to do sketches for them. They returned later, Mom and Dad in tow who were very excited because they’d waited in line to see Stan Lee. Mom explained that, normally, the boys are bigger fans of DC Comics characters but that they had worn Marvel costumes in Stan’s honour!

A mini-debate raged as to which character each boy should get and Ty (father of three boys himself and no stranger to how long these debates can go) announced that he was doing each a picture of the character they were dressed as. Hulk was first and he was just big-eyed the entire time. When Spidey was next, Ty finished the quickie sketch with grey marker squiggles around the head.  The boys aahed in unison and quietly announced, “Spidey sense!” I think they were the highlight of the afternoon for me.

The son at work

I left to get my kids to their next babysitting relative. Ran into my eldest child on the way out at work at The Silver Snail booth.

Ty stayed for three more hours (the show time was extended as the waiting time outside was soooooooooooooooooooooo long for sooooooooooooooooooooo many. As I left, the story going around was that 1000 people had to leave in order for any to be admitted. Don’t know if that was true, but the staff member at the exit had a clicker in her hand).

I met up with Ty later, and we went out to dinner with a bunch from the Toronto Cartoonists Workshop. That was a lovely end to a busy, hectic day.

5…4…3…2…ONE!!! Holmes Incorporated on sale TOMORROW!

Over a hundred and twenty years in the making (if you count from the time “A STUDY IN SCARLET” was first published), and now down to 24 hours, the HOLMES INCORPORATED book is back from the printers, and ready to pass into the hands of the trembling-with-anticipation world.

Now, you can’t know your players without a scorecard, and we at Holmes Inc. headquarters are kind enough to provide one, because that’s the sort of caring individuals we are.

you might have to click on the image to make it large enough to read...

And here’s the last (BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST!!) teaser you’re going to get before the issue is released tomorrow… the first few panels from a delightful two-pager that caps off our 52 page 1st issue extravaganza.  We’ve been giving out two page previews for the other stories, but since our youngest creative genius, (twenty year old Pierce Desrochers-O’Sullivan) was creating a two page story, I can’t give it all out at once, can I?So there’s the first few panels to whet the appetite.   And if there isn’t some Shake’s Beer on sale in the real world soon, I’m causing a ruckus.  I LOVE that gag…

For those attending the FanExpo convention tomorrow and all weekend, you must promise not to mob these creators and tear at their clothes.  Yes, they’re about to become household words, like Jim Lee, or Jack Kirby, Paul McCartney or even Comet Cleanser, but they’re STILL HUMAN BEINGS!  Give them their dignity.

At this point, there’s so much Holmes stuff on this site, if you want to see more, just click on the category tag just below, where it says “HOLMES INC.” and you’ll be transported to a magical page where so much goodness can be had for the click of a mouse button, or an iphone punch, or whatever you kids are doing with your new fangled computo-machines.

Ty the Guy OUT!

Here now, your comic book moment of zen

T-Minus TWO DAYS and counting. Holmes is on the way!

We’re down to the wire.  I can see the wire over there, and it’s rushing up towards us at breakneck speed.  Holmes Incorporated is less than 72 hours from your hot little hands, and the air is electric with anticipation.

Today’s sensational story is written by Manly Mike Marano , penciled by the Amazing Alex Greychuck, and inked by Dapper Dean Dumont.   (Just one more day of the alliterative names, whew!)  While I love all the stories in this issue, this one holds a place in my heart as being the only tale to actually feature the original master detective, Sherlock himself.  But don’t worry, we ain’t wallowing in Victorian language and situations.  I’m fairly sure I recall some modern day machine gun-toting drug dealers show up later in the story.  But you’ll have to buy the issue to see all the gunfire.

An unsolved case?  So it wasn’t always so elementary, was it Watson?

Personally, I hope I never run into Mind-Spiders of Madagascar, but I’m a timid sort and faint easily.  For those who can survive that kind of heart stopping thrill, have we got a comic for YOU!

Here’s yesterday’s entry.  Go HERE for more previews.  Go HERE for a large image of the cover!  Here for more pages!  Here for even MORE pages! and HERE for more preview art again.  With 52 big pages to fill, we’ve got tons of stories to tell, and the game is afoot in every darn one!   See you at the convention this weekend, you lucky comic fans!

Ty the Guy OUT!

In honor of the mind-spiders, here now, your comic book moment of zen:

THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS…3….

Just three days before we launch Holmes Incorporated out into an eager world.  Three days before FanExpo, and three days before all my soon-to-be-published and soon-to-be-big-shot friends see their hard work come to fruition.

Today’s this-can’t-really-be-their-first-published-work entry comes from Magnificent Madeleine Beaupré (script),  Ravishing Rachael Wells (pencils), and Popular Pierce Desrochers-O’Sullivan (inks).  Besides being another fabulous and fun story, I believe this entry has the advantage of being created by the three most wonderful creators’ names in the biz.  They all sound like stars, now they get to shine like ’em.

I know I’m biased, but I love that shot of Trey Holmes leaping for joy at the end of page one.

Going undercover at an all-girl’s school…?  Where do I volunteer?

To finish this pulse pounding tale of terrificness, show up at FanExpo and pick up your own amazingly inexpensive copy of HOLMES INCORPORATED No. #1, and prove you’re just that savvy.

Go HERE for yesterday’s Bobby Bomber pages.  Go HERE for the cover!  Here for more pages!  Here for even MORE pages! and HERE for more pages.   The TCW age of Comics has arrived, or at least it will in a mere three days.  Tomorrow, check back for even MORE exciting work from tomorrow’s superstars of comics.

TY THE GUY OUT!

Here now, your  comic book moment of zen