Dave Crosland's ALPHABET ATTACK!

"Bulletproof Bastard"

2012-03-07T09:40:00.001-08:00

"Out my face! Fool, I'm the illest! Bulletproof... I die harder than Bruce Willis!"
- King Gum Crosland

"Aristosaur"

2012-03-06T08:02:00.000-08:00

Be it billionaire ball or statesman soiree, this dapper dino is always at his finest. Sleek scales draped in soft silk... razor teeth and brimstone breath, bellowing tales of financial conquest and world travel. Maybe he's born with it. Or maybe it's his crack team of caveman tailors and dietitians. Whatever his secret is, The Aristosaur remains the ultimate Cretaceous sartorialist.

"They've just been waiting in a mountain, for the right moment.
And listening to the irritating noises of dinosaurs and people dabbling outside."
- David C

Back In Business!

2012-03-05T11:06:00.000-08:00

Like Ghostbusters 2 and Electric Boogaloo, ALPHABET ATTACK! is back in business!

While I won't be picking up where Series 3 left off (just yet), this week will mark the launch of a whole new set of ideograph-inspired illustrations. I'll be bringing a new level of raw power to these pieces, brought from the depths of an extremely "work immersive" winter. Don't say you weren't warned.

It all starts tomorrow with The Letter A.

"Tell 'em it's their love that got me this far, and it's my dreams I see their faces in."

- David Crosland

Alphabet Attack! Returns In 2012

2011-11-04T12:04:00.000-07:00

Hello, fine followers of Alphabet Attack!

I sincerely apologize for my lack of posts, this past month. To be honest, I simply haven't had time to commit to the blog and the list of illustrations I have in store for it. With new commercial work on my plate, plus a glut of travel between my last post and the end of 2011, something had to give. For better or worse, Alphabet Attack! has become that "something."

But don't run into the hills, screaming, just yet. The Attack! will return. It's just on hold for now, while I handle my business and keep the lights on in the studio.

Though she'll be hibernating for the start of winter, Alphabet Attack! will return in January 2012, bigger, badder and stronger than ever. I'll be continuing with the current, creepy-ass series that started with "Almost Anonymous" and "Bigot Brutality." We'll pick things back up with the completion of "Coral Carnivore," and plow ahead from there.

In the meantime, you can keep up on my art exploits, release announcements and Holiday merchandise sales via my art blog, On The Slate.

Take care and I'll see you on the other side of New Years!

"Here comes Susie Snowflake, dressed in her snow white gown. Tap-tap-tapping at your window pane to tell you she's in town!"
- David C.

"Coral Carnivore" Early Glazes

2011-09-16T17:59:00.000-07:00

Here's a peek at the early stages of my opaque painting process. While these colors are still fairly transparent, they're thicker and more purposeful than what I did in the under painting.

I prefer to determine my darkest areas in a painting early on, so that's where I tend to start my attack. Once I'd gotten the base bright pink color placed in the sky, I started darkening up the stone archway around our evil siren.

While the arch will be pretty dark both above and below the water, I still want to maintain a difference in warmth and coolness between each side of the surface. To do this, I've used a dark brown for the stone above the water (warm) and a dark blue for the stone below it (cool).

Lastly for today, I've begun laying in the darkest parts of the hidden sea beastie. Along with the gaping maw of his hungry mouth and his eerie pupils, I've also started to darken the linework on him. I'll do this throughout the piece, in a manner that's similar to inking with a brush. This process helps me keep my drawing strong, while I build up layers of paint.

From here on out, I really just have to dive in and paint like a fiend. A lot of thought and consideration goes into taking the piece from this to its completion. But with the right music and mood, those conscious thoughts will fall into the background. When I'm really on a roll, I'll detach myself from the process... almost like I'm watching myself paint. And that's the Jedi trance action I'm aiming for.

That's all for this week! Tune in on Monday for more Alphabet Attack!

"What I do? I called up the Geto Boys crew, 'cause my mind's playing tricks on me too!"
- Dave

"Coral Carnivore" Step Three

2011-09-14T13:46:00.000-07:00

The next stage of "Coral Carnivore" is one of my personal favorites -- the under painting! This is the point where I really begin developing the chroma (color) and value (light & dark) tones of a painting. With this piece, I went about this using thin layers of paint and a spoonful of spontaneity.

Under painting is like live art for me, in that I rely mostly on creative instinct -- I let the beast take hold and attack the canvas in a flurry. By doing so, I'm able to accomplish a lot of spontaneous, bold mark-making. Since this layer will inevitably be glazed over with more opaque layers of paint, there's a lot of freedom in how I apply the color. I've found that this helps me create bold marks that I wouldn't have made otherwise, especially during the more tedious painting steps to come.

Now that I'm beyond the drawing stage, I've also begun working out the puzzle of painting coral. Coral itself is an otherworldly, colorful sea creature. And it comes in all shapes and sizes. Rather than draw it first, I'm relying totally on texture and brush strokes to bring it to life. The spontaneity here is extremely helpful in conveying the alien landscape look of coral. But I'll have to maintain my sense of design & draftsmanship as I take it to completion. I'm not out of the woods yet....

Keep an eye out for the more developed painting stages of "Coral Carnivore," at the end of this week!

"You bring the ladies and I'll bring the brew! Oh shit, anotha' barbeque!"
- King Gum

"Coral Carnivore" Step Two

2011-09-12T16:08:00.001-07:00

As you can see, Step Two of "Coral Carnivore" involved going from the initial sketch to a finished drawing. At first, I was reluctant to do a complete redraw for this piece. Maybe it was a pang of laziness, but I was so in love with the sketch (see last Thursday's post), that I almost didn't see the point in recreating that image from scratch. But in the end, I harnessed my weekend work ethic and channeled it into this finalized drawing.

The core elements here are essentially the same as in the sketch. I've tweaked the devilish siren a bit, and added some extra details to her toothy lower half.

I also added a stone archway to the scene, further emphasizing the fact that this beastie is lurking in a shallow cove. I've actually been to places like this, along the California coast. They are truly gorgeous, awe-inspiring scenes. I highly recommend visiting the ocean, as often as possible. There's nothing like standing next to a force of nature that's loaded with mystery, unseen creatures and corpses. It's beautiful and frightening, all at the same time.

Lastly, I found a strange satisfaction in taking the time to redraw this piece. A lot of Classical painters and 20th Century illustrators whose work I admire would endure the rigorous task of creating preliminary drawings, before ever touching the canvas. Some would even create whole paintings, just to work out the kinks in their plan for what would be the real finished piece.

That's something I've always wanted to incorporate in my work. I know it doesn't really jive with our push-button, instant gratification society. But it felt amazing taking the extra time to push myself from an already satisfactory drawing, and on to something that reached for even higher ground.

Stay tuned this week for the next steps of "Coral Carnivore!"

"I'm in the cube & I'm deep in the toilet! Way down deep where no good shit gets started!"
- Dave

"Coral Carnivore" Step One

2011-09-08T15:00:00.001-07:00

The Letter C stands for "Coral Carnivore." This one popped into my head at random, and immediately brought Sea Monsters to mind. Specifically, those devilish creatures known as "sirens!"

For the concept drawing above, I just jumped right in with a dark black pencil. I quickly drew a light gesture, in about 3 minutes max. Then I began to finesse the darker, fine lines out of the piece.

Here, we have an aquatic siren who, like mermaids, is notorious for leading many a sailor to a watery grave. Siren lore I'm familiar with sometimes describes these fathom phantoms as lures... attractive bait attached to a toothy behemoth ambush predator that's lurking just below the sea. Hence the bruiser tucked underneath our scaly lady.

I do like the concept of the sexy siren who -- though beautiful and alluring above the ocean's surface -- is a gruesome killer below the water. You may notice that the hand she's dipping into the tide is sharper and more monstrous than her other hands. In the final piece, I want to convey the idea that she looks completely different when viewed underwater... as if her strange beauty up above is just a trick of the light.

And of course, her having four arms is a creepy cherry atop the spooky sundae.

Tune in tomorrow, as I dig into the full-blown illustration!

"This is the sound of what you don't know killing you. This is the sound of what you don't believe -- still true."
- Dave

"Bigot Brutality"

2011-09-07T17:39:00.001-07:00

At last, here's the finished painting for "Bigot Brutality." I had to scramble to get this done in between other work (and I do mean scramble!). But it was a fun exercise in acrylic glazes, for me.

Much like "Almost Anonymous," the approach on this was relatively traditional. I laid down light washes, slowly building up my under-painting. And as things got more developed, the more opaquely I started to paint. There's actually a ton of transparency in this piece.

The odd thing about fine art illustration is that it's much more subjective to mood and artsy musings than say, a random freelance job. I can't tell you how many times I found myself gazing thoughtfully out the studio window, glass of bourbon in hand, pondering the volatile nature of race relations and acrylic paint....

Tune in tomorrow for the start of my illustration for The Letter C - "Coral Carnivore!"

"No rapper can rap quite like I can! I'll take a musclebound man and put his face in the sand!"
- Dave

"Bigot Brutality" Step 3

2011-08-26T18:05:00.001-07:00

Wowzers! My schedule today was way too loaded for me to complete "Bigot Brutality" without the help of my trusty clone. Still, in his absence, I was able to put time into the early painting stages. I started off by applying a color wash, bringing the various elements in the composition together by giving them an overall tone. I chose a transparent blue, since I'm imagining this as a cold painting with some key explosions of warmth.

Along with the blue, I roughly painted in areas where I plan on unleashing said warmth.

From there, I started building up my darkest areas. The police dog, parts of the officers' uniforms, random shadows -- I knew right off the bat that these areas were going to be (more or less) black. So knocking 'em out early frees up my brain to focus on more challenging elements of the piece, that are yet to come.

Whew! It's been a topsy-turvy week for Series 3. But the creative fires are stoked! I'll be putting some time into "Bigot Brutality" over the weekend, in between jobs. I hope to have the finished piece ready to post on Monday. Next week will also be the start of the illustration for The Letter C. Aw yeah....

In the meantime, have a fun & sweaty weekend!

"Reflections, arrows, glory!"
- King Gum

"Bigot Brutality" Step Two

2011-08-25T15:48:00.000-07:00

Going from sketch to final for "Bigot Brutality" was a straightforward affair. Rather than using the collage method I employed with "Almost Anonymous," I drew directly onto the canvas. This time around, I chose to work on a gessoed piece of matte board (14 x 22").

Working very quickly with a combination of dark pencils, I tore into the drawing. Large shapes were knocked out with the quickness. Then, I start filling in the details.

Again, these are very fast hits in pencil. The steps above came together in a short bundle of minutes. There's an energy and simple (yet powerful) geometry in gestures that I long to preserve, all the way through a piece. It helps that I listen to loud and obnoxious music while I work, to keep me pumped. I'll bop and dance while drawing and take steps back from the piece for a broader view. The more physical I can make my work experience, the better!

You may also notice that this first pass on the drawing features a mean ol' police dog gnawing at our victim's arm. While I dug the dog, I didn't appreciate what it did to the composition. In the end, I traded the toothy brute for a nice plot of negative space.

The mid-level details were laid in with general ease and speed. Again, the music was a big help in smoothing out the typical kinks one can encounter, working on a finalized drawing.

The background police dog became the stand-alone canine. So I enhanced him a bit, making him larger and giving him an even bigger maw of jagged teeth.

The central policeman came together with particular ferocity. The smoldering from his eyes was drawn from some of my illustration works from 2009 and 2010, and signifies some inhuman evil that's bubbling out of him.

Next, I focused on bringing together the man being brutalized. His face & torso were tightened up. I scribbled in the details of his limbs, and got a cool idea for the painting stage, involving the tattered sleeve of his left arm.

You can see that the big foreground dog has been erased. He's still visible, but at least he's out of the way for bolder lines.

The final stage of the drawing came to a raucous conclusion. I think I was somewhere between Saul Williams and The Doors for these last steps and finer details, which meant lots of writhing and stomping while I drew.

The policeman & dog in the background were tight as could be, with their darks filled in and everything. And I used paint to white-out the remnants of the larger dog drawing. It's almost like he was never there!

The fine lines and darks were filled in on both the cop and the victim. And like that, I was done!

Tune in tomorrow afternoon for the completion of "Bigot Brutality!"

"Stole my sneakers but your feet just never fit in. Serves you right for trying to walk a mile outside your limits."
- King Gum Crosland

"Bigot Brutality" Step One

2011-08-24T14:27:00.000-07:00

"Bigot Brutality" jumped into my brain as soon as I sat down to conjure up an illustration for The Letter B. Before my pen even touched my notebook, my imagination was overflowing with images of demonic police officers dispensing a one-sided, hate-fueled beat down to an unarmed Black man. I even sketched rough layouts for a couple other B concepts. But I always fell back, right into this piece.

While my illustration is based on the violence of the 1960's era Civil Rights Movement, this is easily a universal & timeless issue. Sadly, no matter where or when you are in this world, you're never really too far from the lurking evil of authoritarian savagery.

The concept drawings above are both 11 x 17", ink and gesso on paper. Check in for a special Thursday post, tomorrow, to see the next step for this illustration!

"Five to one, baby. One in five. No one here gets out alive."
- Dave

"Almost Anonymous"

2011-08-23T15:15:00.001-07:00

Here, at last, is the finished illustration, "Almost Anonymous." (9 x 12" , acrylics & collage on cardboard). The last time you saw this piece, it was simply a line drawing. But through several hours of meticulous acrylic glazing, I was able to whip it into the shape you see before you.

In the final work, we see that our masked She-Devil has betrayed her lover, and is slicing him open like a fresh fish. Despite his immense size advantage, her victim is caught unawares and easily dispatched. All the poor fool can manage is to unmask her and peer into the face of his own doom, as his kingdom burns around him and Death comes bloody and grim.

I knew I wanted this to be a darker piece, both in tone and actual look. And I ended up putting a lot of time into building up the subtleties in the shadows. When I'm painting (or even inking), I imagine myself physically carving out the deep, dark areas in a piece. It can be a slow process, but I find that it works for my creative mindset. Maybe it's based on my constant craving for process, rooted in my love of printmaking. Or it could be from when I was much younger and worked in clay as much (if not more) than I did in pencil, ink and paint.

Now that I'm back on track with Alphabet Attack!, I'll be kicking into then next piece in Series 3. Look for the raw beginnings of the "B" illustration tomorrow, August 24th.

"My man, where you going? You can't escape. When the Tribe is in the house, that means nobody is safe."
- Dave Crosland

Postponed for SUPER IAM8BIT

2011-08-10T09:27:00.000-07:00

Whew! Sorry for being M.I.A. on the blog posts. But I've had to put down Alphabet Attack! for a few days, in order to prepare for the SUPER IAM8BIT exhibition that opens this week!

photo by Jonathan Drake

As some of you may know, I illustrated the poster for the event. And I'll have an exciting piece of art hanging on the walls. But the fantastic crew at IAM8BIT also asked me to come in and art-bomb the bejeezus out of their lovely new space. So between Sunday and Tuesday, I got to rock on two immaculate Galaga arcade cabinets, two doors and an entire flight of steps. SO much fun!

If you're in the Los Angeles area, please join us for the SUPER IAM8BIT opening reception, tomorrow night from 7-11pm (info below). And if you don't live here, fret not. I'll be posting photos online for all to enjoy.

SUPER IAM8BIT
2147 W. Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026
*Opening Night Extravaganza: August 11, 7-11pm*
www.iam8bit.com

Attack! Series 3 will be back on track next week. In the meantime, thanks for your patience!

"I don't care, pretty baby. Just take me with you."
- Dave

Friday Post Postponed!

2011-08-05T09:09:00.000-07:00

Egads! Turns out I need to use today to jam on freelance work, so I'm postponing today's post.

But fear not! You can still enjoy the two in depth posts from earlier this week, detailing my creative process. And look forward to a completed "Almost Anonymous," plus the start of next week's illustration, on Monday.

Now, I'm off to paint some comic pages!

Have a swell weekend,
- Dave

"Almost Anonymous" - Wednesday

2011-08-03T17:26:00.000-07:00

Picking up where I left off on Monday -- I wasn't totally satisfied with the "Almost Anonymous" sketch that I posted, earlier this week. So as I worked toward the final illustration, I decided to do some more sketching. I kept things very gestural, trying to nail a composition using as few lines as possible. And I finally hit the mark I was aiming for, with the doodle in the upper left corner of the above image. The feel of that simple figure sketch set off a blaze in my imagination. And that's what I was looking for.

From there, I dove straight into a graphite drawing of what would be the final image. I whipped this out quickly, pouring as much raw power as I could pack into the lines. One of my visual mainstays is energy... motion. So I'm very conscious of maintaining that, through each step of a piece.

This gangsta-ass economy being what it is, there's no shame in recycling materials. Even a scrap piece of cardboard from an old sketchbook can make a worthy canvas. All you need is masking tape, gesso & some pixie dust!

Using scrap board can be a gambit. For instance, when I gessoed the front of this sheet of cardboard, it warped like a bad acid trip. So I flipped it over and gessoed that back, as well. This is a surefire trick for flattening out a warped board. Plus, having a coat of gesso on each side of the cardboard helps make it sturdier in the long run. Boosh!

Since I was so happy with the rough drawing I produced, I decided not to waste time redrawing the whole thing from scratch. Instead, I cut out the most important parts of the sketch (the figures) and collaged them right onto my gessoed board. Normally, I'd use an acrylic medium as a glue. But I'm fresh out of mediums, so I went with my trusty gesso. I applied an even coat where needed. Then I carefully affixed the drawing, making sure to eliminate any nasty air pockets beneath the paper.

Because I used the original sketch for the collage, the loose graphite combined with the gesso to create a pale gray tone. As sloppy as it may look, I could clearly see the important elements of my sketch. And with some colored pencils I stole from a kindergartner, I went in and started enhancing said elements -- solidifying some lines, adjusting others -- until it came out just the way I wanted it.

Next thing I knew, I had a completed drawing, just waiting for me to get all painty with it!

I know this may seem like a lot of extra steps, but I'm a sucker for process. A lot of the classical painters & illustrators whose work I enjoy would create meticulous "rough" drawings and paintings, before finally tackling their finished works. And while it contrasts the impatient pace of modern life, I still feel like those early steps leading up to a finished illustration are essential. That is, when the vast chasm of a deadline isn't two steps in front of me.

Stay tuned for the competed painting, this Friday!

"You can crush us. You can bruise us. But you'll have to answer to, ooo-oh, The Guns of Brixton."
- Dave

"Almost Anonymous" Monday

2011-08-01T15:02:00.000-07:00

The title for this one came to me over a month ago, back when I first started tinkering with ideas for this, the third series of Alphabet Attack! That phrase -- "Almost Anonymous" -- just sorta popped into my head. And being the perv that I am, it immediately lead to thoughts of anonymous lovers... bodies jumbled like a word puzzle in some Caligula tribute, with everyone wearing creepy masks a la Eyes Wide Shut.

Then, it dawned on me to spice things up with a bit of murder. So I landed on the idea of a masked woman, about to make a clean getaway after slicing up her man of the evening like some wild lady-mantis. Only, in his passionate death throes, the unfortunate stud has managed to uncover the gorgeous visage of his sated femme fatale.

The above sketch is watercolor & graphite on mixed media paper, 9 x 12". While it's a rough approximation of what I have in mind for the final piece, I think this is only hitting half of the marks I'm aiming for. Before I take this to canvas or board or whatever, I'll pour over the subject matter a bit more, play with shapes and angles and, finally, attack a composition that I think really pushes what I'm going for here. Glad to have you all along to watch the process unfold!

Stay tuned for Wednesday's post, which will feature the next exciting steps of this week's illustration!

"I'm not a player. I just crush a lot."
- Dave

Here Comes Series 3!

2011-07-29T09:13:00.000-07:00

This coming Monday marks the long-awaited start of Alphabet Attack! Series 3. So I thought I'd let you know what's in store....

No More Fan Art
Series 1 & 2 consisted entirely of "fan art" -- illustrations based on science fiction and comic books that are well known in the realm of Pop Culture. But for Series 3, I'll be dealing entirely with creator-owned subject matter. I had a blast and learned a lot with the first two runs of Alphabet Attack!, drawing some of my favorite characters from Star Wars & Battlestar Galactica to G.I. Joe & Transformers. But getting to work with people & worlds of my own make & design is a big part of this next phase of the blog.

A New Format
Rather than the Monday through Friday, daily rush to bring you fresh drawings, Series 3 will be presented in a weekly format. Basically, Alphabet Attack! is about to become an in depth process blog, with updates three days a week --

Monday - I'll post the alphabet alliteration phrase for the week, along with sketches of the illustration I plan on making to go with the words.

Wednesday - You'll get to see the work-in-progress, and read notes on my creative process as I forge ahead.

Friday - The finished illustration will hit the blog and shine for all to see!

So instead of 26 days of art, you'll be getting 26 weeks. To quote Kool Aid Man, "Oh yeah!"

The Future
Alphabet Attack! has been a huge success, mostly because of fan/collector support & enthusiasm. With that in mind, I've decided to add an interactive aspect to Series 3.

Every four illustrations I create for the blog, I'll ask viewers to vote on their favorite one. Whichever of the four pieces wins will go on to be released as a limited edition print. This is the chance for fans to play a pivotal role in deciding which of my works goes on to a second collectible life!

So that's how it's all going to shake out, more or less. I'm so glad you've decided to stick with me and my artwork for this long. And I'm ecstatic to begin bringing you even more delicious eye candy and creative insight through this blog, in the weeks to come.

"Feel good to relax it, shake it on like me! Loose booty!!!"
- Dave

Last Week to Purchase Series 1 & 2 Drawings...

2011-07-28T15:59:00.000-07:00

I'm rapidly gearing up for Alphabet Attack! Series 3. With that in mind, I'm giving collectors one last week to purchase remaining pieces from Series 1 and 2.

The works below are still available. They are 9"x12" and range in price from $125 to $215 (with shipping). If interested, please contact me directly via email to inquire about a specific piece. Drawings will be marked "SOLD" as they go.

These pieces will be kept up until Friday, August 5th. After that, it's off to the archives. So don't sleep on this opportunity to own original art from the mixed-media, daily art whirlwind that's revolutionized the way I create illustrations and entertained the worldwide masses!

"Zarana"

"Yearning Youth"

"Xena!"

"Wintry Woman"

"Vicious Vivisector"

"Unscrupulous Usurper"

"Teenage Turtles" SOLD

"Scoundrels"

"Ronin Runt Rearing"

"Quacky Quarreler"

"Properly Puffed"

"Occult Operator"

"Miami Mobster"

"Katana Kid"

"Jumbo Jughead"

"Ironclad Invincibility"

"Gruesome Gunslinger"

"Feline Felon"

"Cunning Cobra Couple"

"Bushido Bloodbath"

"All American"

"Zealous Zionite"

"Xerophile"

"Virtual Vixen"

"Unbeatable Underdog"

"Terrible Twos"

"Oppressive Overlord"

"Necromantic Ninja"

"Murderous Machinery"

"Lethally Leggy"

"Killer Keepsakes"

"Frankenstein's Freak"

"I've got a Chevy with a Mopar cam. I'll be your Johnny on the spot."
- Dave, aka King Gum

Prints & Books, Series 3 and Beyond!

2011-06-10T12:21:00.000-07:00

As you may already know, Series 2 of Alphabet Attack! wrapped up earlier this week. It's been insanely fun, churning out these works for your regular enjoyment. This blog originated as a way for me to sharpen my illustration skills, speed up my decision making, and exercise some old fanboy demons. But it's been a special bonus finding so many new fans & supporters along the way. With that in mind, I thought I'd let you know what's in store for the future of this ongoing project.

Prints & Collections
I've had a lot of people contact me, asking if I plan on creating prints of these works or collecting them into a book. Well after some long consideration and counsel from my menagerie of birds, I've decided that I WILL be reprinting these illustrations in one of those formats... maybe even both!

Right now I'm exploring my options and how I may best cover my ass legally. After all, this is a huge jumble of copyrighted material. Considering how much bootleg merch of mainstream properties I've seen circulating at comic conventions, I'm guessing there has to be a way for little ol' me to make this happen. But realistically, all it takes is one Cease And Desist letter to bring the whole thing crashing down around me.

So keep an eye out for updates. My goal is to have the goods on hand for TR!CKSTER and Comic-Con, schedule and legality permitting.

Series 3
The first two runs of Alphabet Attack! both consisted of fan art... homages to the wonderful assortment of stories and characters that have inspired me throughout my life. But for Series 3, I plan on strictly doing creator-owned subject matter.

Don't get me wrong -- I love doing my own interpretations of other people's stuff. But I believe most artists truly glow when expressing their own concepts and imaginary worlds. And it's about time I got down with some of that action!

I'll also be switching from the daily format to something a bit more spread out. There will be more time in between finished illustrations, but with progress shots and in-the-works updates in between.

Essentially, Alphabet Attack! is about to become a themed process project. And I'm making room for some fun new aspects, including fan participation/voting, prints, and prizes!

With San Diego Comic-Con & TR!CKSTER on the horizon, I'm going to be pressed for time between now and late July. But I'll keep you guys posted on the developments with Series 3, as well as future merchandise from Series 1 & 2. In other words, "stay tuned."

"What a fool believes, he sees."
- Dave Crosland
Lord of Letters

"Zarana"

2011-06-08T16:43:00.000-07:00

Last but not least, we have the letter Z, represented by the omega of Series Two -- Zarana! Her punked-out villainy has held a special place in my heart, since I first saw her on the after school cartoon scene. Guess I've had a thing for tough chicks since I was a kid.

This G.I. Joe baddie is a Dreadnok enforcer, master of disguise and all-around rude girl. With her Australian accent, guttersnipe attitude and hot-pink hair, Zarana comes off like an evil, gun-toting Cyndi Lauper. And not only does she score extra points for being Zartan's sister. She gets a mad bonus because -- believe it or not -- she replaced The Baroness as Destro's main squeeze for a time, after that whole Cobra-La fiasco. Seriously. Now that's some Queen Bee shit right there!

9" x 12" / mixed media on watercolor paper
$206 for US / $215 for international (includes shipping)
To purchase, email Dave Crosland

"Yearning Youth"

2011-06-07T16:56:00.000-07:00

Well, my admitted appreciation for Blade of The Immortal has blossomed into full-on obsession. This is proven by the fact that I've actually trolled the Internet for sneak peeks at issues of the comic that haven't been translated into English yet. Yeah... I'm hooked. But addiction be damned, I am in love with this series. And even though she isn't a natural born warrior, Asano Rin is an incredible central character.

A teenage girl determined to avenge her murdered parents, Rin is constantly chased, threatened, ripped-off, attacked and kidnapped. But as the books go on, she undergoes an amazing transformation. Though she doesn't exactly evolve into a steel-wielding death machine like Manji, Rin does toughen up. She finds the courage to take charge of her own life, and accept the ills of the murderous path she's chosen. And thanks to some brilliant character arc work, Rin actually grows up a bit. It's like every challenge she overcomics takes away a piece of her innocence, but leaves her with the physical and mental tools to become a legend in her own time.

9" x 12" / mixed media on watercolor paper
$206 for US / $215 for international (includes shipping)
To purchase, email Dave Crosland

"Xena"

2011-06-06T20:44:00.000-07:00

As I've mentioned before, a lot of my Nerd Powers were inherited. And today I decided to honor my Father before me, with a drawing of one of his faves -- Xena: Warrior Princess.

I'll admit, I never really understood why my Dad was so into this show while it was on the air. But after recently seeing a few episodes, I totally get it -- it's a bunch of tough, busty, smart-mouthed women kicking evil's ass all across an Old World fantasy landscape. And the main heroine is doing it all in studded-leather Grecian bondage armor. What's not to love?

9" x 12" / mixed media on watercolor paper
$206 for US / $215 for international (includes shipping)
To purchase, email Dave Crosland

"Wintry Woman"

2011-06-03T18:45:00.001-07:00

Whether you know her from her days running with the Hellfire Club or her time teaching at Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, it's clear that Emma Frost (aka The White Queen) has always been a cool customer.

I got into Miss Frost during the pilot run of Generation X, being drawn in by Chris Bachalo's incredible illustrations. But I quickly became a fan of this smart-mouthed, telepathic educator in white dominatrix gear. I was amazed that anyone would let this woman near children, dressed like that. But I also enjoyed the fact that Emma seemed to downright loathe the kids/teammates she was sworn to aid and protect. It made for some classic villain-turned-good scenarios that totally played to my deep appreciation for baddies. And Generation X, overall, helped maintain my interest in superhero comics, during my transition from high school to college.

9" x 12" / mixed media on watercolor paper
$156 for US / $165 for international (includes shipping)
To purchase, email Dave Crosland

"Vicious Vivisector"

2011-06-02T22:43:00.001-07:00

In my continuing love affair with all things villainy, tonight's drawing features a true master of depravity -- Shira, the loathsome murderer, torturer and all-out madman nemesis of Manji in Blade of The Immortal.

The raw brutality of Shira's actions earn him high marks among doers. But the nonchalant, almost playful way in which he operates is what really chills me to the bone. He's like a modern serial killer, set loose in Feudal Japan. And with his penchant for carving the flesh of his enemies, young girls and even himself, Shira makes the perfect foe for the undying antihero of the series. And just like Manji, he's got a knack for coming back from seemingly certain death, again and again.

9" x 12" / mixed media on watercolor paper
$156 for US / $165 for international (includes shipping)
To purchase, email Dave Crosland

"Unscrupulous Usurper"

2011-05-31T19:48:00.000-07:00

As a boy, I was a total fiend for The Transformers. I watched the cartoon from the very first airing of the pilot episode. Then my folks bought me a Bumblejumper* toy and a couple coloring books, thus cementing my addiction to "robots in disguise." Years later, right around junior high, I discovered The Transformers comic books that Marvel was publishing. And those ended up being the very first comics I would ever own.

In all of the series' incarnations, Starscream has been one of my favorite villains. He's a viscious, back-stabbing bastard with his eyes on Megatron's throne. And he craves power so unabashedly, it's nearly suicidal. Of all the Decepticons, Starscream challenges Megatron outright on a near-daily basis. Sure, he usually gets stomped out and ends up grovelling for forgiveness. But before all the sniveling and crawling, Starscream shows some Omega Supreme-sized robo-balls. Now that's some evil I can respect.

*Bumblejumper was this mixed-up Transformers toy. He was the Bumblebee mold, cast in Cliffjumper red. Oh, those zany 80's!

9 x 12 / mixed media on watercolor paper
$206 for US / $215 for international (includes shipping)
To purchase, email Dave Crosland

"Teenage Turtles"

2011-05-30T11:48:00.000-07:00

Comics are cool, but cartoons were my first love. And it was cartoons that eventually led me to comic books. Such was the case with The Transformers, Cops, and the Super Mario Bros & Legend of Zelda animated series. But the cartoon-comic book combo that had the biggest impact on me as a child, was Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

From the moment I first saw this fearsome foursome in action, I was hooked. Damn, I was obsessed! I would draw the Turtles incessantly -- in sketchbooks, in my school notebooks, on desks. My sixth grade teacher actually met with my parents to tell them about my "turtle problem," fearing that I wouldn't advance as an artist if all I knew how to draw were little green ninjas.

In truth, TMNT was an incredible inspiration to my young, fertile mind. And it played a huge role in me realizing that I wanted to be a professional artist when I grew up.

9" x 12" / mixed media on watercolor paper
$306 for US / $315 for international (includes shipping)
To purchase, email Dave Crosland

... Or Stay Tuned

2011-05-27T14:33:00.000-07:00

Egads! I'm gonna have to postpone today's Alphabet Attack! The piece I started on got a little... involved. And I need to jump on some other stuff, before the day is out.

On the bright side, I'll crush the drawing over the weekend & get it posted by Sunday. So now you have something to look forward to, besides the 8000th episode of The Simpsons.

In the meantime, I invite you to enjoy the fruits of Series 2 so far, and peer back into Series 1, if you're really fiendin'. I won't judge.

"Party like it's 1999!"
- Mr. Gum

"Scoundrels"

2011-05-26T16:33:00.000-07:00

Today's drawing is of those original diesel truckers of the intergalactic highways -- Han Solo & Chewbacca! Of course, these guys originally hit the scene via film, in Star Wars: A New Hope. But the old late 70's - early 80's Star Wars comic books really expounded on the further adventures of this smuggling super duo.

I remember sneaking into my Dad's comic book collection, just to check out his Star Wars comics. They were so damn trippy, like a candy-colored amalgam of Lucas' vision, Buck Rogers and Moebius. And the story lines were outrageous. I can't tell you how many times poor Han & Chewie were forced to go toe-to-toe in some brutal gladiator arena. I guess the writers of those books were real big fans of the 1960's Star Trek series. Seems like there's a "Han vs. Chewbacca" issue for every episode of "Kirk vs. Spock," and then some!

9 x 12 / mixed media on watercolor paper
$206 for US / $215 for international (includes shipping)
To purchase, email Dave Crosland

"Ronin Runt Rearing"

2011-05-25T20:57:00.001-07:00

No epic manga series hits me quite like the classic, Lone Wolf and Cub. The plots are brief, yet involved. And they usually possess an unexpected depth. The art is alive with fluid lines and solid ink rendering. From the most reflective moments to the most ferocious battle scenes, the pacing and illustrations convey everything with a visceral touch that swings steadily from tender to graphically violent.

Also, it's just a really damn cool comic about a ronin and his son, walking around Japan with a stroller full of weapons, getting into all sorts of sword fights and badass adventures. Ya know... comics with true grit!

9 x 12 / mixed media on watercolor paper
$206 for US / $215 for international (includes shipping)
To purchase, email Dave Crosland

"Quack Quarreler"

2011-05-24T14:21:00.000-07:00

I was introduced to the world of Bucky O'Hare through the Saturday morning cartoon. But this fable of intergalactic strife betwixt beleaguered mammals and computer-controlled amphibians was originally spawned as a comic book, by creators Larry Hama and Michael Golden (released by Neal Adams' label, Continuity Comics).

The green rabbit leader of a crafty mammalian unit, Captain O'Hare was a cool customer. But I was always partial to his gunner, Deadeye Duck. Mr. Duck was a one-eyed, four-armed, bill-faced blasting machine. His hot temper and lust for "croaking some toad!" has helped cement his permanent badass status, in my late 70's-to-present day imagination.

9 x 12 / mixed media on watercolor paper
$125 for US / $135 for international (includes shipping)
To purchase, email Dave Crosland

"Properly Puffed"

2011-05-23T10:45:00.000-07:00

A total blast from the past, today's piece is a shout out to the project that got me into this strange, funny book business -- Puffed. It was on a fateful day of Wizard World Chicago '02, that I met John Layman. He told me he dug my art and thought it would be perfect for a story he was working on.

JL: "Yeah, it's about a kid trapped in a dragon costume. And everyone he meets tries to kick his ass or kill him."
DC: "Cool. Like Death To Smoochie?"
JL: (glaring) "No. Not like Death To Smoochie."

A month later, we had put together a full-on pitch, complete with character designs and the first few pages. And by that autumn, Puffed #1 came out through Image Comics. And thus, my life of Nerd Legend entered an epic new chapter!

9 x 12 / mixed media on watercolor paper
$125 for US / $135 for international (includes shipping)
To purchase, email Dave Crosland

"Occult Operator"

2011-05-20T13:44:00.000-07:00

Today's piece is dedicated to that well-hung undead prophet of the apocalypse -- Rasputin! This guy's real life was pretty nutballs, and ended in a seriously grisly, ultra-violent way. But then Mike Mignola took the life of Rasputin to the next level, literally, making him a central villain and force of nature in Hellboy.

The wraith-like seer is ever bent on bringing forth the end of the world, via The Right Hand of Doom. Usually, this ends in disaster for poor ol' Rasputin since, well, that Hand is attached to an extremely reluctant demon turned monster hunter. When it comes down to it, I kinda feel like Rasputin is the most damned character throughout the whole story. He's lost so much, yet he remains stuck on destruction.

9 x 12 / mixed media on watercolor paper
$206 for US / $215 for international (includes shipping)
To purchase, email Dave Crosland

"Nasty Ninja"

2011-05-19T11:27:00.000-07:00

For all the villain-lovers out there, you can't go wrong with Storm Shadow from G.I.Joe. Being the ultimate Yang to Snake Eyes' Yin, this Cobra assassin was one of the very first truly evil ninja characters I'd ever come across. I mean, damn, did you see how he sliced up Hawk in that live action movie? Merciless!

9 x 12 / mixed media on recycled bristol
Update: SOLD!

Malo Miami Mobster

2011-05-18T21:07:00.000-07:00

A few years ago, I got to team up with writer John Layman (Puffed, Chew) on our second comic collaboration -- Scarface: Scarred For Life. For better or worse, IDW Publishing allowed us to run wild with the concept. And what we came up with was an over-the-top, pastel & palm tree ruckus that I've lovingly dubbed as "Scarface: The Animated Series."

Between John's script, Len O'Grady's wildly imaginative coloring and the chance to add to the lore of Tony Montana, I ended up having an awesome time illustrating the book. So today's piece is an homage to that bizarre, fortunate project. "Get the yeyo!"

9 x 12 / mixed media on recycled bristol
$106 for US / $115 for international (includes shipping)
To purchase, email Dave Crosland

A Long Pause For Alphabet Attack!

2011-05-04T11:05:00.000-07:00

Hello All,

Unfortunately, I got sick as a dog, this week. It's rare that I'd let a common cold keep me away from my drawing table. But this is no common cold. So I'm taking the rest of this week off from Alphabet Attack! to rest and recuperate.

And in a wondrous dose of timing, the blog will be even further delayed, due to a big trip I'm taking out east, on Friday. I'll be setting up shop at the Toronto Comic Arts Festival, this weekend. Then visiting family and friends while I'm on that side of the country.

So look forward to a rejuvenated return of Alphabet Attack! on May 17th. We still have 14 letters of the alphabet to go, in Series 2. So there's plenty of comic book character mayhem, yet to come!

Yours truly, in sickness and in health.
- Dave, aka King Gum

"Lionhearted Leaf Lover"

2011-05-02T17:18:00.001-07:00

Today's comic character is none other than the THC-infused warrior of peace, Marijuanaman! Big ups to my boys Jim Mahfood and Joe Casey for their collaboration with Ziggy Marley on this gorgeous, hardcover volume of righteous weed-loving justice versus cruel corporate chemical moguls.

To see some fun behind-the-scenes moments, check out this insightful video.

9 x 12" / watercolors & ink on watercolor paper
Update: SOLD!

No Drawing Friday Due To Wizard World Anaheim

2011-04-28T20:23:00.000-07:00

Well, the Hit Girl drawing wraps up the Attack! for this week. Friday marks the beginning of Wizard World Anaheim, so I'll be packing up my suitcase full 'o' goodies and scrambling southeast for all the action.

I've got a swell spot in Artists Alley where' I'll have books, original art and convention exclusive prints on hand. I'll also be doing commissioned drawings, for all you hardcore collectors. If you're in the SoCal area and looking to replenish your arty-nerd-entertainment gland, come see me. I think I've got the medicine you need!

For location, show hours and more info, visit www.wizardworld.com

"Yes, I know it will be there. Just give it some time."
- David V. Gum

"Katana Kid"

2011-04-28T18:37:00.000-07:00

Brutal language and unflinching ultra-violence is nothing new to comics. But having it stem from a button-eyed, adorable little girl? Now THAT'S something else. Which is probably why Hit Girl from Kick-Ass has won the demented love of nerds worldwide.

Of course, the accolades are well-deserved. After all, I can't think of many preteen comic characters with a body count (or a potty-mouth) to match hers. I wonder if she'll ever get recruited by the Teen Titans. Isn't it about time for them to add some edginess to their crew?

9 x 12" / mixed media on watercolor paper
Not For Sale

"Jumbo Jughead"

2011-04-27T16:57:00.000-07:00

If you've read a Marvel comic in the past 30 years, then you probably know The Juggernaut. And I'm not sure why, but the child in me simply adores this gargantuan sonuvabitch. He's an impenetrable force of nature, a biped bulldozer, and a constant megaton pain in the ass for a variety of superheroes. From Professor X & his freak brigade to Spidey & his Amazing Friends, it seems like everybody has had to deal with Juggernaut at one time or another.

And to top it all off, he's Charles Xavier's brother. I know every family has a black sheep, but damn.

9 x 12 / mixed media on watercolor paper
$156 for US / $165 for international (includes shipping)
To purchase, email Dave Crosland

"Ironclad Invincibility"

2011-04-26T15:49:00.001-07:00

Iron Man is yet another superhero I never paid much attention to, until I finally read The Ultimates. That reading -- coupled with seeing the first Iron Man movie -- totally sold me on this billionaire bad boy in a robot suit. For me, Tony Stark is like a more cynical, self-loathing version of Bruce Wayne. He's even got all the insane gadgets. And Iron Man's"wonderful toys" come in a handy-dandy, all-in-one, body suit format. Top that, Bat-face!

Oh, and I should admit -- all of Ghostface Killah's references to Iron Man and Stark Enterprises play a big role in my enjoyment of the character. I mean, seriously... have you heard Supreme Clientele, lately?!

9 x 12 / mixed media on watercolor paper
$156 for US / $165 for international (includes shipping)
To purchase, email Dave Crosland

"Hornball Heroism"

2011-04-25T15:35:00.000-07:00

Today's illustration is a shout-out to my boys Mike Huddleston and Joe Casey for their outstanding new title, Butcher Baker, The Righteous Maker (Image).

I've only read the first issue, but I can already tell that this twisted, surreal take on superheroes and their villains is about to turn the medium of comics on its ass and head at the same time. I don't wanna give anything away if you haven't checked it out yet. But I'll say this: considering how wonderfully decadent issue one is, I can hardly imagine where this is all gonna end. If I were you, I'd be damn sure to catch every issue of this from start to finish. This is some gritty, real-deal, truly original comics shit, and it's happening right before our eyes.

To learn more about the book, peep this Comic Book Resources interview with Joe Casey.

9 x 12 / mixed media on watercolor paper
Update: SOLD!

"Gruesome Gunslinger"

2011-04-22T14:23:00.000-07:00

Hideous as he may be, Jonah Hex is a fun character to draw. I mean, just look at that mug! And I think his back story only adds to my scribbling excitement. The guy was sold into white slavery by his dad, in trade for safe passage through Apache territory. Ouch! Then, after being accepted by the tribe, he ends up crossing the chief's son. Daddy issues! And after a crafty betrayal, the tribe mutilates Jonah's face with a hot tomahawk and banishes his ass. Daaamn! I tell ya, crispy clean heroes are fine and good. But these fractured protagonists are where it's really at!

9 x 12 / mixed media on watercolor paper
$106 for US, $115 for international (includes shipping)
To purchase, email Dave Crosland

"Feline Felon"

2011-04-21T19:00:00.000-07:00

Catwoman has been one of Batman's greatest foes, from the minute she hit the Gotham City criminal scene. The nimble Selina Kyle always seems to know just how to get under The Bat's cape. Of course, it's gotta be a huge turn-on for Batman... coming up against a nubile, acrobatic, ninja-cat-burglar who can kick his ass AND is drop-dead gorgeous. In some twisted, BDSM way, the attraction makes total sense. I mean, c'mon -- skin-tight vinyl and a whip?! It's so obvious!

9 x 12" / mixed media on watercolor paper
$156 for US, $165 for international (includes shipping)
To purchase, email Dave Crosland

"Exceptional Eradicator"

2011-04-20T16:10:00.000-07:00

One of the most surreal comics I've ever read has to be Scud: The Disposable Assassin. A friend turned me onto it, way back in college, and my cartoon-addled mind was blown. The comic was funky science fiction, with aliens, the living dead, a hot chick and inter-dimensional travel on horseback. Not to mention the regular references to music and pop culture. AND the hero was a sentient, nearly indestructible, robot assassin. How could I not be into it?!

Since then, creator Rob Schrab's career has exploded into the ginormous realm of screenwriting and directing out here in Los Angeles. You might know his work on The Sarah Silverman Program, Monster House, or Channel 101. All across the board, this dude is kicking out truly original, insanely imaginative jams. Rob definitely remains a steady inspiration in my own creative battles.

To learn more about Scud, visit robschrab.com/scud. Also, check out Rob's new hardcover art book "But I Can't Do Anything Else" on Amazon. So fresh!

9 x 12" / mixed media on recycled bristol board
Update: SOLD!

"Devilish Daring"

2011-04-19T15:26:00.000-07:00

Criminals better check their dirty habits when they step into Hell's Kitchen, lest they rile the rage of Matthew Murdock , aka Daredevil! Trust me -- nothing will crush an evil ego like getting the snot beat out of you by a blind lawyer.

I never really got into Daredevil until I picked up Kevin Smith's Guardian Devil miniseries, during my last year of college. Before then, I had no idea that the character was basically your standard rooftop-hopping hero, only with much heavier personal issues. Murdock's drug-addicted lovers, daddy issues and hair-trigger temper put him on the same scale as Batman, when it comes to psycho vigilantes in spandex. He's definitely my brand of good guy lunatic.

9 x 12" / mixed media on recycled bristol board
Update: SOLD!

"Cunning Cobra Couple"

2011-04-18T18:00:00.001-07:00

Even in grade school, we all knew something extracurricular was going on between Destro & The Baroness. Those sideways glances during their terrorist mission briefings... their body language when they passed each other in the halls of Cobra's underwater base... the intense make-out session they had after burying Quick Kick under the rubble of The Parthenon -- these were all dead giveaways!

Not that I can blame them, of course. Destro had that baritone voice, fat gauntlets, and shiny head. And The Baroness rocked the skin-tight vinyl, librarian-dominatrix look, with an accent right out of Rocky & Bullwinkle. Something tells me their meeting must have been love at first mass murder.

9 x 12" / mixed media on recycled bristol board

$206 for US, $215 for international (includes shipping)

To purchase, email Dave Crosland

"Bushido Bloodbath"

2011-04-15T17:06:00.000-07:00

One of the few comic series that I've been obsessed with for years, is Blade of The Immortal. It's a story of vengeance and codes, wry comedy and brutal violence. And Hiroaki Samura's artwork is painfully beautiful. Seriously, I'll find myself just staring at a page or certain panel, as if it's a framed painting on a museum wall. With its rich characters, visceral action sequences, and gorgeous visuals, the book is a truly engaging read.

And the supernatural element is the cherry atop the awesome pie. The titular character -- Manji -- takes every hack, slash, slice and dice that his foes can dish out. But he keeps piecing himself back together, drawing his 12 blades, and going in for more. I guess you don't get to be the nefarious "100 Man Killer" by being a slouch, eh?

9 x 12" / mixed media on recycled bristol board
$150 (plus $5 for shipping in the US, or $15 for international)
To purchase, email hiredmeat@gmail.com

"All American"

2011-04-14T14:52:00.001-07:00

I'm kicking off Alphabet Attack! Series 2 with none other than the original super-patriot, Captain America! A few years ago, someone loaned me The Ultimates graphic novels. That was my first big dose of The Cap, and I was blown away by how much I enjoyed the dimensions of the character in those books. He really came across as this 1940's mega-man with everything going for him, save for the fact that he's trapped in an era that simply isn't his time. And that's something I never expected from a spandex book.

To top it off, I just watched the trailer for the new movie, and WASN'T totally horrified. So somewhere between reading The Ultimates and getting giddy for the blockbuster, I was inspired to create this piece.

Also, it's not hard to like a guy who spends a lot of time beating the hell out of Nazis. Captain America, Indiana Jones, Hellboy... it's a surefire formula for fandom.

9 x 12" / mixed media on recycled bristol board
$150 (plus $6 for shipping in the US, or $15 for international)
To purchase, email hiredmeat@gmail.com

Sci-Fi Alphabet Wrap Up!

2011-04-12T09:58:00.000-07:00

Howdy, all. I just want to extend my gratitude to those of you who've been following Alphabet Attack! and helping me spread the word online. And many thanks to the collectors who've invested in owning the original works. I'm proud that so many of the pieces in this series have found good homes.*

The remaining sci-fi themed works will be for sale at their original $100 price, for the rest of this week. After Friday, I'll be repricing them. So act now if you want to score one of the drawings below.

"Frankenstein's Freak"

"Killer Keepsakes"

"Lethally Leggy"

"Murderous Machinery"

"Necromantic Ninja"

"Oppressive Overlord"

"Terrible Twos"

"Unbeatable Underdog"

"Virtual Vixen"

"Wantonly Warlike"

"Xerophiles"

"Zealous Zionite"

Lastly, of course, I'll be following up this first series with another run through the alphabet. The public response has been so positive, how could I not!? Series 1 was science fiction. Stay tuned to discover the wellspring of pop reference I've got to pull from for Series 2.

From A to Z and back again...
- Dave, aka Gum

* If you purchased a drawing and have not received it yet, don't be alarmed. Orders were slightly delayed by my trip to Wondercon. All held-up Alphabet Attack! pieces will ship this week, via Priority Mail.

"Zealous Zionite"

2011-04-11T15:39:00.000-07:00

Most folks will instantly pan the hell out of it, when you bring up The Matrix Trilogy. But whatever. There's no denying how unbelievably cool the first movie was. All that flying kung-fu, bullets and patent leather, combined will killer robots and oodles of cyberpunk homage -- it was almost TOO cool.

And of course, the coolest brother in the series was Morpheus. Even without the reflective shades and floor-length, futuristic-flasher trenchcoat, Morpheus was Superfly TNT. And he proved it when he threw himself into a head-on fight with Agent Smith (in a dingy bathroom, no less!). Of course, he got his ass whooped. Punched and kicked into midair, body slammed, head cracked against a toilet bowl -- Morpheus took a thorough licking, for sure. But the fact that he kept getting up and going against a unbeatable opponent? Well, that's some true heroic grit for the ages.

9 x 12" / mixed media on recycled bristol board
$200 (plus $5 for shipping in the US, or $15 for international)
To purchase, email hiredmeat@gmail.com

Almost... there....

2011-04-08T14:31:00.000-07:00

Well, folks, it appears we're nearly at the end of the road. Monday, I'll be tackling "Z" with all my might. Hard to believe I've done 25 illustrations in the past few weeks. Feels like it flew by! Thanks to everyone who's been following the blog and reposting pics. Much gratitude for your support and help spreading the word of the Attack!

To all the folks who purchased original works from the series, stay tuned next week for a special announcement. I've got a treat in store for you!

As for the remaining drawings, I'll still have them offered for sale through next Friday, April 15. After that, they're going off the market for a turn. If there's something still available and you're interested, please let me know by Friday at midnight.

Again, thanks for the support and stay tuned... we ain't done yet.

- King Gum.

"Yoda's Yucks"

2011-04-08T14:01:00.001-07:00

Sure, you've got your lightsaber-wielding Yoda in the Star Wars prequels. And you've got your animated Yodas, doing their various whatevers in the cartoon series. But I still hold the original Muppet form of Yoda in high esteem. Especially since, when he first appears in The Empire Strikes Back, ALL Yoda does is clown on Luke.

Young Skywalker hit Dagobah, hoping to discover a Jedi Master. Instead he finds a hobbled, green, swamp-town yokel. And he tests the kid's patience at every turn -- breaks his equipment, ruins his dinner, steals his flashlight and assaults his droid. All the while, knowing exactly who Luke is and why he's there. Now that's truly some gangta-ass old wise man shit, for ya.

9 x 12" / mixed-media on recycled bristol board
Update: SOLD!

"Xerophile"

2011-04-07T15:38:00.000-07:00

Of all the creatures who adapted to the arid, road rage-inspiring, Outback Steakhouse hell that was the world of The Road Warrior, none was as fearsome and reviled as The Lord Humungus. His was the true language of a post-apocalyptic landscape -- absolute brutality.

With a gang of vicious bastards to back him up, this behemoth ruled the wasteland highways with a studded codpiece and a scarred-up scalp. If you had something Humungus wanted -- be it gas, food, or simply your life -- you could be sure he'd hit the road and come gunning for you, with your friends' corpses on the grill of his car and murder in his heart.

9 x 12" / mixed media on recycled bristol board
$200 (plus $5 for shipping in the US, or $15 for international)
To purchase, email hiredmeat@gmail.com

"Wantonly Warlike"

2011-04-06T13:51:00.001-07:00

Sure, in the Star Trek universe, you've got all sorts of aliens. Romulans and Ferengi, Nausicaans and Vulcans... the list goes on and on. But the original badasses of the intergalactic highways were The Klingons! The Earth-based, mostly human Starfleet met its match early on, in these raucous, tough-as-nails, bumpy-foreheaded bastards!

It's neat that, once humanity reached the stars, we ended up going to war with a species even more prone to violence than we are. But I have a soft spot for Klingons. They've got a samurai-like honor system, a fine appreciation for booze and Shakespeare, and they're into rough sex. If you ask me, they're the perfect adversary for the clean-cut, shiny uniformed, imperialistic space nerds of Starfleet.

9 x 12" / mixed-media on recycled bristol board
$200 (plus $5 for shipping in the US, or $15 for international)
To purchase, email hiredmeat@gmail.com

"Virtual Vixen"

2011-04-05T13:37:00.000-07:00

Though it took me awhile to get onboard, I ended up thoroughly enjoying the recent revamp of Battlestar Galactica. Having grown up with the old television series, toys and all (I even broke a model viper, while jumping around to a Van Halen video!), I was super-skeptical of the Sci-Fi Channel's updated take on it. But upon the recommendation of a non-nerd BSG fan, I finally decided to sit down and give it a spin.

Of course, I was instantly hooked, from start to finish. And of all the unanswered questions and unexplained phenomena the show's creators conjured up, one of my favorites was the ghostly connection between Dr. Gaius Baltar and Caprica Six. I was regularly amused by the idea of this seductive Cylon woman haunting the guilty, self-serving, slimy genius. The Six spirit guided and consoled him, tormented and punished him. And the whole "proxy of the One True God" aspect only helped to amp up the creepy mystery. Was she a ghost? Was she an angel sent to guide Gaius? Was she just a figment of his depraved conscience and tortured mind? In the end, I couldn't be happier that the show's producers didn't ruin it all by actually telling us.

9 x 12" / mixed media on recycled bristol board
$200 (plus $5 for shipping in the US, or $15 for international)
To purchase, email hiredmeat@gmail.com

"Unbeatable Underdog"

2011-04-04T16:20:00.001-07:00

In Escape From New York, not only does John Carpenter give us a doom generation NYC gone wrong. He also gives us the perfect hero for this twisted, bombed-out backdrop -- S.D. Bob "Snake" Plissken. An ex-special forces commando with an eye-patch and a nasty attitude, Snake is a futuristic, degenerate version of Rambo. The resulting brew of anti-hero and simple plot is a sci-fi punk film that's on par with The Warriors. In the span of the movie, Snake escapes roving street gangs, bests a giant gladiator (while nursing a bullet wound!), and survives being in a taxicab that hits a landmine. The man's like a blueprint for Die Hard's John McClane!

Oh, and did I mention that his ultimate nemesis, The Duke, is played by none other than the late Isaac Hayes? So at the end of the movie, Snake goes blow-for-blow with Truck Turner! INCREDIBLE! And you can probably guess who's left a bloody mess, and who struts away with their silken, feathered coif intact....

9 x 12" / mixed media on recycled bristol board
$200 (plus $5 for shipping in the US, or $15 for international)
To purchase, email hiredmeat@gmail.com

"Terrible Twos"

2011-04-01T16:54:00.001-07:00

Typically, if you're a hero lucky enough to have a sequel, then you're sure to take ten times the punishment you suffered in your first film. It happens to the Rebels in The Empire Strikes Back. It happens to Marty and Doc in Back To The Future 2. And so on, and so forth.

But no crime-stomping protagonist takes a second movie pounding quite like that lovable cyborg civil servant, Robocop. Sure, in the first movie he gets whooped from start to finish. But in Robocop 2, Murphy is downright brutalized. Fifteen minutes in, he's forced to deny his human side, thus freaking out his grieving widow. Then there's that whole cyborg vivisection bit, that leaves his life hanging in the balance. Once they put him back together, he has to go toe-to-toe with his would-be replacement -- a killer cyborg that's three times his size, and powered by the brain of a ruthless drug czar. Yeesh!

Of course, Robocop handles this like a pro. And unlike Han Solo (frozen) or Marty McFly (stranded), Robo ends his sophomore adventure by seeing his enemy's ultra-violence, and raising him with a Mortal Kombat-style fatality -- ripping out his opponent's brain and smashing it into broken glass-flavored jam.

* It's no wonder Robocop 2 follows this formula so well. After all, it was directed by the late Irvin Kershner, who also directed The Empire Strikes Back.

9 x 12" / mixed media on recycled bristol board
$200 (plus $5 for shipping in the US, or $15 for international)
To purchase, email hiredmeat@gmail.com

"Street Samurai Stilettos"

2011-03-31T15:38:00.000-07:00

I read William Gibson's Neuromancer back in high school. And I hated its, nearly the entire read through. But somehow, it got it's hooks into me -- I couldn't put it down. I struggled through, frustrated as hell. When, all of a sudden, I got it. And I LOVED it. The world Gibson created was so terribly believable, yet richly imaginative, it just fried my little teenage brain.

Of course, I instantly latched onto the character of Molly Millions, the street samurai who acts as the protagonist's stealthy muscle and casual lover. Molly's body is a futuristic shopping list of upgrades -- mirror-shade lenses for eye sockets, enhanched speed and agility, and 1.5" retractable razor claws. What's not to love?

I just reread Neuromancer. And I'm glad to say it holds up nicely.

9 x 12" / mixed media on recycled bristol board
Update: SOLD!

"Ruthless Robot Rampage"

2011-03-30T13:58:00.000-07:00

I was instantly a fan of The Transformers. From the first episode of the cartoon to the toys to the old Marvel comics, I was simply hooked. I mean, what could have been cooler to a small boy in the 80's, than super-fresh vehicles that change into giant robots that love to fight?!

Heroic as the Autobots were, I was always a bigger fan of the Decepticons. And, whoa-boy, did those bad metal bastards take their evil to a whole new level in Transformers: The Movie. Sitting in that theater with my Dad in 1986, I was blown-away by how brutal the Decepticons were. All charged-up on robot cocaine (aka Energon), they blasted murder holes in damn-near every popular Autobot. And all within the first 30 minutes of the movie! And Megatron was in rare form, killing any and every Autobot in his path. No mercy... no remorse.

Of course, Optimus Prime showed up with The Dinobots and put a serious kibosh on the whole "bad guys seizing the day" moment. But I'll always have that pure robot massacre from the beginning of the movie, to soothe my villain-loving heart.

9 x 12" / mixed-media on recycled bristol board
Update: SOLD!

"Quarantine Quandary"

2011-03-29T12:38:00.000-07:00

John Carpenter's remake of The Thing absolutely terrified me, as a child. And as an adult, it still gives me the EXTREME heebie-jeebies! I love the idea of a gruff-voiced Keith David and silken-mained Kurt Russell going toe-to-toe with a shape-shifting, dog-absorbing alien on a remote Antarctic research base. But the whole thing is just so tense and... moist. It can be hard to watch, at points. I guess that's a big part of what makes it one of my favorites. Even if I can only stand to sit through it once a year....

9 x 12" / mixed media on recycled bristol board
Update: SOLD!

"Pragmatic Proctor"

2011-03-28T10:16:00.000-07:00

C-3PO and R2D2 are the quintessential robotic duo. This mismatched pair are like a droid version of The Odd Couple -- Artoo's smoking cigars and leaving Playboy magazines lying everywhere, while Threepio bustles around cleaning and complaining. And love 'em or leave 'em, these two really are the protagonists of Star Wars: A New Hope. That is, until the more lippy, less-helmeted human characters show up.

I've always felt a little bad for R2D2. I mean, here he is embarking on the adventure of a lifetime. And who's his road dog, but the most annoying, ridiculously prissy droid in the galaxy. Though it really isn't C-3PO's fault. He was programmed to be a fussy pain in the ass.

9 x 12" / mixed media on recycled bristol board
Update: SOLD!

"Oppressive Overlord"

2011-03-25T16:29:00.000-07:00

Whether you've read the book, seen the film, or none of the above, you're probably familiar with George Orwell's sci-fi classic, 1984. At some point or another, we've all heard mention of the ominous phrase, "Big Brother is watching you," and instantly recognize the Draconian terror it inspires in one's heart and imagination.

I've been reading the book in small chunks here and there, for the past few years. And the further the protagonist strays from the path of a mindless drone, the more I keep expecting the Thought Police to kick down MY door and arrest me for reading the tale! I've never enjoyed a more paranoia-inducing piece of fiction.

9 x 12" / mixed media on recycled bristol board
$200 (plus $5 for shipping in the US, $15 for international)
To purchase, email hiredmeat@gmail.com

"Necromantic Ninja"

2011-03-24T21:05:00.000-07:00

When it comes to original, hard-hitting science fiction in American comics, I'm hard pressed to think of an equal to Phil Hester and Mike Huddleston's The Coffin. Both the story and art yank at your throat, leading you through a sequential nightmare of utter darkness and terrifying beauty.

My favorite character from the story has always been Keen, the henchwoman-turned death dealing undead. Though she's a minor player in the grand scheme, her character arc is brilliant. It also helps that she's a completely badass ninja woman, who goes toe-to-toe against an undead man-machine more than once, and hardly breaks a sweat.

* Phil Hester hooked me up with a copy of The Coffin: 10th Anniversary Edition (IDW) during C2E2. Sweet jeebus, is it a gorgeous book! I have to admit, flipping through it this weekend inspired tonight's post.*

9 x 12" / mixed media on recycled bristol board
$200 (plus $5 for shipping in the US, $15 for international)
To purchase, email hiredmeat@gmail.com

"Murderous Machinery"

2011-03-23T18:29:00.001-07:00

From the Decepticons to The Terminator, my childhood was packed tight with killer robots. But none inspired such fear as The Black Hole's deliciously mean Maximilian. He was big, brown and brutal. Maximilian all but pulverized the cute old B.O.B. robot. And he nearly fried V.I.N.C.E.N.T. before he was finally bested, during their David & Goliath-style battle.

But the rawest crime Maximilian pulled in The Black Hole, hands down, had to be when he used one of his rotating blades to bore a dinner plate-sized hole in Anthony Perkins' chest. It was insanely ultra-violent, especially for a movie with a PG rating! Say what you will about the old Walt Disney sci-fi/fantasy films. They'll always hold a special place in my nerdy heart.

9 x 12" / mixed media on recycled bristol board
$200 (plus $5 for shipping in the US, $15 for international)
To purchase, email hiredmeat@gmail.com

Lethally Leggy

2011-03-22T20:48:00.001-07:00

Any Blade Runner worth their salt will tell you, dying like this isn't half as fun as it looks. It's bad enough that replicants have super strength, enhanced reflexes, and exceptional agility. Add in the fact that they're resilient to direct hits from futuristic hand cannons, and you've got an especially dangerous quarry on your hands. So you can bet that Rick Deckard was practically pooping his pants when Pris got her genetically engineered gams around his neck and started beating him like a gong.

9 x 12" / mixed media on recycled bristol board
$200 (plus $5 for shipping in the US, or $15 for international)
To purchase, email hiredmeat@gmail.com

Halt The Attack!

2011-03-17T16:43:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone out there who's made the third week of "Alphabet Attack!" such a fun success. I'm having a blast with these pieces, and it seems like a lot of you are too.

That being said, I hope you won't mind a short break in the series. Since I'll be out of town attending the Chicago Comics & Entertainment Expo (C2E2), there won't be any posts for today, Friday or Monday. But don't fret! I'll be back in my studio and delivering the visual stimuli yet again, starting on Tuesday, March 22nd.

In the meantime, have a fantastic weekend!
- Dave, aka King Gum

"Killer Keepsakes"

2011-03-16T18:50:00.001-07:00

The Predator is one of the roughest customers to hit the guerrilla warfare scene, since the Vietcong. With his trippy camouflage, atomic shoulder cannon and various serrated blade devices, it's no surprise this guy cleans up in the hunting trophy department. And nothing says "home sweet home" quite like a collection of skulls mounted over the mantle. Or in this guy's case, in a secret compartment just aft of the sleeping quarters in his funky space cruiser.

9 x 12" / mixed media on recycled bristol board
$200 (plus $5 for shipping in the US, $15 for international)
To purchase, contact hiredmeat@gmail.com

"Judgement"

2011-03-15T20:27:00.000-07:00

I've been a fan of The Terminator since I was a small boy, making my own T-800 action figure out of Play Doh and pipe cleaners. I don't know how I roped my parents into letting me see this one, what with the ultra-violence and cyborg vivisection. But I should probably be thanking them. James Cameron's twisted, post-apocalyptic future was raw ore for my burgeoning imagination. The year I saw it, I got way into sculpting. Along with the homemade T-800, I would use masking tape and markers to create these gnarly prosthetics for whichever poor G.I. Joe figure got picked to by Kyle Reese. And, of course, I would use my Optimus Prime toy for repeated reinactments of the truck explosion at the end of the movie.

9 x 12" / mixed media on recycled bristol board
Update: SOLD!

"Imperial Interrogation"

2011-03-14T14:29:00.000-07:00

What's worse than being a prisoner of the evil Empire, held in the dank dungeons of The Death Star? Being drugged and interrogated by a floating bowling ball with blinking lights, all under the direction of your own father! Now THAT sucks.

I'm almost grateful that the plot and characters of Star Wars are so thin. I mean, could you imagine the psychological drama that would have flooded the rest of The Trilogy, had there been any serious depth to work with? By Return of The Jedi, Leia would've been in therapy, Luke would have been on drugs, and Chewbacca would have been in AA.

9 x 12" / mixed media on recycled bristol board
Update: SOLD!

"Heroic Hicks"

2011-03-11T20:44:00.000-08:00

Thanks to my loving Mother, the "Alien" series has been near and dear to me my whole life. She saw Alien in the theater, while I was still in her womb. And when I was in the 4th Grade, my Mom kept me home from school one day JUST so I could watch Aliens with her. I seriously felt like the luckiest kid on Earth, as I sat there terrified, watching Hicks, Vasquez, Ripley and the gang go toe-to-toe with the teeming, nasty alien horde!

So today's drawing is in honor of my Mom, and mothers everywhere who take the time to teach their children about the ills of interstellar exploration, space marines and toothy monsters with acid for blood.

9 x 12" / mixed media on recycled bristol board
Update: SOLD!

"Gordon's Game"

2011-03-10T16:28:00.000-08:00

Ya gotta give it up for Flash Gordon. This corn-fed jock escapes a killer meteor shower by hopping into a rocket ship with a mad scientist and a sexy reporter. They crash land in the middle of an intergalactic royal court. Ming The Merciless -- the BADDEST dude in the known universe -- makes a Middle Ages-style pimp move on the reporter. And what does Flash do? He proceeds to whoop the living hell out of Ming's best shock troopers, with nothing but some giant Faberge eggs and raw gridiron tactics.

9 x 12" / mixed media on recycled bristol board
Update: SOLD!

PS -- If, like me, you want to relive the "Football Fight" scene from Flash Gordon every day for a month, you can enjoy it right here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNUcpXKiNZo

"Frankenstein's Freak"

2011-03-09T20:09:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite corners of science fiction is the one where the classics are tucked away. While there are plenty of oldies on my "need to read" list, I found time to read "Frankenstein" not too long ago. And it proved to be the perfect vacation book. I'd taken a small, dog-eared paperback copy with me on a trip to Central America. It was so pleasantly surreal, reading this bizarre story on foreign terrain. But even without the odd locale for reading it, the story was captivating from the first page. And to think, it was all contrived from a ghost story throw-down between Mary Shelley, her husband and their neighbors, while they waited out dreary weather.

9 x 12" / watercolors & ink on recycled bristol board
$200 (plus $5 for shipping to the US, $15 for international)
To purchase, email hiredmeat@gmail.com

"Ewok Engineering"

2011-03-08T17:40:00.001-08:00

Okay, okay... I realize that The Ewoks are on just about every fanboy's list of "Things That Ruined the Star Wars Franchise," usually right after Jar Jar Binks and George Lucas, himself. But I gotta show love for these furry, loin-clothed critters. When I was 5 years old and sitting in the theater, bewildered by all that Light and Magic, I didn't really care that Ewoks were cute or lame. I was too busy getting lost in a fantasy world, where savage teddy bears can triumph over scout walkers and blaster-proof armor with arrows and spears, twine and lumber.

9 x 12" / mixed media on recycled bristol board
Update: SOLD!

"Dalek's Disagreeable Disposition"

2011-03-07T13:36:00.000-08:00

I love, love, LOVE me some Dalek! I mean really -- what's more adorable than a pissed-off mutant race that's out to conquer the universe?? Absolute domination, without compassion, all from the seat of their throwback cybernetic-killer-robot-armor?!?

9 x 12" / mixed media on recycled bristol board
Update: SOLD!

"Calrissian's Colt"

2011-03-04T17:53:00.000-08:00

It was only a matter of time before something Star Wars-related popped up in this series. So of course I started with the baddest brother in the galaxy, Lando Calrissian! I think The Trilogy would have been a lot sexier if it focused less on warlocks and monsters, and more on Lando's chocolate-covered, malt liquor-infused, galactic gambling escapades.

9 x 12 / mixed media on recycled bristol board
Update: SOLD!

Thanks to the collectors who snatched up the first two pieces, and to everyone who's been showing support for "Alphabet Attack!" in it's first few days. You make this endeavor totally worth it! I'm off for the weekend, but will be back on Monday with the next installment.

"Ya besta get'cha rest, cause the next day comin'!"
- Dave

"Barbarella's Bodacious Buxomness"

2011-03-03T16:48:00.000-08:00

I have vague memories of seeing Barbarella on late night TV, during my childhood. But it took on a whole new meaning for me when a friend bought me the DVD a few years ago. Wowzers! Not only is a smoking-hot Jane Fonda mostly naked during the whole flick, but the Barbarella character herself is insanely awesome! I mean, how can you not love an intergalactic federal agent who jaunts through the cosmos in a fur-lined spaceship, battles evil in the name of love, and shamelessly indulges her sexual fantasies with everything from a whip-wielding bear man to Duran Duran's tortuous pleasure machine!?

9 x 12" / mixed media on bristol board
Update: SOLD!

"Akira's Awakening"

2011-03-02T17:52:00.001-08:00

"A" is for "Akira's Awakening." Watching Katsuhiro Otomo's anime epic was pivotal in me maintaining my path toward becoming a professional illustrator, when I was just a teenage boy. And the manga of "Akira" drove the point home, when I devoured each volume during my sophomore year of college. Even now, I regularly go back and soak up all the creative manna I can suckle from both forms of Otomo's story and its monstrous scope. Truly inspirational stuff!

9 x 12" / mixed media on bristol board / Update: SOLD