Okay, despite the "negative" headline... this is NOT a negative post. I'm NOT whining. I'm NOT complaining. I am merely stating facts. I harbor no ill will towards Jim Lee, Jeremy Roberts or anybody currently at (or has ever been involved with) DC Comics.
Earlier this year, DC Comics announced that it would take submissions from the general public for ONE page of their new book, Harley Quinn. Fan-favorite, Harley was to be getting her own book brought to you by the talents of Jimmy Palmiotti and Amanda Conner. The first issue was to be #0, and the page to be drawn by the public at large, was page 15. Also, the pages were gonna be reviewed, by none other than my personal Art-GOD and hero... Jim FUCKING Lee!!!
The general "plot" made available to the aspiring free-lancers did not include the script, just descriptions of what was going on in 4-panels on the page. Each panel was essentially Ms. Quinn attempting to kill herself in various ways.. the most titillating of panels was the last one, where she was attempting to electrocute herself, whilst being nude in a bathtub. A lot of people apparently took offense to the nude, sextualization of suicide, and there was a small public outcry. So I guess after DC selected the artist they were gonna use, they decided to change it to Harley riding a rocket ship? I don't know the deets, because I wasn't that artist. Again, not complaining/whining/being negative. Just stating facts.
One of the main reasons I'm not farther along in my artistic career is for ALL of my 20s... I was afraid. Afraid of success. Afraid of rejection. Afraid of failure. Just plain scared, so when opportunities like this came along, I would not take them. Now in my 30s, I still have some of that fear, but I'm coming out of my shell quite a bit more and taking chances... such as having my art looked at by my Art-GOD and hero... Jim FUCKING Lee. So I decided to man-up and take a stab at this. Worst case scenario, I don't get published (and I didn't) and life goes on. Best case scenario, I could call myself, "a published DC Comics artist". Which would be schweet!
Now those looking at it going "Well, you didn't ink and/or color it". The submission guidelines specified NOT TO if you weren't confident in your skills as an inker or colorist. They would find an inker and colorist to finish the art if they dug the pencils. I'm not confident in those skills, so I didn't attempt it. Also, I thought it'd be awesome to be inked over by a professional inker. So why not?
Also, the legal-ese of the contract stated I could not share the artwork anywhere. Not wanting to risk my chances of not getting published by posting it on here, or on my Facebook, or other social media outlets, I withheld from doing so until now. The book is out, I didn't get published... so here's my art!
I'm actually pleased with the final art I submitted, despite some of its flaws. Again, not being negative. I know what I drew, I know where I could of done better, and had I devoted more time to it, it would have been better. But for the time I gave myself, and the challenges I overcame in the process, I am quite proud of it. Part of the problems came from me thinking too much of "What do they want?" as opposed to me just being me and drawing it the way I should draw. I know backgrounds are a weakness of mine, so I told myself, I'd do backgrounds. And I did. And honestly, they're pretty good. But like the 1st panel... too much is placed on the background... and not... THE TITLE CHARACTER. Yes, I did a good background (as opposed to no background like I usually do), but it drew too much away from Harley. So there were obstacles like that. If I had just sat down and "had fun" with it... I might have done something better (with it's owns issues and faults), more to "my style" and who knows, I may have been the published artist instead of Mr. Jeremy Roberts.
Speaking of, I included Mr. Roberts' published page as a comparison. It's kinda interesting the similarities. Again, not being negative, and I'm not implying he "stole" anything. Cuz he didn't. It's "great minds think alike" thing. But we have essentially the same panel layout... One panel on the left, 2 smaller panels to the right and one panel going across the bottom. We also had a similar break down for quite a bit of the page. I thought that was interesting. Kinda makes me think I was on the right track... had I had a bit more confidence while drawing... who knows?
Originally, the book was supposed to be released on November 6th, 2013. For whatever reason it got delayed 2 more weeks to November 20, 2013. Which just so happens to my 32nd birthday. I was secretly hoping that my Art-GOD and hero, Jim FUCKING Lee and DC Comics would have picked me to be the artist, cuz it woulda been awesome to pick up a (Batman-related) comic book, on my birthday, with my art in it. Mayhaps one day I'll be able to cross that off my bucket list.
The me in my 20s, would have been set back by this, and drop the pencil for MONTHS on end... but the me in my 30s is only strengthened and encouraged by this whole situation. When/if an opportunity like this comes around again... I will attempt it... and who knows, maybe that time I'll be the lucky guy.
Or maybe I'll get my shit together, and land a job drawing comics as a living... and who knows... maybe one day... draw the Batman... professionally.
