Once When: Taskmaster Pin-Up I Traded For a Set of Rapidographs (Patreon)

I was pretty broke at the time, whew boy. Last year I bought an unused set off e-bay, and I have to admit, I was happy to pay for it because there wasn't a sense of desperation in the transaction that was there when I bartered for the previous set. I ordinarily love bartering for stuff, books or art for other books or toys or whatever, we used to do that a lot back in the day. But that was largely because we could afford to do it, having a serious need to do it was emotionally wrecking me back when I did this drawing. I literally couldn't afford art supplies that I needed to do my work. At least things haven't been that rough for a good while. 

I really like this drawing though, always have. Look at me faking those leg muscles and shit. It looks all right, though. If it isn't right then at least try to make it attractive. I'm getting better at going with that flow. It was still a lot of work. 

I'm also fond of this ridiculous character ever since he was introduced in The Avengers comic when I was a teenager. George Perez cover, iirc. His shtick was to emulate whatever he saw perfectly. And be overly full of himself. And wear an outfit that doesn't allow him to sit down or get in a car or walk down aisles without knocking shit over. Okay, sure. Whatever, Taskmaster. You're the boss. 

I got to write the overcompensating goofus in an issue of Agent X. I had Agent X break his leg in a brawl. Is the Taskmaster the master of all tasks? Can he watch Marie Kondo once and then just declutter his home or apartment Taskmaster HQ abode of outdated weaponry and VHS tapes he doesn't need? Thoughts like this are likely reason #4 why I don't get work from the Big 2.  Maybe he should have watched some costume designers at work before he put on his spooky dude Spirit of Super Adaptoid Halloween outfit.

It's after 6 a.m. so, that means bed time. Been working/collaborating on two very interesting projects, both non-comics but comics related, if you follow. You'll see. I'm pretty excited about them, they're both oddball and not the kid of thing I normally am involved with in either case. You'll see. 

Trying to push commissions forward while doing roughs for the first of the two gigs. Hand still in bad shape but nothing I can do about it but ice it and keep the wristbrace on when not working. Had some flare-up from my wisdom tooth but I don't think it was a return of the infection, let's hope not. The sucker is scheduled to be pulled early August. We have a lot of doctor and dentist visits in the next few weeks, the calendar looks like a tour schedule. Getting old, and getting older. Every day. Beats the alternative to shit, though, I'll agree to that.

Oh - Sarah had an idea for a new thingamajig for the Patreon. More as it develops. I'm still trying to figure out the livestreaming with our bad internet connection situation. I've dropped out of two interviews this year so far (and a few hangouts with friends), which was mortifying to me. Sarah's also going to write down instructions for me on how to do the prints myself so I can just start posting stuff for the $10 and over folks en masse to catch up. 

Feeling a little overwhelmed by things but I'm enjoying everything I'm working on, which is a decent feeling. I just need to catch up. Catching up is the main thing right now.

Sleep time, catch up with you later.