Heath IT lABS

Author: J. A. Heath

  • Inspirations: Jack Kirby

    I have a few comic book artists that I really look up too, guys that have the ability to create some fantastic scenes and iconic characters.  If I had to make a list of them, at the top would be Jack Kirby.

    Jack Kirby
    Jack Kirby

    Called “The King”, Kirby created (and co-created) some of the most well known characters in comics. The Fantastic Four, Ironman, Thor, The Hulk, The X-Men all grew and thrived from Kirby’s mind.

    Jack Kirby ushered in a whole new era at Marvel when he teamed up with Stan Lee in the 60’s.  Together they started a wave that is still going to this day.  p

    Artist Gil Kane, speaking at a forum on July 6, 1985, at the Dallas Fantasy Fair described when Kirby rejoined Marvel:

    “Jack was the single most influential figure in the turnaround in Marvel’s fortunes from the time he rejoined the company … It wasn’t merely that Jack conceived most of the characters that are being done, but … Jack’s point of view and philosophy of drawing became the governing philosophy of the entire publishing company and, beyond the publishing company, of the entire field”

    Kirby’s unique style for drawing bold, powerful figures and fantastic vistas help spark the imaginations of the next generation of comic artists.  Jack Kirby passed away in 1994, but his legacy lives on to this day.  We all owe Jack a huge thanks for giving us some of the greatest comics the world has ever seen.

    Space Busters concept art
    Space Busters concept art
    all art copyright original copyright holders

  • Cool comics!

    There are a lot of great comics out on the web. And I mean a lot!

    Here are a few that I really like, so go check them out. You will thank me.

    Black Alpha

    Mythica

    Battle Pug

    Rusty & Co.

    Bearmageddon

    Deep Dive Daredevils!

    No, really, you totally should. I just saved you what, like a ton of clicks from having to go google that stuff.

  • Sunday Science: Warp Speed, Captain

    Warp speed! The ability to travel faster than light has long been a staple of science fiction. But recent developments have some NASA scientists thinking that move great distances in a short amount of time could be a reality.

    Physicist Miguel Alcubierre created a paper which suggested that space-time could be warped behind and in front of a vehicle, creating a bubble that a ship could ride upon, like a surfer rides a wave. This idea captured a lot of attention, and in fact, NASA is working on this concept now.

    A mere 100 years ago, we couldn’t fly from the US to Europe. So, it’s not unrealistic to imagine that the science behind this can be proved within one to two generations.

    IO9 has the full article, so go read and learn.

    Exciting times!

  • Grooves: DJ Dimi – Love Signs

    It’s Saturday night, and we are chillin’ in this part of the galaxy…

    Love Signs by DJ Dimi on Grooveshark

  • Saturday Sneak Peek: Trouble!

    I am working on a couple of other projects besides Suzi.
    I had an earlier post about how Lewaine was able to help me refine my workflow to increase my creative output.

    trouble
    This could be trouble…

    I thought I would share an image from one of those projects.    I always wondered what would happen if you took some classic monsters, added equal parts Lovecraft and attitude, and let it bake for a while.

    Well, we will find out this summer!

     

     

  • Inspirations: Lewaine

    So I can name all kinds of pop culture references that had a hand in shaping Suzi.  But there is really one and only one true inspiration that created this comic, and that would be my lovely wife, Lewaine.

    Lewaine
    Hottest publisher ever!

    Lewaine is the one that pushed me to grow and put my work out there for the world to see.
    I had a hard drive full of works I had done over the years that had never been seen by anyone other than myself.
    I just didn’t really think anyone would care to see my work.
    Lewaine kept telling me that I should get my work out there and share it with the world.
    She even went so far as to take a couple of her favorite images, print them out, and enter them into a local art show.

    The prints wound up winning second and third place…and she didn’t even say “I told you so”.

    Lewaine began a business helping artists develop online portfolios and webcomic sites, and in the course of building her business, she helped me develop a plan for creating a webcomic of my own.

    The problem was, I couldn’t find a story that I wanted to draw.  Lewaine suggested that I tell a story that I thought was cool, and she then created a posting schedule that I could fit into my week.  I am a full time designer/developer, so the project I started on the side would require a very precise methodology if I was going to be able to deliver on a schedule.

     

    Lewaine
    Lewaine

    Lewaine nailed it!  We have been able to refine my creation process so well, I was able to start another project.  She did this all while balancing her clients and family life.

    Suzi Quazar wouldn’t exist without Lewaine and her vision.

    She is the real life inspiration for Suzi.  From her grace and strength, to her sweet spirit and beauty, Lewaine provided me the model in which to create this character and tell her stories.

    I can’t thank her enough.  If you are an artist and have a story to tell, but don’t know how to get your work out there, contact Lewaine or visit her site here.

  • Sunday Science: M-Theory

    Branes!  And no, it’s not a new Zombie cereal knockoff.
    You know, like how they have Choco-Pebbles in the 50lb bags at the store?

    Anyhoo, Brane theory (short for Membrane Theory or M-Theory) puts forth the idea that all matter, instead of being a collection of tiny balls of matter, are instead collections of tiny vibrating strings.

    Now Jason, you say, isn’t this simply Superstring theory?
    Well, yes, you are correct.
    M-Theory seeks to unite the quantum world of strings with our observable world.
    The vibrational frequency of the string determines what we perceive it as (ie, gravity, matter, energy).

    A fascinating topic, especially when you get to the part about there being multiple dimensions, or that our universe could be floating along on one of the membranes.

    This is a very fascinating topic, and Tega Jessa over at UniverseToday.com has a great article about M-Theory

  • Saturday Sneak Peek: Mecha Madness!

    Quad mech trouble!
    Quad mech trouble!

    A quick look at an unfinished panel from an upcoming issue!

    It’s been a super hectic couple of weeks.  But in a good way.  I have finally hit my stride on Suzi, and have bandwidth for some exciting new projects that are on the horizon.  I will give more details as they firm up, but it’s looking like 2013 is going to be a great year!

  • Inspirations: Irwin Allen

    I have a pretty extensive list of inspirations for Suzi, but right up at the top would have to be Irwin Allen.

    Lost in Space
    The space family Robinson

    Allen created just about every one of my favorite shows from my childhood. Classics like Lost in Space, Time Tunnel, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, and Land of the Giants were all required viewing.

    Of course, I look back now and realize that most of his shows eventually morphed into kid shows. By season 3, Lost in Space had pretty much became the Will, Dr Smith and Robot Variety hour. I think if they could have stuck with the same formula they used in the first season, Lost in Space would have been remembered very differently.

    Time Tunnel
    Time Tunnel

    Time Tunnel was another show that had a great premise, but lacked in execution. I think this was more a matter of budget constraints that anything else.

    Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea was a fun show with a great cast and concept. Land of the Giants was kinda the odd man out of the Allen stable.

    Voyage to the bottom of the sea
    Voyage to the bottom of the sea

    The writing was really all over the place, but back then, Deanna Lunds mini-skirts could make me overlook a lot of plot holes.

    Irwin Allen produced some popular disaster shows like The Towering Inferno and The Posideon Adventure in the 70’s,
    but was never able to recapture his success on the small screen.

    Land of the Giants
    Land of the Giants

    Irwin Allen had a good run, and created some iconic characters in science fiction. I hope to capture some of that fun in Suzi’s stories.

    What do you remember about Time Tunnel, Lost in Space or the other Allen shows?

    all images copyright of their respective copyright holders.

  • New Mix on Radio Cosmos

    You like music?
    Who doesn’t?

    We beam our music into the heavens, so you never know what will turn up on Radio Cosmos.
    Playing the best music from, well, whenever!

    Click here or in the sidebar!