Broken Soapbox

New lettering samples

2011-06-02T18:21:00.000+01:00

I've been lucky enough to work with the talented team behind Loudmouth, being published by 215Ink. This indy publisher is putting out loads of great titles, so if you haven't had a look yet, I suggest you go check out their website. Here's a page from the upcoming Loudmouth...

I also lettered the one pager, Paradox Man, currently on the magnificent Hadron Colliderscope blog.

Long Time No See

2011-05-18T22:59:00.000+01:00

It's been a while since I updated the blog. This is for a number of reasons, but it's mainly down to work and real-world stuff. Now things have settled down a bit, I'll hopefully be a bit more active around here.

That's not to say I've not been busy on the lettering front. The series I have had the most success with, Breakneck, continues to go from strength to strength. Issues 1 and 2 are out already, with issue 3 in the Diamond previews catalogue at the moment. Issue 4 will also be distributed via Diamond. If you've not already checked it out, all four issues are available over on Wowio. Go on, treat yourself. There are also plans afoot for a series of oneshots focusing on some of the characters within the world of Breakneck. More info as I get it.

Breakneck's publisher, 215Ink, is also well worth checking out, producing a ton of indie content that is making waves a conventions around the world. Andrew DelQuadro really has picked a talented bunch of guys to work with. In fact, I'm in the process of lettering another story for 215Ink at the moment. I'll put up some pages soon.

I've also been fortunate enough to receive my copies of Paragon and the Jikan Chronicles, both the brainchild of Dave Candlish. You should swing by the Paragon blog and have a nose around.

Other than that, I've done some other bits and bobs, including some inking. I'll throw up some images when I get a chance.

I'm now throwing my doors open for business. If you have any projects you need lettered, send me an email, or leave a message in the comments section. My rates are very reasonable and I'm always open to negotiation.

-Matt

Busy, Busy, Busy...

2011-01-19T20:08:00.000Z

Haven't updated in a while. Lots and lots going on.

Firstly, I'm going to be a daddy. Scary stuff.

Secondly, Breakneck #2 (http://www.wowio.com/users/product.asp?BookId=234784) is for sale on Wowio along with #1 (http://www.wowio.com/users/product.asp?BookId=219543). #3 should be up fairly soon as well.

Issue 1 is currently in the Diamond Previews for January (http://previewsworld.com/public/default.asp?t=2&m=1&c=6&s=670) and can be ordered with code JAN111350. It will be available from comic stores in March.

Finally, here are a few sample pages from Zenescope's Neverland #0. Just a bit of practice really. Thnaks to Jim Campbell for the resources. All rights of course belong to Zenescope.

Happy New Year!

More Photies!

2010-12-05T13:37:00.001Z

As promised, here a few more snaps.

Some Photies!

2010-12-04T00:31:00.000Z

I've decided to start including some of my photography on here as a way of :

a) making it look like I'm more productive than I actually am
b) trying to encourage myself to get my fist out of my ass and start taking it a bit more seriously.

I've been stuck in a bit of rut recently, trying to figure out what I want to be doing a year from now. I love writing, but haven't really got anywhere with it yet. The same goes for the photography side of things (though I did have a picture used by an online city guide, so that's something I guess).

So, as an early New Year's resolution, I will be posting (hopefully) at least one new photo a week.

To get things started, a nice one from earlier this year, before the arctic weather laid waste to the country. It was taken in Princes St Gardens in Edinburgh.

The fountain in Princes St Gardens

And the obligatory black and white conversion:

In B&W

Oh, for anyone that is interested, here's a link to my Deviant Art page: http://chilipenguin.deviantart.com/

Breakneck 01 on sale now!

2010-11-09T22:07:00.001Z

WOWIO: Breakneck 01 by Mark Bertolini, James Boulton, Matt Brown

Go on, buy a copy. You know you want to.

Frightened Rabbit – The Loneliness and the Scream

2010-11-03T19:36:00.000Z

Oh, and for the third post of the day, here is my first review, up now on Ark Magazine (http://www.arkmag.co.uk) !

Frightened Rabbit – The Loneliness and the Scream

Big Update

2010-11-03T09:33:00.009Z

Well, quite a few things decided to happen at once recently. For one thing, I got a new job, so that is taking up a lot of my time. I also had something I worked on head off to the NYCC (pictures below). Quite proud of that, let me tell you.

Breakneck, a comic I mentioned back in September, has been gathering interest and may be getting published in the US. Will hopefully hear something back about that soon.

Oh, and I've been trying my hand at digital inks. And learning sign language. And attending a writer's workshop.

So yeah, enough to keep me busy anyway.

Pictures!!

These are the five pages I lettered for a book called All Powerful. It went to New York Comic Con in October and received some pretty good feedback. The final page is unfinished as it turned into a bit of a rush job for the inks and colours. I'm just waiting for the finished page five before wrapping it up. I'm hoping that someone eventually picks this up as the art is gorgeous and it's something I've really enjoyed working on.

It was written by Rob Tracy, pencilled by Fred Saez, inked by Steve Farfan (who was a machine; four pages in something like two days!) coloured by Belen (same goes) and lettered by me.

More Inks

2010-11-03T09:27:00.001Z

After Dredd, there came... the Danger Girls!

Pencils are from Sean Ellery's website.

First Attempt at Digital Inking

2010-10-31T15:41:00.002Z

My first attempt at Digital Inking (or any inking, for that matter), using a Wacom Bamboo. My lines are a little shaky in places but I think that's down to practice. Plus my hand was cramping up.

Oh yeah, the quality isn't great but that's down to the fact I'm using the demo version of Manga Studio, so had to crop a screengrab.

The Adventures of Richard the Sperm

2010-10-29T09:26:00.003+01:00

In celebration of getting a shiny new Wacom bamboo, I've been doodling and come up with. Don't know if it'll continue yet, so let me know if you like it. Obviously it is still a bit rough and ready. I'm hoping that as I get used to using a tablet, my lines will take on a more fluid shape.

Anyway, enjoy!

Steampunk poster tweaked

2010-10-18T21:08:00.004+01:00

Made some edits...

Steampunk poster

2010-10-18T14:02:00.006+01:00

A reasonably quick manipulation using various textures and brushes.

Model: http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=§ion=&global=1&q=steampunk+model#/d2olktv

Paper Texture: http://wingsofahero.deviantart.com/art/Old-Paper-Texture-117552813

Brushes: http://photoshoptutorials.ws/photoshop-downloads/photoshop-brushes/steampunk-materials-photoshop-brushes.html

and

http://www.gorjuss.co.uk

Will probably go back and tweak it a wee bit. Let me know what you think.

Tony Moore Inks

2010-09-21T00:12:00.003+01:00

Tried my hand at colouring some of Tony Moore's inks. I'm pretty happy with it and it's certainly the most complicated piece I've attempted.

Two posts in one day. Woot!

Statement of Intent

2010-09-20T15:36:00.002+01:00

Thanks to everyone who has read my blog so far. Really, it has served as a bit of an art dump for displaying what I have done comic-wise but I thought I should just post a small bit about why the blog exists in the first place.

I became unemployed in April of this year. Unfortunately, since then I have had no luck in finding new employment but with all the extra leisure time available (:D), I decided to be pro active and try to learn some new skills.

In the five months or so since, I have started thinking about working in the sphere of comics. I have tried writing, lettering, colouring and even an ill-advised attempt at drawing them. So far, I have found the lettering side of things to be the one that clicks the most and I think others agree; I have worked on a couple of strips for an indie comic called Paragon as well as few submission pieces for Mark Millar's CliNT magazine.

What I want to post here is that this blog should serve as journal of someone trying to break into the comics biz, from the wide eyed naivety of the journey's beginning, to the fabled milk and honey at journey's end.

I hope that people find it interesting and hey, if I make any ground doing this, then surely you can too.

Cheers

Matt

Breakneck

2010-09-09T14:28:00.004+01:00

Here's a page from a submission that I lettered recently. 'Breakneck' by Mark Bertolini with art from James Boulton.

Red Planet

2010-08-27T17:00:00.002+01:00

Here's the first page of a submission for Mark Millar's CLiNT magazine which I lettered.

SFX Samples

2010-08-08T01:31:00.004+01:00

Thought I'd throw up some SFX samples for folks to have a look at. Just a few quick examples of the kinds of things I'm using in the comics I'm working on at the moment.

Obey

2010-07-26T18:06:00.003+01:00

Propaganda poster design. Done in Illustrator and Photoshop.

Colossus Coloured

2010-07-20T23:26:00.002+01:00

Original inks belong to Chris2d over at DeviantArt. This was my first time colouring Colossus and I have learned that metal reflections are a pain in the ass.

Jikan Lettered

2010-07-20T23:17:00.003+01:00

A page from the Jikan story I lettered for Paragon #7. Out in September (I think).

Dredd Lettered

2010-07-20T23:13:00.004+01:00

Dredd page lettered. "Judge Dredd - Tour of Duty" (prog 1650).

Vector Zombie

2010-06-17T15:44:00.002+01:00

Here's my first attempt at vector art. Digital vector illustration built up over a sketch in Adobe Ilustrator.

Second lettering challenge attempt

2010-06-15T17:43:00.003+01:00

My attempt at another of the lettering challenges over at Digital Webbing. Took on board some of the crits I was given over at the 2000AD forums (special thanks to Jim Campbell for the time he took to show me exactly what I needed to improve on). Anyway, let me know what you think.

First attempt at lettering

2010-06-15T17:27:00.005+01:00

Taken from a challenge over at the Digital Webbing forums. Had a few issues with some of the dialogue (the script is a mess) but overall, reasonably happy with it. Had a suggestions as to how to improve it but I thought I'd post the original here. Don't want to go retconning my work now, do I?

Colouring sample

2010-06-15T17:07:00.010+01:00

Here's my first attempt at a full colour splash page. Original art can be found here. Coloured in Photoshop.