Somewhere, Lars Ulrich is shedding a tear

If Lars played guitar instead of drums, the title would've been, "Somewhere, Lars Ulrich is SHREDDING a tear"...

Query???

Hey there, internet-peoples!

Yep, I'm still alive, and still severly overburdened with schoolwork, but I somehow found the time to draw this comic (I even renewed the "blackmarkercomics.com" URL, so you know I'll always come back here, whenever I get a slight reprieve). I wish had the time to draw more comics, but it takes lot of time to do all weird assignments and art-shit for my classes, like this drawing I did in Illustrator for my 2D Computer Design course:

Alright, hopefully I'll get back to drawing strips regularly during the summer months, but who knows?

BLAST FROM THE PAST: "Missing Link", from 1/20/08

Man, I cannot tell you long it's been since I actually drew at my drawing board. Nowadays, I'm lucky to devote a couple minutes a day to drawing in my sketchbook, and its usually while I'm waiting for a bus.

I also haven't drank coffee for the last week, but that's just because I'm broke until my financial aid check from school arrives (hopefully soon).

I don't know if I ever posted a link to this on here, but the new band I'm in, the "Might've Beens", recorded a demo (just 2 songs) a month or so ago, so please follow the link and give it a listen (or, download it for free) if you're at all interested. We'll be recording a full length at the end of this month (well, a short full-length, anyways).

Gluttons for Punishment

This is definitely not the first time I've played badly at a show, but it is the first time I've played badly with "the Might've Beens"! Regardless, it was awesome and fun, and I think we might be playing a house party next weekend...

What's that? Shut up and draw a ninja turtle kicking someone in the face? Well, alright...

Forlorn Art

I haven't been drawing very much now that my daughter is a little older, and doesn't sleep as much during the day as she once did. Once I get home from work, I have to relieve Shannon for a little while so she can get a break from the kid. Then, after dinner, we kind of trade off taking care of Kennedy, until one of us puts her to bed. By that point, the most I wanna do is watch an episode of "Buffy" on Netflix, and call it a night. It's getting harder and harder to find the time (and ambition) to draw. But, I'm sure it'll get easier, and I'll get better at managing my time.

On a similar note, you might have noticed I've gone away from the traditional 2 to 3 panel, across-the-page strips that I used to do; That's because what little cartooning I actually do is in my travel sketchbook, and I simply draw in the amount of space allotted by the page. But, I kinda like working on a different sized 'canvas' every now and then. Eventually, I'll go back to how it was before, but for now, this is how it's gonna be.

Happy Angst

Being as that drawing looks absolutely nothing like our bass player, I'm really starting to see to why James Kochalka draws people (outside of his family) as weird, one eyed monsters and animals of various kinds in his autobio strip, "American Elf"; It's just a lot easier than trying to come up with a unique caricature of everyone you meet.

The Freedom to do Random Stuff is Fleeting

I was reading Liz Prince's blog, and her blog led me to the 'If you make it' site, and the band the 'Pheramones' (which isn't my normal cup o' tea, but I dug it) inspired me to want play keyboard (well, that and my undying love for 'Devo'!) in a band that has yet to, if ever, be formed.

By the way, we haven't had one of those big, old school computer monitors that I drew in the above strip in quite awhile. Actually, we got rid of that computer desk around the same time ( we have one of those armware-desks, now), but I just like how they look in my drawings. Plus, it establishes another connection with older strips.

...um, yeah.

Cock Rock

I decided to post this strip in black-and-white because I don't really have time to color it right now, but later I'll edit this post and do it. Here's the flyer for the aforementioned show (it was drawn by Brandon Huigins);

Pick your Poison

Outside of work, I haven't really been hanging out with anyone (aside from Shannon, of course). I'd like to rectify that, however, since this strip kinda sucks when I don't do anything or see anyone.

Boy, if that's the best reason I can come up with to participate with the rest of humanity, I am a sad little man.

Parkway Wreck

If you wanna check out the band, there's both a Myspace page, and a website.

Derrick, if you see this strip, I just wanted to explain something about it to you;
You see, while it may appear that I accidentally drew you as playing bass left-handed, I actually did it on purpose. The image of you playing left handed is a clue to the reader that the comic takes place in a parallel universe, a universe very similar to the one we live in, except for the fact that you play bass left-handed, rather than with your right.

It's a subtle distinction, but one worth noting.

"Meanwhile" anthology!

My fellow local minicomic-makers, Eric Mengel and Denny M. Riccelli, have started up a new artist collective called the Meanwhile Collective, and are trying to get various people to contribute comics to a proposed quarterly, free anthology!

I'm working on a 6-7 page 'Crimson Cloak' superhero comic for the anthology, so here's a one-page-preview of my story:

Also, on June 13th, I'll be selling comics (along with a whole bunch of other local artists) @ 'Comics Zone', in Scottsdale, AZ for an event put together by Tosh Delaney. Here's the flyer. Oh, yeah, I'll be playing an acoustic set in the comic shop that day, as well.

"Brad, the one man damned" flier

I like making fliers, sometimes. This one was a huge pain in the ass, but I like how it came out.

"Brad, the one man damned" show @ the Firehouse!!!

If you're anywhere in the area of downtown Phoenix, come on by! It's a free show, so ya can't beat that in these tough economic times!

"Epic Tales..." #7 preview !!!

Once again, I've sort of scaled back my strip drawing this last week while I focus on trying to get somewhere with "Epic Tales..." #7, and the other various projects I haphazardly work on from time to time. I apologize to the couple of people who regularly check the site for updates, but don't worry; Many more comics will be posted! Until that time, here's a page from the aforementioned issue I'm drawing:

Failure: the easiest part of quitting smoking

Dirty Notes

Dark, not Goth

Thanks to Brandon and Amy for inviting us to this show, 'cause I hate going to shows where I don't know anyone there. Here's some actual "video" from the show, which features Andrew Jackson Jihad performing.