What Do Editors Do, Anyway?

Mainly editors work at getting stories assigned and done on time. Often they say encouraging things to members of their creative teams, especially when one is terribly green. Sometimes they request changes.

My first two regular gigs at Marvel, now long ago, were with editor Mike Rockwitz. He gave me some of that early encouragement, telling me I was getting better every month. More generous than accurate, but very good for me to hear at that point.

Like, I think,  most comic book artists, I experienced few instances of actually being directed to change my work over the years, and only one that originated with Mike. He was doing what any artist would want an editor to do: He kept me from looking like a idiot. Which I will now undo.

Here's the cliffhanger splash I drew to end one issue, a couple months into my run on Nick Fury Agent of SHIELD. This scene was written by SHIELD scribe Greg Wright to be a surprisingly tense confrontation between Fury and Captain America. I don't need to tell you the reasons Mike had me redraw it, do I? You do have to give me some credit for managing to be both stiff and limp at the same time. Not many could.

(This wince-inducing and once blissfully forgotten fragment of my artistic history came sailing back to me from Marvel Art Returns just a year or so ago, two decades after the fact.)

So how did I redraw it? A lot better, with an uncredited assist from the Law of Averages. It was further enhanced by the excellent inking of Don Hudson.

Thought you might enjoy this little behind-the-scenes.

Thanks, Mike. And Greg, for the many times you steered me away from terminal dullness on SHIELD. Or tried to!

JH
P.S.: Also recovered, an equally weak 2nd try, which
I can't even bring myself to scan!

Siri Series

What Japanese cartoonists visualize when their iPhones talk to them. There's an incredibly wide range of abilities (and degrees of misogyny) here, but since it's Japanese, we can all be comforted by the lack of distinct individual styles. Sigh...
Siri sounds like the word for butt in Japanese, which partially explains some of these.

JH

Two VERY different Offerings

Courtesy of my good pal Ronn Sutton, an unmissable link for Kubert fans that reminds how close examination of Kubert's work, appreciative or analytical, is an encounter with the depth and breadth of his ability. I can only think of a handful of other artists whose every line was infused with such emotionality--and none other who balanced that with such formal and storytelling smarts and deep drawing knowledge.

I wouldn't be shocked if this link didn't stay up so, git ta downloadin', chillun!

Second, from the worthy comics newsite bleedingcool, a trailer for a digital comic that heralds the coming of a new open-source digital comics platform, supposedly, but comes off like middle-aged Limp Bizkit paired with an advertising storyboard, rather than a comic. (I've never heard of the similarly titled work that this one is inspired by.)

I give you former Marvel President Bill Jemas, and his new opus, "Get the F#ck Up"
Watch it with someone you love.
JH