Atomic Robo & The Dogs of War, Done
Well, I’ve been having a fine few days. Why’s that? Because I finished the last issue of Atomic Robo Vol.2 last Wednesday. I wouldn’t say I took some time off after that, but I did crank back the Weg-O-Meter a few notches. I took the time to bust out a couple of long overdue commissions, and start putting together stuff for the new Atomic Robo Sketchbook.
This boon of free time no doubt leaves you wondering, “Where the hell was the Monday blog?” Fair enough. But I wanted to finish the Vol.2 TPB cover first so that I could share it with you. So stop complaining you ingrates!
This is easily the most complicated cover I have ever done. I’m not really a montage/collage kind of guy, but it looks like I’m stuck with the format for the next few volumes at least.
I am really getting excited about the Boston Comic Con, on November 2nd. I really enjoy this show and this time is super-cool because one of my comic book idols is going to be there -Peter Laird, co-creator of TMNT. For those of you who are young enough to only really associate the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with that really horrible cartoon from the 90’s, or the really awesome CGI movie from 2007, I am here to tell you that it all began with a self-published Indie book, back in 1984. In 1985 I was ten years old and one of the first comic books I ever read was a second printing of TMNT #1. TMNT sparked an explosion of indie books, and became my touchstone, and babtism, into the world of comic books. You can read a bunch of the original TMNT comics on the official site.
TMNT really struck on all the right chords for me. It was full of wacky sci-fi stuff, ninjas, and a hint of post apocalyptic mayhem. And anyone born before 1985 has a certain love/fear of nuclear apocalypse -think of all the movies; Mad Max, Red Dawn, Escape From New York, etc. I sometimes miss the Cold War . . . TMNT also introduced me to Role Playing Games. The kind that involve paper, and dice, and your imagination. Not that Choose your Own Adventure crap that games like Final Fantasy or WoW call RPGs. There was a whole series of TMNT RPGs and I loved them. I’ve always found old school RPGs to be a great breading ground for story and character ideas. I wish I could find some people in Wilton to play with.
I remember early on in Atomic Robo wondering to myself if Brian and I had maybe accidentally stumbled upon the next TMNT thing. That might be a little absurd, but it’s one of my secret dreams. Well . . .not so secret now, but you know what I mean.
Peter is also bringing along the gang from Mirage Studios -you can find links to the Mirage Gang off that main TMNT site. There’s some really great talent there. This is going to be so much fun!
On November 16th I’ll be appear with another cast of super-stars at the Portsmouth Comic Book Show.
RANDOM SPLENDOR
October 7th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
My memories of the Cold War are less pleasant. Being born in 1964 though I lived through more of them than you. I most clearly remember believing in my very heart of hearts that the whole world would end in a rain of nuclear fire. This haunted my every thought for decades. So I’m sort of glad the Cold War is gone.
October 7th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
Dude, that cover is great! Is the FCBD story going to be included in here (or are there plans to collect it elsewhere)? I’ve got an actual copy already, but much prefer having quality stories on the bookshelf as opposed to packed away in a long box in the basement.
October 7th, 2008 at 6:33 pm
Ah, I’m a word nerd. Reading through the blog and I come upon
“I’ve always found old school RPGs to be a great breading ground for story and character ideas.”
heh heh heh. The images of a breading ground for story and character ideas. I hope you’re using Panko, that makes stories the tastiest!
October 7th, 2008 at 6:59 pm
Tetsubo -Yeah, but your a crazyhead.
I always felt happy to grow up in NYC, because I knew there would be dozens of bombs aimed at me.
The worst I was likely to experience was a nasty flash of light, half a second before the city was vaporized.
Shane -as far as I know the FCBD story will be included in the Vol.2 TPB.
Ljlucy -I hate it when I correctly spell the wrong word.
October 8th, 2008 at 8:00 am
That would be, “you’re a crazyhead”.
What I am is a product of what happens when government propaganda *works*. I was raised to believe that the USSR was going to nuke us until we glowed. I *believed*. It was one of the driving forces behind my desire to suicide. I figured, why bother? We’re screwed anyway.
I didn’t lose that fear until Clinton’s second term.
I got it back with W’s first term…
October 8th, 2008 at 8:50 am
You and your wife have GOT to stop editing me. I type, and reply to, this blog with pens clenched in my hands and a ruler in my mouth. You don’t want to know what I’ve got clenched in other places.
Why don’t you go start a grammar blog? =D
You Crazyheads.
October 8th, 2008 at 7:31 pm
I was born in 1961, and while the idea of the final throw down with the U.S.S.R. was ever present, it was the “hot” war in Vietnam that got most of my attention thanks to the daily body counts on the news before I grabbed my lunch box and headed off to school each morning.
We live in interesting times my friends.
October 9th, 2008 at 7:43 am
Poke the bear…
October 9th, 2008 at 8:17 am
sweet cover!
And hot damn, man, Bernie friggin Wrightson is gonna be at the show you’re going to.
Lucky dog.
October 9th, 2008 at 8:53 am
Okay look, all I meant was that the fucked up 20th Century produced some great RPGs. Yeesh.
Jay -Yeah, and Berine’s got a kick ass website http://wrightsonart.com/
October 9th, 2008 at 9:50 am
[...] Scott Wegener just finished the cover to the upcoming Atomic Robo and the Dogs of War trade paperback! The release date for this hasn’t been set yet but look for it in the Spring of 2009. [...]
October 11th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
Wow! The Vol. 2 TPB cover is one of the best pages I’ve seen spring from your mind/pencil. Nice going!