Wonder Woman colored preview panels

Here are some preview panels from the Wonder Woman story that I drew recently. I don't know if it's ever coming out, though, which is a shame. I'm really proud of the work that we all put into it.
The story is written by Micheal Jelenic, writer of the Wonder Woman DVD animated movie. Inks are by Ray Snyder, and color art is by Lizzy John.

Batgirl Commission

Batgirl on 11x17 DC Comics Bristol Board. Pencil and ink. Inked it up myself using Copic pens and a little brush.

WW Commission

A recent commission that I pencilled and inked.

New Preview Panels from Wonder Woman

Here are a couple of preview panels from my work on a new Wonder Woman project---Featuring The Cheetah and Hippolyta, Wonder Woman's mom.

Where can you see Drew this year?

Well---These places:

I will be attending Wizard World Anaheim April 16-18th---If you happen to be in the neighborhood, please drop by and say hello!
My next convention appearance, as far as I know, is Long Beach Comic Con in October.
I will be signing at Things From Another World for Free Comic Book Day at Universal City Walk in May.
Otherwise, I will be home, chained to my drawing board, and counting down the time until TRON: LEGACY comes out....

Rogue Squadron Returns

A tribute to my first job in comics---Star Wars: X-Wing Rogue Squadron.
I started this as a challenge to myself to see how I would draw it now if given the job, versus how I drew it back in the day when I could barely hold a pencil.
I ended up having a lot of fun with it.

New Supergirl pages available on eBay

Here are some links to some new Supergirl pages available this week on eBay! Please do check 'em out!

Supergirl #24 page 3:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160399893960&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

Supergirl #24 page 4:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160399892870&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

Supergirl #24 page 6:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160399892870&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

Super low prices on pages on eBay!

Check out my latest batch of pages over on eBay---They're still sitting at only $20 with only one day left! Bid on 'em---You may score an unexpected bargain!
See the entry below for the pages for sale and their links!

New eBay sales for the week of Nov. 23rd!

Here are some new pages up for sale this week on eBay---

Supergirl #23 page 2
Go to: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160380950822&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

Supergirl #23 page 3
Go to: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160380952553&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

Fantastic Four Wedding Anniversary Special page 9
Go to: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160380955186&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

Fantastic Four Wedding Anniversary Special page 16
Go to: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160380957835&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

Happy Thanksgiving Holiday!

Lotsa new eBay sales!

Here are some of the new pages of artwork I've put up on eBay this week, and their links!

Supergirl #23, pg 7
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160378064418&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

Supergirl #28, pg 16
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160378065062&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

Forgotten Realms: Legend of Drizzt Cover
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160378067030&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

Batgirl Pinup
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160378065989&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

New Ebay sales!

I've just posted three pages from my run on DC's Supergirl on ebay---Here's the links:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160376077528&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160376076382&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160376075388&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

Please stop by and check 'em out!

Elektra for George

I guess the title says it all. Hope he likes it!

New work!

Here's a pin up I just drew based on the video game, GOD OF WAR. Had a great time with it, and hopefully, I'll have Ray's inked version of it to show here soon!

New Ebay sales and Drew stuff

Wow---It's been a long time since I wrote here last---Many apologies to anyone watching here!
Just wanted to announce two new pages for sale now on Ebay---The Big Osiris Splash Page of Doom, and The Page After That. Both pages are work from Week 23 of the great series, 52. These pages feature the first appearance of the young hero, Osiris. Please do stop by and give them a look!
Here are the links!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160374940092&_trkparms=tab%3DSelling

And:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160374941076&_trkparms=tab%3DSelling


In other news, I'm waiting for the script for a new mini-series that I will be working on for DC Comics. I'll announce just what that series is as soon as it's ok with DC. No new info on my creator-owned book, The Black Lake, but I continue to work on it whenever I can.
More artwork and announcements coming in the near future! Ciao for now.

What's Drew drawing??? Week of June 1, '09

Here's The What:

Following a partial fill-in on The Authority #13--I just finished work on part of The Authority #12. Had a great time with it---I got to draw lots of action, and the characters are really fun to draw. I'm having particular fun drawing The Engineer. Looks like we're gearing up to go right into The Authority #14---Good Times!
Included here are a couple of preview panels from my work on The Authority #12--Coming out soon!
If you haven't checked out The Authority lately, please do--Regardless of whether you're into my work or not, it's just a really good book.

What's Drew drawing??? Week of May 25th, '09

Here's the latest in Drew doings:

I just suspended work on my graphic novel, The Black Lake for the time-being. Karen's been on a month long hiatus from The Simpsons and I felt that it would be good to get back to some paying work in order to pep up our income stream.
I've just finished up work on a partial fill-in issue of Wildstorm's The Authority #13---It's written by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning, two of my favorite writers in comics right now. I got to draw lotsa action in this one, and it was great fun. Ray Snyder is inking it up as I write this--can't wait to see how it comes out!
Here's a preview panel--Enjoy, and be sure to pick up the Authority #13 when it comes out in a couple of months!

It's been a while!

Sorry I've checked out for a while--I've been giving all of my attention to my deviant art site/gallery. Check out the link on the right to give it a look--There be lotsa art there.
I'm gonna be sure and post here once a week at least just to keep the word out for what I'm working on in comics and commissions. Thanks for tuning in now and again!

In memory of a former studio mate

(From my journal at Deviantart.com)


Comic book inker Jim Royal died recently. We were studio mates at Jolly Roger Studio back in Macon, Georgia for a couple of years.
I have to be honest---Jim and I didn't always get along, and I can't say that we were close friends. I can say that he could be funny as hell, and he sure made me laugh sometimes. His James Mason impression was spot-on and just broke me up every time he did it. All of us at Jolly Roger enjoyed drinking and laughing together at Tony's house on the weekends, or at cons, and Jim was almost always instrumental those good times.
In the end, the bad times overwhelmed the good between us and we moved on. While I never would have been able to be friends again with Jim, I am truly sorry that he's gone.
My dear friend and long-time inker, Ray Snyder called me a bit over a week ago and told me that Jim had died, and later that night, I poured some vodka and toasted my old acquaintance to wish him well, and to hope that he has found peace and calm seas.
Ray tells me that memorial services will be held in Atlanta, Georgia on Saturday. I wish his friends and family the best.

Zatanna Commission

Just finished this fun commission of Zatanna. Had a great time working on it and got to put some of the new stuff I've been learning in my art classes to use. Hope the buyer likes it!

New Gods Commission

Here's the finally completed New Gods Commission that I just finished yesterday. It's been on my desk for several months and I swore that I wouldn't take on any new commissions 'til it was done.
It's been bumpy trying to learn to master my workload along with having a new baby daughter, but I think I'm starting to get the routine down and am finding that I'm getting back to my regular work schedule at last. With this piece done, I'll be taking on new commissions again, if anyone is interested. Just drop me a note at graphitemonkey@gmail.com.

New On Ebay!

I just posted two new pages for sale on Ebay. Supergirl #25 page 4, which features a nice large panel of Batman in the Batcave with images of Supergirl on the computer screen behind him, and Alfred in the background. The page also features Lois Lane and Clark Kent.
The other page is Supergirl #29 page 7, a full figure splash page of Superman scanning the night skies for Supergirl.
Check 'em out here!

On The Stands Now!!!

Here's the colored version of the cover for HACK/SLASH #18--On the stands now! It features absolutely stunning work by colorist Lizzie John. If you scroll down my blog you can check out the entire process of the making of this cover. From layouts to pencils, ink, and now color.
I would like to point out my disappointment with the actual published cover though in that they added the credit list on the cover over my and inker Paul Wee's signatures. Me, I don't care about, and I'm embarrassed to say that my signature is visible, but Paul's is obscured. This was Paul's first comic work, and I really wish that he'd been able to see his signature on the cover. I'm really sorry, Paul.
I also wish that Lizzie had signed the cover. This was one of my favorite collaberative efforts I've ever worked on, and I feel like it would have been great if we all had visible signatures on this one.

New Stuff Part 3!!!

Here's the colored version of the Forgotten Realms cover that Ray Snyder and I did recently for DDP. It features RA Salvatore's popular character, Drizzt. We had a great time with this one. I really dug working on the panther.

More New Stuff!!!!

Here's a cover that I drew a couple of months ago for DDP and CAPCOM's BIONIC COMMANDO comic series. I'm not sure when it's coming out, and I haven't seen any colors for it yet...Inks are by Ray Snyder, and are really excellent--Thanks Ray!

New Stuff!!!

Here's a piece that I drew & inked myself for a book called Wolalina. I've been fooling around with making my background characters more distinctive to offset the idealized looks of my "heroic" main characters. I really ended up having a great time with the revolutionary war soldiers behind Wolalina here. I hope the contrast works...

Ebay update again!

The GI JOE and SUPERGIRL pieces have sold! Thanks to everyone that bid, and thanks to the winners of the artwork!
I'll be posting more work on ebay again soon--Stay tuned!

New artwork on ebay this week!

This week on ebay, I'm offering a close-up pencil splash image of Supergirl from page 1 of Supergirl #28.
In addition, I've also made available the penciled cover for the GI JOE New York Comic Con '08 variant edition. The cover features Fan fave characters The Baroness and Destro.
Check out these links if you'd like to bid on either of these pieces.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&Item=160295467930&Category=14010null&_trksid=p3907.m29
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&Item=160295470389&Category=3985null&_trksid=p3907.m29

Ebay update!

Page one from Supergirl #24 has sold---I'll be posting new artwork for sale on ebay again this week, tho, so please stay tuned!

Supergirl page on Ebay!

I've just posted The original pencil art for Supergirl #24, page 1 on Ebay. If you'd like to bid on it, check out this link:http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160293973194&_trksid=p3907.m32&_trkparms=tab%3DSelling

Psylocke: The final inked work

Here's the final inked piece. I transferred it from my sketchbook to a full sized artboard and used it to break in my new pens, ink and brushes.
Just finished it up tonight after we've just gotten back from a trip to the East Coast, and it was a fun diversion while I got over my reverse jet lag.

Sketchbook Girl #1 Psylocke

Drew this in my sketchbook last night...

HACK/SLASH #18 Cover-The process part 3

That wraps up my part in this piece--Now to the inks! The inks on this cover are a real thrill for me. This cover is inked by my friend, Paul Wee--You can check out his art blog in the links section on the right--Go there! It's worth it! Paul is an Assistant Director on The Simpsons, and I met him through my wife, Karen, who is a retakes Director on The Simpsons. Paul is a true artist's artist and his work and advice have really inspired me over the last few years.
At the same time that I got this cover job, Paul and I were sketching animals over at the LA Zoo once a week. During one of our trips to the zoo, I was telling him about a cover gig I was starting work on for a horror comic called HACK/SLASH--and I suddenly put two and two together. I realized that Paul digs horror and that I've wanted to work with Paul on something for a long time. So I asked Paul to ink the cover. He was kind enough to say yes, even though he was in the middle of moving.
The resulting cover is one of my very favorite pieces of work. Paul's line over my pencils is spontaneous and exciting. I hope everybody out there digs it as much as I do.
I know I've blathered on a bit here, but please indulge me just a bit longer. I'm not posting the next part of the process of this cover right now---I want everyone to be psyched to run out and pick up the book when it comes out---Here's the thing: The colors are a sight to behold. Lizzy John colored me and Paul on this cover, and when I say colored, I wonder if I should say painted? The work Lizzy did on this piece is the best color work my pencils have ever seen. No offense to the great folks that have colored my work in the past, but, wow. Big huge thanks to Paul and Lizzy and our editor, Mike O'Sullivan for a really fun job.
HACK/SLASH #18 is on sale in November and you can find a portion of the final colored cover in the September issue of PREVIEWS on page 240!

HACK/SLASH #18 Cover-The process part 2

Check out the MANY differences in the pencils that you see here versus the original layout. I was happy with the pose, but when I got to drawing the actual cover---I started to kinda see a mini movie of the scene in my head--Cassie in the sewers, repeatedly attacked and slashed at by the crazed killer that's reflected in her knife. The sewer background felt right to me instead of the checker board background in the layout--Horror and action movies seem to have a tendency to have their climaxes in old factories, steel mills, or sewers...Not so much on checker boards...Also, I changed the gloves from the layouts to bandages in the final piece, and added many more injuries. Cassie chases slashers, and from reading the HACK/SLASH Omnibus that Tim Seeley gave me, I saw that she tends to get in a little over her head sometimes. I thought the whole "Hunter becomes Hunted" idea might work well, and that became the story I wanted to tell with this cover.

HACK/SLASH #18 Cover-The process

Now that my cover for HACK/SLASH #18 is being solicited in PREVIEWS, here's the process by which I drew the cover, and what happened after it left my drawing table!
Here's my initial sketch for the cover---

UPDATE for late August

Boy, a new baby keeps you busy! Karen and I have been having a great time with our super-cute little daughter, Cole. Lotsa family has been here to see us and we've had lots going on here at Casa de Johnson.
In the meantime, I've gotten to work on a couple of new covers for Devil's Due Productions---The cover for HACK/SLASH #18, and I just finished up the cover for an issue of the upcoming BIONIC COMMANDO comic that's inspired by the new and exciting version of the classic video game. I'll post the artwork for all to see as soon as it's ok to do so.
I've also been getting in some work on The Black Lake---Previous posting here featured our first promo piece for the graphic novella. Hopefully it aroused some curiousity out there. I'm having a lot of fun every time I get to sit down with it. I'll have something new to post here in the near future. In the meantime, please keep checking back!

(Matilda Finn & The Black Lake are (c) Drew Johnson, 2008)

Say Hi to Cole Johnson!

This post took longer to get to than I meant it to, but now I know what my friends who are parents meant when they said you don't get much sleep when your baby first arrives!
That aside, please join me in welcoming Cole Jeanette Johnson into the world! She was born last Tuesday at 2:41 pm in sunny Burbank, CA. She's 21 inches long and weighs about 8 lbs now. She came out into the world barely crying and shot me such a sweet look that it was love at first sight. She's healthy and happy and easy to get along with. Karen and I are having a ball with her.
Here's a couple of photos that they took at the hospital---She does a great Caesar impression, our stoic little Colonel....

Baby, get out here!

Sorry to say there's no baby arrival to report. Karen's almost two weeks past the due date, and we've got an appointment with the baby doctor again on monday---Maybe we'll see some activity after that....
In the meantime, Karen's folks have been here waiting patiently with us for The Colonel's arrival. Karen's mom has been walking her around the mall, we walked around Disneyland..There has been much walking...So now we're all sleeping better, but no baby yet.
Up in my studio, I just finished a new Cover for Devil's Due and Tim Seeley's comic, HACK/SLASH. I had a GREAT time with it, and was pleased and flattered that I could get my friend, Paul Wee to ink it for me. You can see Paul's extraordinary work on his blog, which I've linked up with on the right side of this blog. It's full of beautiful work, and if you are not familiar with Paul's work, you'll get a big kick out of it, I promise.
I've also been working away at my graphic novel, THE BLACK LAKE. I've got a friend coloring the first promo piece, which will be on display here as soon as I can get it here. Stay tuned....
Finally, if you've been waiting around for a commission, some good news---I've started working on them again...DT, yours is almost done. Thanks for all your patience everyone!
That's all the news that's fit to print right now---If you've got a moment, check out the link I've posted to Brian Stelfreeze's blog! It's really cool, and Brian is one of my favorite artists and a great teacher.

The Colonel arrives this week! Maybe!

The official due date for the Johnson offspring is July 3rd---So it seems The Colonel could be greeting the outside world any day now! Karen and I are bouncing between excited and terrified.
Why is our baby currently known as "The Colonel"? It's a name idea I came up with for David Hahn's daughter, Cleo before she was born. Rightly, David and Robbyn chose not to go with it---But I stand by the name. Think about it: The teacher in elementary school asking the other students--"Is The Colonel back from recess yet?"--Future co-workers asking each other, "Well, what does The Colonel think about all of this?" It's a name that continually demands respect.
So while our parents would probably kill us both if we actually went with "The Colonel Johnson" as our baby's name, Karen and I have been enjoying using it as a place-holder name for the baby since we've decided not to learn if it's a boy or a girl 'til it's born. It's been pretty funny when friends and relatives call to ask, "How's The Colonel?"
I have a feeling it's gonna be hard to stop calling it that when it's born. I also suspect that I may just have to salute as The Colonel arrives finally for it's first inspection of our little family platoon.

(Photo of me & Karen by Sari Zimmerman)

June Update!

I have not fallen off the Earth! Been busy working on things I can't show off. I just finished work on my part of the GI Joe Movie Style Guide---Unfortunately, I won't be able to show that stuff off 'til after the movie is released...
I've also been at work on my graphic novella, The Black Lake this month. The script is complete and the entire book is laid out and ready to draw. I've penciled the first promo piece and Ray is inking it as I write this entry---Well, maybe not RIGHT now. Actually, he's probably asleep...Ol' Ray's getting up there in years....As soon as the promo art is finished, you'll see it here first folks.
Speaking of Ray Snyder---Everyone should be checking out his work with Yanick Paquette over on Marvel's Young X-Men. Yanick is one of the best artists working in comics today, and Ray makes his beautiful work look even prettier. Good book, guys!
One last note---I'm thinking about putting some of my Supergirl work up for sale. If anyone out there is looking to pick up any pages or covers from my recent run, just drop me a note at graphitemonkey@gmail.com.

Now it can be shown, part 2

Over on my Comic Art Fans site, you can see an alternative costume that I designed for Supergirl before I started my run. It didn't fare that well--There was more interest in a more conservative look, recalling that Supergirl is, well, 16. I think like a lot of folks, I forgot that for a moment when I was doing that first design.
Here's the second design I did, and for a little while, It looked like it might get accepted. In the end, I'm sorry to say, it didn't.
I'm putting it up for public consideration, and to see if I was totally full of it or not for thinking that it was cool.

Eyes only: The NYCC GI Joe variant cover

Here's the finished version of the GI Joe New York Comic Con variant cover that Ray and I did for Devil's Due. It features The Baroness and Destro---If you'd like to see the original pencils, check out the link to my gallery at Comic Art Fans on the right of this entry!

Good Night, Kara Zor-El!

DEPT. OF BIG ANNOUNCEMENTS! I've tendered my resignation from monthly penciling duties on DC's SUPERGIRL.
If you're a regular reader of this blog, you know that Karen and I are expecting our first offspring soon. I figured that if I go ahead and wrap up my work on SUPERGIRL by June, then I can have a month to work on my graphic novel, THE BLACK LAKE, before our baby arrives in July. I'm planning a four month hiatus from regular comic work to learn to tackle the challenges of being a new dad and to finish work on penciling THE BLACK LAKE. Look for further announcements regarding THE BLACK LAKE to be posted here in the near future.
BIG HUGE THANKS to everyone who has supported my work on SUPERGIRL. It's been a tough run, but I had a great time. Thanks to my editor, Matt Idelson, and to Tom Palmer Jr and Nachie Castro. I've loved working with you guys and hope we get to work together again soon. Thanks, too, to my great friend and inker, Ray Snyder. Thanks for putting up with my usual crazy crap, and thanks for doing such lovely work over my scribbles. Can't wait to see what we do on THE BLACK LAKE and beyond.
And of course, the BIGGEST THANKS to my wife Karen, for all of her love and support, and for being the coolest soon-to-be mom ever to walk the Earth.

Back to the Dept. of Big Thanks!

A long overdue Dept. of Big Thanks THANKS to Aimee LoSecco for adding her page from my Wonder Woman run to the "From Panel To Panel" Exhibition that was curated by her friend Tara Donahue during the New York Comic Con. It was really cool to know that my work was being featured among so many great artists. Aimee and Tara, I'm sorry that I wasn't able to get over to the gallery to see the show--I stayed really busy during the con every day--but I hope you'll send me some pictures from the show when you get time. I'll post 'em here!
Also, another big THANKS to Aimee and her co-workers at the Gotham City Comics booth at NYCC for being so cool, and giving me a killer deal on my Bowen Wasp bust. Karen and I stopped by Gotham City Comics when we were in New York last November at Aimee's invitation, and it's a really cool shop. They're at 796 Lexington Ave. 2nd Floor at 62nd st. Stop by and see 'em if you're in New York!
BIG THANKS to the awesome folks at Metropolis Comics in Bellflower, CA for having me and Karen as their guests for Free Comic Book Day '08. What a rush! We had a spectacular crowd turn out, and Karen and I had a great time meeting everyone. THANKS to Gail, John, Debbie, and all the other great folks at Metropolis for a great afternoon, and thanks to all the folks who came out to see us. It was a real blast.

Now that's what it should've looked like!

This is a piece I just did for my friend, John Higashi. It's Leia as I had originally designed her to appear in the fourth issue of the Star Wars Infinities:A New Hope project that Ray and I worked on a few years back.
It's basically "Darth Leia"--as she's become Vader's apprentice after the rebellion's failure to destroy the Death Star. I'm glad I got the opportunity to draw her again. I feel like I had a better handle on the idea this time, versus my original design drawing.
Hope you like it, John--- Thanks for your infinite patience!

Don't forget!

Karen and I will be appearing at Metropolis Comics in Bellflower, CA for Free Comic Book Day this upcoming Saturday.
We'll be there from 11:30am-3:30pm--Be sure to come by and say "Hi". I understand they'll have cookies.