Fun_GalaxyPolice

Pull over, lead-foot, license and registration!

This is my final drawing from the Leverett Sessions at Harvard. By this time in the "night" it was like 8am, the phenomenal Phineas and Ferb was on, and I decided to try figuring out what a "Galaxy Police" costume might look like.

Tenchi Muyo was when I first heard of such a thing as Galaxy Police. Since then, they, space pirates, bounty hunters, and sci-fi thrills have always been something I've wanted to work with creatively.

So I wrote this story and my professor, a world renowned SF/F writer who I expected to tear it apart, liked it so much that he recommended I turn it into a graphic novel! I could use a new hobby...

A quick draw is the best defense.

Reuxben

Fun_PD.DoggieMojo3

This is the book version of this piece, my final Doggie Mojo installment for the Penny Dreadful.

So I've been in a drawing funk recently. I don't have that same hunger from back when I was in college. Speaking of which, it's so ridiculous to think of myself as an alumnus, you know? To be fair, I felt the same about being called a college student till around late sophomore year; I felt like I was a high schooler who had sneaked in somehow. It sucks now cuz just as soon as you think, Man, I can't wait to get back in the fall for that crisp New Haven autumn, you realize, No, that's it, man.

Watching SNL always reminds me of Yale, because it was one of my first memories (t)here. As a Californian, I was so excited to finally see the show on East Coast time. And I remember watching it in the beautifully cave-like, original JE buttery, and then later in the cold, empty husk called Swing Space, and feeling so unbelievably at home, more than I ever had anywhere else.

Call me psychic, but can I call it or what? Yay.

Reuxben

Fun_PD.DoggieMojo2

This is the book version of this piece, my cover for the Penny Dreadful.

The Penny Dreadful, alas, is likely on its way out of existence. I was with the publication since issue two, and I'm so proud of how far we came, but unfortunately I have a strong feeling it's going to die out by next year. I believe there's two people who could save it, though: him and her. But who knows.

Good news, bad news, GO!
Good News: I'm officially, tangentially a real-deal published author--I noticed this piece got published at McSweeney's! Yes, it's written by our old Record Chairman, but I pitched the original idea way back in the day and I even got to illustrate it. This news is particularly cool because the original ran back when the Record was still heavily rebuilding, but the piece was definitely one of the outstanding ones. And look how far the Record's come, too; it looks set to really thrive now. Absolutely awesome!

Bad News: I received some horrific welcome-back-home news--we're bankrupt! Absolutely awesome.

No pressure to go pro, right?

Reuxben

Fun_PD.DogieMojo1

This is the "book" version of this illustration for the Penny Dreadful. I think I wanna recolor this further...

Hey, did I ever tell you the weirdest fan interaction I ever had? This girl came up to me and went, "Hey, you're Reuxben! You do the Doggie Mojo in the Penny Dreadful! I love that!" I wanted to go like, "Yeah, I also do some comics on the side every now and then..." Haha. But anyway, it was pretty cool to be known as the "Penny Dreadful" guy for someone rather than the "YDN" guy, especially since that was my first time doing pure prose comedy writing (not comic or TV scripts, but prose), and yet it seemed to have gone over pretty well--so much so that a random girl felt compelled to come up to me and tell me that's how she knows me. Also, I feel like most of my college fans were female...what's up with that?

Speaking of which, I miss Yale. It hasn't really sunk in that it's all over, but it's getting there. I'm already in a quasi-nocturnal cycle...Yale was great for helping me structure my day. Now it's all me, and I don't have a scanner, a desk, or proper workspace, and it's blazing hot in sunny California...how long until my art reserves give out? How long until I have to resort to this for new art content? How long until I start showering daily?

Animorphs #3, let's dance,

Reuxben

Penny_dm.BigRisky

So, the last Deal of Doggie Mojo is out in the latest issue of the Penny Dreadful.

In "Big Risky," the volume finale, Lillis confronts the Galaxy Police's mighty Admiral Megan Megan.

As I understand it, the story's getting massive edits, so even I don't know how this one's turning up. It may also be changed into a more finite ending, but it was written to continue on, so who knows how this'll shake out.

Ridiculously busy. Full update and pencils coming soon.

Reuxben

Penny_dm.TheSpaceBetween

A special advanced screening today, the illustration for the next installment of Doggie Mojo, my prose series in the Penny Dreadful, and it's also going to be the cover. Neat!

In this Deal, "The Space Between (Interlude in B Flat)," Lillis has to tangle with the deadly H.Arms security mechs meanwhile piloting a stolen mechsuit with uncanny natural skill.

Will she make it through the cold, pilotless machines' inhumanly precise security defenses? Will she die? Will there only be one more Deal? I don't know!

This is what it looked like before the bells and whistles.

Photoshop is sorta tricky to work with--the more stuff you learn about, the more you want to start adding on new tricks and techniques, but I love lines so much and I don't want to lose them in the mix.

That's where mangaka get it done; they know exactly what's just enough to let the lines sing uninterrupted, while still adding enough production to elevate the piece. That's why I don't like US comics so much--too much emphasis on color, when the lines are what really matter.

Easter Eggs: Metal Gear Solid chat window, Gundam style model for the H.Arms, pokeball.

Fun Facts: Trying to keep the Toonami vibe.

Baa: I hate the process of going to sleep and I hate the process of waking up. But I love sleeping. It's the space between that's key.

Daily Post Challenge done.

Reuxben

Penny_dm.MechsuitShuffle

This volume of The Penny Dreadful debuts my official entrance into the prose arena, featuring the first "deal" of my series Doggie Mojo, which will eventually be available here.

I couldn't afford time for two illustrations, not that I'm thrilled with this one, and I haven't even read the published version yet(!), but I wanted to take a moment to properly kick off this Dreadful art series.

Easter Eggs: Braille R. Design cues from Evangelion, Mobile Suit Gundam, and Pokemon.

Fun Facts: I wrote this series for my Writing Sci-Fi and Fantasy Class this past Summer Session, at first as a salute to my favorite gang, Team Rocket, and then it grew into a nod to all those inspirational Toonami shows that were just so phenomenally meaningful to me creatively.

Baa: Before writing, I would listen to these old Toonami hype clips to get in the zone, and even summarize the day's work in that excellent voice that I always associate with Toonami over Transformers. I would repeat in that husky voice, "Toonami is proud to present...Doggie Mojo...Saddle up." Or whatever, just thinking of cool, pithy taglines at the end. Man, I'm getting all inspired just thinking back!

A part of me wanted to write for narrative practice (since, as a literature major, merely reading stories can only do so much for you artistically), and a part of me just wanted to prove to myself and others that I am no one trick phony, I can draw and write, pure drawing and pure writing both co-mixed together, in fact.

Part 1 and its volume seem to have sold out, and parts 2 and 3 will be upon us soon enough, but until then, here's a snippet from part 1, "Mechsuit Shuffle":

"His powerful, meaty fingers hungered, tenderly caressing her soft, sumptiou--"
Wait a minute, WHAT?!

Reuxben