Comments (20) (Please sign in to comment)

1. 

   Three Steps Over Japan said, 6 days ago

   Commander: “I have a plan.”
   Mate: “Please, one in one night is enough.”
2. 

   LizardPriest said, 6 days ago

   Fortunately, Commander Bulloch has an eidetic memory. This will prove helpful in the weeks to come.
3. 

   navy.bean said, 6 days ago

   wish I could draw like you Ben
4. 

   Ben Towle said, 6 days ago

   @navy.bean – I’m flattered! My secret: practice, practice, practice. Between comics, freelance stuff, and working in my sketchbook regularly since I was little, I’ve just got a lot more hours under my belt than most folks. (And, for what it’s worth: I’ve got a laundry list of artists I wish I could draw like. Don’t get me started!)
5. 

   Gary McSpook said, 6 days ago

   @Ben Towle

   Can’t help but be curious, tho’.
   Care to mention even a couple?
   I agree with navy.bean, am most impressed with your hand. I’ve drawn since I was very young (have many an hour under my belt, too), but never mastered it.
6. 

   Night-Gaunt49 said, 6 days ago

   @Ben Towle

   When I was young I would acidulously copy other artist’s work till I settled on my own style or styles.
7. 

   Night-Gaunt49 said, 6 days ago

   Hands can be so incredibly expressive.
8. 

   Ben Towle said, 6 days ago

   @Gary McSpook

   A couple of cartoonists I’m really into? Well, for me definitely Roy Crane is up there (his influence is more apparent in my previous work, which is duo-tone, like his strip, Wash Tubbs). Also Moebius, Walt Simonson, E.C. Segar, Steve Ditko… just to name a few.

   As for cartoonists working today, the great French cartoonist Christophe Blain is near the top of my list for sure. Also Drew Weing, Dan Clowes, Kevin Huizenga, Charles Burns. There’re a lot of really amazing cartoonists putting out great work these days.
9. 

   waykirk said, 6 days ago

   Mr. Towle,

   I have enjoyed reading your toon. Very nicely drawn and I wish that it were published more often.

   I only have one question sir?

   Why do most cartoon characters only have three fingers and one thumb on their hands?

   Inquiring minds want to know.

   The old Sarge
10. 

    Veteran said, 6 days ago

    Ben,
    I have not heard any references to Moebius (Jean Giraud) in years. I remember his works in the Heavy Metal magazine back years ago. Fantastic art and story.
    The man and his pterodactyl always searching for his lost love. Great story very little dialog the pictures told it all.
    I always loved the “HUNTER” with his kill in the background. Gigantic green lizard, hole in head, he is posed for the picture with his help the red eyed monkey behind him.
    Yes your art rates up there with some of the best.
    Wonder what he saw on the map?
    The Hideout? Maybe?
11. 

    Ben Towle said, 6 days ago

    @Veteran

    Moebius is (well, was; he died recently) an incredibly important figure, not just to comics but to film-making and science fiction in general. This obituary/article lists just some of the stuff he was involved with.
12. 

    Ben Towle said, 6 days ago

    @waykirk

    Thanks!

    Re. the three fingers thing: my understanding is that this practice began in animation—since it’s easier to animate than a fully fingered hand—and then crept from there into comics like Popeye, etc. My characters are probably borderline a bit too realistic for the three-finger thing, but I’m kinda committed at this point!
13. 

    Ben Towle said, 6 days ago

    @Night-Gaunt49

    As we all did! I have old sketchbook full of really terrible Walt Simonson imitations by the teen-age me.
14. 

    Ben Towle said, 6 days ago

    @waykirk

    Re. " I wish that it were published more often." If things remain on-track with my backlogging of pages, I should be able to switch to twice a week in July.
15. 

    Veteran said, 6 days ago

    Ben,
    I did read that too about Moebius. A great loss. That kind of art work was always my interest. I have his work “Hunter” as my background on my computer. I would love a try at his weapon. Guns are my interest especially the strange unusual ones like the T-REX. 577 caliber and kicks with the force of 220 pounds on your shoulder. Hilarious videos of folks shooting that cannon. I can not draw nor do I attempt to. I can make a crooked line using a ruler now that is a skill.
    Your colors, shading, lines are all top quality.
    And this is a kind of HOBBY???
    Seriously I enjoy your work and look forward to Mondays and pine to the next one.
16. Load the rest of the comments (5).