Starburst Magazine #479

 With halloween quickly aproaching, we are reminded of the blah blah blah... intro platitude. 

I was hired to create the cover of Manchester's very own Starburst Magazine. Several years ago I made four covers back-to-back and now I have returned to this lovely publication.

Well, I say lovely. The theme of this particular cover is horror. Featuring a host of horror icons, this cover was as much about layout trickery as drawing because the characters are all crammed in tighter than a mall full of zombies.

Bruce Campbell, synonymous with cult,

horror; Evil Dead, practically a shoe-in.

And the final cover with adjustments

Alien, Dracula (Christopher Lee), Buffy, Eleven (Stranger Things) and The Creature from the Black Lagoon are all strutting their stuff, but if Texas Chainsaw Massacre-ing isn't your thing, order the magazine anyway. It's full of reviews, articles and all sorts. Stay in the loop with Starburst, order yours today!! 

The Apes of Wrath

 "Damn you all to hell!"

Followers of my Facebook page will know about this, however, there are extra bonuses in this blog, including a tutorial below - sort of.

I have just fulfilled an ambition: front cover of Starburst Magazine (out now!) It is the UK's longest running magazine of "cult" entertainment, beginning with a Star Wars cover back in the 70's. Speaking as someone who likes science fiction films, comics, horror (well, parts of) and several other things of that ilk then this is a big deal for me.

Little over half a year ago I did a Rocket Raccoon (Guardians of the Galaxy) poster for the very same mag, so I must have done well with my scribbling for them to call me back for something more prominent. The cover in question is the alternative Planet of the Apes cover. Which I like to think of as the retro apes cover; there is another cover which acknowledges the new movie Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (a title which sounds like it needs shortening.)

I'll go through the process for anyone interested.

1) Scamps (or sketches) I only made two...because I don't always (if ever) think a ton of sketches is a good idea, preferring one or two at a time. Anyway the one they went for was this:

2) I created the elements separately. This allowed me to move everything freely in Photoshop. So the apes and background elements such as the Statue of Liberty were drawn by hand and scanned in, looking like this:

3) Drag the elements together on screen and colour them. The rocky backdrop was done with a mouse. So I sent them this (minus signature):

4) Lastly they added their own magazine logo of an appropriate colour:

Ta-Daaaaaa!!!! - I have my copy.

Wreck It Rock

I was asked by Starburst magazine (The UK's longest running Sci-Fi, fantasy and Horror magazine), to come up with a poster featuring one or more characters from Guardians of the Galaxy. I opted for Rocket Raccoon.

Here's the blurb from the official page.

To celebrate the release of our new Movie/TV Preview issue, we're pleased to unveil a set of free Limited Edition Collectors Prints, each dedicated to one of our specially selected Icons of 2014!

There are 3 to choose from, and they’re available exclusively from TESCO stores when you purchase Starburst #395. Pick your favourite below and get down to your local TESCO while stocks last!

Here's the original line drawing:

For those not in the know Rocket Raccoon is a Marvel character and will feature in next year's Guardians of the Galaxy movie. I won't pretend that I knew much about this particular Marvel strain until recently, however funnily enough I was reading "The Thanos Imperative" when I got this commission. That particular book features not only the Guardians of the Galaxy but an overwhelming ton of Marvel characters so start there at your own risk.

Here's the colour version:

Big thanks to "Starburst Shauna" for finally getting me into the magazine and to the others for agreeing. As Stan Lee would say "Excelsior!!"