The Redeemers

Migration

2011-03-22T17:33:00.001-07:00

Just as an FYI, we've pretty much migrated to www.lonelyrobotcomics.com

Just wanted to mention...

2010-11-28T12:32:00.001-08:00

Eric and Wil will be making an appearance at Bc Comix in Fenton, MI on December 11th! Save the date!

Issue two! Here we go!

2010-11-13T13:32:00.000-08:00

I spent my evening last night signing up copies of The Redeemers #2 for those of you who backed us up on KickStarter! You'll have your copies very very soon! And the rest of you can order your own copies from IndyPlanet shortly- we'll let you know!

Here it comes!

2010-10-03T17:42:00.001-07:00

The Redeemers #2 is at the printer's RIGHT NOW! The groupies are coming, the groupies are coming!

Were you at Wizard World?

2010-08-30T20:04:00.001-07:00

Hey, folks! It's been about a week since Wizard World Chicago Comic Con, and there's several proud new owners of The Redeemers #1 out there! Any of you new rock n' redemption fans out there in cyberspace? What'd you think of the book?

In a related note, unless I'm way off base here, The Redeemers #2 will be making its convention debut at Mid-Ohio Comic Con this year! It should be available online before then, but we'll be running a convention-exclusive sketch cover in Columbus!

I'm sorry, I can't hear you over the sound of how awesome I am.

2010-08-26T19:41:00.000-07:00

The fine folks over at Do Nothing But Read Day (dnbrd.org) were nice enough to expound some flattering words about The Redeemers, some of which you can read above here! Check out their full review, along with some other recommendations from last weekend's Chicago Comic Con here!

Good News, Bad News

2010-08-09T20:00:00.000-07:00

Well, the content of The Redeemers #2 is complete! Catch is, we weren't able to get it to the printer's in time to make it for Chicago Comic Con. Sadface. We should have a few pages of just the artwork for sale as prints at the table, though. See you there!

'Nother page!

2010-07-28T21:28:00.000-07:00

Think this'll probably be the last preview image for this issue I post before it drops. Whaddyou think?

YOU CAN STAY AWAKE FOR DAAAAYS

2010-07-24T20:18:00.001-07:00

THIS is how you pull an all-nighter, folks! Cue the caffeine induced coloring spree!

And yes, that IS an entire pot of coffee in one mug. MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

EDIT 1:18 AM
Finished a page!
EDIT 1:35 PM
Well, I finished page seven last night, as seen above. Coffee stopped doing it for me around 5 AM and I cashed in there, but not before making significant headway on another page, which I'll be finishing off this afternoon!

Have a look

2010-07-23T22:19:00.000-07:00

Here's a page from the next issue of the book with completed colors! We're working hard here at the Lonely Robot HQ to get this thing ready for Chicago Comic Con!

The colors, Duke!

2010-07-21T23:52:00.000-07:00

Redeemers#2 pencils and inks have been completed and colors have now begun! With the aid of guest colorist, KASH, we'll have this thing ready for Chicago Comic Con if it kills us!

The Redeemers #1 Is Now Available Digitally!

2010-07-14T07:58:00.001-07:00

The Redeemers #1 is now available digitally through myebook.com for only .99!

Hopefully, the full Lonely Robot Comics catalog will be available soon!

I love it when a plan comes together.

2010-07-11T21:46:00.000-07:00

Things are really kicking into high gear in the Redeemers bullpen! Only a few more pages to draw and the line art for #2 will be complete! I've sent Eric the originals of the first half of the issue so he can get a jump on lettering the book early, and we can plug in the finished colored pages as they are completed. Speaking of coloring, providing an assist on the colors front for #2 will be the lovely and talented KASH!

I'm also told that the new Redeemers EP is nearing completion- five tracks of rockin' goodness for your listening pleasure! Eric and I have been speculating on figuring out how to get the tracks on the Rock Band Network sometime in the future as well, so you can play along with Gabe, Neil, and Dex!

That's it for now, rock n' redemption fans! See you next time!

Happy 4th!

2010-07-04T20:47:00.000-07:00

Here's another peek at a WIP from the second issue!

Behind the scenes!

2010-06-07T17:30:00.001-07:00

Here's a look at a couple of the Redeemers #2 pages in the inking phase!

Also available in TwitPic and Fruit Punch flavors!

Okay, just TwitPic: http://twitpic.com/1uw821

Flip side of the coin

2010-06-01T19:36:00.000-07:00

I love villains that are mirror images of their superheroes. Bizarro Superman, Wario, Nega Duck, what have you. Because of that, I've had this picture in my head for a few months now, just dying to come out.
Demon Gabe! Now, this is NOT canon to The Redeemers, it's not concept art for something coming up, this is just a for-fun drawing that I thought would be kind of cool. Maybe Demon Gabe will see print at some point if we do Lonely Robot Zombies or something down the line :P

CONFETTI. EVERYWHERE.

2010-05-29T22:36:00.000-07:00

The Redeemers #2 KickStarter is officially successful! Elation!!

Last two!

2010-05-25T13:01:00.000-07:00

With these two, all the groupies for Redeemers #2 are designed! Production on the actual book will start tonight!
DESIGN NOTES:

Fashionista Groupie- This one was tough to design, given how little fashion sense I have myself. Fortunately, there was a fashion design major at my college so I was able to loosely recall how they dressed and looked. I think the most blatant stereotype on her is the oversized, squareish sunglasses, and that rounds out the character nicely.

Retro Groupie- I had no idea what I was going to do for the twelfth groupie. At least no good ideas. My original idea was to model her after Emma Stone's character, Wichita, from Zombieland. My friend Monica helped me to spitball a few other archetypes, and eventually we came up with "Vintage", and basically made a 50's pinup style girl. Kim mentioned that she was reminded of Janine from Ghostbusters so I added the silly triangle earrings as a tribute to the character.

Swimming in groupies!

2010-05-22T22:25:00.000-07:00

Don't you WISH you had problems like the Redeemers!? They have to beat the beautiful women away with a stick! Or a magical guitarblade. One of the two.

DESIGN NOTES:

J-Pop Groupie- This one is based loosely on a few different sources. The first and most notable are "the Fooks", Mi and Yu from Austin Powers 3. Next is the silly outfit Kirsten Dunst wears in the music video for Turning Japanese. And the last source is simply my Google search for general J-Pop fashion.

Cougar- This one gave me a bit of trouble, surprisingly. Mainly because there wasn't much of a stereotype to play off of and emphasize. Eventually I wound up giving the character low-riders and a shorter undershirt, and that wound up working pretty well.

Catie Cameo Groupie- As I said previously, my girlfriend Kim and her friend Catie have been helping me out with these groupies, giving me design critiques on the first drafts. As a thank you, I'm inserting them into two of the remaining groupie slots. Catie's design was completely unchanged from my concept, except for a slight tweak to her haircut and I reversed her nose and lip rings by mistake originally.

More Groupies!

2010-05-19T13:26:00.001-07:00

Another set of groupies for the second issue of The Redeemers! Speaking of, we're shooting for a release of the book to coincide with this years Wizard World/Chicago Comic Con/whatever they're calling it this year, and if all goes as planned we'll have a convention exclusive variant cover for this issue! Get your tickets now and come see us at the Lonely Robot Comics booth in Artist's Alley!

DESIGN NOTES:

Afro Babe- This is the one that had the furthest departure from my initial concept on this set, though not to the extreme of the Bookworm (see setA). Basically I had to learn how to draw a black woman's face. I also made the afro a bit bigger, added bracelets and a necklace, and changed the belt to a sash. Oh, and different shoes.

Biker/Rocker Groupie- Like the Afro Babe, this one had very little changes done to it. In fact, the only change I made was to the face. I liked the idea of my biker chick being an American Indian for some reason, and I rooted through my old VHS tapes for my copy of Disney's Pocahontas to emulate how they caricatured a Native American woman's face.

Kim Cameo Groupie- As I said previously, my girlfriend Kim and her friend Catie have been helping me out with these groupies, giving me design critiques on the first drafts. As a thank you, I'm inserting them into two of the remaining groupie slots. Kim's design was completely unchanged from my concept, I just wanted a larger image in high res.

In a store near you?

2010-05-12T17:29:00.000-07:00

EDIT: Redeemers #1 is officially available on ComicsMonkey!

I spoke with our esteemed wordsmith, Mr. Rampson earlier today, and according to him, The Redeemers #1 should be up on ComicsMonkey.com shortly! To the uninitiated, ComicsMonkey is essentially the Diamond Distributors of the independent comics world. In short, once the book goes up you'll be able to go into any comics shop and request it to be ordered in the store! More details as we get them.

Three more

2010-05-11T19:35:00.000-07:00

And here's the next group of three Robo Ninja Death Assassin Groupies, who'll be making their official debut in The Redeemers #2. These are my initial concepts, but unlike the first group, two of these three I think I nailed in one go. The "Afro Babe" groupie is getting a revamp, but the other two will probably remain largely unchanged in their final versions. I'll give some design notes for all three when I post their finished character sheet.

Groupies!

2010-05-07T19:57:00.000-07:00

These are final designs for three of the groupie archetypes that will be appearing in Redeemers #2. Have some design notes!

Goth/Emo Groupie - This gal is a hodge podge from a couple of different inspirational sources. She's simultaneously based off a couple of my friends from back in high school (Michigan high school in 2004/2005, I had a lot of goth friends), and some advice and recommendations from my girlfriend, Kim and her friend Catie.

Bookworm Groupie - I flip-flopped a lot on the design of this one. My initial concept was for a voluptuous librarian type, but I didn't think that that would work especially well for a groupie. I thought about doing a tribute to Velma from Scooby-Doo and changing the colors, but that seemed too much of a cop out. Eventually I decided on a tribute to Kevin Smith and redesigned the character after Tricia the prodigious girl from Mallrats.

Twins Groupies - The simplest way to describe my concept on this set is the Olsen twins meets the jock's girlfriends from high school. Not a whole lot more to it than that. I have to again credit Kim and Catie for helping me refine my initial concept, though.

Heeere we go!

2010-05-04T16:20:00.001-07:00

Who's got two thumbs, and just got the first few pages of script for The Redeemers #2 today?

...THIIIIIIS GUUUUUY!!

On a similar tangent, has everybody looked at the KickStarter widget a little ways down this page? Eric and I could sure use some fundage to keep doing this, you know you wanna help out. And exclusive songs, exclusive artwork, the new 5-song EP, and plenty more are yours for the taking if you kick a few bucks our way. JUUUUUUST sayin'!
EDIT: Wouldn't you know it I drew up some concept sketches for the new issue tonight? Check it:

Tinkering

2010-05-02T16:07:00.000-07:00

Messing around with the look of the page, don't mind me...

THE REDEEMERS #1 SELLS OUT AT C2E2!

2010-04-19T10:45:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone who came by the Lonely Robot Comics table at C2E2 this weekend and helped make The Redeemers #1 a sell-out success. The script for issue #2 is on it's way to Wil, so hopefully you'll be able to get your hot little hands on it in a couple of months.

If you've read the issue, please leave us some comments - we want to hear what you've got to say!

MORE Redeemers goodies?

2010-04-11T11:56:00.000-07:00

Yes, friends! Apart from The Redeemers#1 (which incidentally I saw a printed copy of for the first time today and they look GREAT) and the C2E2 numbered prints, we'll have still more schwag relating to righteous rock band at the convention next weekend. Check this out:

Papercraft doll Gabe! I'm going to make a few more of these little guys in the coming days, and I figure we'll sell 'em for a buck or so apiece at the show. If I can find the time to design them, I'm planning on doing ones of Dex, Neil, Maddy, and maybe the baddie from the first issue, too! And they're so darn cute, you know you'll want all of 'em!

Later on, folks!

Creative Processii

2010-04-06T15:55:00.000-07:00

Been working on a new art print of the band for C2E2. Here's some WIP shots!

And here's the finished product!

The background is subject to change, though.

Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome to the stage...

2010-03-22T17:26:00.000-07:00

...THE REDEEMERS!!

Issue one is now available on IndyPlanet!

So yeah, I'm insanely excited about this. We're published! Go us! Now away, minions! Away with you, and spend like Zoidberg!

Rock. And. Roll.

2010-03-18T12:59:00.000-07:00

I just looked through the proof of The Redeemers #1! I need to make one slight tweak (so it'll be off to the computer for me as soon as I get home - no sitting on the deck in the beautiful early Spring sunshine for me) and then it'll be ready to print. And that means the book should be up on IndyPlanet pretty soon!

Rock. And. Roll.

Script Sample

2010-02-23T09:27:00.000-08:00

When I was at ChicagoComiCon this past summer, I had several people approach me and ask about writing comics. Now, I'm no expert (I self-publish) but I have spent a lot of time thinking about this stuff and figuring out the best way for me to do things. I think that there is a definite lack of resources out there for aspiriing comic book writers. So, in order to do my part to help, I'm posting up the first four pages of the script to The Redeemers #1 with the B&W art and lettering from the #0 Preview Issue (issue #1 is in full color and sports new dialogue lettering).

Please note - this is how I write full-script. I prefer full-script (although I don't work full-script on The Silver Bullet) but you may find something else works better for you.

PAGE ONE
(Small panel upper right, surrounded by a larger panel, surrounded by a splash panel.)

SMALL PANEL
A shadowy close-up of an amp cord being plugged into a black guitar.

QUARTER PANEL
Pull back to a wider shot of the same shadowy image. The cord is plugged in. The guitar is fully in view. The chest of the man holding the guitar is visible. He is wearing a yellow tee shirt with red script reading “DUNGEON & DRAGONS International Convention, 1984”. A microphone stand sits in front of him.

SPLASH PANEL
Pull back even further to reveal the entire stage as the lights come up. A large crowd (large for a club, not a stadium) throngs about the foot of the stage. The man holding the guitar, GABE, is center stage. He is wearing the above-described tee shirt and a pair of fashionable jeans. His hair is brown, brushed forward and spiked up at his forehead and he is sporting three or four days of stubble. His boxy black glasses have slid down his nose a bit. Center stage, set back a bit, a slightly shorter, stockier man, DEX, sits behind a drum kit, arms raised, ready to bring his sticks down for the first beat of the first song. He wears a SLAYER tee shirt and faded boot-cut jeans (we probably can’t see his pants yet, though). His head is shaved clean, he has a thick, silver hoop in each ear, and wire-rimmed glasses perched on his nose. On the left side of the stage stands a taller man with close-cropped dark hair and small glasses. This is NEIL. He’s wearing a light blue polo shirt and khakis. His bass is set high against his chest on its strap and his microphone stand is set even higher, with the microphone tilted back down toward his mouth.

F/X: The roar of the crowd.

CAP: Chicago, IL – September 19th, 2003 – 8:03 p.m.

PAGE TWO

(Four panels – a row of two square panels on top of two full-page width panels.)

PANEL ONE
A close-up of GABE’S PROFILE at the far right of the frame. He is speaking into a microphone on the stand in front of him. He is genuinely excited to be here.

GABE: Thanks for coming out tonight, everyone!

F/X: More crowd roaring.

PANEL TWO
A close-up of a scary DEMON’S PROFILE at the far left of the frame (“back-to-back” with GABE’S PROFILE in PANEL ONE). This demon has a bull-dog like face with horns that jut out from above his ears, curve back and down around the back of his head, and follow his jaw line to his mouth, where the horns end in sharp points (sort of like a ram, but scarier). He, too, is genuinely excited to be here (which is far creepier than GABE’S excitement, since the DEMON is here to kill everyone).

DEMON: (Shouting) Yes, thank you all for coming! It makes our hunt so much easier!

F/X: Abrupt end to the crowd roaring

PANEL THREE
Pull-back to a wider shot of PANEL ONE showing DEX, GABE, and NEIL in profile from the waist up at the far right of the panel (DEX is out from behind the drum kit already, standing between GABE and NEIL). They hold their instruments (or, you know, drumsticks) with steely resolve. It’s going to look like those old SUPERFRIENDS shots of the group lined up to fight. The crowd, visible to the left, stares in wonder.

GABE: Most bands only worry about broken strings…

PANEL FOUR
Pull back to a wider shot of PANEL TWO showing the DEMON and various other MONSTERS at the far left of the panel. This is the Injustice League half of the old SUPERFRIENDS image, the baddies in the same sort of line, raring to go. The crowd is visible on the right, staring at the DEMON and his MONSTERS in wonder. Not fear, mind you. The crowd looks expectant, if anything.

DEMON: Kill the others, but leave the angel-spawn to me.

PANEL FIVE
A shot of GABE, DEX, and NEIL from in the center of the crowd. Arcane energy crackles around DEX’S HANDS. NEIL has changed into some sort of bear-beast. GABE holds his guitar by the neck (it's starting to glow) and large glowing wings have spread out from his back. Between our position and the stage are the backs of many heads, watching in rapt attention.

PANEL SIX
A shot of the DEMON and his MONSTERS from the same point in the crowd. The MONSTERS hang from the walls and ceiling, all razor-sharp claws and slavering jaws. The DEMON has spread huge, leathery wings and rises in the air above the audience. Again, the space between our position and the DEMON is full of backs of heads as the people in the crowd stare at the display.

PAGE THREE
(Splash page.)

SPLASH
A shot from almost directly above the stage, looking down. In the foreground, flying high above the crowd, GABE slices the DEMON almost in half with an oversized, glowing broadsword. Below them, in the background, DEX is firing energy blasts at MONSTERS on one side of the stage while NEIL is mixing it up with some MONSTERS beastie-style on the other side of the stage. The crowd is looking every which way, trying to follow all of the action.

PAGE FOUR
(Four full-page wide panels.)

PANEL ONE
An establishing shot of the alley behind the club. A tour bus waits at the far side of the alley.

CAP: Chicago, IL – September 19th, 2003 – 11:47 p.m.

PANEL TWO
Two sweaty and exhausted young men, LUKE and TONY, slouch near the alley wall. TONY smokes a cigarette while LUKE writes in a notebook.

LUKE: …can't believe they played County Fair! The whole set list was like a dream…

TONY: I thought that opening was WAY overdone, though. That demon guy's make-up wasn't even that good.

LUKE: I don't know. It seemed almost…REAL to me.

PANEL THREE
A reverse angle over LUKE and TONY'S shoulders showing a tour bus. Three shadowy figures, GABE, DEX, and NEIL, are about to board the bus. They are carrying the body of the DEMON between them.

LUKE: I heard when they played St. Louis, a dragon showed up. My friend says it was real.

TONY: No way, dude. See? They're packing up the demon costume now.

LUKE: I guess…

PANEL FOUR
A tight shot of the bus pulling away.

GABE: (O.P., inside the bus) Hey Dex, any idea how to unsummon a demon corpse?

GABE: (Connected) And have you seen my extra strings?

It's interesting to see how things get interpreted from script to image - in this case Wil was spot-on with what was in my head (part of the reason I wanted to work with him).

It's-a me! Wil!

2010-02-22T16:24:00.000-08:00

Hey folks! For those not in the know, I'm the illustrator!

I don't have much to say at the moment, but I suddenly have the ability to post, so I'm taking advantage of it, ha!

Uuuuhm... here's all the artwork for the series that I've made public so far!

'Til next time!

Issue #1 Coming VERY Soon!

2010-02-22T11:46:00.000-08:00

THE REDEEMERS #1 will be available for purchase at C2E2 in Chicago from April 16-18. Right around that time, it should also go up for purchase at IndyPlanet. In addition to the comic, the 2-song e.p. will be available and series artist Wil Brendel should be in attendance and more than willing to draw you a pretty picture for a few of your hard-earned singles. To whet your appetite, here's the cover for Issue #1 (all art by Mr. Brendel).