Inaki Miranda

FABLES #99 - page 19... step by step.

2010-10-27T13:58:00.000-07:00

Fables #99 form Vertigo/DC hit the stores last week, with art by myself and colors by Eva de la Cruz.
For page 19, Bill Willingham scripted a recreation of James Jean cover to the Around the Town issue of Fables, with decayed versions of everybody (except for Pinocchio, who doesn't appear). I had so much fun doing this page that made me feel guilty for being paid.

I thought it would be fun as well to post a step by step sequence of how the image changed from the original cover for Fables 76, to the final colored version of page 19 in Fables 99.

Here's James Jean's amazing cover...

I started with the breakdowns, took out Pinocchio, added Maddy, "killed" the bird (the script was clear on that one!), and thought it would be cool to open the manhole and take out the dog, leaving the girl walking an empty leash...

I then started pencilling it...

Once I defined the main characters in the page I felt I wanted to jump straight to the inks... this was the most fun stage, where I got to really make them look like zombies...

Finally, once approved by editor Shelly Bond, I sent it to Eva (de la Cruz) and waited anxiously for her to do her magic...

....Voilà!

Hope you enjoyed it!

Inaki

TRIBES: the dog years, now in stores...

2010-10-21T14:57:00.000-07:00

A bit waaaay too late since my last post, but well... lots of things to catch up with, so here we go.

TRIBES: THE DOG YEARS is finally out and I can't be happier with how the book looks. IDW's printing standards are fantastic, thank you to Chris Ryall and editor Justin Biever for this. Eva’s superb colors on paper look just as they looked in the screen. Michael Geszel and I worked very closely with designer Tania Encina to get the right look for the book and she did a wonderful job with it. Thanks, Tania.

A huge thanks to the mastermind behind this creation, Michael Geszel, founder of Soulcraft Comics and creator/writer of Tribes, for making sure this adventure was absolutely worth every drop of sweat. He and Peter Spinetta have crafted a truly wonderful script that grabs you from the first page and leaves you wanting to know so much more about the world and the characters. That's a real difficult task to achieve.

On the back cover there are two unbelievable blurbs from two of my comics heroes, John Cassaday and Paul Pope. I feel extremely lucky and grateful to them for these unexpected gifts…

“The widescreen enormity of Inaki’s art pulls you in and pushes you forward. Effortless line art and strong storytelling were evident to me the moment I saw his work. Can’t wait to see more.” - John Cassaday (Planetary, Astonishing X-Men)

“Tribes is like Mad Max by way of Disney. Inaki draws with a widescreen vision that jumps off the page.” -Paul Pope (Batman: Year 100, Heavy Liquid, THB)

Thank you so much, Paul and John.

Also, Tribes has already picked up some great reviews:

"Writers Geszel and Spinetta have put great thought into constructing a believable world that has been run by teenagers for generations.... Inaki Miranda's artwork and layouts are the standout; from its sweeping landscapes to its hectic action sequences, it continually conveys a sense of epic adventure." - Publisher’s Weekly http://bit.ly/TRIBESpbwreview

“The scripts by Michael Geszel and Peter Spinetta and art by Inaki Miranda give this end-times scenario an appealing youth-gone-wild vibe reminiscent of Akira meets the Feral Kid from The Road Warrior.” -io9 http://io9.com/5575505/wednesdays-comics--greek-god-sex-a-batwoman-and-a-manga+style-logans-run

“Tribes will make Inaki a superstar” -Jimmy Aquino/Comic News Insider http://bit.ly/TRIBEScni

“Published in a horizontal landscape format, the graphic novel (and this is a graphic novel, not just a random collection of issues), combines elements of Logan’s Run, Avatar, The Road Warrior, and Akira into a completely fresh, engrossing story that deserves a spot on everyone’s reading list.” - Forces of Geek http://bit.ly/TRIBESfog

“Tribes: The Dog Years from IDW/Soulcraft Media delivers a powerful cinematic comic book experience. When you’re done reading this 200-page original graphic novel, you feel as if you’ve just watched a movie. Inaki Miranda’s art is amazing, and Michael Geszel has spun a tale that is like if Akira and 300 had a love-child. It is also a great example of the type of comic that can only be fully appreciated in its lush, oversized widescreen paper format.” - Valerie D'Orazio http://bit.ly/TRIBESsuperheroine

“Though the post-apocalyptic tribal-survivors shtick may not be anything new, the creative team here manages to breathe life into the hoary genre... Miranda’s art and de la Cruz’s colors are lush and exceptional, elevating the tale well above the ordinary.” - Miami Herald http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/09/19/1829586/disillusionment-in-cuba-a-slacker.html

There's a nice widescreen preview on Comicsalliance.com... http://bit.ly/TRIBESca

Thanks to everyone for each and every mention, review, interview and kind vibrations towards Tribes!

I just came back from NYCC and it was a blast!

Finally you can check out a 34 page preview on Soucraft's site...
http://www.soulcraftcomics.com/main/tribes-the-dog-years/

Buy the book on amazon!!
http://amzn.to/TRIBESamazon

THX!

Inaki

ONLY TWO MONTHS AWAY!

2010-04-26T05:37:00.000-07:00

TRIBES out in stores JUNE 29!

10 page preview HERE.

Buy it on Amazon.com HERE.

Thanks!

VINES from Soulcraft Comics

2009-09-16T09:25:00.000-07:00

VINES is the title of the next project I'll be working on. As TRIBES, VINES will be produced by Michael Geszel's Soulcraft Comics.

As the writer of this project, Ben McCool, best describes it in his blog... "VINES is a fast-paced and outlandish action/adventure, wherein a dark twisted jungle has literally overwhelmed New York City. METNAL, the lowest most despicable level of the nine Mayan hells, also rears its sinister head, and the aftermath is unlike anything you'll have ever seen before..."

Sounds cool? I think it does, and I'm absolutely excited about it. I have already started the visual development and it's going to be a visual feast. I'm going to be drawing all kinds of treats!

It's being written by the incredible (and I mean it) Ben McCool, and I sure as hell couldn't be happier. Check out CHOCKER, by himself and Ben Templesmith, coming out soon from Image Comics.

As soon as I am able to show some image of VINES, I will.

Thanks,

Inaki

TRIBES: The Dog Years, next year from IDW

2009-09-16T08:35:00.000-07:00

I know it's been really too long since I last posted, but I've been busy with many many things.

As my friend Eva posted in her blog, she's just six pages away (now she must be five or four I guess) from being done with the coloring of TRIBES: The Dog Years, which means that I am done with the pencils myself.

I can also very happily announce that the graphic novel is coming out next year by IDW Publishing. This is a very nice news for me, as I consider IDW one of the best publishers in the american market and it's a true honor to have my work published under their logo.

TRIBES has been a long road to walk, and I'm already very proud of what we have accomplished... I just can't wait to see it printed and on my hands. Once I know the actual dates for solicitation I'll let everybody know.

Here's a step by step working process of page 125 from the breakdowns to the final coloring by Eva (I wish I had the blue pencil stage to show too, but I forgot to scan it, sorry)... and yes, kids can be pretty violent!

So please stay tunned... TRIBES: The Dog Years, next year by IDW!!!

Thanks,

Inaki

PS: next post.... VINES...

Shadowmancer covers

2009-04-21T15:54:00.000-07:00

Here are some old covers (it's been like three years, maybe more, can't remember right now) I did for the GP Taytlor's Shadowmancer comic published by Markosia and adapted by Tony Lee. Colors are of course by Eva de la Cruz.

As always, thanks for looking...

Inaki

Watercolor Spider-man

2009-04-18T17:37:00.000-07:00

TRIBES...pages 1 to 16 and running...

2009-01-21T08:06:00.000-08:00

For anybody out there who hasn't been dropping by SOULCRAFT's website, I thought I'd let you know there's a very cool TRIBES website running over there, with character and setting designs from the comic. AND, most important... they've been and are uploading pages of the book each week for everybody to read.

So if you haven't visited the site yet, please go and enjoy.

Thanks

Inaki

Starship Troopers

2008-12-15T10:29:00.000-08:00

Here's a cover I did for the Starship Troopers series published by Markosia. Colors: Eva de la Cruz.

Killing time

2008-12-03T07:42:00.000-08:00

These are some drawings I did years ago, while working in a videogames company. I had no work to do, and at that moment I was listening to the Lord of the Rings and Forrest Gump soundtracks. So I thought of drawing the little still shots that came in the CD books (do they have a specific name?--I mean the little books with the lyrics and stuff) just to kill time off.

Thanks for looking.

Inaki

TRIBES: THE DOG YEARS . The Oil Rig setting, the whole process

2008-10-03T03:46:00.000-07:00

Thanks for visiting.

Inaki

MINX cancelled

2008-09-30T09:51:00.000-07:00

I learned last week that DC’s MINX line was cancelled. There really isn’t much I’d like to say about it apart from saying that is a sad news for everybody involved, creators and editors. I don’t have any inside information that would let me speculate about it, not that I would do it anyway, only the people that dance on the dance floor can know all the circumstances that led to the cancelling. From my riverside I can say that Burnout was an incredible learning experience, both in the human and professional side; working with Shelly Bond made the simple existence of MINX absolutely worth it for me.

Inaki

Panel from the vault

2008-07-13T08:08:00.000-07:00

Here's a panel from my first comic assignment back in 2003. A two part Judge Dredd story (written by Gordon rennie) published in the weekly UK magazine 2000AD. Even though it is part of my first work, it still remains as one of my favourite drawings. I wanted to share it here. The inks and colors are by the very talented Eva de la Cruz (as always).

Thanks for visiting,

>> Inaki

Quick sketch for fun

2008-07-06T10:55:00.000-07:00

Night bug.

Thanks for visiting.

>>Inaki

BURNOUT reviews

2008-06-28T08:07:00.000-07:00

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/artsandliving/source/media-mix/062208.html

http://www.eyeoncomics.com/?p=293

http://www.bookreporter.com/reviews2/9781401215378.asp

http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/06/19/burnout/

http://www.comicrelated.com/commentary/novelideas_080616.html

http://geeksofdoom.com/2008/06/23/comic-review-burnout/

http://www.thexaxis.com/misc/burnout.htm

http://avidbookreader.com/2008/06/16/review-burn-out-by-rebecca-donner-minx/

http://www.cosmiccomix.com/newblog/?p=286#more-286

http://myreadingproject.blogspot.com/2008/05/three-from-minx.html

http://tradewaiting.blogspot.com/2008/07/burnout.html

Many thanks to each and everyone for dedicating part of your time to review the book. I deeply appreciate it.

TRIBES - The dog years -

2008-06-25T04:19:00.000-07:00

It's a rare opportunity for a comic artist to be able to spend a couple of months exclusively to discuss and visually develop the characters and the world a book will be set in before starting with the actual pages.

With TRIBES, I was able to live this, and I'm truly thankful for that. I have been given a lot of creative space to try interesting storytelling approaches and it's being a very complex and absolutely satisfying experience.

The release date is yet to be decided and I'm sure I will be dedicating lots of future entries to this book.

TRIBES is the post-apocaliptic/sci-fi toy creation of SOULCRAFT's comic producer Michael Geszel. I was lucky enough to be hand picked by him and asked to join this creation. Since then I've not only won a good "boss", but a good friend... a combination hard to find.

I'm not able to show too much at this stage, because I don't want to spoil any future promotion, but there's an early promotional trailer that I can share... hope it makes you curious...

TRIBES is being an incredible experience for me, both proffesionally and personally speaking. It has taken me to meet a lot of outstanding people inside and outside the comics industry and I got to visit San Diego, New York and Baltimore, with some incredible experiences along the way.

What more can I ask?

Thank you, Mike.

BURNOUT from MINX--out next month

2008-05-15T04:38:00.000-07:00

This is my first entry…I’m starting my walk stepping on virgin sands here. On one side I think I should make it a special one, but on the other side I know I’m not very much the “blogger” kind, so I’ll just get going and ride this horse as easy as possible.

Next month, June, is the release date of BURNOUT, the MINX/DC graphic novel written by Rebecca Donner and illustrated by myself and Eva de la Cruz (handling the grey tones).

It has been an absolute pleasure to work on this book. On one side I worked with my long time friend and partner in crime Eva, which guaranteed my drawings were going to look at least ten times better then how they looked when they left my drawing board. On the other side, working over Rebecca’s script made me feel like half of my pencils where already down in words. Her writing is very thoughtful; she really gets into the mind of the characters, making my job a delight. Checkout her novel "Sunset Terrace" to get another good glimpse of her quality and sensitive writing.

And I can’t talk about this book without mentioning Shelly Bond, my editor and the mastermind behind MINX. I had worked with her previously in a short story which appeared in Vertigo’s Fables. That short experience was simply fantastic. She is the dream editor of any artist that wants to become a real star. She makes the artist grow in every panel, in every page. So, after 144 pages of working under her genius guidance in Burnout I feel my storytelling knowledge and sensitivity has grown immensely. The feedback you get from her is absolutely incredible. Working with her is like receiving free (well, not free, they actually paid me!) classes of art and storytelling on a daily basis.

I raise muy cup for MINX and wish the line a long and happy life.

Here’s a link to a BURNOUT preview at Myspace - Enjoy.

And here’s a sneak peek at the process for page 1 of the book… from the breakdowns (check out how they changed after a couple phone calls from the editor) to the final art…

Thank you for dropping by this blog.

Next entry: TRIBES – The dog years …

>>Inaki