#Inktober is Back!

This year, I am not participating in all the fun. I completed Inktober successfully for the last three years. I'm saving that time to focus more on writing and reading an incredible stack of backlogged comics.

The temptation is strong, though. We're only two days into the month as I write this, and the amount of inspirational art coming down the Twitter and Instagram feeds is tough to ignore.

If you're looking for fun people to follow during this month, here are a few suggestions:

Jake Parker: The Father of Inktober is always worth watching on-line, if only to see how he successfully handles social media in his business. And then, yes, his art is nice to look at, which helps a lot.

Lois van Baarle, a.k.a. loishh: It's always amazing to see her work, but the promise of something new every day this month is tremendous.

Chris Samnee: He needs no introduction. (OK, fine: "Thor: The Mighty Avenger") He'll be drawing Batman characters for 31 days.

Tom Bancroft and his twin brother, Tony Bancroft: Former Disney Features animators, and hosts of the Bancroft Bros. Animation Podcast. Tom created #Mermay, which I did participate in earlier this year. Tony is still directing features. Both draw nice stuff.

Otis Frampton: Best known in comics circles, perhaps, for his "Oddly Normal" series at Image, he's planning on spending the month drawing Star Wars Jawas. He's bit obsessed, but they're really cute so I forgive him.

Cory Loftis: The Disney Visual Development artist who hasn't been active on Instagram since Mermay earlier this year, returns now for Inktober, likely to put everyone else to shame. He's just that good.

New York Comic Con 2017

It's this weekend already!

I'm not attending this year, sadly. Life gets in the way sometimes. NYCC falls during the week of my daughter's birthday often enough that it means family obligations take me away some years. This is one of those.

You'll all have to navigate the new cramped Artist's Alley in the basement without me.

I'm still jealous of you, if you're going. If you pick up Uncle Scrooge in his swimsuit at the Funko booth, then I'm super jealous.

That jealousy more than doubles if you're heading into the city for any of the off-site events the French Comics Association is putting on. On Friday, they're doing a live reading and signing at the Society of Illustrators. Mathieu Lauffray and Zep will be there, amongst other big names. I can't imagine a better ticket in town this weekend.

Lettering Links

Two informative articles this past week in the world of lettering:

In his blog, Todd Klein lays out some "Lettering Tips for Comic Writers." I can think of no more authoritative voice on this topic than Klein. Besides being a legendary letterer, himself, he's worked both sides of the scripts, having written a few comics along the way.

The on-line magazine, Slate.com, did a story on how letterers do their jobs. It centers on an interview with Deron Bennett, who works for the Batman office. There's some nice before/after images along the way. They also helpfully provide the audio from the interview as an hour-long embedded listen.

Bennett will be part of a comics lettering panel being held this Friday night at Jim Hanley's Universe, because the NYCC isn't large enough to include everything. Go listen to some professional extol the virtues of their craft and better appreciate their position in the production pipeline...

Bonus link: Did you see the Ryan Gosling papyrus sketch on SNL? It's perfect for lettering geeks.

One Quick Review

It's too early in the story to give it a full review, but the first issue of Dan Panosian's new series, "Slots," is really good. It's in stores this week at Image through Skybound for $3.99.

It's an extremely pretty book, with Panosian painstakingly filling out some beautiful backgrounds and using some fancy inking and coloring tricks to give the book it's own look. This includes a lot of zip-a-tone looking stuff as shadows and background textures. It's worth picking this book up just to see all the ways he uses those textures.

The lead character, Stanley Dance, is a wonderfully emotive character. Panosian does a lot of work with his facial expressions. There's a rogue's charm thing going on around him.

The story leaves a lot out, pushing "mystery" to the brink and coming dangerously close to "confusion." The art is so nice, though, that it buys the story a couple more issues to bring me in.

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