Jealousy's a Monster in The Envy

Jealousy's a monster in the one-shot, psychological thriller The Envy, from Erica (Chronographer) Heflin, in June's Previews, Diamond's comic book pre-order catalog, under Aazurn Publishing.

Young Danielle's world is forever shattered by David's beautiful and exotic new girlfriend. When men fall for her charms and Danielle's BFF becomes ill, she begins to wonder if there is something evil -- even monstrous -- going on.

"We love done-in-one stories and The Envy is part of our new Indie Comics Magazine Presents line of one-shot comic books," said Aazurn Publishing Publisher/Editor Gary Scott Beatty. "Erica is all over indie comics today and we're lucky to have her and The Envy."

Erica J. Helfin is writer, editor and publisher at Felinix Publications, a source for independent comics. Webcomics "Of the Grave" and "Robomastyx" and a growing collection of minicomics can be seen online at ReadWebComics.com.

Heflin's "Flesh of White" will soon be available through Inverse Press, and new series "Chronographer" has found its home at Grayhaven Comics.

Last year, Heflin's "Mother and Son" and "Of Wolf and Woman" were picked up by Grayhaven Comics. "The Black Hand" is available digitally through Alterna Comics and can be found at Comixology.

Erica's comic book education began with her work in a comic store. "Before I knew what was happening, I was reading every book on the shelf. In the '90s. Every book," said Heflin. "That’s when I passed the point of no return, and became a lifelong comic book fan."

A video preview of The Envy, online at IndieComicsMagazine.com, offers a peak at newcomer Rom Friere's sexy -- and disturbing -- art. The Envy is offered for pre-order in June's Previews.

Comic Buyer's Guide, a national, monthly magazine, featured two of my articles in the #1660 issue, shipping October 2009. Editor Brent Frankenhoff called "Going for the Grant: Xeric Foundation Submission Strategies" an "excellent" submission and offered me participation in CBG's coveted Top 10 Favorite Comic Covers section. I figured they were looking for something different and made sure my cross section of favorite covers included a nice sampling of quality independent comics. I could have easily picked 100 favorite covers from Kirby or Colan!

When you're at Comic-Con International in San Diego July 23-26, 2009, you'll see my coloring, lettering and design work at the 3 Boys Productions (Students of the Unusual) and Viper Comics booths!

Terry and the boys at Students of the Unusual (Booth 1902) put me through the wringer finishing colors and letters for "Prepare for the Worst" and "Love Bug" stories in their Comic-Con Special #1, plus design and layout for other pages! I've colored and lettered for every SOU book gong back five years -- it's worthwhile to pick up back issues of this fun, indie horror book! Gotta love them zombie bikers!

At the Viper booth (1903), the ink should be just dry on The Middleman, a 64 pager I lettered for them with style and grace -- under a crushing deadline! Books like their Battle Smash, Webosaurs, How to Be a Serial Killer (now a motion picture!), Dummy's Guide to Danger and Rabid! are all lettered by me! I never know what Jessie and the gang are going to send me, but I've come to expect awe inspiring artwork and great writing!

When you're at their booths, ask about how Gary Scott Beatty helped them get ready for San Diego. Then, consider me for YOUR next comic book project!

Xeric Winning Author and Illustrator Gary Scott Beatty joined David Peterson (Mouse Guard), Jason Howard (Astounding Wolf-Man) and Ryan Claytor (Elephant Eater Comics) on a comic book creator panel at the Michigan State University Comics Forum March 28, discussing everything from writing to illustration, from creating to marketing to careers. If you missed it, you can hear it, moderated by Jay Jacot (Comics Obscura), plus a couple of other spiffy MSU Comic Forum panels, online at: http://www.comicsforum.msu.edu/?p=216

The upcoming Side B: The Music Lover's Comic Anthology contains a punk rock story by Gary, illustrated in a late '70s, "ransom note" style to match the tale's era. Available in the April 2009 edition of Previews, Diamond Order Code: APR090973. In stores June 3, 2009.

Look for a couple of works from Gary's "Jazz: Cool Birth" in the Eastern Michigan University Michigan Comics Exhibition, on display now at the University Gallery through June 5 and then to travel throughout this great land. Michigan Comics: Mirth, Mockery, and Mayhem info is online at http://www.emich.edu/fordgallery/

Xeric Winning Author/Illustrator Gary Scott Beatty signed his three graphic short story books at Art Cats Gallery in Lakeside, Muskegon, Michigan. in February. "Jazz: Cool Birth" features art inspired by '50s album cover design, a murder mystery set among the jazz clubs of 1957. Info on the gallery at artcatsgallery.com. Look at the books at aazurn.com.

Email your project for a quote

Blog - Facebook

Indie Comics Magazine.com

Comic Artists Direct.com

All artwork is © copyright by its respective artists and publishers.
Website contents © copyright Gary Scott Beatty.

Email your project for a quote
gary@comicartistsdirect.com

ARTIST'S STATEMENT from Gary Scott Beatty's Xeric Grant-winning book Jazz: Cool Birth.

"Yes, this style is MEANT to look old. 50 years old, as a matter of fact.

"Through study of album cover design, television program title artwork, and common illustrations used in everything from health booklets to instruction manuals from the ’50s, I have attempted to pull readers into the late night jazz clubs of 1957, feeling the music through the visuals. Ignoring paint and ink magazine illustration, a left over style from previous decades, I concentrated on the combination of flat and painterly used by artists working with T-squares and triangles, tracing paper, ruling pens and brush, preparing work for rotary letterpresses and similar hands-on intensive printing methods.

"Alex Steinweiss and Jim Flora, wonderful craftsmen working on album covers for Columbia and RCA Victor respectively, obviously had a great influence on Jazz: Cool Birth. Little known illustrator Lou Peters and Disney designer Tom Oreb deserve a mention, as well as the great Mark Rothko and the rest of the abstract expressionists. But the look of Jazz: Cool Birth comes, mostly, from unknown, uncredited artists working in a beat style in a decade where nearly every printed piece contained some kind of drawn graphic.

"Then there’s the typography. Hand drawn, or typeset and carefully kerned and arranged by hand, jazz album type fascinated me from an early age. I have managed to find a font, Hairspray Redhead from Christian Schwartz Design, that approximates the famous Steinweiss Scrawl appearing on so many beautiful ‘50s album covers. My Futura and Bodoni typefaces are passable, but, like typographers predicted with the rise of desktop publishing in the ‘80s, the typefaces don’t have quite the grace and balance of their ’50s counterparts.

"My tools are modern and digital, but the process of pushing things around on the page remains the same as 1957. What I learned from studying craftsmen of 50 years ago is to never let the tools dictate where something lays on a page. The modern computer typesetter’s practice of distorting type rather than adjusting the letter spacing and kerning is lazy, uninformed and unattractive. Typography is a line-by-line art.

"The missing link in this book is, of course, the music. But Monk, Miles, Coltrane, Mingus, Rollins and others are there, in the back, listening, taking mental notes on licks and trends. They don’t need bodyguards and an entourage to slip into clubs. This is 1957, when few musicians made more than enough for expenses, studio time was a cost prohibitive dream and, like Dean says, 'You know musicians, no gravy, no grease.'"

Gary Scott Beatty

ABOUT GARY

Xeric Grant Recipient Gary Scott Beatty read his first comic book, a beat up old Tin Tin hardcover, in his grade school library some time before the '60s Batman craze. The first alternative comic he produced (They were called "underground" then) was on his high school's mimeograph machine, after hours, without permission. Nearly three decades later the tools and format have changed, but Gary is still producing printed pieces that communicate and entertain.

His current Aazurn Publishing projects include Xeric Grant Winner "Jazz: Cool Birth," "The One" with "Adventures of Aaron" artist Aaron Warner, "Seductions" with Oz artist Bill Bryan and "Adam Among the Gods" with James Lyle. Through his Indie Comics Magazine, Gary publishes promising newcomers and veteran independent creators, introducing them to a wider audience through worldwide distribution.

His coloring and lettering for 3 Boys Productions' "Students of the Unusual" has appeared since the popular indy comic's first issue -– now his logo design graces each cover.

The controversial "Wedding of Popeye and Olive" Gary colored for Ocean Comics was discussed on Good Morning America, in "The New York Times," "Time" magazine and "Newsweek."

His work with nationally syndicated cartoonist Aaron Warner included coloring "Adventures of Aaron" Sunday strips, producing the "Sparky and Tim" collection cover and typography and coloring for much of Aaron's advertising studio work.

His cover coloring for Scott Rosema's "August" are now definitive of the character.

His production assistance in Omega7's "America's Forgotten Children" publication helped lead to the recovery of several missing children.

He letters for Viper and for Kaso Comics, has written scripts for Nicky Cruz Outreach and, locally, produces a full color, monthly entertainment magazine. The list here is but a small sampling of the projects he has prepared for print over his 35 year career in printing and publishing.

The publication production expert, typographer, writer, illustrator and comic book colorist's engaging ramblings can be found at Comic Artists Direct.com.