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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