Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Phastos

Phastos

Here is the original entry for Phastos to the "Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe".

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And here is my entry for Phastos to the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Redux.

The Eternals are great fun for me.  I've always had a soft spot in my heart (some would argue the soft-spot is actually in my head) for Greek Mythology, and Jack Kirby's Eternals being the template for the Greek Myths drew me in as a kid.  Although, I have to admit it took me a few tries for me to figure out Phastos was short of Hephaestus when I first read about him; they didn't quite spell it out as directly as they did for Zuras, Ikaris, Thena, etc.  :-D 

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STEP ONE:  I created a New Document 1,000 x 1,500 pixels in PhotoShop and did some really quick digital pencils with a 50% gray.  Originally, I was gonna give him a bigger beard and some over-sized power gloves, but then decided to stick a bit more to the character sheet.

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STEP TWO:  In a New Layer, I did some digital inks over top the pencils.  As the picture turned out to be symmetrical, I just copied and flipped the arms and legs so they matched.

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STEP THREE:  I did a grayscale painting on a MULTIPLY Layer over top for lighting, then created another MULTIPLY Layer for flat colors.

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STEP FOUR:  I created several NEW LAYERS--one for each color--and add highlights and shadows over the top the flat colors.  I also decided to have some Kirbyesque Krackle radiating from the hammer.  (Queue M.C. Hammer's "Can't Touch This" :-)

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Created digitally in Photoshop.

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Shameless Self-Promotion...

A bit of shameless self-promotion...

My Facehugger-Valentine was listed on the Drowning Pool Facebook page on February 14, 2015.   Cool!  :-)

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Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Molecule Man

Molecule Man

Here is the original entry for the Molecule Man to the "Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe".

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And here is my entry for Molecule Man to the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Redux.

I first read a story with the Molecule Man in the pages of "The Avengers" while a kid in the early 80's.  He had near-godlike power--able to manipulate inorganic matter (later, they removed that limitation and it became all matter) and some funky lightning bolt scars on his face.

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STEP ONE:  I created a New Document 1,000 x 1,500 pixels in PhotoShop and did some really quick digital pencils with a 50% gray.  Mostly, I just noodled around until I was more-or-less happy with the pose I would use.

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STEP TWO:  On a New Layer, I did some quick digital inks.

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STEP THREE:  I created a NEW LAYER set to Multiply to layout highlights and shadows.

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STEP FOUR:  I did some flat colors with a New MULTIPLY Layer.

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STEP FIVE:  I created several NEW LAYERS--one for each color--and add highlights and shadows over the top the flat colors.  Lastly, I added some vague Kirbyesque Krackle to give him some suggestion of power.

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When I was a kid, I always wondered about the lightning bolt scars on Molecule Man's face.  In this case, I decided to make some sort of suggestion that the scars are almost like seams where his face (and probably rest of his body) are just a third dimensional wrapping around the immense power he wields.  For a while, they got rid of the scars on his face, but I thought that was one of the more interesting things about him, visually.

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Created digitally in Photoshop.

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Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Fenris

Fenris

Here is the original entry for the Polaris to the "Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe".

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And here is my entry for Fenris to the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Redux.

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STEP ONE:  I created a New Document 1,000 x 1,500 pixels in PhotoShop with a gray background.  This establishes a mid-tone which you can then add highlights and shadows.  I didn't bother doing too much with the jackets, as I figured I would be working on them in the top layer. 

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STEP TWO:  I did some flat colors with a MULTIPLY Layer.

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STEP THREE:  I created a NEW LAYER to add highlights and shadows over top the flat colors.  I then erased the gray background and created a new, colored background square and called it done.

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Created digitally in Photoshop.

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