Happy Thanksgiving!

Behold the rise of Cluck Cluck the Foul Fowl, the avenging spirit of Thanksgiving. Turkeys, thy long-awaited liberation is at hand ...

- Jeff Tuffenstuff

The Merchant Marchand

A character study for the merchant that hires the naked thief in my upcoming comic.

- Jeff Tuffenstuff

November endorsements ...

Every once in a while, I come across stuff that I just want share with all of you. So here is what I fully endorse for the month of November ...

... Clone Wars Animated Series (2009) Season One DVD set. Beautifully packaged. Great shows. Giving hope to Star Wars fans that something good did come out of the prequilogy. Ahsoka, Asajj Ventress, Battle Droids and Cad Bane rock!

... Ramon Rodriguez. A fellow artist in New York who has been following our blog for a while. You should check out his site at: www.artboycat.com

... My daughter Kennedy's smile (makes my day, every day).

... First of the month Halloween discount sales. All the stuff you wanted to pull over your head or decorate your house with but couldn't afford. Now 50% to 75% off.

... Ice cubes, air conditioning, toilets and toilet paper. You will be missed in 2012.

- Jeff Tuffenstuff

Creation of a villain ...

I thought it would be interesting to show my process on developing a character by posting some rough initial sketches and the finished, inked piece.

Introducing Baron Malvado, an evil knight, who will play a "major" role in my upcoming comic. Malvado has been in many battles for his king and country and at some point he snapped. Pressure of leading troops? Couldn't play castle politics? Somebody stole his betrothed? Ate some bad meat? Who knows. Whatever happened, he's no longer playing with a full deck.The initial design of Malvado went through several stages (above, sketches 1-12). After the first few sketches, I realized that he would look more sinister and powerful with more hair - a thick mustache or a big scruffy beard. Once I started to whittle down the features that I liked, I worked out a head shape that I could easily replicate. I really like his bugged-out eyes ... he looks like he doesn't sleep well. Disturbing visions of darkness that threatens to engulf the land? Plagued by all the innocents he has slain? Perhaps. Or maybe he's really just ...

While the face took a long time, the suit of armor and his frame came together quite quickly. He needed to look strong and powerful. I want readers to believe that he is a threat as soon as he appears. I love the look of big scaly chain mail and the few plates of armor that cover the chest, hands and legs.

I like the idea of him being dubbed the black knight - not because of the armor or his family crest, but because of his disheveled black beard and his overall savagery and lunacy.

The one thing that I still have to work out is the sword, which will receive a more memorable hilt and blade. The sword is evil and will be featured often in future issues.

Baron Malvado. Let me know what you think ...

- Jeff Tuffenstuff

El Hombre Lobo will set fire to your panties!!!

A curious thing has been happening over the past couple of months. Whenever I have been updating my status on Myspace and Facebook, a voice, usually spoken in the third person for ridiculous effect, has risen. It is that of Sir "El Hombre Lobo". Given to outbursts of exaggeration and arrogance, it is the impish, feral side of me.
As I began to think about this character's development within my psyche (without my full knowledge or approval)-as well as the possible reasons for his rather abrupt appearances, I decided to draw him.
Oddly, ironically, conveniently, curiously I drew him on my 36th birthday. This is my rendition of him.
Do not be alarmed or surprised if he shows up occasionally in this blog!

- Chew

I'm back ...

It's been a while since my last post. Wanna know what I've been up to? Okay ... here it goes:

I've enjoyed spending quality time with my youngest daughter. I found out that I'm allergic to fagrant soaps - I developed a painful rash on my fingers and the palms of my hands, which for a week, made work and drawing extremely uncomfortable. I got a nasty cold that my body refuses to shake (don't worry folks, it's not the flu - I've been checked) and I've been sick for an entire month with all kinds of symptoms ... which is a new record for me. The whole family is sick with varying degrees of the cold (which unfortunately got the baby too). I've won two SEMC awards for my graphic design work at the museum. I watched the movie Speed Racer (which I simply don't get - I understand the plot - but if you make a movie for kids, why is the back story about corporate acquisition and race fixing? What ten-year old gives a flying crap about that? It's like the Phantom Menace ... hey kids, this one's for you! Oh by the way, we're gonna deal with a trade embargo, senatorial and planetary disputes, and we're gonna show you how to turn a small skirmish into a full scale war - yippieee! If you're gonna make the movie for a kid, make the damn movie for a kid!). I've watched a couple of old Hammer horror films ... good stuff (thanks, Matt). I saw G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra (go Baroness!). I've argued about the economical and social conditions necessary for Star Trek's socialistic society (keep 'em comin', Kennis). My wife and I hosted a Halloween party for the family at which I was dressed as a demented clown and booed my brother for doing a bad imitation of a monster (check out his germanchocolatestallion blog - don't worry, it's not porn). And finally, I've discovered the Nathan's Hot Dog. I like. I like a lot.

But it's back to making comics. In addition to getting back to work on Flex Fantastic 2, I'm trying to have two new comics out by March or April of next year. One is a little to halfway done. The other, I'm starting this week (see illustration above). It's about a naked thief trying to ... well, steal something. I'll be posting updates on this project at least once a week: Character sketches, backgrounds, panels, etc. Should be fun.

I'm back.

- Jeff Tuffenstuff