Probably my favorite graphic novel to date.

Perfectly illustrated and written by Charles Burn, the story is set in the 70’s and deals with the aftermath of a sexually transmitted disease called “The Bug” which causes grotesque mutations in teenagers.

… Burns explains to journalist Steve Appleford that he “thinks of adolescence as a disease one has to live through,” but to regard Black Hole merely as an allegory of the difficulty of teenage identity mutes how the narrative resonates with two crises of public culture: the HIV/AIDS epidemic and the rash of school shootings that became a mainstream media concern in the United States with the events at Columbine High School in 1999…

Highly recommed you check it out if you into graphic novels. I never get tierd of lookign at the beautifully crafted panels and meticulous illustration and ink work.

BUY

I’ve started going back to basics and doing some figure drawing via Frank J. Reilly’s method . I feel it works well for me in getting the right proportion and technique.

While searching for more resources i came across ProcessJunkie and the sexy/busty work of Lucio Alberto. Samples below.

His put up a fine posts with some figure drawing downloadable books. 
> The Best Figure Drawing Books Eve
Check each book to form your own opinions on which technique works for you.

His blog has got a selection of his own work, wide selection of other illustrators by and a ton of books. All in a wide variety of styles.

2 artists that blew me away with their character work were:

JOSE LOPEZ

Image from BrandStudio

> More from this book

Award winning character design for clients such as Google, DC comics, Activision, TMNT, Warner Bros. (The Batman), Cartoon Network…

> Buy Mariachi Samurai Book
> Buy 4:00 AM Book

BRANDON RAGNAR JOHNSON

These images are from Big City

> Buy Big City Book

After the fall of Virgin Comics and India’s Gotham Entertainment ,
Vimanika Comics is set to do a much better job with strong stories and stunning artwork. Can’t wait to check more of they stuff out.

Times interview with Karan Vir Arora, editor-in-chief of Vimanika Comics
Also check out Selling Books vs Promoting Indian Culture

Karna Statue crafted for the winner of the  Sketch Karna contest winner

Born in Afghanistan, Sooraya is attacked by a slave trader attempting to remove her traditional niqab; almost instinctively, she lashes out with her powers and flays him alive with her sand-like dust. The X-Men, having heard the situation, traveled to Afghanistan and rescue her, where she is brought to America and becomes a student of the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning. After the antics of the Scarlet Witch (in which millions of mutants lost their powers), Sooraya remains one of the few mutants to keep their powers after the event. She is currently a member of the Young X-Men team. She is a rare example of a positive Muslim comic book character.

Great interview from Ponderpop part 1 of 4

As you might have realised by now been a fan of the Spawn comics for some time. Dark and awesome!!!

The first feature film which came out in 1997 was a bit rubbish but theres talk of an all new R rated one for the future woohoo!!!

Also just saw the first 4 Spawn animations on Youtube…

DJ Bobby Friction tells the story of Dr Naif Al-Mutawa, the psychologist and businessman who has created the first collection of Muslim comic book superheroes – The 99 – that are sweeping the Arab world, and arriving soon in Europe. Based on the 99 attributes of Allah in the Koran, the cartoons are not without controversy. Bobby visits Naif in Kuwait on the eve of the opening of The 99’s first theme park, and tells the story of his quest to become known as ‘the Walt Disney of the Arabic world’.

> BBC 4

Now they are headed for British television screens…

More > The Telegraph

Read More >  
SavitaBhabhi.com >

Love this image its not as pop and retro as the rest

Robert Rodriguez to remake Barbarella (1968
Nooooo!!! Who could possibly replace Jane Fonda?

Heres a spread from the 1962 original comic book
 

Classic opening sequence thats still kick ass sexy

And just found this
> Barbarella & Other Ladies in Space 
> Respect > Reality

Love the image above…

Was exciting when Virgin Comics joint with India based publisher’s Gotham Entertainment and bought us Spiderman India and a host of other projects. Although i never really got into the Ramayana set in a nuclear future. Spiderman India was cool, the artwork and colour for the first issue was pretty good. Managed to pick up Yama and Voddoo Child for 50p each a few weeks ago!

Supersonic Buddha had a mighty fight with him even before the first issue came out! Check the artwork out in my portfolio under illustration. 

Yama was a let down and the illustrations inside just never have enough detail for my liking.

Currently reading Watcmen and visually its stunning the colour (by John Higgins) and illustrations (by Dave Gibbons) are punchy and beautifully done. I rather like the 9 frame layout and the dark edginess…

Rorschach’s mask looks stunning in the comic book but i just hope it carries over into the film as well.

Alan Moore has reportedly cursed the film …
Fox is suing Warner Bros over the rights and thus the movie may be delayed ..

Read more >