Mac, Stubbs, Clancy and Markus

Aah, there really is nothing like going out to a bar to gather "reference."

Here's a panel from Page 15.

Anyway, the last few days have seen me working on a scene which takes place in Frontier's one and only bar, the Dogyard. (I have been sure to work while in various stages of intoxication to make sure I get the right atmosphere for the scene. Thorough research was called for.)

Mac, the Nordguard dispatcher for the town of Frontier is in this scene, so I had to sketch a quick turnaround for him and settle on his looks. There's also some bear studies I did as a warm up before cleaning up the panels, plus some designs for pemmican and various things on the bar shelves.

While Mac is briefing Pi and London, there's a couple reoccurring characters in the background playing darts as well as the bar tender. So I named them--Clancy, Stubbs and Markus respectively-- and did a few quick sketches of them and their clothes to keep 'em consistent.

Is Beef What's For Dinner?

A few pages from Nordguard/Across Thin Ice, 48 and 49 in specific.

A scrumptious reference photo I took for the canned pemmican! ;]
(This has been our dogs' favorite page so far, since they got to eat the left over reference.)

Oleg says "Hi" from page 51.

Environment Studies 1

Here's some landscape/environment studies for Across Thin Ice. They're from a couple scenes I've been working on this week.

Wasn't Enough Underwear

Firstly, thanks to everyone who came to the Nordguard Sneak Peek Panel last Saturday at FC! Hope you enjoyed it!

And now, with FurtherConfusion behind me, it's time to hit the drawing board in earnest--literally, I suppose. I have a long stretch between now and those far distant deadlines and old obligations. This is the time (6 months or so) I've set aside to devote 100% of my waking life into the comic's completion. I'm still expecting an official release date announced this year and I believe (barring blizzards, meteor showers and spontaneous combustion) we're right on track.

That said, expect more updates. For instance, between today and yesterday, there's another 4 pages on paper and the night's still young! 40 some pages down, only another 60 some to go. I think I'll need more coffee.

The scene I'm currently working on takes place in a way station somewhere between point A and point B. The team's dressed down for camp and their last hot meal for a while...I realized midway I didn't have any "under garments" designed for Freki and Pi to be hanging out in when they aren't decked out for subzero temperatures, so I had to work those out before cleaning up the page for it's eventual painting. And, as it happens, sketching those typical warm-up scribbles derailed into drawing Nordguard chicks in their sexy turn-of-the-century military-esque undies.



Also, have some sleezy Oleg underwear while we're at it.

2am Pages; -2°F Outside

I slowly plough through page by page, panel by panel, pencil by broken pencil. So far, there's been 342 snowy footprints, 221 pots of coffee, 84 tedious sleds, 11 dead people, 2 geese (and a partridge in a pear tree.)

Have a few pages!


Page 33


Page 34


Page 35


Page 36


All work and no play...Late-night fun with rough drafts and a sudden desire to add alternative dialogue and silly faces.


Meanwhile, the team pause for a break with their new backgammon buddy, Dr. Caribou. Unfortunately, he's got better things to do, like--eat grass and baby chicks. And yes, I suspect in that last panel he's being transported back to the Enterprise.