3. Superman

Confession, I really don’t care for grown-up/college-age Jon Kent. He should have remained a kid. He’s a good foil for Damien Wayne. I’ve read a handful of issues of Superman: Son of Kal-El, and I just don’t enjoy it. I loved the Nightwing cross-over, but Jesus, Tom Taylor is SLAYING on that book. I think I’m just more disappointed that his Superman isn’t on the level of his Nightwing work. Don’t get me wrong, there are hints to the potential of it, but Nightwing has been such an emotional rollercoaster, and Superman is just so… mediocre. But, the moment when Jon comes out as bi to Lois… that got me. And Lois’ reaction. Christ. (Also the recent issue when Batman has a heart-to-heart with Jonathan Kent [Clark’s dad]… for fucksake. THAT is what I want from the rest of Son of Kal-El!)

Also, Jon’s Superman costume kinda sucks.

2. Pied Piper

Not the best sketch.

Anyhoo, back in 1991, I had a friend… it was either James or Preston. I’m leaning toward Preston. We were talking about the brand new TV sensation called The Flash. You’ve heard of it. Lasted 14 seasons. John Wesley Shipp became the biggest star in America.

Anyway, James/Preston was schooling me and fueling me in a future hatred of Barry fucking Allen. He was telling me how even though Barry was The Flash on the TV show, the REAL Flash was Wally West, and all the best parts of Barry’s personality and powers on the show were actually cribbed from Wally. And you know what I’d say to 13 year old Eric? Hashtag Always Wally, motherfucker! And you know what 13 year old Eric would say to me? “What’s a hashtag? Why did we go bald? Why are you so mean?”

Life, kid. Life.

But I digress. Preston/James decided I needed to be initiated into the cult of Wally, and handed me a relatively recent issue of The Flash. It featured a Superman/Flash team-up and possible race, I think. But that’s not the part that stood out to me. No, the part that I still remember to this day was the opening scene of Wally hanging out with his friend, The Pied Piper – a former BarryFlash villain. Because, everyone should be Barry’s villain. He’s a terrible character. Fuck Barry.

So Wally & Pied Piper are just chillin’ on a rooftop, shootin’ the shit, as superheroes do. The conversation turns to potentially homosexual supervillains, and Piper outs himself to Wally. It’s quiet, it’s subtle, it’s also totally 1990s hamfisted & awkward. Wally behaves like an idiot, as most straight white dudes would at the time and also in the now, probably. But also through his adventure with Superman, learns (maybe) that the power of friendship is the most important power there is and accepts and loves Piper for who he is… a reformed villain.

So that was the first comic I ever read featuring Wally West, and also the first time I was aware of a gay character in a comic book (at least a non-cartoonish stereotype). And here I am 30 years later, still fondly remembering that comic except for the bulk of which featured that Superguy no one’s ever heard of or seen since.

(Flash #53)

1. D-Man

It’s Pride Month, and I’ve decided to help celebrate in my own way, by drawing a month full of LGBTQIA+ superheroes/characters. As an 80% cis het dude, I do feel I probably should not be doing this, but I just wanted to draw some fun & kick-ass characters, and show my support to people who might enjoy and appreciate it, also realizing that I am fairly ignorant of the queer experience, and hoping for some forgiveness and blessings for my clumsy alliance.

I’ve said before, I don’t really know any members of the community, certainly not enough to call anyone a friend. But also, I am incredibly insular, introverted, and socially anxious. I have basically 5 friends in real life, and sometimes I think that’s like 3 or 4 too many. So it’s not that I don’t wish to have a more diverse circle of friends, it’s mostly that I don’t want to have a circle of friends.

I did grow up fairly conservative, despite being a non-white fatso who was bullied throughout my entire childhood through adult life for both the tone of my skin color and size and shape of my body. It’s honestly only in the last decade + that I have embraced a liberal perspective and become moreso as I get older. I am… just trying to learn.

So whether this is a stunt for attention or me just genuinely trying to celebrate a part of society I have no experience in, that’s up to you. I’m gonna hope I’m just here for a fun time. But I should also mention that my new ladylove is part of the queer community. She also did not like comics before meeting me. She’s opened up a bit, and so this is me trying to share with her my love of comics and show her it’s not all straight white male power fantasies.

So. D-Man.

While there are definitely some characters I know and love and wanted to draw straight away, I was going through a list of Marvel & DC LGBTQ superheroes to see of whom I was unaware, when I see D-Man’s name.

D-Man has always been kind of a joke loser character. He’s got Wolverine & Daredevil’s hand-me-downs, often portrayed as kind of slow or dumb, dirty, smelly, sometimes homeless and mentally ill. But I’ve always got a soft spot for the losers and D-Listers (pun?). He’s appealing to me more than your Spider-Manses or your Captain Americans. So when I saw him on the list, I had to look up the story from when was he outed. Apparently a few years ago in Sam Wilson’s Cap title, it was revealed he had a longtime boyfriend. Y’know what? Awesome. It makes him more well-rounded and gives him a backstory and a life beyond “that dude what looks like Dareverine”. (Sam Wilson: Captain America #15)

Day 1 (D-1?) down!

I just remembered I’m very tired and hate Sketch-A-Days!

Patreon Reward: Hyperion

Patron asked for the Paradise X version of Hyperion. The Squadron Supreme and all its various incarnations and alternate versions confound me a bit, but they are a sort of evil but not quite Marvel version of the Justice League. I have drawn the classic version before.

Patreon Reward: Rito Revolto

Patron asked for this Power Rangers baddie. Like most villains/monsters in this series, he looks completely badass, but is probably a whiny-voiced goofy fuck in the show. But, he’s pretty metal.

Miracle Monday

Patreon Reward: Super-Eeyore

My patron asked for Super-Eeyore (a mash-up of Superman and Eeyore, natch), and almost instantly as the words filtered into my brainmeats, I knew that I had to homage Frank Quitely’s iconic All-Star Superman cover.

May as well take this opportunity to say that I’ll be drawing sketches at Maverick’s Cards and Comics in Kettering, OH for Free Comic Book Day this Saturday May 7th. Since no one reads my blog or looks at my art, this will go well!

I will be coming off an 8 hour shift, and I will be tired and cranky and will absolutely murder anyone who spoils Doctor Strange. Got it? Thanks.

NSFW

NSFW

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Alastor

  • Filed under Artwork

  • April 23, 2022

Recently completed digital commission of Alastor from a one-episode cartoon called Hazbin Hotel.

The show is definitely not meant for me, but Alastor, the Radio Demon, is a standout.

Anyhoo, I apparently do digital commissions now. Contact me for deets!

Patreon Reward: Bizarro

  • Filed under Artwork

  • April 21, 2022

I got nothin’ to say, I love Bizarro! Though it was a real coin-toss if I was gonna do modern-ish Bizarro or Silver Age “Bizarro #1” necklace Bizarro.

Someday.