Corvin - it's alive

Hey Dear Readers,
I have stated a couple of times that my Corvin medieval fantasy graphic novel project is still going despite the non-appearance of any new pages here nearly in a year. Now here's some proof, as I decided to go back to square one and draw new thumbnail storyboards to Chapter 1. While it may not sound that exciting, and in fact further delays the anyway uncertain completion of the project, the necessary re-structuring occasionally results in creating some new material, like the following page:

Panel 1
Pip: If you're saying so... And which way shall we start out?
Colin: Say, that way, as I already have my arm stretched out...

Panel 2
P: For all I care... But who's carrying the bag?
C: You can be first, and then I will it take over.

Panel 3
P: Pfff... I hope you'll do that soon. It's darn heavy!
C: Tribulations strengthen your character you know!

Panel 4
P: Isn't it enough tribulation to search for some barbarian chieftain at the edge of the world?
C: We're in Transylvania, not at the edge of the world. As for Lord Corvin, the priests always say that he is the shield of Christendom.

Panel 5
P: I haven't heard of that. But to be frank, I haven't been to mass for two months or so.
C: Then you surely deserve this much suffering! Your mum would surely slap you through the ear, if she knew!

Panel 6
P: Oh, come on, Mum isn't known for her slaps... Anyway, the whole thing is dead boring since they stopped preaching about eternal damnation.
C: I'm quite fond of the idea that there is more to human life than just a vale of tears...
 
There is more to come, I swear by Pip's salvation ;o) - but really

Ozone Mama - High voltage Rock and Roll!

Hi Folks, it's been a while... again. I made this fine drawing a few weeks back, but now actually have more reason to present it than solely showing off my artwork.

Depicted above is Ozone Mama, an up-and- coming Hungarian rock band, whose vintage rock sound positively kicks ass. I happen to know Andris, their guitar player from some really old days, when we had some serious fun at the freshman camp of a respectable catholic university...
The band has kicked it into higher gear this year by becoming the "Newcomer of the Year"
at Fonogram Hungarian Music Awards, as well as gigging their heads off in and about Budapest. Their next aim is to make a new EP, which may be a potential breakthrough across the borders, but quality recording costs a a lot of money.
Here's your chance to contribute. Check out the call from Andris and lead singer Marci at
http://www.indiegogo.com/p/165663 where you can choose from a number of packages to donate for the good of humankind and rock and roll. $5 already helps, but the higher the amount, the more exciting are the pressies you're getting in return ;o) The deadline is 20 August, so there's still plenty of time to give.
More music can be checked out at the band's site: http://www.ozonemama.com/homepage.php 
In closing here's their latest music video,  which testifies of members keen sense humor beside their talent for music. Enjoy!

Death of the Actor

This year is the centenary of the birth of István Örkény, one of the greatest Hungarian writers of the 20th century. He wrote novels and plays as well, but was especially famous for his one-minute short stories, in which he brilliantly captured the peculiarities of everyday life, and even span those in a grotesque way.

Tributes are being paid for the centenary, even though not too much by the official policy makers of culture. Humour is one of  many things the present regime is short of, and Örkény's spirit is as topical as ever these days.

Here follows the adaptation of  one of those one-minute short stories:

István Örkény: Death of the Actor

Today in the afternoon Zoltán Zetelaki, the popular actor collapsed and lost consciousness on one of the side streets of Üllői út.

The passers-by took him to a nearby clinic, but there the doctors tried  to revive him in vain, although they used the newest medical innovations, even an iron lung. The renowned actor passed away at half past six after a long agony. His body was transferred to the Institute of Anatomy.

Tonight's performance of King Lear went undisturbed despite the tragic event. Zetelaki arrived a bit late, and looked conspicuously tired during the first act (sometimes he obviously needed help from the prompter), but then he gradually found his feet, and acted out the death of the king with such cogency that the audience rewarded him with with a roaring applause.

Afterwards he was invited out for dinner, but did not go. He said:

"I had  a rather tough day today."

Winter Wonderland

Just in time to have a post for march. No subtitles required.

Season's greetings and my current read

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!

More drawings

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.