UPDATE: December 5th Signing at Collector's Paradise

If you are in or around the greater Los Angeles area, please try to make it out to the The Wolverine 100 Project in store signing at Collector’s Paradise. You can see some of the covers up on Marvel, Newsarama, IGN and CBR. Lots of the LA based artists will be there (I'll try to update the names as they confirm) doing sketches and signing books and it all benefits my favorite charity, The Hero Initiative.

The book signing event takes place on December 5th form 7-10 PM at:
Collector’s Paradise
7131 Winnetka Ave.
Winnetka, CA 91306

Guests include Len Wein, Joe Benetiz, Danny Miki, Bill Morrison, Christian Gossett, Dave Bullock, Scott Koblish and Chris Moreno! Plus: FREE BEER!

The original art will be auctioned off as well to support the charity!

Hero Time Starts Right Now!

In the words of Henry Rollins, "I'm talking to you: hero time starts right now!" The Hero Initiative is at it again, this time with the Wolverine Weapon X 100 Cover Project. They picked 100 comic book artists to do an original, one of a kind sketch on a blank variant sketch cover of Wolverine Weapon X #1. I think only 100 variant covers were printed especially for The Hero Initiative. A rare collectible if you can get one! They will be actioning them off a few at a time on ebay. I'll try to post a link when mine goes up for auction. Please bid if you can, it's for a great cause!

The Hero Initiative (Formerly known as A.C.T.O.R., A Commitment To Our Roots) has had the good fortune to grant over $200,000 to the comic book veterans who have paved the way for those in the industry today. They are a not-for-profit corporation dedicated to helping comic book creators in need of emergency medical aid, financial support for essentials of life, and an avenue back into paying work. It's a chance for all of us to give back something to the people who have given us so much enjoyment.

I recreated the cover to Ballistic Wolverine #1 by my good friend Joe Benitez. It's one of my favorite covers ever, in fact it's framed and hangs in my studio! Since I would never sell the original, and I've been offered serious cash for it on a few occasions, I thought this would be a good way to raise some cash for a great charity!

JAM DVD Cover

Since I tend to specialize in storyboard and concept design, I usually get involved in films before anything has been shot, my art is used in the production of the film, but rarely seen by the public (and I have the NDAs to prove it!). So it was fun to get to do a finished illustration for the DVD cover after the film has been made. Especially a film as special as this, a documentary about never giving up and believing in your dreams.

JAM is the story of the American Roller Derby League, a group of veteran Roller Derby stars now in their 50’s that are determined to make a comeback.

In the 1970’s, they were the most popular sports stars on TV, a bigger draw than Major League Baseball. And then, virtually overnight, they disappeared — until now.

For seven years, award-winning filmmaker Mark Woollen chronicles league owner Tim Patten as he pours his heart and entire life savings into a revival of this uniquely American entertainment. JAM takes you on an epic journey filled with unimaginable drama, bitter rivalries, heart pounding action and an incredible cast of characters you’ll never forget. Hilarious, heartbreaking, inspiring, JAM is an amazing story about the lengths people will go to achieve their dreams.

You can pre-order it here.

Dec. 10th at The Comic Bug

If you are in the Los Angeles area, please swing by The Comic Bug on December 1oth to celebrate the release of the Hero Initiative's Hulk 100 Project hardcover book! I will be there signing and sketching with a bunch of great artists! Hope to see you all there!

WED., 10 DEC
6 PM-8 PM, signing with six artists: Joe Benitez, Scott Koblish, Bill Morrison, Tone Rodriguez, Aaron Sowd, Joe Rubinstein
At The Comic Bug
1807 1/2 Manhattan Beach Blvd.
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
310-372-6704
http://www.thecomicbug.com/

Then from 8-10 PM, if you wanna hang loose, it's the Comic Bug's Christmas party w/DJ, drinks, snacks, etc. Some other local artists (Richard Starkings, Mike Mignola, Josh Dysart, etc.) will likely show up as well if ya wanna hob-nob.

CNN Overload

I usually only get my news from reliable sources such as The Daily Show, The Colbert Report or The Onion, but lately I've been addicted to CNN. Really addicted. And it's starting to worry me. I may need to cut back on my CNN viewing because every time I look at Ali Velshi I see this:Do you see it too? Dr. Honeydew! Thank God, I thought it was just me! No wonder I can't take him seriously. No one in real life has skin that orange! He's gotta be a Muppet, right?

Then there is the lovely Dana Bash. Every time I look at her I see:

The bird from Pixar's For the Birds, right? I'm not trying to be mean, maybe I just watch too many cartoons. Or too much CNN. So there!

Last Round of Card Commissions

If you still want a sketch card commission, you can get on the list for the Marvel Masterpieces Series 3 Artist Proof cards. I can also do plain old sketch cards as well if you want one of those. Email me for details at aaronsowd@mac.com. The Marvel Masterpiece Artist Proof cards are very limited, they only give 10 to each artist.

Hulk Smash! Last Chance!

I've already mentioned The Hero Initiative and their Ultimate 100 Hulk #1 Cover Project. My first cover raised over $700.00 for a great charity. But that is nothing compared to these two! The legendary John Romita Jr. donated two killer sketches which I was asked to embellish and color. What an honor, I grew up on John's stuff, I never thought I'd get to touch his original art! The first one below sold for over $1,000.00! The one above is being auctioned off now and ends soon! Please bid here if you can!

Variations on a Theme: Iron Man

Aw, Iron Man... my favorite character when I was a kid. Here are the last of the sketch cards for Upper Deck's Marvel Masterpieces series 3! I could have done all 20 cards of just Iron Man, but I burned out after 7 and decided to mix it up a bit! Wish I would have gotten to the cool JR JR "big ass boots" armor and Iron Man 2099. Those are both great designs! Here is the first suit of armor designed by Jack Kirby or Don Heck?

And again in gold circa Avengers #1.

I actually kind of liked the old pointy head version of the red and gold armor. Jack Kirby's design?

The "classic" version without the pointy head helmet.
Then the silver centurion armor designed by Mark Bright, I think...
And the badass black and silver War Machine armor...go Raiders!

And the most recent Ultimates armor designed by Bryan Hitch!