What is "Flatting"?

If you've been following this blog you've probably read in a post or two that I've been flatting this comic or that comic, and thought to yourself "What the hell is flatting?"

Flatting is a step in the process of coloring line art which is widely used for comic books.  The line art is separated into flat, solid blocks of color which a colourist then uses to render the page. It is a time-consuming process that most professional colourists farm out to peons like me.

The above example from Strange & Darke 1 show (from left to right), the line art, the flats, the layered flats and line art, and finally the rendered page.

Words: John Smith. Pictures: Colin MacNeil. Final colours: Len O'Grady. © 2012 Rebellion A/S.

Keep Calm and Exterminate!

I love the Keep Calm and Carry On poster and Doctor Who – so here's a mash-up of the two. Each poster features a quote from each of the 11 Doctors plus a bonus Dalek one.

Dungeons & Dragons: The Legend of Drizzt #5

I popped down to Forbidden Planet today to pick up the last issue of D&D: The Legend of Drizzt mini-series, which I flatted for Len O'Grady. It never ceases to amaze me what Len can do with pixels. I'm a little sad to be leaving Drizzt and Co. behind – but hopefully I'll be journeying in the Forgotten Realms again sometime soon!

Have a look here to view my flats for this series.

The Avengers Trailer: Extended Edition

Feeling a little short-changed by the measly minute-long Avengers trailer? Here’s an unofficial fan-made version, edited by Nick Montgomery with help from Thomas Gofton.

Screen Rant and Synn Studios put together the ultimate fan-made trailer for The Avengers using the extended Super Bowl trailer, the first trailer for The Avengers, and footage from previous Marvel Studios films including Iron Man, Iron Man 2, The Incredible Hulk, Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger.

The best Star Wars Comic ever

This is an genuine work of love – Star Wars – adapted by the nine-year-old John White, from Dublin, between 1977 and 1983. The comic book is a genuine re-imagining as John had only his recall of cinema screenings of the recently released movie and comic to work off.

Around Christmas time 1977 a nine year old budding artist started to draw his own comic adaptation of his favourite film; just seen in the cinema, with no DVDs, books or comics to guide him . The early results were peculiar, but it was fun and some consolation for only seeing it once. Less obsessed friends would claim "We saw it 6 times!": he yearned to see it again.

Some time later, he got his hands on the British printing of the Marvel comic and treasured it. his drawing improved and with the comics, bubble-gum cards and the full-colour photos in the novel he began the process of drawing, re-evaluating and redrawing - casting the older pages in the bin.

So now reader, here's the very odd fruit of that 4 or 5 year effort. Rediscovered only last year. The shabby 1977 home-made comic becomes 2010 web-comic.

Star Wars Age 9 (John White)

Lego Minecraft FTW!

This summer, Lego will ship an official Minecraft "Micro World" set, with blocks designed to look like the primitives used for construction in the popular game/virtual playset.

Help Steve survive his first night in a strange new world. Avoid the creeper and start mining for resources that will help you survive and thrive. Configure your four micro-scale LEGO Minecraft modules any way you like. Build your own mines and hills, and expand your world with multiple sets. Includes four LEGO Minecraft modules, hidden resources, extra pieces for wood, dirt, and stone, two "Micro Mobs;" Steve and a creeper.

You can preorder for $34.99 now on J!NX. 

Red Skull Is Red, Smurfette Is Blue

Slate.com has a wonderful colour wheel showcasing the entire cartoon character spectrum. In the interactive graphic you'll find the complete rainbow of cartoon characters, from Pink Panthers to Grape Apes to red, well, whatever Zoidberg is. You'll notice a few fleshy humanoids, too. Of course not every iconic character could be included—the cartooniverse is too vast to completely chronicle – but they've handpicked beloved creatures of every hue.