Amazing Facts & Beyond! Scrap Heap

Here were some primordial ideas for how the front cover to the AMAZING FACTS & BEYOND! book could've looked.

But of course something more like this bubbled up to the surface:

And that sketch led to the intense development described here.

The book is scheduled for an early August release (preorder here or here!), so stay tuned for more unseen gems and hardcore shop-talk from Leon Beyond's vast scrap heap / r&d archives!

El Shirtos

We made us some new Redbird t-shirts this morning --

--based on this awesome/anonymous vintage pennant I found from (presumably right before) the 1967 World Series. I mean, look at that roster!

While redrawing/relettering I tweaked some stuff (updating it to include the WS victory, adding a bulging eyeball [of course] and another battered ball, etc.) but tried to leave some of the goofy weirdness (that Arch!).

The design fits kinda weird on a t-shirt, but maybe I'll print some actual pennants.

Oh, and don't worry. My wife and I won't wear our shirts at the same time.

Still nowhere near as great as the shirts on display in this picture:

Let's go you Redbirds!

Air Metal

Here's a bunch of exhausting/exhaustive sketches and works-in-process pixx from the semi-invisible illustrations I did for last week's RFT Feature on the U.S. Air Guitar regional qualifying championships held in St. Louis.

Here were the b/w interior illustrations showcasing important moments in air guitar history:

And here's some development on the cover illo. Unused idea sketch:

Used idea sketch:

.

Revised Sketch:

Further development:

Lineart:

Vector Art:

Background air photo:

Finished art:

Printed:

Keep rockin' out there, I guess!

Cut-Away Comics! #1: TREE SWALLOWS

As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, here's a new mini-comic I just finished. It's part 1 of 3 of a little mini-series called CUT-AWAY COMICS! published by OILY COMICS, available now! Here's some background and sketches.


The story is about young John James Audubon and his early days in Louisville, right as he's starting to really get obsessed with birds. Specifically, the Chimney Swallow.


Audubon has heard about a massive dead Sycamore tree said to house thousands of swallows, and he sets out to investigate.



Hi-Jinx (literally) ensue:

Thumbnails for the entire issue (12 pages, b/w, fully halftoned, risograph printed, $1):

Check it out, and stayed tuned for issues nos. 2 & 3 where JJ really gets into the nitty-gritty cut-aways!

AMAZING FACTS & BEYOND

Out now from Uncivilized Books, for sale this weekend at C.A.K.E.

New Minicomic at CAKE

Here's my new minicomic that will be debuting this weekend at CAKE- Chicago Alternative Comics Expo, published by Oily Comics. My foray into the "Audu-Bio" genre. See you all there! I'll be at the all-STL table with friends Kevin H, Mardou and Ted May.
For everybody else, I'll have more info and ordering details soon.

Party Pages

I _____ {verb} these ______ {adj.} "Band Libs" for this week's Riverfront Times. Pick up a paper or download .pdfs here. Fill one out at a party this weekend and send 'em in!
Here were my ______ {adj.} sketches:

We  _____ {verb} you the best of  _______ {noun}!