From the Conductor: Meet the women of the Galactic Gun

Following my last post, and the continued upheaval in comics, games, and geekdom, I felt it would be a nice thing for me to introduce the core group of women in the two main Galactic Gun stories. (Yes, two. Three, eventually.)

So, here they will give you just a little insight into who they are, and what they are about. While they don't represent all the women within the world of the Galactic Gun stories, these nine do have a larger impact on Justin Bailey, and the place he calls home.

First look and first post of 2013!

Well, now, looks like we've all managed to survive the Mayan apocalypse just fine...

Okay, well, almost all of us, I suppose...

Anyway, if you've been reading the comics over at Neverland Transit Authority - and really, why would you be here if you already weren't - then you know that I've got some pretty hefty plans for 2013. And what better time then now to unviel the first product of those illustrious plans, right here, right now.

So, without further ado, I give you the cover for this year's first print release of Galactic Gun: The Adventures of Justin Bailey in Pocket Full of Posies!

 

Master lay out: read reverse - front is to the right, back on the left

 There's an extensive amount of clean up involved with the old pages. To create, or preserve, continuity I will be having to redraw bits of frames, whole frames, or - in some cases - entire pages. In all likelyhood I will end up redrawing the entire story. if that happens, it'll convert into the 6 inch by 8 inch page format I've been running with since Bookmarks.

Next will come the more interesting phase. While clean up and reworking begins, I'll be shopping around looking for a publishing house. If I can't get anywhere with that, by March, then it looks like NTA Comics will be launching a KickStarter to get the funding it'll take to make this a reality.

Obviously there'll be more news coming, so keep your eyes open, dear readers. And, as always, thank you for your patronage! Your ridership means so much to all of us at Neverland Transit Authority!

First Look: 2013 Intergalactic Pub Crawl Team badge

There are many kinds of badges we wear, earn, or carry through life. But for a select few, there is only one badge they look forward to renewing every year; joining an exclusive club of interplanetary connoisseurs.

That's right, with the end of the year quickly approaching, it's time, once again, to unveil next year's Intergalactic Pub Crawl Team badge...

It takes a special breed of  tried and true drinkers to proudly display this badge of honor, telling all the civilized worlds (And some not so) that they've earned their bar creds in some of the most exotic watering holes in the galaxy.

The new button will be available starting at the end of December, and only while supplies last. Watch for special announcements on where to get yours...

(Another) First Look! NTA Comics' "The Runner"

In the not too distant future, where megalopolis is stacked atop megalopolis, Mannie Rodriguez - working for Personal Allied Couriers - takes a delivery for his friend as a favor.

But, when his friend winds up dead, and Mannie's on the run for his life, he finds himself caught up in a mad dash to make - what might be - his final delviery of the night.

The Runner is a small pet project I've had on the back, back, back, back burner for a couple years, now. But, it was this movie poster project for my Studio 2 class at school that's brought it back to the forefront, and into the 2013 schedule.

True to its name, and the source that spawned it, The Runner will feature a whirlwind of action and excitment; with my usual touch of commentary and introspection, to boot.

Look for it this coming Summer from Neverland Transit Authority!

Choo-choos, funnies, and brews ~ or~ Loves and logos

Logos are pretty much nothing more than a nice, fancy stick on badge saying...

The idea behind them is, basically, to give some sort of cohesive identity to a group, company, or institution; much the same way the heralds did for guilds, clans, and families back in antiquity. Since their basic inception, until now, there's been a few rules and guidelines that have been established on how they are used; from the concept of building them to scale, to how to apply them in layouts and branding. And all that's fine and dandy, but what we really want to know is how they are applied where it really counts...

Trains and comics! (I mean, really, it's me; what did you expect?)

Christian Annyas, designer and blogger, is quick to point out that the first railroads were pretty much established nearly fifty years before the first logo was trademarked. And in an age when stationary and such were created by printers, not designers, it would be common for railway logos to reuse the exact same elements; generally cut from the same block forms.

As technology grew, and schools of design took hold in America, so, to, did the ornate nature and complexity of the train logo change and grow; though,for the most part, still staying bold, iconic, and simple. In 1954 the New Haven Railroad did a major overhaul and upgrade of their entire system. And, along with that, tried to create a whole new corporate identity for themselves. From train exteriors to passenger interiors, stationary, all the way down to matchbooks, everything was treated to the brown, white, and orange color shcemeing, along with the bold "N" over "H". Until this point, pretty much every railroad company was using a more drab earth tone scheme; so this really popped.

They even got an HO scale corp. identity... how cute!

Along those same lines, the Canadian Railway revamped its logo in 1960 with a very stylized typographical look that, in turn, influenced the rest of the 1960's logo designs with its creation of a moniker out of its initials. CSX Transportation would take this one step further in 1986 when it took both iconic logo design and typography and created probably the most tell tale logo for any rail system. One that is, in fact, still used today, some twenty six years later.

These fine examples of train logo design, however, don't really tell you how influential they are. Well, not as much as how other industries have capitalized on them for their own branding. From restaurants to online learning sites, the train logo has pretty much aided many other companies in their own corporate identity. Generally they borrow the themes of power, fire, steam and mobility, tapping into the nostalgia of the once great rail lines and the promise of modernization and connectivity that the locomotive brought to the industrial world.



Comics, too, have made great use of the logo to create a sense of identity to sell each of the particular brands of titles. Most notably, DC Comics went through a revamp of their classic logo just recently. In doing so, the opted for a the page peel back, like an invite to readers to see what's inside. Marvel has capitalized for decades on the big "M" in all its various branding. Smaller houses have also put their own persona spin on logos for branding; making good use of the way a logo can set up a personality to a company "face".

 



 

And where does that leave your truly, as both a lover of trains and comics? Well, see for yourself as I have put together two of my great loves as I venture out into the world of comic book creation with the logos I use for Neverland Transit Authority...

Heck, I've even got my own train ticket!

So... what was that first registered logo, you may be wondering...? Well, as sure as I love comics and trains, it was for another great love of mine... BEER!

Yes, the first registered logo was for Bass Brewery in 1876. So, to commemorate, I leave you with a collection of old beer logos; of which I have enjoyed many...

Not you, PBR; you're hipster swill. You go home!

Yeah, that's the Ticket!

So, as life gets back to normal... What ever that means for your dear old Conductor... the old creative steam gets to flowing from the boiler, again. And then new things get born for NTA Comics. Tonight's newest addition? This...

Yep, looks like we have our very first official train ticket. Well, to be honest, this is a rough that was originally intended as part of an outfit for the Great Dickens Christmas Fair happening at the Cow Palace in San Francisco; which runs from Thanksgiving weekend until December 23rd.

So, while this version will be nicely tucked into my bowler's hat band, a truly official ticket will be available shortly after the new year. Hopefully it'll be more than just a silly souvenir. More than likely I'll use it as part of a convention promo, when I can start doing comic conventions, again.

Then I can go around yelling "TICKETS PLEASE!" like a good Conductor is supposed to...

Getting the band back together... for the first time...

For some time now I've had this idea... Well, okay, it's more like a dream, really.

I've wanted to sing.

Maybe I should clarify. You see, I can sing. In fact I don't suck at it, all that much. Well, at least from what I can tell by the silly drunks at the bars when I go a karaoke-in', anyway.

But I've also had the pension for writing silly prose and humming a tune. Though I never did much with either, I've always thought it'd be neat to someday learn the guitar and maybe do a tune, or two.

Well, as all things are want to, when given time to percolate in my mind, this little notion has started turning into something more. And, with the big Four-Oh just under a year and a half away, I've decided that now's as good as time as ever to move this idea over to the win column; along side of get my degree and start actually publishing my comics.

And so, it's with great enthusiasm, I give you 2013's new project from Neverland Transit Authority; it's first in station band...

As many who visit the station know, I have a very diverse collection of musical tastes. National Railway Sound Project would be the synthesis of that. As an ensemble group, the genres and themes of the music would slide around and even cross over with each other. It would be fairly common for one track to be a blues number, followed by a driving rock tune, and finished with something a bit folky. From jazz to a waltz, and everything in between; nearly the entire musical landscape could be covered.

I've begun scribbling down some lyrics and will be picking up the old guitar, again, for another go at learning to play. So far I have just a couple of track ideas; "Take It from Me", "Somewhere", "Boxcar Stomp", and doing a cover of either a Who song, or Peter Gabriel. Obviously that list will grow, over time.

So, I have my concept, and I'm building material. Now I just need to learn to how to play, figure out how to put a working band together, and convince a few talented musicians to join up.

Oh boy...

First Look! September means a spooktacular sneak peek!

2012 has been a very, very, very light year for Neverland Transit Authority's Station House Radio; who, usually, puts out a few give away CDs through the year.

This year, though, has been... a lean year, to say the least.

But there is one disc above all else that must... MUST, I say... happen every year: All Hallow's Rock.

So, behold, and quake with rockin' Halloween terror as Station House Radio releases its first teaser for The Return of All Hallow's Rock.

There's a crypt full of dead on rockin' music to help you get into the spirit of the coming holiday season. Quantities will be severely limited, so, stay tuned if you hope to have a ghost of a chance to scare one up for yourself.

You can visit the Portfolio Gallery to see past All Hallow's covers.

Sketches of ladybot love...

Ladybot love by Charlie Irons
Pen and ink with Photshop

Sometimes a random warm up sketch can be so revealing. In this case, I've been playing with concepts for Galactic Gun for a few weeks, as I write up the end to our current story arc; The Twisted Case of Station 77.

From those warm ups, and some free-hand writing, came the sketch that became this bit of concept work.

I have no idea where this may fit into what. But then that's the beauty of great, free, writing; ideas and concepts are organic and evolve and take new shapes as things move and progress. At least, that's what I like to suppose, at any rate.

There's been a good deal of drinking, tonight, as Grand Central had, earlier, hosted a dinner party. So, who knows what this could be, mean, or end up being.

Enjoy!

Got it covered...!

Yeah, things have been quiet, here, for quite a while, now, during the shut down over at Neverland Transit Authority. We've got a lot of things going on, behind the scenes, right now. But, as of today, I am very happy to share with you something from one of our ongoing projects, getting Galactic Gun into print.

So, here, with much excitement, is the cover for the up coming Kickstarter project for Galactic Gun: The Adventures of Justin Bailey in Pocket Full of Posies...

Viewed as a flattened cover; back on the left, front on the right, with spine in the middle.

School rallies on, as always. The condensed Summer quarter ended with mixed results. (Technical issues have prevented me from sharing photos, for now.) And there's been some crazy upheavals along the tracks.  However, once we get things smoother out, and pick up a couple pieces of needed equipment, the book will work its way to print by the end of the year while we continue with our current story line.

Hopefully, by the end of 2012, both sites will get a major upgrade, pages will be printing, and we'll be close to breaking last year's posting record.

Probably not, on that last one, the way things have been going. But, hey; it could happen...

Building character...

Just a couple of bad asses out for a stroll...

Despite the rather tongue and cheek approach I take with Galactic Gun, there are a lot of aspects - some rather serious - I'd like to take the comic and its stories. To that end, I've often wondered how effective the cartooning style I'm often to use is. Times like those produce imagines like these; where I take the pivotal characters of the Galactic Gun universe, and give them a more “realistic” look.

This gives me the more legitimate look, for sure; something needed to be taken more seriously as a Graphic Novelist. But, I wonder... and, maybe worry... if, in getting more to a standard look, I might be sacrificing some of the more expressive tools of the characters and their stories.

Whether I'm trying to use cartoons to express seriousness, or illustrations to be funny, I fear something's going to be a little lost in the translation. All the more reason to keep hunting for that just right look; blending the spectrum of design.

I don't know; what do you think...?

First Look! Galactic Gun: "Twisted Case of Station 77"

You know, I'm good about waiting for Xmas or birthday presents. And I've been very loyal in keeping confidences. But, when it comes to the things I work on for the comics, I'm horrible about about sitting on exciting stuff...

So, here is a rough, first look at the location for our next adventure with Justin Bailey and the crew of the No.7; Galactic Gun: The Adventures of Justin Bailey in The Twisted case of Station 77 from Neverland Transit Authority starting Friday, June 1st, 2012...

I know I'm excited!

Penciled in...

Letter ART by Charlie Irons
pencil and charcoal on paper

So, in my art class, we've been working with charcoal and graphite pencils to create line, volume, and values. It's been so long since I've used this particular medium...

Some, twenty years, now, to be honest...

... that I've had an interesting time getting the hang of it, again. However, I think I'm finally getting the hang of it, again; evidenced at the left.

These are actual objects that were set up to draw in class, this week; large letters and balls light by spots to create tone value and highlight perspective. We then did a pass to give a neutral gray over the page, and used layering and erasing.

Some of my sclaes are off, but my teacher was impressed when I was finished. Me? I was rather pleasantly surprised this didn't go down like a flaming bag of poo...

Justin Bailey by Charlie Irons
art pencils on paper

Has all this playing around with pencils affected me, any? Well, take a look to the right, here, and tell me. Usually, when I draw my comics - or almost anything, these days, to be honest, I throw down with a loose blue pencil, first. Then I go back and fill in with ink. But, this afternoon, I thought I'd give Justin Bailey, from Neverland Transit Authroity's Galactic Gun a go in pencil; something I haven't done in damn near three years.

Sure, it's rough. But then, as I finished it, that I kind of miss the old rough look. Not that I'm gonna kick down to this look on any regular basis. Just that it's neat to see, every now and then.

Who knows; maybe it'll show up in a sotry, somewhere...?

Character Building

With the next story getting ready to get under way at Neverland Transit Authority, in June, I'm already working to build up characters, settings, and script on the next story after that; tentatively titled Galactic Gun: The Advetures of Justin Bailey in Wedding Bell Blues.

While I can't really share the particulars of the story - the who, what, why, where, and when, I can show off a little something I'm very proud of...

This is a high ranking priest of  a religious school of thought that the crew of the No.7 will be encountering, down the road. In constructing him, I had a lot of fun coming up with the various reasons why he dresses the way he does, where the religious philosophy started, and all that.

These kind of considerations may seem a little over involved, especially since the reader may never get to learn of every nuance behind what they see. But, giving these characters a substantial history adds weight to their believability; even if they are a member of a fictitious space clergy.

Wedding Bell Blues will follow The Twisted Case of Station 77 and the Galactic Gun short that follows it. Hopefully it'll start Spring of 2013.

Getting into the world's Super Position...

Inspired by the reception of last week's Stuff over at Neverland Transit Authority, I whipped up this expanded diagram of Grant's concept of a reverse Schrodinger's Cat thought experiment...

Who says science is boring?

(PS: "Super Position" would be an awesome name for a nerdore band.)

From the Conductor: What's happening at the Office and Station?

Art by Damion Mosier-Tidd

I know it's been spotty to quiet here, lately; things over at Grand Central have been very busy. (More on that, later.)

Of course, I wouldn't be musch of a Conductor if I weren't taking a little time to announc the coming and goings of Neverland Transit Authority.

So, if you haven't, already, take a jump over to the station. Right now we're capping off a three week run of guest art pages by Damion Mosier-Tidd, part of the 12 page short, Bookmarks, wirtten and inked by your illustrious Conductor, and colored by the talented Badger McInnes.

Also, things have been happening in the little world of Charlie Irons, so don't forget to get caught up with Stuff, too.

Once things settle, here, you can expect to find the usual level of entertainment you've come to expect from my office, and the crew of Neverland Transit Authority. And don't forget, you can follow my daily ramblings on my Twitter.

Thanks, again, for your ridership and patronage.

Pushing my buttons...

I think it's safe to say that I love designing logos... especially my own. And this bad boy is no exception.

As I've begun doing character buttons for Galactic Gun, and began to ponder the 2013 Intergalactic Pub Crawl Team button - Yes, I think of them this early - it struck me that there isn't a button just for NTA Comics proper.

Until now, that is.

Well, actually, next month; providing we don't have another derailment, or blow a boiler. So, barring any unforseen mishap along the tracks, there should be an entire set available starting mid to end of April.

I know I'm excited...

"Okay, one more for the family album... and look over here, please..."



The crew of the No.7 by Charlie Irons

One of the funny things I think of, as I get better and better at doing this, has been how backwards some of my skill sets have been; whether in building, or rebuilding.

What do I mean? Well, for example, when young children, novice cartoonists, and such, start out, you tend to get a lot of faces in either profile, or straight on. Considered the more dynamic, and difficult, three quarter turned face is generally something that develops with time and experience; as our ability to render, and visually tell stories grow.

Me, on the other hand? Yeah, not so much. Rarely is there ever a profile, or straight on, anything; let alone a face. It just doesn't seem so natural, even though we encounter these things in real life, all the time. Maybe it's how the page flattens things so much, I don't know.

At any rate, Kali, our lone brave character, has chosen the challenge of looking right at the audience. And while her face is, more or less, in proportion, her decision on poses ended up created all kinds of issues for me. Could be the limits of a cartoon style, or the limits of the cartoonist.

I imagine, as I get more comfortable, we'll start to see all kinds of different panel and page compositions, in the future. For now, though, enjoy this little group photo...

Who's who?

Moss grows fat on unused tracks...

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know; "IronChuck, it's gotten all quiet at your office, again."

Hey, I'm working hard on a few things, over here; so it's going to probably be quiet for a couple more days. You know what you could do, though? Maybe pop over to  Neverland Transit Authority and check out our new - work in progress - Cast and Crew page!

 In the meantime, we're cooking up some exciting things that have got me really busy; like moving the entire station, for starters. Once the dust settles, and I don't have to so frantically work the boilers and rail switches, there'll be more content, here, again.

A banner idea!

What you're squinting at, above, is my very first banner! It's impossible to believe, but, getting on two years for Neverland Transit Authority, and I have yet to drop the comic into more than just one web ring.

I know, really; "how has that even been possible," you're asking. (Well, okay, I would hope you'd care enough to ask.)

Well, I won't bore you with the psychological ramblings behind the why; just that I've finally gotten off my duff and am doing something more about it than a weekly, random dump on Reddit.

I have to admit, though; this was a fun little exercise. As soon as I can make me some fancier ones - animated, linked, etc., I'll be showing them off and offering them up for the linking and posting.

At any rate, here it is; my first banner...

UPDATE!

And now it's official! NTA Comics has joined Top Web Comics! Click the banner, below, to vote for yours truly over at TWC, right now!!!!!!!