QUANTUM CHRISTMAS CARD FOR 2015!

I know it's been a terribly long time since we've had a post here on Quantum Comics Blog, and for this I blame life simply getting in the way.  I've had a lot of things going on, things that I've had to deal with personally, that have kept me away from the drawing board for an inordinately long time, and to be honest they've cost me a lot of the momentum and motivation for the work I'd been doing.  This has been to such an extent that I finally decided to shut down or put aside all of the work that I had been planning and come back to it later. For the coming year I'm also looking at starting things anew with different work, or fresh approaches to old work, and doing some major re-thinking of the ways in which I do things.  But we'll get to all of that when the time comes. For now, it's time at last for the most awesome holiday event of all, THE QUANTUM CHRISTMAS CARD!

Of course the holiday season would not be complete without a pulse-quickening panorama of pixels.  For this year we return to a prior theme with a twist.  Exactly ten Christmases ago I commemorated the release of the first Tim Story-directed Fantastic Four movie by bringing together the greatest heroes of all time that I didn't create with the greatest heroes of all time that I did.  That was the year the Fantastic Four and my own Environauts faced each other in a sizzling snowball fight!  This year in the Cineplexes there was a movie with the name Fantastic Four on it, which was in no way a reflection of the brilliant creation of Stan "The Man" Lee and Jack "King" Kirby, and whose very existence I mostly ignored.  For the Quantum Card this year I decided once again to bring together the phenomenal Foursome and the ne'er-do-wrong Nauts--and not any bogus Hollywood makeover of the FF, but the real, genuine, no-screwing-around, honest-to-goodness Lee/Kirby Fantastic Four!  To make it even more fun this time I decided to throw in the arch-villains to boot!  Our 27th Card, then, pits both teams against the baddest of all the bad guys:  the Environauts' most mortal enemy Graeme Grimstead and Marvel's greatest figure of evil, Dr. Doom himself!

I hope this year's Card meets with your pleasure as you clobber and flame your way into 2016.  Until next year, Nauts to you.

THE ARTIST KNOWN AS LUCAS

And so we take another look at a member of the cast of the Jungle Jon, Prince of the Wild Graphic Novel.  Thus far we have met the star of our story, his boyfriend-to-be, the tomcatting hunk, and the water-loving dreamboat.  Next, say hello to the artist in residence.  This, then, is Lucas.  He's from Hawaii and is moved to break out the old paints, pencils, papers, and canvases whenever he finds something beautiful.  On the mysterious Island where our story is set, he's the right guy in the right place.  The Jungle Jon Portfolio is available at this link.

SKINNY DIPPING WITH SPENCER

Another friendly arrival to the Island in the Jungle Jon, Prince of the Wild Graphic Novel is Spencer, who never met a body of water into which he didn't want to dive and swim.  When we first encounter him, that's exactly what he's doing--and that's exactly how he catches the ever-roving eye of Mark.  Are these two destined to be a couple--or will Mark's eye go roving someplace else?  You never know.  Go here to order The Jungle Jon Portfolio, and keep coming back for more previews of the characters and pages of the Graphic Novel.

HARK! IT'S MARK!

Continuing our look at the cast of the Jungle Jon, Prince of the Wild Graphic Novel, here is another of the inhabitants of the wondrous and sexy Island.  Mark, the first person that Jon meets after his encounter with the mysterious "Voice of the Island" (whom we'll get a look at in a future post), is a gym rat.  What time he doesn't spend in the gym, he spend with the guys whose attention he catches with the body that gets from being in the gym all the time.  Mark is a testament to the adage that "hard work pays off".  As you can see, hard work can also make you pretty "hard".  You can order The Jungle Jon Portfolio and get a preview of the Graphic Novel in progress here.

THE PRINCE'S CONSORT

And now, another look at a character from the Jungle Jon, Prince of the Wild Graphic Novel.  This is Tom, another lad who appears on the mysterious Island and will become a most important part of young Jon's life.  He's featured in The Jungle Jon Portfolio, which of course is available at this link.  Keep coming back for more previews of the Portfolio and the Graphic Novel in progress.

PRINCE OF THE WILD!

Here's a quick look inside The Jungle Jon Portfolio.  These are the master drawings of Jon himself that I'm using for reference in creating the pages.  As we go on, we'll see the masters of the other characters and a sneak preview of the first pages of the graphic novel itself, in pencil form.  The Portfolio is available as a PDF online right here.

AND NOW...THE JUNGLE JON PORTFOLIO!

A while ago I dropped a hint about what I've been up to since the holidays.  Over the many weeks since then, I've had to deal with not just the holidays but a whole host of other things that have badly slowed me down and completely thrown the wrench into my works.  But now, at long last, the new project is up and running, and you can finally see
--and buy--THE JUNGLE JON PORTFOLIO!

In deciding to switch to a new project for a while and give a rest to the other things I've been working on, I decided to go for what is surely the simplest (though of course not simplistic) of all my creations:  the illustration and graphic novel project from which I derived Wild Jon.  Jungle Jon, Prince of the Wild is the earlier creation that I adapted for the Wild Jon concept.  

The Jungle Jon Portfolio is an introduction and preview for the graphic novel.  Here's an excerpt from the introductory text of the Portfolio:


"Our story takes place on a mysterious but beautiful tropical island.  The Island is a place where there can be nothing but warmth, sunshine, happiness, contentment, and pleasure--for it also happens to be a living intelligence and that is what the Island wants.  That, and to be someone's home.  The Island seeks out someone to be its master, someone who needs a better home and a better life; someone good and kind and beautiful.  It finds a boy named Jon and brings him to live on it, to enjoy all that the island has to offer--to be its Prince.  For all Jon's spectacular youthful beauty, for all the love and kindness in his heart, life in the world outside the island has made Jon sad, lonely, and despondent, filled with heartbreak and the fear of living in a world that truly loves nothing but greed and wealth.  Communicating through a being called the Voice of the Island, which takes the form of a stunning, exotic young man, the Island thus invites Jon to cast off everything in his life--even his clothes--and live there, wanting for nothing, removed from all hurt and harm.  It makes him truly the Prince of the Wild.

This Portfolio serves as an introduction to the story of Jungle Jon, Prince of the Wild:  the initial designs of its cast of characters and a first look at the opening pages of the story in a "Director's Cut" form, prior to inking and coloring.  All are welcome on the Island, so keep visiting there and see all the sexy fun unfold with the story of Jungle Jon."

The Jungle Jon Portfolio contains material that is Not Safe for Work.  Download and enjoy it, but beware of where you open and look at it!

The Jungle Jon, Prince of the Wild Graphic Novel is now in production.  The final work will be released first as two individual issues, then as a collected Graphic Novel edition.  The Portfolio is now on sale at https://jafludd.selz.com/item/54cea15fb7987202a806250d?mode=edit

In future posts, we'll be seeing more of the Portfolio and new pages of the Graphic Novel as they're completed, so stick around.  You've got a passport to the Island!

QUANTUM CHRISTMAS CARD FOR 2014!

And we're back for the holidays after a long absence which will be explained shortly, I hope to your satisfaction.  It's time now for the 26th annual unveiling of the most awesome holiday event of all:  THE QUANTUM CHRISTMAS CARD!  And here it is.

Making his fifth official Card appearance is Nature's Child himself, Jon Wilde, a.k.a. WILD JON, accompanied this year by boyfriend and lifemate Thomas "Tom" Tierney, who I believe is the first supporting character ever to appear on a Card.  As we look in on Jon and Tom on Christmas morning, we find them in the middle of opening their goodies--or at least some of them!

Now, as for what's been going on the past few months.  We were supposed to have had The Adventures of Lucky Vega fully up and running after that first sequence of strips.  But I've had a lot of personal things going on that put the strip in a stall, and after that loss of initial momentum I started to reconsider some things.  I was happy with the strip as I had it, but I started to realize that I wasn't completely comfortable with the comic-strip format, those tight bands of panels in which I was drawing the story.  I found I wanted the story and the artwork to have more room to be more expansive, as in a regular comic book page.  At the same time I found my heart wasn't really in the idea of starting the whole thing over yet again.  At length I reluctantly decided it was time to change my major project for a while and come back to The Adventures of Lucky Vega more refreshed and really ready to do it up right at a later date.  That left me with the question, to which project should I switch?

For the present state of my personal life, I decided that I should go with the simplest thing I have.  Not simplistic, just simple and comparatively easy to accomplish while trying to negotiate some other things I have going on.  There was only one choice, and it's something as imaginative as you would expect and as sexy as you would like!  As for exactly what the new major project will be...   I've already dropped a big hint, though you'll have to come back for further news to learn exactly what it is I'm up to.  

Meanwhile, please feel free to forward and share this cosmic Card to your friends and loved ones as always.  It's about giving.

Happy Holidays, everyone, from Quantum Comics Blog.  Ho-ho-ho!

MENACE IN THE MACHINERY!

Rejoining The Adventures of Lucky Vega for the new year, the maddening mystery of who has been attacking the data infrastructure of the world continues--and Dr. Esteban Vega doesn't know what he's going to do about it, at least not yet!  Lurking in the future is an evil so vast, so all-consuming, that the assaults on corporate information technology are only its first expression.  What is about to attack the Earth and all mankind is something far more deadly than it appears, as we shall see...

THE PHANTOM HACKER!

Resuming The Adventures of Lucky Vega:  When we left off, Esteban Vega was so upset about something that he was unusually critical of Lucky's testing of the Vega Shield.  As we see in this strip, he has plenty to be upset about.  Who is attacking the IT infrastructure of high-tech companies?  Who is it that works with such mysterious and sophisticated methods that he strikes and disappears like some kind of cybernetic ghost that no one can trace?  And could this be only the merest hint of a super-science threat so strange, so awesome, so terrifying that only the genius of Lucky Vega and his father could possibly be a match for it?  I'd bet on it...

25-YEAR HOLIDAY TIME WARP!

The Adventures of Lucky Vega will resume soon.  But first, Quantum Comics Blog is proud to present something special for the holidays.

We’re about to see the always-anticipated unveiling of the annual QUANTUM CHRISTMAS CARD!  But this is a very special year, as 2013 marks the 25th year that I’ve been creating these heroic holiday offerings.  Think of that:  25 YEARS!  For the occasion, before we see the latest edition of the most wondrous Card of all, we first take a look back two and a half decades into the past.  Presenting once again: the first, THE ORIGINAL J.A. FLUDD CHRISTMAS CARD!  Yes, it's a souvenir of that time before the discovery of fire when I would physically print these things on card paper and mail them in envelopes with postage stamps.  It features heroes of the universe in which I first started creating characters, dating back to high school!  (Yes, that far, believe it or not!)  Some of the concepts of this earlier, pre-existing universe still survive in altered forms in my present work.  For this historic occasion, then, a peek way back into history!  Then, after this little time warp, scroll directly down below this post for the official unveiling of this year’s Card!

QUANTUM CHRISTMAS CARD FOR 2013!

It’s QUANTUM CHRISTMAS CARD time again! Can there be a more awesome holiday event than the annual unveiling of the cosmic Card?  Short of the appearance of Father Christmas at Macy's Parade, methinks not!  But this year's Card marks an extra-special occasion, for it is in fact the 25th annual Card!  Our tradition is now a quarter of a century old!  Bear in mind, since not everyone has known me or looked at my work for 25 years, only a very few people have actually seen the Card every year since I started.  And for some years there were actually TWO Cards, one of which went only to gay men and heterosexual women.  It's true.  But this is the 25th year in all that I've been creating these heroic holiday offerings, so for 2013 I wanted to do something really memorable.  So in the midst of production I made a critical decision and called out to the assembled Quantum heroes:  "Okay, lads, costumes off this time!  We're making it a SWIMSUIT EDITION!"

Everyone got on board for this, even Cirrus of the Environauts, who's very straight-but-not-narrow and prefers to strip only for his very fortunate girlfriend.  His little brother Aquarius, who's a model on the side, cajoled him into it.  "Come on, Trey, the Boss says costumes off.  Take one for the team…"  Wild Jon, Draco Rex, and Seastorm (making his debut this year) were game for it on the spot, as their standard or preferred outfits are either very revealing or almost nude anyway.  The World Champion, who publishes a men's fitness magazine, doffed his duds without hesitation.  The Serpent (also appearing for the first time), whose ambition other than to be a hero is to be one of those "octagon fighting championship" guys you see on TV, duly shed his suit; you know those guys do their fighting in nothing but their boxer briefs anyway.  (And this is supposed to be entertainment for straight men…)  And the also straight-but-not-narrow Satellite, another hero making his Card debut, has one of the best costumes ever but was willing to take it off for the entertainment of any ladies watching.  And so, here we have the 25th official Card in all its glory, and the tradition goes on.

As always, the Card is free to share with friends and loved ones as you desire, with my compliments.  Cheers and greetings from Draco Rex, Wild Jon, The Quantum, Idol, Seastorm, Cirrus, The World Champion, The Satellite, The Stone, Lucky Star, The Point, The Serpent, Aquarius, and their creator.  And may you all have a historically happy Holiday Season!

GET LUCKY AGAIN!

I know, I know, it's been a while.

By way of explanation, I haven't posted anything new in The Adventures of Lucky Vega for the past several weeks because I've been sidetracked by other work and other projects--one of which is this year's mind-boggling Quantum Christmas Card.  And when you see that, I hope you'll think our little hiatus was well-justified.  Also, in the set of new strips for Lucky that I had completed there were a few panels that I wanted to take back for re-drawing because, frankly, I wasn't satisfied with them and I didn't want them going out the way I had them. However, work on the strip is back in progress, so it's time to pick up where we left off.

Next week the Holiday season begins in earnest and I expect to be with you through it with not only The Adventures of Lucky Vega but some other things I hope you'll enjoy seeing almost as much as I enjoyed doing them--including that Christmas Card!  So keep on coming back, hear?

DECISION BY DISTRACTION!

So how does Lucky and Roger's test of the Vega Shield in the Immersion Room finally end up?  The arrival of Lucky's father decides the outcome of their contest.  But will Dr. Vega be impressed with any of it?  He doesn't exactly seem happy to see what's going on.  Time will tell what's going on with Poppa!

ENTER...DOCTOR VEGA!

As Lucky and Roger continue their very creative test of the Vega Shield, they haven't yet noticed that they have an audience.  Dr. Esteban Vega, Lucky's Dad, doesn't seem very impressed with what his son is up to.  Is he just annoyed at the way Lucky is using the equipment or could something else be going on?  Future strips will tell!

WHO GOES THERE?

And now, the start of another reveal and the first little plot twist for the first story in The Adventures of Lucky Vega.

HAIL TO THE KING!

Quantum Comics Blog will be back after the Labor Day Weekend with more of our preview of The Adventures of Lucky Vega.  Meanwhile, please join me in celebrating what would have been the 96th birthday of the man without whom you'd be surfing some other Blog right now.  At Kirby-Vision, it's Jack "King" Kirby's birthday, and a number of artists and I have contributed a suite of drawings to honor the King of Comics.  Thanks and have a great holiday.

ART AND TECHNOLOGY

Don't let me hear you say you can't get ideas when ideas are all around you all the time.  Sometimes they're even sitting right in your hand.  Case in point:  Since the lead characters in The Adventures of Lucky Vega don't have super-powers (this is pre-Environauts, remember), I wanted them to have some clever weaponry.  One idea that I came up with was the Vega Shield, the reveal of which we saw last week.  But energy shields are a very familiar idea; I wanted Lucky and his posse to have something that was distinctly theirs.  It then occurred to me that a very clever idea was right at hand--right there in the very materials that I work with as an artist!

Some of you fellow artistic types are probably familiar with the way some inking and coloring pens are made these days.  Some of them are actually two pens in one, with a different kind of point at each end.  Typically, one end will be a marker-type point and the other will be a brush-like point.  In a flash of inspiration I imagined a weapon that would be kind of like one of those pen combinations.  At one end it would be a light sabre, typical of the weapons used as the Jedis and Siths in Star Wars.  But at the other it would be a particle beam weapon, comparable to Star Trek's phasers and any of the myriad other such beam weapons in popular fiction.  This was the birth of the Vega Duoblade!  Problem solved, unique weapon created!  See, you just have to look in the right place for the right idea.

THE TRUE TEST!

As Lucky and Roger's workout in the Immersion Room continues, we start to discover the extent of the inventiveness of our young hero and his father as Lucky reveals a new technology and challenges Roger to help him test its effectiveness.  What is the true purpose of the Vega Shield?  Is it merely a defensive weapon, or is the vision of the brilliant Dr. Esteban Vega much broader in scope?  Future strips will tell the tale about the Vega Shield and many other things!

A FRIENDLY DUEL

As Lucky and Roger have at it in the Immersion Room, they are surrounded with holographic tableaux of outer space scenes that were suggested by a lot of the things I watch on TV.  I'm a science-documentary buff, and I spend a lot of time on channels like Discover, Science, and History, watching programs on subjects including astronomy, astrophysics, and space travel.  I can't get enough of shows like that, and I incorporate some things that I see on them into my storytelling.  I'm always on the lookout for ideas, and science is one of my favorite places to look!