comic book covers in 3d

[jeffwildstar]

Hello. Here's a couple of comic book characters done in 3D. the first is a re-imaging of Fantastic four #55 done with Z-brush and photoshop. The second is a work-in-progress Wolverine done using Lightwave and Z-brush. I'm hoping to show these to some comic book editos i know and see if i can get some cover work. let me know what you think.

Jeff

[Giacomo99]

Looks good. Nice color, very aggressive. Great rock texture on the Thing. I'd reeeeally reconsider the Silver Surfer's pose—that straight-legs-together stance is pretty weird gesturally (and in my humble opinion, not very Kirby-esque) and also the pose of the Thing's left leg—he should be either resisting the impact or being knocked down by it, and right now I can't tell which it is.

Also, watch your anti-aliasing. There's a lot of weird bitmapping and artifacting going on—are you rendering this in Lightwave?

[jeffwildstar]

Yeah I noticed the anti-aliasing too. I used a screen shot for this image. I won't do that next time. In fact I'll probably try to fix this before i start sending it out.

The surfers pose is pretty much straight from the reference. But I think the I might have lost some of the thing's pose from the original cover. I'm enclosing the original cover image. Thanks for the tips.

Jeff

[Giacomo99]

Huh. If it were me, I'd still try and refine the poses of both figures to make them more dynamic. 3D is not drawing, and 2008 is not 1964—I think if you're going to do it in 3D at all, the Surfer should be actually balanced on his board in some kind of dynamic and plausible pose.

Just my two cents.

[steamthunk]

How much of the wolverine was LW and how much ZB?
I'll have to agree and say the Silver Surfer pose worked better for Kirby. I think you can do a "take" on the cover without necessarily mimicking it's form exactly.

[jeffwildstar]

I think since I'm showing these to comic editors, I need to be true to the originals. I'm thinking along the lines of what Alex Ross does or Mark Sparacio ( who did covers for some of the comics I worked on).

I made Wolverine in Lightwave and then brought him into Z-brush to do some of the details. I'm going to redo his belt in lightwave.

[rapscallion]

Hei JeffWildStar...

just saw your post and wanted to mention how cool the concept you have actually is...I'm also connected to some comic editors and publishers, and CG is definitely on their minds and slowly gaining momentum...

but with that said, I have to agree with Giacomo99...

it is my opinion (from personal experience working with comic inspired works) that contemporary comic professionals will be more impressed with a powerful and modern take on a classic than they will be with a direct translation that feels old and flat compared to what people think of when they hear those two little letters C and G...CG automatically means SPECTACULAR!!! to those who don't work with it everyday...

to make a parallel reference: take a look at the STREET FIGHTER video game series...it is remarkable how the newest incarnation of the game just SCREAMS MODERN while still capturing the heart and soul of the original games and characters...if you were striving for success in the video game world, presenting a sample based on Street Fighter without adding something new and fresh to it would have it falling away to obscurity...

of course, everyone has to make what inspires and excites them most...so no matter what, congrats on putting together some really cool WIPs of a really excellent and potentially lucrative concept...

...wishing the best...from the void...jpr...

[dwburman]

I like where the Wolverine image is going.

The FF image seems stiff and it doesn't "pop" like the original. The original is more colorful, more contrasty and the blast effect is more dynamic.

[ELDRAGON]

Nice job, and great idea.

I agree with the prior posts as well for the balance issues on the board. Its good that you started it that way to try out but now you can use those models and go back and re pose them....too bad photoshop's touches have to be redone but it will be worth it.

[jeffwildstar]

here's the cover with some corrections. hopefully this makes a better portfolio piece.

[JeffrySG]

You might want to fix the Surfers board. It's not flat on the end... It's rounded on both sides. Keep up the work on these!!

[userBrian]

Nice work. I'd make the Silver Surfers left arm larger. And sharply define the muscles. And try some lens flare explosion effect- OK that sounds my bad. Maybe a hypervoxel star burst ? I'd have to test stuff, you got me interested...Just my opinion, I'm not an editor! I'm working on a book and video idea- personal project.