AGENT OOZE COMICS

Season's greetings and my current read

2012-02-06T09:02:00.004+01:00

Hey there, Dear Readers and Happy Belated New Year!

I was too busy to complete this before new Year but the Corvin crew is definitely alive. More adventures will follow.

And now for something completely different. I'm reading this brilliant graphic novel:

I already praised here his first bigger work, Good-bye, Chunky Rice quite some time ago, but this is something so much bigger and better. More than 600 pages of constant amazement, richly endowed with Arabic calligraphy and Islamic art, both a breathtaking piece of work and a gorgeous artefact. To be honest I'm still hesitating to dive into the story as the protagonists go through plenty of suffering, but I'm bound to do it soon. You can see preview pages and more here: http://www.habibibook.com/

Merry Christmas for Y'all!

2011-12-26T20:39:00.003+01:00

More drawings

2011-11-29T17:26:00.004+01:00

Instead of comics. There's something in the works though related to Corvin, but I 've just barely started with the storyboard. So till then:

Father Capistrano: another character to be introduced in Corvin later. He's got the patience of a saint, but otherwise he's a nice guy.

This is my rendition of a little scene from Will Eisner's instructional book, Expressive Anatomy for Comics and Narrative. Will Eisner was one of the greatest comics artists, his achievements include the invention of the graphic novel.

From the drawing board

2011-10-31T17:01:00.006+01:00

I'm posting these recent sketches mainly so that there would be an entry for October too. Keeping in line with the trend of this year - at least one post each month.

Firstly, another character from Corvin to be introduced "later". Later meaning later. This is Lord Corvin's brother-in-law, by the way.

Secondly, another appearance from someone you've seen here before. Looks are everything, even on the battlefield.

There will also be a dragon in the story at some point. Not this one though, this is merely a not very precise replica of a benevolent dragon from Bone by Jeff Smith. Bone is THE comic book as I have probably mentioned earlier.
I'm hoping to post one or two pieces of comics here before 2011 is done. One may be political.

Now, happy Halloween for y' all!

Sexy times at Bánkitó

2011-09-10T16:49:00.006+02:00

Panel 1

Wednesday morning

Judit: Jeez, can you believe they left behind the carriage we got on?

Me: Yea, now we’ll surely not get there by noon as the organizers had asked.

Panel 2

Thursday: we’re building the festival

Me: Two hundred straw bales for sound absorbing material! … Hoah!

Marci: Once we finish packing these up they can forget about us for today!

Attila: And even for tomorrow!

Panel 3

Friday: theatre performance at the village hall

Secretary of state: Dear committee, please make your suggestions for the mascot of the European Union’s official Hungarian holiday!

Expert of real Hungarian stuff: An ancient Hungarian hippopotamus!

Single minded sporty girl: A horse!

Leader of the League of Large Families: Please, I need you to understand that the mascot can only be a saker falcon!

Professor of Humanities: Hmm… and how about a saker falcon in a glass of Hungarian brandy?

Panel 4

A little later

Judit: Let’s run a race!

Me: Okay, come on!

Me: Searching for parts of the mobile in the dark – it’s such fun!

Judit: Stop nagging, it’s only the back piece missing now!

Panel 5

There were certainly concerts too at the festival. Korai Öröm played a very smashing gig for example.

Panel 6

All in all, this one was a very sexy festival.

Slogan on banner: Cycle to the lake again next year!

Bar fight in progress

2011-08-01T22:37:00.002+02:00

Here it is, as promised - keeping to the "very latest" bit. The bar fight is going rather well, don't you think?

Panel 1
George: Take that and get out of here!
Chubby thug: Yikes!
Panel 2
Kaspar: Get out of my way or you'll be very sorry!
Colin: Instead of threatening me, you should be grateful for this free fencing lesson !
Panel 3
Borka: Your friend is brave but is he really good with the sword? This is a dangerous thug!
Pip: Don't worry, he will manage. I suggest we concentrate on these two now!
Panel 5
Thug with moustache: Young lady, there's no need for violence! Put down that vegetable slicer knife and come with us pl..

Panel 6
....ease... Ouuch!

These Corvin updates are admittedly way too periodical but if anyone's following - I know for a fact there's a fairly regular visitor in Mountain View, California - , I would be glad to read some feedback. What do you think about the story, any direction you reckon it is heading, that sort of thing. If you have something to say about the artwork, you are welcome to do so. Make comments, good people!

Merkin in shiny bright colours

2011-07-27T17:01:00.006+02:00

Hey everyone! You'll be surely delighted to hear that the next Corvin page is about 60% done and it will be posted this week - or early next week the very latest - by all likeliness.

Till then here's something quite different to look at. As you might remember, before last Christmas I felt it appropriate to come out with a little piece about merkin aka artificial pubic hair. If you don't here's a reminder with footnotes and English text: http://agentoozecomics.blogspot.com/2010/12/merkin-project.html
In that post I declared my intention to colour the somewhat unfinished-looking pages, so here it is:

In all fairness, I did want to colour it using Photoshop but kept procrastinating learning how to use that. Recently a perfectly good opportunity presented itself to do the colouring as this call for applications was made for the Belgrade Comics Festival: http://www.skc.org.rs/comics-festival-2011.html The deadline is not through yet so any artists reading this may as well have a shot at it. However, for certain reasons I had to complete this one by Monday so out came the felt pens and sadly, learning the fine art of Photoshop was postponed once again. It has to be done though as the colours would surely look way better.
Anyway, enjoy and stay tuned for the forthcoming Corvin post!

First glimpse of Lord Corvin, drawing for money and other awesome goings-on

2011-06-19T12:37:00.010+02:00

A few weeks passed since the latest Corvin page and I'm still concentrating... Luckily there is some relevant material to post while I'm figuring out how to proceed with the bar fight. It takes some elaborate planning you see ;o)

Soo, meet Lord Corvin, the most badass and capable military leader in the Kingdom of Hungary around 1456 AD. His name has already come up a few times in Chapter 1 and he is going to be introduced in person in Chapter 3. The Game of Thronesy pose is fully intended.

Then, one of his trusted companions who also happens to be on the good side though at times just barely. I guess you want badasses by your side when the sultan's whole army is descending upon you. Better get on with that bar fight so that these guys can make their appearances.

In other news, I recenty got my first commission to do artwork. And I even got paid for it! To stay on the confidential side, someone I know needed a replica of about 30 drawings of different emotional states. I was asked to come up with three original creations too.
Thanks a lot to Judit for the opportunity :o)

One of the replicas - excitement

My interpretation of disgust (or repulsion, distaste, abomination - there are surprisingly many synonyms)

Corvin - and... Action!!

2011-05-25T20:03:00.009+02:00

Corvin time again and finally some action is starting to take place in the presumably action-packed story. No use in making promises but I intend to concentrate on this project in the near future.

Panel 1
Borka: Now-now, may it be that something happened on the way that you sirs prefer to keep secret?
Pip: Lovely young lady, I swear to Saint Patrick that we are not hiding anything from you!
Panel 2
Borka: Saint Patrick? I've never heard of him. Is he a saint of Milan?
Colin: No, he's the patron saint of our real home country. Our parents came to Milan from Ireland, a place far away West. You see, we are cous...
Panel 3
Kaspar (dashes in): No one makes a move! Give us all the money, valuables and women!
Panel 4
Kaspar: Come on guys! ... What the heck are you doing?!
Thug: We got stuck, boss!
Panel 5
Kaspar: Come in one by one, you morons!
Panel 6
Kaspar: Have you got a death wish, dandy?
Colin: Defend yourself brigand!

Suspicious Minds & memories of a comics festival

2011-05-20T11:18:00.010+02:00

(Decided to rewrite this post as most of its content disappeared due to the massive inconveniences www.blogger.com experienced last week. Seems like I have waited in vain for its restoration...)
So here's the second love child of my recent civil rights activism and ongoing comics activity. For the first one, check out the Gyöngyöspata post below. This is a naive little one, suggesting trust instead of suspicion through a roma boy - non-roma girl love story.
Normally I don't draw comics for Elvis's songs but this time I was inspired by a workshop linked to our Comics Festival, where the special guests from the Netherlands, Finland and Estonia paid tribute to the King. Why here and now? Well, Elvis recently became a honorary citizen of Budapest, which fact I'm sure he deeply appreciates wherever he resides now. The final product was printed superquickly and was on sale at festival, but you can also purchase it here: http://www.nyitottkonyv.hu/konyveink/konyv/161/Elvis_Budapest
The festival itself was good craic again - fun fact: it was held on my former university campus which turned into a bar and concert venue since I graduated - here are a couple of photos just for a feel of the atmosphere:

The Comics Battle is raging - they took no prisoners :)
The best comics artists of 2010: Róbert Vass, Zoltán Fritz and Gergely Oravecz
I had the pleasure of running the Comics Association's stall for most of the day
(This is clearly not as cool as the original post. Well, that's life, ain't it? Things get lost, broken etc...)

Comic Jam és Képregényfesztivál

2011-04-21T22:18:00.008+02:00

Hullo again Folks. Here's my entry for the special issue of Pesti Est - our local free weekly programme magazine - for the upcoming 7th Hungarian Comics Festival.
In March the Hungarian Comics Association issued a call for its members to participate in some "comic jamming", ie. to draw and write a story on a page with predesigned empty panels and speech bubbles ASAP. The only instruction was that it has to take place in a career advice office and has to feature a balding secretary who wears glasses.
My entry didn't make it to Pesti Est but I had fun drawing it and like it nonetheless.

Panel 1
Director: Good morning Aranka! You look upset. What's the matter?
Panel 2
Secretary: Boss, it's a disaster! I made the same appointment with Gábor Vona (the leader of the right-extremist Jobbik party) and the Dalai Lama by mistake! They are already in the waiting room!
Panel 3
Director: No worries, we have dealt with tougher situations too! We'll come up with an idea in a minute. Till then could you have a look to see how are they getting on?
Panel 7
Secretary: Gentlemen, please come in! I hope you don't mind if we are having a competitive interview. Act as natural as possible!
Panel 8
Vona: We must be worthy of the glory of our ancestors once again! If we cannot plunder Western Europe anymore while shooting arrows backwards, at least let our ultra-hungarian blood reign in our own counties!
Dalai Lama: My dear young friend, all this fuming may make your heart chakra congested pretty soon! I suggest that you often drink ginseng tea and take up volunteering in a disadvantaged rural area!
(A little footnote on Vona: he and his parliamentary party are highly responsible for the topic of the previous post - "Gyöngyöspata: a visit for a reason" - as some of the paramilitary groups are closely linked with them. Merrily making fun of him is not enough in the light of what has happened recently in different parts of Hungary.)

To end on a higher note, the Comics Festival is coming up indeed, as it's gonna take place next Saturday in Dürer Kert.

The programme looks really promising with special guests from the Netherlands, Finnland and Estonia, as well as exhibitions in several venues to complement the festival. Drop in if you're free!
More info for Hungarian speakers at http://kepregenyfesztival.blog.hu/

Gyöngyöspata: a visit for a reason

2011-04-03T19:34:00.006+02:00

Ismét Szüfrazset City jelentkezik. Alább látható március 15-e estéjének szubjektív krónikája.

The translation for English speakers follows below, but first a bit of explanation on the recent events that took place in Gyöngyöspata (hopefully it is proper to use the past tense) http://errc.org/cikk.php?cikk=3816. Also, some background to the opening panel: http://www.budapesttimes.hu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17132&Itemid=220
Panel 1
On 15th March I went to the demonstration for free press.
"This is so dam good! It's not only about the media law though anymore. Such a big protest could even generate some sensible thinking among the government, couldn't it?"
Panel 2
After the demo I met Kati and Tamer by chance on the spot.
Kati: The locals asked us to go back in the evening. Are you joining us?
Panel 3
I joined them. About twenty of us left for the village riding in five cars.
Panel 4
For those who have missed out on the news, in early March some "civic guard" organizations - curiously resembling the legally banned Hungarian Guard militia - took the maintenance of "public security" to their own hands in Gyöngyöspata. In reality it meant that they kept harassing the Roma residents of the village night and day. The police merely stood by and nobody intervened to protect the Roma - i.e. Hungarian citizens - on behalf of the government.
The civic demonstration held in the village on 15th March was the first time when active solidarity was shown towards these people.
Panel 5
The locals greeted our arrival also because otherwise the Guard would not have left them in peace during the night either.
Woman: They shout at night and bang on the doors. Our children are afraid.
Man: How can this be tolerated? Where is the prime minister when we need him?
Panel 6
The guards and the "outlaws" seemed to appreciate our presence too in their own way.
Guards: Queerjewfaggot green liberal scums!!! Now what?!
Me (thinking): A better today for you, fuckers!

Wait, it's getting personal... Szüfrazset City

2011-03-21T16:50:00.006+01:00

Szürke egy februárunk volt. Nem csoda, hogy kedvet kaptam egy személyes jellegű webcomichoz...

There are some really cool webcomics around which document the author's personal deeds, e.g a local one is http://csordasdaniel.blog.hu/, and I finally felt like trying my hand in something along these lines. This spring seems pretty eventful so far.
I realized that the translation can be tricky but let's give it a go anyway:

Suffragette City, no. 1 - The Idea
Panel 1
So it started like...
I should do a webcomic...On something topical of course.
Panel 2
Here's this city... A complete chaos... But also a lot of cool places and cool people.
Panel 3
And here's me too... Coming and going, seeing and hearing all sorts of things.
Panel 4
Aloud: Hey, it should be about me then! (thinking): About what I do, what I think, what happens to me!
Panel 5
Getting started right now!

It wasn't that tricky after all. Now, let's admire the song that provided the title of this fine piece of art:

A következő rész Gyöngyöspatáról szól majd/ The next episode will be about a place called Gyöngyöspata. I suggest googling it, especially the current news items.
Stay tuned, Corvin is not forgotten either.

The calm before the storm

2011-02-27T21:08:00.005+01:00

Panel 1
Colin: You mean that we look like strangers?
Borka: You certainly don't look like honest peasants, and only those types live here.
Panel 2
Borka: Besides, your hairstyle is pretty unusual around here, Mister Gara!
Colin: I beg your pardon, this is the latest fashion in Mil..
Pip: O 'Gara, respectfully!
Panel 3
Thug: The girl went in there, boss!
Kaspar: Excellent! Now we're gonna catch her. We'll strike as soon as the boys get here!
Panel 4
Pip: We hear your ladyship is heading for Ravencastle. Can we volunteer to be your escorts?
Borka: That is a real honour. May I ask what business you sirs have there?
Colin: We have a message for Lord Corvin from an old friend of his.
Panel 5
Borka: How interesting! Who can that old friend be?
Colin: Francesco Sforza, the Duke of Milan.
Panel 6
Borka: Wow! You must have had a long and exciting journey all the way from Milan. Please, do tell me about it!
Pip: We would love to, but the whole journey seemed to take only a moment somehow!
Colin: Indeed, the Duke sent us here on the shortest possible route ...

It's good to be back working on Corvin. For next time you can expect some strong excitement and mild violence...

Doodling at work

2011-01-29T23:28:00.003+01:00

Sometimes it's good if your job is not the most creative one in the world as long as it allows for the occasional ball point pen artwork over a pile of unopened business letters.
If you can detect some Sandman atmosphere, that's not mere coincidence as I started doodling as a result of buying The Sandman Vol. 3: Dream Country. Real comics lovers probably need no introduction to the Sandman series, the amazing collaboration of writer Neil Gaiman and several master artists. Those of you waiting for the first encounter, check out this book at http://www.amazon.com/Sandman-Vol-Country-Graphic-Novels/dp/1401229352/ref=sr_1_13?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1296341098&sr=1-13
Reading The Sandman was such a spur for my creativity that I actually resumed drawing Corvin, and the A4 size draft of the next page is nearing completion. So stay tuned as you might behold the finished page in a couple of weeks. And the rest will follow till one day commercial success knocks on my door ;o)

2010 - the year in comics

2010-12-31T18:33:00.015+01:00

As a way of saying goodbye to the old year I decided to to take a stock of the comic books I got hold of since January. Some of them are not brand new and there aren't so many of them altogether, but here they are one by one:

After spanning the storyline of Bone - my all time favourite comic book - for 15 years, Jeff Smith explored new territories with Rasl, the dimension-hopping art thief. More adult-oriented topic and film noir storytelling this time around.

Y: The Last Man by Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra starts its plot with a rather haunting idea. In the summer of 2002 a mysterious plague wipes out all the male mammals of Earth expect for a young American guy and his capuchin monkey. According to this series an all-female world is not necessarily a better and more peaceful place than the one we know.

1566 - The Siege of Szigetvár was made by Endre Sarlós, one of the old masters of Hungarian comics. It commemorates how a small garrison of Hungarian and Croatian soldiers faced the vast army of Ottoman Turkey and fought to the last man. So here is the Hungarian 300 if you like...

Now, a perfectly fresh one. Pinkhell is the occasionally published magazine of a group of artists called the Hungarian Academy of Comics (a somewhat ironic name in response to the old cliché claiming that comics is art for the dumb). The new issue was published for Hungarocomix, the big end-of-year comic event in Budapest, and contains some seriously smashing stuff. Some pages can be previewed here: http://neroblanco.blog.hu/2010/12/16/hc_ajanlo_pinkhell_7#more2518798

Last, but not at all least, The Art of Bone, aka the perfect Christmas present for a die-hard Bone fan like myself. In 2007 Jeff Smith generously let the editors of Dark Horse Comics look through his archives and comply an amazing album of sketches, drafts, cover illusrations, let alone Smith's childhood drawings and the comic strips he published at college. An utterly amazing compilation for fans and aspiring artists :o)

So, happy new year evryone, and I'll try my best to get some Corvin updates - that is, new pages - up here quite soon. Fingers crossed.

The Merkin Project

2010-12-12T18:16:00.008+01:00

Hi everyone. You may have noticed that the new Corvin pages failed to materialize here lately. The reason is for this is - apart from really taking the time to plan the madly exciting action sequence of the next few pages - can be seen below. Perhaps I need to explain how it came into being.

Quite a while ago at an evening out with friends somebody remarked how cool it is that the British have a word for 'artificial pubic hair'. The next day I did some internet research about this thing called merkin and thought it would be a good excuse for a comic in the light of what I found. For those with a further interest in merkins http://www.merkinworld.com/ provides extensive background information.
And now behold the comic itself (I also plan to colour it soon, but was too eager to show something for my dear audience):

Text for non-Hungarian speakers:
Page 1
panel 2: HiYa, Sue!
p 3: Fiii darling! Long time no see!
p 4 Sue: What can I do for you?
Fiona: I hear that older blokes are mad about merkins these days. You have any?
p5 Sue: Course we do! The coolest merkins of London are right there.
p6 Fiona: Oh dear, you need to put these there? ...Right, I'll try on one or two.
Page 2
p1 Sue: How does it fit?
Fiona: I'm not sure... Will you have a look?
p2 Sue: Oh it's a fab piece! Fits you perfectly.
Fiona: Reallyy? I'll buy it then!
p3: Sue: That'll be twenty pounds, please. Who's the lucky guy by the way?
Fiona: I've been seeing Lord Cleveland lately. Hope this thingie will make him even more eager....
p4 Sue: Lord Cleveland... OHMYGOSH! ...I mean, I heard he's quite into it.
p5: Fiona: Then I'll surely let him see it. Bye and thanks a million, sweetie!
Sue: Bye darling! I'm rooting for you soo much!
p6: Sue: Just you wait sweetie! Actually Lord Cleveland is crazy for this kind of merkin. It's time I give him a buzzer and get him to date me!

Enter the dame

2010-09-30T18:05:00.008+02:00

In case anyone remembers a story called Corvin...
Panel 1 Innkeper: Miss Borka! Is it you?
Panel 2 Borka: Hello, uncle Andrew! How's business going?
Innk: Same as always. But does your father know that you are rambling around here on your own again?
Panel 3 Borka: I'd rather keep this information from him. I'm on my way home, just wanted to say hello and taste this lovely elderwine.
Innk: Are you going to Ravencastle? Those two young sirs are heading there too.
Panel 4 Borka: Since when do young sirs frequent the inn? And who are they?
Innk: Those two, over there. They seem to be quite refined folks. I wonder what on earth they are doing here...
Panel 5 Colin: I certainly hope we are refined folks. Would the young lady like to join our table?
Borka: Absolutely, right after the young sirs have introduced themselves!
Panel 6 Pip: Of course, we should have done that right away! My name is Pip Driscoll, and this gentleman is Colin O' Gara.
Borka: Pleasure to meet you, I am Borka Harangi. I presume you sirs are not from this area?

Early teaser for Corvin

2010-08-06T16:29:00.004+02:00

So if we are lucky and live long enough, one day you'll get to see this image in context. The ferocious Ottoman Turks are laying a siege to ...Well, I'm not giving away that yet! :o)

The darker side of the inn and cartoons for Human Rights

2010-07-21T14:32:00.009+02:00

On board again... No excuses for the delay really, though the World Cup and the mostly awful hot weather over here may as well do.

Bad news is I didn't get selected for Craig Thomson's presumably awesome residency in Florida. However, as he writes on his blog, "There was so much amazing work that it made the selection process challenging and frustrating, but also bodes well for the future of the comics medium! Keep working on those projects!" So gotta keep rolling, even if I know that my artwork is not exactly amazing.
Here's a single new page:

En inglés: Panel 1 Innkeeper: Of course against the Turks! Don't you know that their whole army is marching this way, led by the Sultan himself?!
P2 Colin: Yes, we are aware of that. We only thought they are still further away. Is there still time for us to sit at a table?
Innk: Hopefully, yes.
P3 Pip: The wine is alright. What's wrong?
Colin: What's wrong?! We're at the edge of the world thanks to our duke's magic trick, the Sultan's army is upon us, and we may not even have money to pay for this wine.
P4 Pip: Oh my, the legendary meanness of his highness! We'd better check that bag at once!
Colin:Yessir, right away. Your wish is my command!
P5 Pip: Looks like he excelled himself and at least didn't remove anything.
Colin: Indeed, here's all our twenty silvers, two outfits per person and some knickers too. What else could we ask for?
P6 Innk (thinking): Now, who the heck is that?! Aren't these two dandies enough for a day...?

And now for something completely different:

This here is a cartoon that is aimed at facilitating education about Human Rights. There will be a few more hopefully, and not only by me. Details to come later....

Merry Times in the Inn

2010-06-11T08:50:00.006+02:00

P1 Innkeeper: Hello gentlemen! What can I get you?
Colin: Greetings, Sir! We could do with some refreshments and directions too.
P2 Ik: Then this way please, sirs!
Pip: You see, there are friendly folks around here too!
P3 Ik: What would you like to drink? I've got red and white wine and pinewood brandy. I guess it's too hot for that though.
Colin: In that case we'll stay with red wine.
P4 Ik: Here you are. So where do you intend to get?
Colin: We're eager to find a certain Lord Corvin.
P5: Ik: It's your lucky day! Ravencastle, his residence is barely a day's walk from here.
Peasant: He may not be there now! He's already gathering his army against the Turks!
P6: Ik: Possibly, neighbour. But he's not going to every single village himself, is he?! Let's not make the young gentlemen lose heart!
Pip: What do you mean 'against the Turks'?

Something of an activity report

2010-05-25T19:38:00.008+02:00

I do feel slightly apologetic about the proclamation made last month and can almost hear people saying 'Increased activity... my arse!' in a beautiful Irish accent.So, unfortunately no new pages completed, but plenty of other things have been going on.
First of all the application for Craig Thompson's residency in Florida was proudly completed and posted a week ago. This elaborate process included writing a plot outline (yes, I know how it's going to end!), a letter of intent for Mr. CT stating how awesome it would be to get chosen, let alone rescanning, printing and sending along a few completed pages as well as character sketches of Lord Corvin and heroine, who are both to be introduced to the story pretty soon(ish).
So now, fingers crossed! Pictured below is the thumbnail draft of the next page to come, which has hopefully also crossed the Atlantic by now. The story should be completed in this format by the time of the residency.

These are simple photographs as the old scanner is still busted. Below is another character drawing of a maybe not entirely positive and chivalric guy. I suggest you lock your teenage daughters up safely if he turns up in your neighbourhood... However, he is going to do something heroic when the time comes.

In other news the 6th Hungarian Comics Festival was held last Saturday in its usual venue, Gödör Klub at the heart of Budapest. Fun was had as usual with several special guests around, such as Pran Kumar "the Indian Walt Disney" and Aleksandr Zograf from Serbia. There's also an exclusive picture of yours truly at the premises, which will appear here as soon as I get hold of it.

Now... here it is (29 May)

2010-04-18T22:45:00.012+02:00

and then they got talking with the locals...

Panel 1

1st peasant: We're in for a bloody war again with those rascal Turks...
Colin: Good morning, gentlemen! This is Lord Corvin's estate, isn't it?
Panel 2 Pip: Perhaps they didn't understand your question?
Colin: Hold your tongue, that guy has got a hoe!
Panel 3
Woman: Young sirs, you're better off asking questions in the inn. The sun may set before you get an answer from these old grumblers!
Colin: Thank you so much, dear lady!
Panel 4
2nd peasant: Shoot, Mary! It's time I teach you not to interfere with our manly dealings!
Pip: There is the inn! Avanti!
Panel 5
Pip: Pretty cool! Just like the piazza!
Colin: Yep. It looks almost the same. Let's go inside!

Dear readers, it's also time I proclaim an increased activity compared to what went on in the previous months (my Dad's scanner just got busted but there are ways around everything, aren't there?)
Here's an awesome reason for increasing my efforts:
http://blog.dootdootgarden.com/2010/01/16/atlantic-center-for-the-arts/
Craig Thompson is running a residency on making graphic novels in October! Woo-hoo!
I need to get there! Let's go ahead writing a story outline and loads of thumbnail drafts (and certainly carrying on with the present chapter)!
Dear folks, I'm counting on your feedback and even willing to set up a Facebook page to that end. See you around!

2010-02-07T12:22:00.019+01:00

New page and a wee reminder

Here we go again.... I'd love to draw faster but really, this is what I'm capable of now. However, I'm quite pleased with the last item on the page. I managed to break down the panel barriers here :)

Translation:
Panel 1 Pip: Why am I carrying the bag? You are stronger than me!
Colin: I thought it's more credible if you are the henchman. But hang on, I'll take it!
Panel 2 Pip: Also, what makes you think that people live around here? We may need to wander for days till
we can find someone!
Colin: Firstly, we're going on a proper country road. A good sign, isn't it? Secondly: look over there!
Panel 4 Colin: A village! We can ask for directions here!
Pip: As well as have a drink before we die of thirst!
Panel 5 Peasant 1: I'm telling ya, the comet means nothin good!
Peasant 2: Betcha it doesn't!

2009-12-28T22:49:00.009+01:00

Happy New Year!-post

On the account of a new page made solely in two weeks. Might be time for a collected edition soon - anyone wants to order? Feel free to do it here.

Translation:
P1 Pip: What the heck is this?
P2 Pip: Look, here's our pack!
Colin: Yep, and a letter too!
P3 Pip: Whaat...??
P4: letter: Ragazzi!
We are short on time so you had to travel right away. Do as I told and find Lord Corvin.
Best of luck,
Il Principe
P5 Pip: So much about testing... Such a shifty crook! What do we do now?
Colin: Let's go find this Corvin guy! We are supposed to be on his estates. Someone will give us directions!
(Follow-up due soon)

In other news, a relatively big comic event called HungaroComix took place here in late November. Here's me pictured at a stall, browsing for some low-priced American stuff. I also had the chance to have a word with the renowned Unicum-illustrator (see among the links) about the Corvin pages. Not surprisingly, there's a lot to improve, especially in drawing people.

Hope everyone had a nice Christmas. The comics I had ordered a while ago arrived just in time. Two real masterpieces: Jeff Smith's Rose, prequel to the Bone saga, illustrated by Charles Vess

and the graphic version of Neil Gaiman's Coraline, adopted and illustrated by P.Craig Russell. Both are well worth looking through.

2009-11-29T15:45:00.007+01:00

Corvin - chapter one, page one

To have some sense of progress...

Text in the King's English:
Pip: Where the heck are we now?
Colin: How should I know? I thought we were only testing the spacejump gate and arriving at the courtyard of the palace!
Pip: Well, this is positively not Milan!

2009-10-01T12:45:00.019+02:00

Corvin: end of chapter plus a prologue

Hooray, Chapter 2 is done! Now see if I can put some of Chapter 1 up before the calendar turns over to 2010.

George. Now I’m totally intrigued to know what business you have around here!

Pip: Err… this is a delicate assignment, actually. Lots of expenses and incomings… You know how it goes.

George: Little fellow, I’m warning you now that Lord Corvin cannot stand this merchant talk. Moreover, it clicks the knife open in my pocket too.

Pip: Didn’t you just miss a splendid opportunity to use that famous knife of yours?

George: Well, that’s Crowcastle in front. Take my advice and tell Lord Corvin the truth. Forget the bullshit!

Colin: Perhaps the girl will be here too? I have a feeling that she’s not from that village…

Pip: Oh, there you go! Look for the lady, right?

Script

Thus they arrived at Lord Corvin’s residence amidst hearty conversation.

Meanwhile the Sultan’s vast army was marching across Serbia, getting closer and closer to Hungary’s border.

Also, a wee prologue to the whole story:

There are many kinds of heroes in the world.

The folks expect some do great deeds as soon as they are born.

Also, some want nothing as much as to become a hero.

And then, some don’t even think about it but they end up as heroes eventually.

This happens often in hard times, mister Marzio. When there’s a big need, some people do things they never believed to be capable of doing…

juvenalia

2009-07-07T20:22:00.011+02:00

Peacework is at full swing, so only drafts are being made these days. However, here's something I drew when I was 16. U2 are looking for the Angel of Harlem.

New page & highly recommended reading

2009-05-17T15:44:00.008+02:00

Took some weeks to do this page, but now here it is. One more could wind up this chapter - date of competion unknown due to change of residence and main activity.

What the guys say is:
Panel 2
Colin: Boy, this was a serious ride!
Panel 3
Kaspar: So you love riddles, mate?
Panel 4
Kaspar: You should be the one telling Count Ulrik about this then!
Panel 5
Kaspar: But I'll resume being a freelance robber rather than meeting his eye with this story!

Now let's move on to a real masterpiece of comics, delivered to me lately straight from the US&A:

Great art and endearing story. Someone labelled it as the Le Petit Prince of comic books and it's not a bad comparison at all. Take my advice and check it out! Probably everyone can relate to images like this one:

Festive impressions

2009-04-27T20:55:00.012+02:00

I guess most comic book festivals or conventions look a lot like the opening scenes of the Kevin Smith movie, Chasing Amy, save for Jason Lee starting a fight with an utterly cheeky reader. Apart from that you have authors signing (sometimes also selling) their books, publishers doing the same, also presentations and film screenings going on.
Pretty much the same went on in Gödör Klub, so I'll settle for a a couple of snapshots here.

First, the foretold stall of the art school exhibiting our works in order to lure more people for the upcoming courses. There was also a presentation on that end, which included words like 'art' and creation' a bit too many times. Sadly, none of the coursemates turned up during the two and a half hours I hung out at the premises.

The festival also had a special guest with a perfectly Hungarian name on account of her grandfather. Kati Kovács is from Finnland, currently living in Rome, but as a kid she spent a few summers in Hungary exporing her roots. She commemorated these experiences in her first comic book, pictured above.

Another author signing books was Dániel Merényi (aka Grafitember), who worked for an advertising company when he started his webcomics - to be found at http://napirajz.hu - partly to deal with his various impressions gained at work (hence the general atmosphere and language of the drawings). Since then he went on to work for a bicycle manufacture in the Italian Dolomits, and reportedly enjoys a lot more chilled-out lifestyle than earlier. He's keeping up with the drawings regardless, and was busy signing the second compilation of them at Gödör.

In closing a short video of the festival made by index.hu, targetted mainly at Hungarian speakers - I'm beginning to realize the schyzophrenic nature of writing this blog in English. Can't help sharing the information that there is a bit where one of the festival's award winning artist speaks. The guy is depressed and currently makes his living by cleaning up after horses in a stable. There's something sadly typical about the present state of Hungary in this setup.

Next update of Corvin is likely within a week, by the way!

Two new pages and an upcoming festival

2009-04-09T18:29:00.013+02:00

So the saga is rolling on - not a mad pace admittedly, but inspiration doesn't grow on trees as someone once said.

Page 4

Panel 2

Kaspar: Got an idea?

Thug 1: Sorry, I have no clue.

Panel 3

Kaspar: What do you mean you have no clue?!

Thug 1: I like simple riddles, you know! “When it goes up it’s white, when it comes down it’s yellow” – things like that.

Panel 5

Colin: Guess it’s time we get away!

George: That’s on my mind too.

Panel 6

Thug 2: The Count will surely know. It sounds like his black magic stuff.

Kaspar: Enough of this! Get off now, so that…

So the guys finally got down to some action on page 5. I think there's not much need to translate the text - maybe you can try and guess what they say in panel 1 and 2. Feel free to comment your guesses - I still think it would be cool to make the blog more interactive.

Also, the 5th Hungarian Comics Festival - the major yearly comics event here - is happening next Saturday at the illustrious Gödör Klub located in Budapest downtown. Here's an image from last year :

It gives me great pleasure to announce that Theba Academy of Arts (the art school which held our comic book course) will have a stall of some sort exhibiting our works and they invited us along too.

Programme, poster and animated ad of festival:

http://fesztival.kepregeny.info/

Hope to see you there if you happen to be in town!

Behind the scenes

2009-03-15T19:17:00.018+01:00

Some exclusive footage for you until the hotly awaited new Corvin pages are done and uploaded.

First, here's a snapshot of my "studio". If you take a closer look at the drawing board, you can see a new page in the course of being pencilled. To be honest, this is not an ideal drawing table, but maybe one day I'll have an adjustable one. Also, sorry for the wallpaper...

There's always some good stuff at hand on the sofa to provide help with drawing. Scott McCloud's Making Comics is an extremely useful manual for comic work and Jeff Smith's masterpiece is also very handy to consult for the composition of panels and loads of other practical things.

While I'm at it, two photos about the crew of the comics course held in last November:

From left to right: Ági - creator of artistic drawings that depict the modern individual's twisted psyche , Edina - co-writing a story about a group of student acting out Romeo and Juliet, me - uncombed hair, raising my head instead of straightening up as one should, Csongor - our instructor, also with a preference for the topic of urban neurosis, Gergő - Garfield fan and author of the wicked penguin's adventures, Józsi - coming up with a strip about the kung flu slug, Dosadi - excelling in manga with fantastic colours thanks to ProMarker pens.

...and a more spontaneous shot with nothing much happening. Behind the camera Zsolt, inspired by Frank Miller in creating hard-hitting stuff about the darker aspects of our world.

So, thanks for joining me on this footage about the "Fabulous Life of the Hobby Cartoonist".
O yea, comments are absolutely welcome! A blog without comments is like a fish without a bicycle or some sad sight of that kind :o)

Remarks on Corvin

2009-03-03T20:10:00.004+01:00

The previous post contains the first pieces of the story that started to formulate in my head after reading Bone by Jeff Smith. To be honest, I'm also curious to see how it will proceed. Maybe I can give away as much that it is loosely based on a significant event in Hungarian history, but I prefer to treat it more like a fantasy story. The historical source is a good thing, as it provides the backbone, it's only the flesh - a lot of it - that needs to be added.

What I have on my mind is clearly a comic story of some bigger length. These are usually called graphic novels, but at this point it would be premature to state that I will deliver one. Anyway, new pages will appear here from time to time, preferably with the text in English below them.

Also, something ugly happened to the layout of the blog while doing some further editing on the previous post. Hopefully I can restore the original features soon. If you click on this and the first post, you can see the proper layout again. If someones knows what's screwed, just gimme a shout.
See ya soon

Corvin: a graphic novel/ short story / something

2009-02-23T20:01:00.031+01:00

Starting page

George: So how did all that turmoil start in the village?

Page 1

Panel 1

Colin: I didn’t let them harass the girl. It’s not on where we come from.

Panel 2

Pip: And concerning the wine, we usually settle these situations by meaningful discussion back home.

George: Great customs you have. However, you’d better not discuss anything with Count Ulrik’s thugs unless you have a weapon.

Colin: So far I thought you were all up against the Turks.

George: That would be an improvement.

Panel 4

George: Tomorrow we’re leaving early and going on through the forest. It takes longer but safer.

Ulrik: Not for sure, Mister George. Your new friends have caused me enough trouble already.

Panel 5

Ulrik: Time to take care of this business. (to the butler) Get me Kaspar!

Panel 6

Ulrik: I’ll give you one more chance. Take your men and bring those three here.

Kaspar: We’ll do our best, Sire.

Ulrik: I highly recommend that. Don’t bother to return here without them.

Panel 7

Butler: Do you want your herbal tea, my lord?

Ulrik: Of course. I won’t let those scoundrels give me stomach pain.

Page 2

Panel 1

George: Wake up, sleepyheads! Time to go!

Pip: Now? It’s hardly even dawning.

Panel 2

Pip: (Yawn!) I could have used a coffee. And a bite for breakfast too.

George: Oh, give me a break…

Panel 3

George: You’re such splendid company! One is daydreaming all the time and the other can’t stop criticizing. Wait till we get to Lord Corvin…

Pip: I wouldn’t mind being there already! I’m feeling like a target here.

Panel 4

Kaspar: Will they ever get here…?

Panel 5

Thug1: It’s getting darn hot!

Panel 6

Thug 1: Anyways, lying in wait in bushes is not in our contract if I remember well.

Kaspar: What contract? The deal was that the Count doesn’t have us hanged if we work for him. Which reminds me, have we got the rope?

Thug 2: Sure, I do.

Panel 7

Kaspar: Awesome. Tie ‘em up real tight, especially the little pipsqueak and his sad-faced pal.

We cannot fail this time!

Page 3

Panel 1

George: Also, you’ll have the chance to tell him what business you actually have around here.

Colin: Well, that might take up some of his time…

Panel 2

Kaspar: Stop, in the name of Count Ulrik!

Panel 3

Pip: What are we gonna do now?

George: You’re the smart guy, think of something!

Panel 4

Kaspar: No tricks, please. Kindly get off the cart so that we can tie you up. The Count can’t wait to see you.

Panel 5

Pip: Certainly, at once. Can I ask you a riddle first?

Panel 6

Kaspar: What?! You’ll regret it if you’re taking the piss.

Thug 1: Wait, wait! You know how much I love riddles!

Panel 7

Kaspar: Fine. You have one minute.

Panel 8

Pip: Right away: “Who says my name, destroys me immediately!”

Welcome and behold good-old Piroska!

2009-02-22T18:50:00.015+01:00

So, welcome to my outlet and advertising spot for the artwork I attempt to produce when the spirit moves me. I would suffice introducing myself to say that I'm a bloke residing mostly in Budapest, who still hasn't defined his place in the world completely, although he's slowly but steadily leaving his youth behind.

You can read the story of how I became interested once again in reading and making comics here:http://egysaltamontes.blogspot.com/2009/01/my-comic-book-revival-probably-everyone.html

where you can actually see the following 2 page story, which may look like repetition, but as this is my comic blog from now on, it has actually taken its rightful place. So here's the modern and modified interpretation of Little Red Riding Hood (in Hungarian Piroska), in which she goes in a bar to ask directions for her Granma's place and comes upon a rather likeable woolf, but in the end a violent and "dominant " Granma breaks up their party.

If you got so far, you surely noticed that the text is in Hungarian, which is also the case with all my recent comics. Then why is the blog in English? Apart from aspiring to fame, it is in order that my friends living in other parts of the world can also look of my stuff. How will they know what is it about? Hopefully this issue will be soon dealt with as text in comics is often just as important as the images.
Some genuinely new material will be visible soon, I can responsibly promise that.