The Return of Lobster Johnson, Joker and Harley and "Love Actually" Updated 01/24

**Mr. Visions** · January 15th, 2007, 02:39 PM

Hey guys, here's a piece I did over my Christmas break. I'm try to hone in on my comic style, and have been doing a number of experiments. Here's one of them. I hope you enjoy.

- Visions

SCROLL DOWN FOR UPDATE

**TheDirtSyndicate** · January 15th, 2007, 02:47 PM

awwwwwwww fuck yah man, this is so bad ass! you did a great job, lobster johnson is a good character too. haha

**Chris Bennett** · January 15th, 2007, 04:07 PM

Really intelligent use of colour in this one as well as strong drawing. Particularly like the reserved pink for the face around which all the other colours deal from like a suit of cards. Colourful, not 'coloury'. Great stuff!

**evidence** · January 15th, 2007, 04:22 PM

this looks really nice. style wise, i can see parts of the image that step away from the mignola look, like how the faces are drawn and the contour of hellboys raised arm, which i like a lot. you did a good job with the placement of blacks, there is a nice rythm to the whole page, but i think it gets a little to busy at the bottom with the skeleton and the fish panel being right next to eachother.
good job (nice colors to)

**twoheaded** · January 15th, 2007, 04:25 PM

WOW man, Im a big fan of Mignola and you nailed the feel with the addition of your own flavor. I love it dude.

**Orifice** · January 15th, 2007, 04:42 PM

That is great! Truly great! I like this alot, a very "wurthy" hellboy draw indeed. Lobster Johnsons face looks somewhat Djurdjevic-some... love it.

**Mr. Visions** · January 15th, 2007, 06:10 PM

Thanks alot guys for the great feedback and encouraging words.

complete2 - Thanks alot dude. Lobster Johnson has become one of my favorite characters from Mignola's library, and I tried to pay tribute to both the character and the creator in one piece, but bring my spin into it as well.

Chris Bennett - Thank's Chris, color I feel is one of my weeknesses so a compliment like that really puts some pep in my step. I've realized how much digital has let me do some color studies and react to what i'm doing, so hopefully these experiments will carry over into my other work as well.

evidence - Thanks for the crit. I can see what your saying about the business at the bottom. I tried to counter that with the color, but maybe it doesn't work for everyone. I'll keep this in the back of my head moving into other pieces. Thanks alot -

twoheaded - I'm glad you felt the mixture of styles I was going for. Capturing both was very important to me, helping me stay original and hopefully learn something from the piece.

Orifice - Thanks man, that was alot of compliments in such a short space. I did alot of learning from Burne Hogarth as did Marko, so I can see how that might come through. Thanks again dude.

- Visions

**sabe2003** · January 15th, 2007, 06:18 PM

wow very nice!

**Idiot Apathy** · January 15th, 2007, 08:03 PM

Really nice man.
I do think that the rimlighting stands out a bit, doesn't seem to follow the form as closely as it could and is a little soft and lost which is in contrast the super sharp in edge and shape inkwork. Maybe put a more sharp feel to the rim lighting as well?

**Crawdad Jones** · January 15th, 2007, 08:44 PM

Lobthter Johnthon!! YEATH!!

**JoshuaTheJames** · January 16th, 2007, 04:34 AM

Very cool. Nice merging of your own flare into Mignola.

-JtJ

**timmyhol** · January 16th, 2007, 05:30 AM

This is great, really dynamic. I think your colours are working really well as a whole. The only thing I’m not sure about is the orange in the background, it’s very subjective but it feels a little washed out in comparison to the strength of the blacks and the colours on the figures. It might have been the style you were going for, but that’s the only thing for me that stands out. Otherwise it’s amazing!

Tim

**nicolas** · January 16th, 2007, 06:53 AM

good one!! Love the Johnson (that sounds weird).... apart from everyone elses comments what struck me odd the minute I saw it, is the gun. It looks like a toy... and the noozle is a tiny hole.. I dont think they even make a caliber that small. the Lobster needs a big ass firearm, or at least one that doesnt look so meager....

my 2 cents. but overall great piece....

**Papparazzi** · January 16th, 2007, 07:16 AM

my goodness....forget Mignola...u're the new beast in town....wow!!!!!

**se7en_** · January 16th, 2007, 09:29 AM

Great colors and composition but personally I think it looks too much like Mike's work. Try and put more of your style into the comic work. FYI - I'm not saying I don't like, because that would be a lie ; )

**Vulgar`** · January 16th, 2007, 04:04 PM

You know how I feel about this, Chris. All barrels blazing.. thanks for visiting RF again. Now that I can see a larger version of the image, I can make a few more suggestions if you have time to process.

On the smaller version, I thought the designated wisp of smoke and holes on the left of the skeleton head was a cigarrete that fell from it's jaw when it was shot down by the two comic heros. Fish head tossed in the ZzZz bungalow. Marvel black & white undergrowth.

One more detail that could or could not be removed: The blotches of black directly above Hellboy's head could be removed to increase the effect of symmetrical theme. It's the randon placement that gives it the heat around the corner vibe, yet I feel that it would appear more clean cut, or sterile to the everyday page-flipper environmental viewer.

Good luck with your next show, brethren.

Keep doing you

**ArtZealot** · January 16th, 2007, 05:05 PM

Sweet stuff dude. Hellboy is the shit. Keep it up.

**stoph** · January 16th, 2007, 10:11 PM

you said youve done a few experiments? SHOW THEM! heh. great stuff man, i must say ive missed you in my absence..

**Quatermass** · January 16th, 2007, 10:27 PM

Love it. I'd add to the comment from nicolas on the gun. You've got the right type o' gun (semi automatic, as in 'Conqueror Worm'), it just looks a little small with the amount of foreshortening going on.

**JL.Alfaro** · January 16th, 2007, 11:49 PM

nice one Chris, seems as though you've got the comic book-style down pretty good...now I know what you've been up to...
how come I havent seen you at the gods at war TD?? I was expecting you to bring it with a Jesus second coming piece...

-JL

**Mr. Visions** · January 17th, 2007, 01:42 PM

Wow, I've had alot to read and consider. Thanks alot for the great feedback, it gives me a good amout to consider.

sabe2003 - Thanks alot dude.
Idiot Apathy - I definately see where your coming from. I know the rim lighting in general doesn't fit the style: when it is used by Mignola, it seems a bit more subtle, but I fealt that this approach initially looked good to me, and with the saturated light in the back it would be a good element to catch attention. I will try sharpening it and see what it looks like. Thanks again -
Crawdad Jones - you so crazzy
JoshuaTheJames - Thank you, I'm glad it wasn't too one sided for yah. I tried to make it original and pay homage at the same time.
timmyhol Thanks for the comments. The backgroung with the choice of color I fealt was following the same element found in some of Mignola's colors. I wanted that against the faces to grab your attention so that you'd look at the faces of our heroes first, and then move around. I guess it works some and not for others. Thanks for the feedback, that's why this is an experiment, so I can learn what works and doesn't.
nicolas - Glad you dig the Johnson (errr), and I'm with you on the gun. My reasoning on it being small has to have a drast comparison between his gun and the Hellboy gun. I wanted to get across Lobster's human in comparison to Hellboy and the heat he's packing. I thought it was slightly humorous with Hellboy turning around, lookin' back with aface like "what do you expect to do with that thing." So, I dunno, I need to beef up on my guns, so that give me another avenue to explore. Thanks again and love your work, I hope to see more inks outta you -
Papparazzi - HAAAAA, ... well thanks Tin. The flattery is overwhelming (and blasphemy, hahaha). Thanks alot dude.
se7en_ Thanks for the honest feedback, dude. Again, I was experimenting, try to put myself in his shoes and keep my own footing at the same time. This is a first, so we'll see what happens next time around. I'm glad you still like it though -
Vulgar` - Good to hear from you again man, sorry I've been such a stranger, just preparing for the next comic con and my last semester in school. Thanks for all those crits. This experiment lets me take all this advice and look out for such problem areas in future pieces I do. Thanks again -
ArtZealot - Haha, thanks dude.
stoph - How you been man, thanks for the eagerness, I'm sorry to keep you waiting. Scroll down, I left something for ya -
Quatermass - Thanks for those comments. Conquerer Worm is one on my favorite books, thus inspiring Lobster's "return". The gun could use some help, so I'll keep that in mind for the future. Thanks again -
JLAlfaro - Haha, you have no I dea ho tempted i was. But, I've been over committing myself these days as it is, I dunno how I get these done. The dome did inspire me to do a piece anyway, so we'll see if I can post it on a later date. Thanks man, and best of luck -

Ok, is that everyone. Thanks again for all the feedback, and as requested, here's another expirement, bring my on flavor of the Joker and Harley together, using some solid blacks inspred by the previous piece. Hope you like - I'm still playing with the color, so I'll post an update soon.

**mwillustration** · January 17th, 2007, 01:55 PM

very nice!
i'm loving both of them.

the only crit i have is that the dot pattern coming through the outline around the figures is distracting and looks almost like a mistake.

otherwise, great success with both!

**Papparazzi** · January 17th, 2007, 01:59 PM

Chris, this definately deviates from Mignola, and you're developing your own direction. Not too crazy about the gradient, yet I like the patterning incorporated into it. You're going to be in my senior studio class today, I'm excited to see what your thesis for the semester will be and what you'll be pulling off for your portfolio (comic work highly encouraged -wink, wink)/.......rock on budy....you're an incredible draftsman.
-Tin

**Crawdad Jones** · January 17th, 2007, 02:35 PM

Great Joker! Some guys (even some of the guys who get paid to do it!) don't get across the idea that he's a freaking nut, the yin to Batman's cold, methodical yang. Your Mr. J is definitely a nutjob, a guy I'd rather avoid. As usual, your technique is just barely passable. Just barely.

**Konstruktion** · January 17th, 2007, 04:55 PM

That Hellboy is awesome! Hes looking really badass. Not to mention the Joker. Crazy stuff - goes right into my inspirational folder.

**Mr. Visions** · January 17th, 2007, 05:32 PM

Thanks guys for those quick crits, they helped in the final touches on Mr. J, although I couldn't decide which version I liked -

Mike - Thanks for that crit, I didn't like the dots going down in the outlines either, although I liked the halftone gradient, I wanted it to be a bit softer. Your crit pointed me in the right direction I think, thanks -

Papparazzi - Thanks Tin, I'm excited having you as a teacher, I look forward to picking up alot of knowledge from you. I thought the texture help act as a bg, and decided to kep the gradient to have the white drop in at the bottom. Let me know what you think -

Crawdad Jones - That's exactly what I was going for, I too feel like the sadistic side of jJoker isn't explored enough. i imagine him very dirty and twisted, the very essence of evil, with a smile. You put it better though, exactly what I wanted to do

Sarcophagus - I love making it into those, thanks man.

Thanks again guys. As soon as I color more, they'll keep coming.

- V

**Lone Wolf** · January 17th, 2007, 08:00 PM

That last joker piece is nice! Great colors.

**DSillustration** · January 18th, 2007, 12:52 AM

hey chris,
the purple version is definitely best, imo.

what you need to do is figure out a way to incorporate your painting skills into these pieces.
you are better than most at painting, and its a shame not to flaunt it.
i've seen stuff in your sketchbook thats a nice hybrid, explore that more.
draw, scan, paint.
or draw, paint, scan.
try it out, i bet you'll come up with something amazing.

**t i m** · January 18th, 2007, 02:13 AM

Love your style, loving the stuff, definetly post more!

I agree with DS, about the Joker piece too, I'm digging the purple.

~Tim~

**Papparazzi** · January 18th, 2007, 06:11 AM

hey chris, yea the purple is the strongest of the two..and deff better than that greyish background.....I don't seem to mind the gradient anymore either. DSIllustration is right tho, your painting skill is very, very strong, and it'd be nice to see you incorporate that into your drawings......try out the Marko process....a rendered pencil sketch, and then paint it up digitally, I know you can pull it off. But either way.....your work always gives me goosebumps, it's kickass my man....and I'm glad we got comic book fans spreading the passion of the genre around VCU...rock on buddy.
-Tin