Author notes

For Micheal Turner (1 of 5)

LanceDanger

on Aug. 26, 2008

First off, I know, I'm sorry that because of the technical troubles I've been having, that kinda killed the momentum that the story was building. But, in my heart, I feel like I have to do this. As I wrote in yesterdays update, I just found out about the death of Micheal Turner (he died in June). All though it's not very apparent now, but, back in the day, quite a few years ago, about 8 years ago, to be exact, my style was way diferent then. Back then, in a way, in many ways, I was struggling a bit to have, my own identity I guess. As an artist I always tried to be unique and not follow certain trends. But, when three artists in particular emerged almost at the same time, and after years of following them, I tried to take my favorite element from those 3 artists and tried to mesh them together. Anyone who can see these pages my tell them off right off the bat. Humberto Ramos. J Scott Campbell. And of course, the late, great, Micheal Turner.

What caught my attention from Micheal Turner's art, was the pasison and commitment, and respect he had for the medium. So much so, that when he was diagnosed with cancer back in 2000, even from a hospital bed, when he was forced to stop drawing comics, he STILL would take a notepad and sketch and create and design. On a friggin' hospital bed. I think, I took that kinda commitment from his example in a way, trying to upload no matter what in th eworld happens, just keep going. And then, I decided to take art even more serious than I had taken it at that point, and started off by doing 5 pages of Supergirl, drawing it in my own experimental style at the time.

These 5 pages, virtually nobody has seen them. Because these 5 pages, in a way represent the best, and worst in me as an artist. In a way this was the begining of an end lol I did these 5 pages and later on did 5 of Nightwing and even one page of Spidey. By the time I had done the spidey page, that's where I started to crack mentally and emotionally at the time. To the point where I entered this, I dunno, depression I guess, that made me not pick up a pencil for well over a year. And to be honest, even now, nearly 8 years later, I never really fully recovered from that mental collapse. At that time, by the time I got to the Spidey page, supposedly I had honed that particular style so well and so fast, I was having friends telling me I could try out for Image if I wanted to. I don't know why, but that, combined with a writer that wanted to see my artwork for possibly working for him here in PR, I dunno, my mind just….snapped. And I hid those pages in a shelf until maybe 3 years ago, when I put them in Deviant Art and in a local forum, and only because I knew that in neither place, next to nobody except close friends would see it lol Last year I took the actual pages with me to show to my friends at the Free Comic Day event. And the general reaction from my friends (I'm looking at YOU specifically, Scorpious! LOL!), was mostly wanting to slap me across the face and kick my ass for not continuing that style lol! XD

And in a way, maybe they should have, I don't know. All I know are that these pages are INCREDIBLY personal to me, and I have an attachment, because even though I know most of you won't understand, I both despise those pages, yet, have such a profound love for them, as well. And as the reality sunk into me that I will never see new Micheal Turner artwork again. Ever. I decided to instead of feeling a bit down because of that, I would celebrate what he inspired not me, but so many other people to do. And that is to create. So from today until Sunday, I just want to celebrate life the only way I guess I can do it as a small tribute, by showing what he did in so many years, inspire people to create. So, please forgive me for this rather selfish moment, but I felt it was the very, very least I could do, for someone who dedicated so many years of his life doing something he loved and respected so much, just a small tribute from someone who is so inconsequential, I guess (like I was joking aroud last night with Scorpious with my weird dark humor, that last year Mike Wieringo died, now Micheal Turner, maybe next year I'll be the next to go, except no one will wright anything about me XD), but was so inspired by him, the least I can do is share these ugly, beautiful pages. So, here's to you, Micheal, as an artist wrote in Tim Townsend's journal, "heaven is going to have some great comics now" =)

Usedbooks: Lol, yeah, I know what you mean, I've met a few girls like that before XD; Scorpious: Thanks, man! =D; DAJB: Welcome back, dude! Allthough with the internet trouble I had, tere isn't that much catching up to do, I'm afraid lol XD; Magickmaker: Lol, hmmm, I wonder…?; Thatkidyellow: Lol, thanks, man! XD; Jabali: Thanks dude, that was a fun page to write =D; Antionestrife: No probs, dude! THanks! And if you ever need help with your DD page, send me a PQ and I'll be glad to help out in any way I can.; Popenfresh: Lol, that'll teach her! XD; Peipei: Thank you =3 Hmmm, that also makes me wonder….?; Worstcase: Thank you, it was a fun page to do, and yeah, I always look foward to the fall, especially since I'm such a clutz sometimes! Getit? Uh, never mind…but I do like the fall, though!