THE YOUNG LAD OF THE SEA

In our previous post we met my version of the sea-going champion of a Distinctly Classic comics universe. As we've discussed before, that universe has a conspicuous tradition of giving its adult heroes teenage sidekicks and proteges. So it is that Aqualord has a young partner called Aquaboy...

...who one day outgrew that identity and became the sensational Seastorm. As you can see, he's not quite what you'd call a, ahem, Tempest in a teapot!

TELL IT TO THE ULTRAMARINE

In our last post I showed you my version of the very first super-hero with whom I ever bonded as a fan. The character depicted below would be the second. When I first discovered super-heroes, via a certain animated TV show, I immediately adopted as my favorite characters the ones I found easiest to draw! That would include the actual comic book versions of that previous character, and of this one, whose theme song described his powers as "Stronger than a whale, he can swim anywhere! He can breathe underwater and go flying through the air...!" The series theme referred to him as an "exotically neurotic and aquatic super-hero," a rhyme that has stayed with me all my life. The actual character, in his purest and most classic form, wears nothing but a pair of trunks and a belt, and sometimes a pair of gold wristbands. My version of him is called Ultramarine, and while I've adhered to the pure visual concept, you can see I've jazzed him up a bit after my own fashion. The actual character is one of the first, original super-heroes; in fact he and the company to which he belongs are observing their 70th anniversary this year!


Now, the Dynamite Competition of the company to whom that character belongs also has a sea-going aquatic super-hero. The actual character is one of the most beloved super-heroes to comic-book-reading gays. In his purest and most classic form, he's an affable Monarch of the Depths who's known for being the Dr. Dolittle of marine life. ("If I could talk to the sea animals...") He's also known for hurling balls of coherent water at his foes and riding around on enormous sea horses. There's a particular pre-teen charm about him that has always endeared him to gay fans. I've always liked this character, my version of whom is seen below and is dubbed Aqualord. But in my fan life, I've spent far more time with the character on whom Ultramarine is based than with the character from whom Aqualord is derived. It's just my own personal affinity as a comics fan, which I was discussing with you the other week. The character on whom Ultramarine is based is a very dramatic and volatile figure who, depending on his storyline at a given time, can be either a dangerous do-gooder or a heroic adversary. I always found him more personally interesting than the character from whom Aqualord is derived. My brother would agree; he once referred to the basis for Aqualord as "S*b-M*r*n*r Lite!"

Of course, as standards in comic-book storytelling have changed, the character on whom Aqualord is based has changed with them over the years into a darker, angrier, "edgier" figure. They've even grown his hair long and lopped off one of his hands and replaced it with a harpoon. Ironically, that actually detracted from his appeal for me! But they're both among the oldest, most classic characters in comics, and they're among the models for the super-heroes who have followed them. Dare I sign off with the exclamation, "Imperius Rex!"

"...WITH A HEART OF STEEL"

Now, anyone who's been near a cinema since May 2008 had better know from which world famous super-hero I derived Techno Man. This ferrous-suited fox is derived from the very first super-hero with whom I ever bonded as a fan. That character is all about human ingenuity: One of the most powerful heroes of the world in which he lives and battles, he actually invented his own powers! I remember very well watching the first adaptation of this character on TV, with that classic theme song that described his alter ego as "...a cool exec with a heart of steel!" It's great that after all these years, my original favorite hero is finally getting his props as the lead character of one of last year's biggest hit films--whose sequel will undoubtedly be among the biggest hits of 2010. To paraphrase that theme: "Amazing armor! That's Techno Man! A blazing power! That's Techno Man!"

WORLDS APART

I’d like to start this post with a shout out to a new online friend of mine, John Savage, who just yesterday posted a selection from Quantum Male Art on his own Blog, Rants, Roids, n Rasslin’. As you may surmise, John’s blog is themed on wrestling, albeit with a decidedly gay slant and an acquaintance with comic book art. In fact, some of his recent posts pit a couple of famous characters from a Decidedly Classic comic book company against each other in the ring; they’re characters who have appeared in my own veiled guises on this very Blog. Anyway, to return the favor, I wanted to give an appreciative link back to John this time. Thanks, John, and whatever may be the wrestling equivalent of “break a leg!”

Now, for our usual business, you see above the actual, unveiled versions of the two most famous (male) heroes in comic books. I include them because I consider these the two best drawings I have ever done of these characters (in their actual forms or otherwise). As for the character on the left, his importance can’t be overstated. Though he is neither the first fictional costumed adventurer nor the first fictional do-gooder with super-powers, he is the character to whom history points as the model for all true super-heroes. Heck, his name even says it! They’re called SUPER powers for a reason, and he is it! The character on the right, of course, has lately appeared in this Blog in his J.A. Fluddian guise of Manta Ray. Look back at Manta Ray and then look at where he came from.

The funny thing is that when I was first becoming involved with comics, if there had been nothing in the super-hero genre except the comics to which these characters belonged, and the other comics of that company, I probably would have been like your typical comic book fan who reads comics as a kid and then loses interest when adolescence and the hormones kick in. (Adolescence is the great killer of comic book fans! Suddenly girls and cars and computers and video games become more important than the super-heroes you loved so well, and we lose a lot of kids and never get them back.) I needed something more from comics even as a very young fan, and I got it from another company, the home of the character on whom this next lad is based.

Of course, you shouldn’t need me to tell you who “The Blaze” above really is and where he comes from. The group of characters to which he belongs, and the universe that grew up around them, was what held my interest in comics, precisely because they were never written with pre-teen boys in mind. They were the work of guys in their 30s and older, writing and drawing to please themselves (or “The Man” who was their head writer and editor). Those characters and that universe changed the context in which super-heroes and their adventures were placed, and that, ahem, Marvelous change of context made all the difference. The differences between that company and their Dauntless Competition are much diminished now from what they were when I was a very young boy (the majority of comics today are written, how shall we say, Marvelously), but back then they were enough to keep me interested. Contemplate the, ahem, Fantastic drawing above, and till next time, “Blaze On!”

DEVIL RAY

You can substitute the names and designs of the actual characters as you ponder how Manta Ray's original Skate grew up and took on the adult identity of Devil Ray, leaving the Skate identity as a mantle for other adventurous boys to take up. And the legacy of hotness goes on...

SKATE 2

There is a tradition at a given comic book company to pass on a costumed heroic identity from one character to another, creating generational "dynasties" of heroes. So it is that Manta Ray has had more than one teenage sidekick named Skate. When the original Skate grew up, a new one took over. In his own way, he's at hot as his predecessor.

SKATE

A skate is a marine animal related to the rays. The dark avenger of the night, Manta Ray, has often been accompanied into battle by teenage sidekicks in the costumed identity of Skate. Here's a shot of the original Skate, whom I designed to avoid, ahem, "Robin" the trademark of a large comic book company.

MANTA RAY

It shouldn't be too hard to figure out the true identity of this character unless you've been living in a cave and you're positively batty. To create my version of him, I just had to swap his accustomed image for that of another "winged" creature that has frightened or unnerved people through history, which has at times been called a "Devilfish". The imagery still works pretty well. After all, "criminals are a cowardly, superstitious lot..."

DOES WHATEVER A SPIDER CAN...

And yet another lesson in how to use a famous character without violating the trademark. This version of him is called Night-Spider, but do I actually need to tell you who this really is? This is a character whose main appeal is that of an "Everyman" with super-powers--but sometimes, in the hands of the right artist, he's enough to make you wish every man could be an Everyman! I hope the hotness of this master drawing will have you climbing the walls with pleasure.

A STORM IS COMING

It's one of those hot, sticky, simmering summer days--a day when you'd welcome a little thunder shower just to cool things off. And a storm is coming, all right: But when it's brought by an awesomely sexy God of Thunder, it will make your day anything but cool. What can possibly lower the temperature when he's making it so steamy?

Here's my version of one of my enduring favorite heroes to put you on notice that it's "Hammer Time." Don't you wish you could touch this?

OH CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN...

And here is what I think is the finest image I've ever drawn of the world's greatest patriot hero, presented for your pleasure for the 4th of July. Even as we speak, this assassinated Living Legend is on the brink of being resurrected, and I'm looking forward to reading the first issue of the miniseries in which it happens this afternoon. Happy 4th, everyone!

MY COUNTRYMAN, 'TIS OF THEE...

As we enter the fantastic Fourth of July Weekend, there's no better time to share a couple of images of the greatest champion of liberty and freedom the world has ever known. Here's my version of him, called The Countryman.

THE EYES HAVE IT

There's a certain very popular comic book of which this character with the energy-firing eyes that have to be kept behind special lenses used to be the lead. By rights he should still be the lead, but much more attention has been lavished on a certain other character with metal claws that come out of his hands, who is a vulgar, glorified homicidal maniac. (And whom comic book artists never draw as drop-dead gorgeous as the movie version of him.) However, when drawn with the right attention to his brooding masculine beauty and well-honed, well-haired form, this character is one of the sexiest heroes in comics. Here's the classic version of him, the way I used to enjoy him.

...FROM MOTOROLA

Somewhere among my souvenirs I still have the Marvel Swimsuit Edition magazine that has one of the most beautiful drawings of a male hero that I've ever seen.  It was a shot of this character, lounging in a canoe in just a Speedo in black with stars on it.  It was positively stunning.  In this combination shot, that same character appears in both full costume and in that starry Speedo.  He's named for one of the most distant objects in the universe, but he's definitely someone you prefer to see up close and personal!

A SOUND OF THUNDER

The comic book company that publishes this character--and used to publish him in the form we see here--is taking over the entertainment industry one character and one film at a time. The film starring this character is now in pre-production and its hunky lead has been cast after his brief but high-profile appearance playing Captain Kirk's valiant father in the new Star Trek film. In my opinion the Hollywood physical trainers will have to put the young Australian lad through a Christopher Reeve/Brandon Routh treatment to build him up into the shape to play the God of Thunder, but that's a win/win as far as I can tell. Hunkier is better. I'm looking forward to seeing this film in the next couple of years.
"SO BE IT!"

STAR CENTURION

The apparent mission of this familiar hero is to uphold law, order, and hotness throughout the galaxy.  I'd say he does more than a fair job of it.

SWING FROM A WEB

This character has a famous theme song that says, "Can he swing from a thread? Take a look overhead!" To the question, "Is he strong?" it assures us, "Listen, Bud: He's got radioactive blood!" This is, I have no doubt, the best drawing I've ever done of one of my all-time favorite heroes.

HORNED JUSTICE

One of the most gratifying things about being an artist is those days when you sit down at the drawing board, whip out the old pencil, and just come up with a winner. This drawing was done on one of those days. It is the best drawing I've ever done of this particular well-known character from a large comic book company. It's just one of those pieces that make me glad I have "the gift."

Now, an even more gratifying thing would be if I were actually taking a guy like this to bed every night...

SORCERER AND DEVIL

Here are a couple of other ACEO Cards from a recent auction. These two heroes are probably familiar to you even in partial costume. One of the mightiest of sorcerers; the other gives the world of crime a "devil" of a time when he stalks by night. They're both perfectly..."Marvelous," wouldn't you say?

LIKE A SHOT!

This is another ACEO (Art Cards Editions and Originals) Card from last year. It is one of my personal favorites. I just love the body language (not to mention the body itself) and the action in it. I consider this little drawing an example of my very best work. I hope you'll agree.