After being away last year, I'm returning to the convention and looking forward to it!

You can find me in Artists Alley at table M-15, next to partner-in-crime

I believe I'll also be on a DC related panel on Friday.

I'll be bringing plenty of original sequentials from my work on Justice League Beyond, Streets Of Gotham, Detective Comics, Batman, and Batgirl. Some originals of my own art. And will be available for commissions, whether I'm providing the paper or if you bring your sketchbooks or sketch comic covers. And of course, happy to sign any books you bring as well.

Looking forward to seeing all of you there!

- D

The next project that and I are working on, finally got announced at DC's blog site: [link]

We're having a blast and hope you'll enjoy it half as much as we are putting it together. The first issue is available tomorrow on Halloween.

Also stop by my blog for further insights as I'll be chatting it up there along with other projects:  [link]

- D

Thank you everyone for the birthday wishes. No cake but more gray hairs. Fantastic!

October will be a fun month as everyone finds out the next project that and I have been working on. Looking forward to it finally being announced.

- D

The job title of comic book editor seems to be getting a lot of attention lately. From people that have had problems with heavy management decisions from their editors, to others that have great working relationships with others. Myself...sadly a great editor I've worked for is leaving his job to go work elsewhere. Not a force out by any means, but a job he couldn't pass up.

I have worked with so many great editors over the years that have jumped around to different companies (in and out of the comics business) or have quit to pursue writing (who can blame them...I've been having a blast). But it just got me all reflective about the job title of editor, what it entails, the good, and the bad. And I've jotted down my long list of thoughts over on my blog. Come on over and check it out. Plus, there's purty art pictures once you get there and scroll down  

[link]

- D

While I won't have a table or spot in Artists Alley, I will be doing signings at the DC Booth. My schedule is as follows:

Thursday July 12 =  10:00-11:00am
Friday July 13 =  2:00-3:00pm
Saturday July 14 =  5:00-6:00pm

So bring by any books to get signed, and I'll be drawing head sketches using whatever paper DC provides at the booth (or your own sketchbooks if you bring em).

Should be fun!

- D

[link]

Better late than never. I've decided to start blogging.

With a career split between the art side and the writing side, I thought it best to do the same with my sites. Deviant will continue to be a home for my inkwork and artwork. But I wanted somewhere I could start expressing the writer's side of the equation. To talk about the process of writing, ideas and scripts, and even preview some of the art (not done by me) attached to those stories. A place to get a discussion going.

I invite all of you to bookmark it and check it out. I plan on contributing regularly to an insane degree. And maybe it'll motivate all you creators out there, be you artists or writers. Come on over and join me:

[link]

And thanks!

- D

It's been a blast writing stories in the Arkham-verse for the Arkham Unhinged comics, and at this point, there's still no end in sight. But one question that's been asked time and time again, is when are there going to be stories that take place after the end of Arkham City. Up until now, we've mainly been telling stories set during the games or flashbacks.

Tomorrow, that will change…

[link]

- D

Comic Book Resources is running a nice 2-part interview with the entire writing staff on the Beyond titles (Batman Beyond, Justice League Beyond, and Superman Beyond). A nice in-depth process to working in the digital format and how some of the story ideas have come about.

First part here:
[link]

Second part here:
[link]

- D

First a big thanks for all of you that have been following the story, either buying it digitally or in print at your local comic shop. It's definitely a first being on a title that is selling out and going into second printings (for both issues so far)! And things are just getting started.

As far as a little behind-the scenes for chapters 3 & 4, here's some thoughts…

Cadmus - Always a great shadow organization foil in the JL cartoon (and comics). I figure they have all sorts of safehouses located all over the globe. And it would make sense that Luthor would have access to one that was hidden on Dinosaur Island. All sorts of interesting things he's collected over the years. Plus an excuse to have Dustin draw multiple versions of the Parasite there.

Krypton - Don't know if it's easy to see with the Kryptonian text covering it up, but there's more than one rocket escaping from the destruction of Krypton in Superman's vision. And I'll just leave it at that.

Coordinates - The transmission that Kobra is getting from their submarine are actual specific coordinates to a real thing that has been unexplained in the world. Seemed like an interesting way to tie-it into our story.

Batman vs. Micron - Still one of my favorite panels of Micron trying to crawl inside Batman's mouth. Just thought that would be one heckuva creepy attack to enter that way, and of course once inside, I imagine Micron would grow in size. Messy bat-splosion.

In the next few chapters, we'll be finding out what Kobra's master plan is involving Micron and Amanda Waller. We'll do some traveling. And the first of many nods to Kirby will start to show up.

- D

After what seems like a year of being out of the spotlight following the end of Batman: Streets Of Gotham and the previous run of Batgirl, today marked the release of the first issue of Batman Beyond Unlimited which features our Justice League Beyond story that and I have been working on behind the scenes for such a long stretch.

Of course, as part of the way DC is handling its release, the first 2 chapters of it came out at the start of the month digitally before being collected into print at the end of the month. And this is the way it'll continue, although that will sort of shift around once Superman Beyond also joins in on the fun.

Anyways I thought it would be cool to give a bit of a behind-the-scenes commentary on the issue. Thoughts about various scenes or characters and hints at things to come.

I'll start with the title "Konstriction". Our opening storyarc for Justice League Beyond concerns the criminal cult organization Kobra. I always felt there was some potential with them being a huge threat, as they got introduced on the Batman Beyond show towards the end of its run. So this was a chance to make them a huge threat, and just one of many Jack Kirby inspired elements that will show up over the course of this opening arc.

Splicers -- One of those great episodes in the show that brought a cool element to Gotham, having people splice their DNA with animals.  After that episode, there was always elements of splicing present in the show here or there, but I always wondered what happened to their group after their leader presumably died. This was a way to open our story with something familiar, having that group of splicers form a gang that was getting into conflict with the Jokerz gang. Plus I thought it would be a bit of an odd confrontation as the Jokerz have their own spliced member in their crew (Woof).

Jokerz -- "Return Of The Joker" brought a lot of cool elements to the series, not least of which, was the newer Jokerz gang members. It was a no-brainer to include them here, just to see Dustin draw the Dee Dees along with Ghoul, Chucko, and Woof (if only Bonk had lived long enough heh heh). Having the twins be crime molls on the arm of the main Jokerz leader seemed like it would be fun. I actually picture them being the type to side up to a different beau with each appearance. And it was fun to create the new creepy Jack-In-The-Box inspired thug "Punchy".

Barda -- It's been too long since we've seen her regularly in comics. And she grew to be one of our favorites to work on. I can't wait until people see her backstory. We actually will have a chance to spotlight each character in their own "Beyond: Origins" stories interspersed between this opening arc, drawn by a variety of artists. And for Barda…we'll go back and see what life was like for her mom before she gave birth to Barda on Apokolips.

Bruce Wayne -- Just like his portrayal in the JLU show and comics, his Batman was always an unofficial member when needed. And that carries over here. With Terry on the team, Bruce will alway have some involvement throughout the series. And being able to play off his experience, history, and tenuous friendship with Superman, it makes it that much more interesting for him to keep tabs on what's going on. And the batcave always serves as a place for Terry to get away to, to talk with Bruce, away from the team.

GoLeMs -- Any chance to toss in villains and ideas from the old episodes, we'll take. Thought it would be fun having Willie Watt's robots attack a high school homecoming game. Seemed natural.

Commissioner Gordon -- I don't know how often we'll get the chance to have stories happen in Gotham, since the Justice League will always be more of a global unit. But I couldn't help wanting to have Barbara make an appearance here. Dustin draws a great old Babs.

Tie-Ins -- I've always said that our comic continues that Animated Series timeline, started in Batman, thru Superman, Justice League, and Beyond. Everything we need for foundation was started in that long continuity, and can only grow and enrich from there. So being able to mention Superman being controlled by Darkseid from the "Legacy" episodes, and also Starro's encounter with the future Justice League….this is only the start. There'll be more tie-ins to all sorts of stories and how they relate to our current arc as we move forward. Just wait until you see Warhawk and Kai-Ro's origins.


I think that about covers it. Thanks to all the people that have bought the comic on their computer or at the comic shop. We appreciate it! And we're only just getting started.

- D

Figured it was time for an update on projects I'm involved in…


JUSTICE LEAGUE BEYOND (aka BATMAN BEYOND UNLIMITED)

Batman Beyond Unlimited is set to debut both at the start and end of February. Wait…what…how's that? The Justice League Beyond story that Dustin Nguyen and I are working on will debut first digitally at the beginning of February. One 10 page chapter a week. And then it will be collected along with stories from Batman Beyond (and later Superman Beyond) into the print comic called "Batman Beyond Unlimited" towards the end of the month.

There's already been some Diamond solicitations for the issues online, so anyone that's read those can get a little idea where the story is going and who is in it. But I'll further say this about it… this is our love letter to Jack Kirby. I always thought the inclusion of Kobra towards the end of the Batman Beyond show was a cool threat that begged to be re-explored. And that's not the last of the characters related to "The King" that will make their appearance. At the same time, we'll have a chance to explore the back stories of every member on the future Justice League, to get new (and old) fans caught up. And a lot of their history ties right in with the larger arc that we're doing.

It's a guilty pleasure seeing Dustin draw a ton of characters throughout the DC Universe. And for continuity hounds…it wouldn't hurt to break out all your Batman:TAS, Superman:TAS, Justice League, and Batman Beyond dvds. There's gonna be a lot of nods to what went on before and how it relates to the future members of the JLU. We love those shows and are just carrying on the torch from where they left off.


BATMAM: ARKHAM UNHINGED

The Batman: Arkham Unhinged comic, based on the Arkham City & Arkham Asylum games from Rocksteady, has been digitally released on a weekly basis through Comixology. Every week, a new issue (10 page "chapter") comes out of this ongoing series. Most stories are 30 pages in length, although there are some that come in shorter. And up until now, it's been a digital exclusive. But not anymore. Come April, Batman: Arkham Unhinged will also be released as a print comic. Each issue will contain 30 pages of story for $2.99…the same as if you were to buy it in chapters in digital. The digital weekly release will continue as is for those that want to continue following it that way, and will be the most current. And the comic should come out monthly as it continues to collect stories into print (including a couple of the digital exclusive chapters that didn't get included from the  previous Arkham City hardcover collection). So the fans can pick whatever method they'd like to get the stories…digital or print. Pretty cool!

The backstory of the Abramovichi Twins was just released online, and today starts a new Robin-centric 3-parter (exploring his background in cage fighting with some surprising combatants). And upcoming stories will focus on Killer Croc, Mad Hatter, just about all the females in the game, and more more more. Featuring a range of artists working on different story arcs, this has been a ton of fun assembling it together.


BATWING

Also announced today is Dustin and I working on a 2-issue story for Batwing, that will have just about the whole Bat-family involved making their appearance (Batman, Robin, Batgirl, Nightwing). After spending time in the "future", it's fun for us to come revisit the Gotham of today and seeing Dustin drawing those beloved characters again.


So there ya have it. It's been fun splitting time between Neo-Gotham and Gotham, and things are just getting started!

- D

This is a recent online interview I did for a website that interviews a range of artists. It's not the usual conversation of what you're working on currently, but rather focus more on the idea of art and your approach to it. Give it a read if interested.

[link]

And in the coming months, there should be quite a lot more talk about Justice League Beyond. Man...2012 is just getting started!

- D

For those not tired of me pimping Arkham Uhhinged, I have a new interview posted up at IGN:

[link]

And the real treat here, are the preview pages of art they've included with it, based on the next issue coming out featuring Pete Woods on art. He did a spectacular job drawing a story that answers how all the different Batman "skins" (costumes) are appearing in Arkham City. It's fun seeing him jump around in different styles and really get to show that off.

- D

December is that wonderfully crazy time of year to look for art for that special someone…yourself (or those significant others in your lives).

So for those of you looking for something cool, I've got plenty of original sequential pages from Detective Comics, Streets Of Gotham, Batgirl, and many many others. Some you can find in my Comic Art Fans gallery:
[link]

But the rest you can just email or note me here if you're looking for a specific page from a specific issue. There's a good chance I've still got it available. Same goes for color prints that I usually just sell at shows. I'm making those available too while supplies last. Or if you're in the mood for a pencil and inked commission, there's that option as well.

Just drop me a line and it can be arranged.

Happy holidays!

- D

Batman Arkham Unplugged episode 2 is now live:
[link]

We get a chance to talk about the second story arc running in the online comic, featuring Batman and James Gordon as they discuss Hugo Strange's involvement with the creation of Arkham City, how far back his ties run to Arkham Asylum, and trying to evade the Tyger soldiers that are hot on their heels.

Some discussion on the process of writing. The difference between the job title of a scripter versus that of a writer. Also some discussion on the artists involved on this story arc, both the penciller and the cover artist.

And lastly we answer a bunch of listener questions in a Q & A segment. Fun stuff!

Podcast episode 3 should be coming up in the next couple weeks to talk about the next story arc, as we delve into the back history of Joker and Penguin's grudge with each other, dating back to before Arkham Asylum and currently in Arkham City.

Thanks for listening. And of course, if you have any questions…feel free to post them in the comments section underneath the current episode at the above link, and we'll try to answer them in future podcasts.

- D

Can't believe it's almost here. I'll be at the con October 13-16.

Set up next to in Artists Alley, table K15.

Planning on having a new color print and will be bringing an assortment of Batman Streets Of Gotham and Batgirl pages, most of which I'll have available for the first time to purchase.

And of course…open for commissions.

Even though I haven't been on the stands very much this year, it's all in preparation for a lot of new stuff coming out for next year. Whole lotta writing and inking done. But now it's time to break out the pencils and draw.

Looking forward to seeing everyone!

- D